Answers To Questions You May

Color:
Color is an important aesthetic consideration, but it also determines the amount of soil hiding in carpet.  While light color shows soil more readily, dark color shows light-colored soil and lint.  Medium-value colors most effectively reduce the visible effects of soiling.   If improper colors are selected it will lead to maintenance nightmares, shorten life cycles, costly replacements and disappointed customers.

Design:
Pattern plays a very important role in hiding soil.  Solid colors show soil most easily, followed by heathers and tweeds.  Regular patterns hide soil even more effectively, and random patterns provide the best soil hiding.  Pattern selection should be made based on property traffic levels.

Appropriate Maintenance:
Proper maintenance preserves the original appearance of the property, preventing the accumulation of soil. Regular maintenance is far better than just cleaning. Cleaning occurs as a result of the failure to maintain the facility and is performed for the purpose of removing accumulated soil and restoring the surface to desired standards. A well-organized maintenance plan helps protect the carpet investment and enhances the user experience of those in the carpeted environment.

There are many different cleaning systems and maintenance programs available in the market today, and all achieve varying levels of success. MilliCare Commercial Carpet Care has allocated a tremendous amount of time, energy, and resources to develop the best maintenance specification available in the world. The goal of this program is to maximize long-term appearance retention using the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly products and processes available globally.

MilliCare Commercial Carpet Care has successfully used the MilliCare Dry Carpet cleaner for many years as a primary recommendation for maintaining carpet. This method can be used on any carpet, is safe, contains minimum moisture, leaves no detergent residue, does not damage the fibers, and causes no downtime. The adsorbing particles are very small and penetrate deeply into the carpet pile to clean thoroughly. With these benefits the longevity and aesthetics of carpet are extended. The MilliCare Dry Carpet Cleaner is specifically engineered to attract and adsorb spots/soil from carpeting, and pile type fabrics. The soil, spots and offensive odors are adsorbed when particles are brushed into the carpet and vacuumed. The Dry Carpet Cleaner provides a systematic and routine approach to carpet care.

MilliCare maintenance recommendations are MilliCare Dry Carpet Cleaner and related products, along with spot cleaning products and procedures, vacuuming, and pile lifting on specific frequencies related to each facility. MilliCare Franchisee service providers perform this maintenance program. These providers are extensively training and certified to perform the best maintenance program.  DryCare Hawaii Inc. is the MilliCare Hawaii franchise in the islands. For more information call Louie Mansanas @ (808) 263-1622 or cellular # 864-7657 

Fiber Selection:
Far from the only factor, the choice of fiber does contribute to long-term performance.  Milliken offers two choices in branded fiber, Milliken Performer Wearon® Nylon and Milliken Certified Wearon® Nylon.  Both Milliken approved fiber selections meet our most rigid criteria including:

Chemical Composition:
Type 6,6 nylon is a chemical composition. Type 6,6 nylon has a tight molecular structure with hydrogen bonding that provides resistance to stains, enhanced carpet resilience and resistance to matting and crushing. Both Milliken WearOn® Nylons are Type 6,6 Nylon.

Melting Point:
Type 6,6 nylon melts at ~260°C and olefin (polypropylene) at ~180°C.  Because of its low melting point, heat and friction can easily affect olefin.  With the highest melting point, Type 6,6 nylon is the most resistant to damage caused by heat or friction from moving furniture, heel scuffs, etc.

Colorfastness:
First, Milliken selects dyes that have excellent colorfastness properties.  In addition, because of its molecular structure, Type 6,6 nylon is more resistant to fading due to sunlight or atmospheric contaminants. The standard test for lightfastness is AATCC 16E.  For conventional dyed nylon, the International Gray Scale rating after 80 AFUs should be no less than 3.  All Milliken products have a rating of 4.0+.  Crockfastness testing relates to the color rubbing off when wet or dry, or bleeding when wet.  The standard test for crockfastness is AATCC 165 and the International Gray Scale rating should be a minimum of 4 for both wet and dry crocking.  All Milliken modular products have a rating of 4.0+.

Stain Resist Technology:
Milliguard® SR is a proprietary Stain Resist finish that is applied during the Millitron® Dye Process on all Milliken Hospitality broadloom carpets.  It protects the carpet fiber from many staining substances commonly found in Hospitality environments.  It is not a topical treatment.  The stain resist chemistry is steamed into the yarn in much the same way dye is steamed into yarn.  This added process causes the stain resist to attach to yarn dye sites that are not completely filled with dye.  This product enhancement makes its difficult for staining to occur and the spill easier to remove.

Harsh chemicals and/or improper maintenance can mask the performance of this protective finish.  The frequent use of Capture® has shown no adverse effect on these performance characteristics.  Five hot water extractions have minimal impact.
Below is a chart that can be helpful when selecting fiber for your project.

Yarn Construction:
Milliken Carpet is a vertical manufacturer meaning all processes are internal to Milliken for superior control, quality, and performance.  Proper yarn construction is one of the control points, and specifically the standard for yarn twist, measured as the number of twists per inch.  Proper yarn twist assures better appearance retention.  Heatset yarn is also a point for superior performance.  Heatsetting the yarn locks the twist in and prevents matting and packing in traffic areas.

Protective Finishes:
Protective finishes can be applied to the surface and backing of carpet to protect it from common soil, liquid spills, bleaching agents and mold/mildew.  Milliken hospitality carpets have finishes to protect against all of these.  These finishes are not topical.  They are part of the manufacturing process and will not release with common cleaning methods.                                                                                     

Milliguard®SP Soil Protection:
Milliguard® SP is a topical treatment that is heatset to the yarn with dry heat.  It provides a protective shield to give our carpet anti-soiling protection.  Milliguard® SP is a proprietary treatment process that provides long-term protection from soil and water based substances.  It makes soil removal easier.  Harsh chemicals and/or improper maintenance can mask the performance of this protective finish.  The frequent use of Capture© has shown no adverse effect on these performance characteristics.  Five hot water extractions have minimal impact.

Milliguard®SR Stain Resist Technology:
Milliguard® SR is a proprietary Stain Resist finish that is applied during the Millitron® Dye Process.  It protects the carpet fiber from many staining substances commonly found in Hospitality environments.  It is not a topical treatment.  The stain resist chemistry is steamed into the yarn in much the same way dye is steamed into yarn.  This added process causes the stain resist to attach to yarn dye sites that are not completely filled with dye.  This product enhancement makes its difficult for staining to occur and the spill easier to remove.  Harsh chemicals and/or improper maintenance can mask the performance of this protective finish.  The frequent use of Capture© has shown no adverse effect on these performance characteristics.  Five hot water extractions have minimal impact.

ColorSeal®Bleach Resist Technology:
Milliken starts with a quality “canvas”- carpet made from a select family of nylon fibers with unbeatable combinations of luster, cost, and durability. Undyed nylon fiber starts out white. Each fiber carries countless microscopic “dye sites.” Intensities of color can differ from fiber to fiber (even with the same dye) due to the number of these dye sites.  This dyeability is “designed in” by the fiber manufacturer through various polymer formulations. The trick to good dyeing and product performance is filling these sites with color and protecting that color through the newest technological advancements in carpet protection.  ColorSeal® is a protection system available on all Milliken broadloom products (minimum order size of 1,000 square yards required). The system includes stain and soil protection, antimicrobial properties and a very advanced new technology providing bleach resistance properties.  This proprietary bleach resist treatment is incorporated during manufacturing and provides protection against significant color loss resulting from small spills or drips of dilute bleach solutions (equivalent to a 10% solution of common household bleach). Such solutions are commonly recommended for cleaning of hard surfaces and are often part of commercially available, off-the-shelf cleaners.

AlphaSan®Mold & Mildew Odor Control:
ALPHASAN® is a durable "locked-in " ADDITIVE that is incorporated into the backing composite of all Milliken carpets to REDUCE product deterioration caused by microbial activity. ALPHASAN® is a floor-covering enhancement that can extend the useful life and aesthetic quality of the carpet. 

ALPHASAN®, A SILVER CONTAINING CERAMIC ADDITIVE, HAS BEEN TESTED FOR EFFICACY AND TOXICITY.  SILVER IS WELL KNOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST A BROAD SPECTRUM OF MICROORGANISMS THAT CAUSE ODOR, DETERIORATION, DISCOLORATION AND OTHER AESTHETIC PROBLEMS.  SILVER HAS BEEN USED THROUGH THE AGES FOR JEWELRY, EATING UTENSILS, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND MEDICINAL APPLICATIONS, THE ALPHASAN® COMPOUND HAS BEEN CLEARED BY THE FDA AND REGISTERED BY THE EPA FOR FOOD CONTACT AND IS BEING USED COMMERCIALLY IN APPAREL, FOOD PROCESSING AND MEDICAL DEVICE APPLICATIONS.

INCORPORATION OF THE ALPHASAN® AGENT INTO THE CARPET BACKING COMPOSITE PROVIDES PROTECTION JUST BELOW THE FIBER LAYER, WHICH ENHANCES THE PERMANENCE OF THE TREATMENT.  THIS STRATEGY ALSO MEANS THAT ANY SPILLS THAT PENETRATE BELOW THE FACE OF THE CARPET WILL COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ALPHASAN® AGENT, REDUCING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PRODUCT-DETERIORATING MICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND ODOR IN THE BACKING OR BENEATH THE CARPET.

THE ALPHASAN® ANTIMICROBIAL WILL REMAIN ACTIVE FOR THE LIFE OF THE CARPET UNDER NORMAL COMMERCIAL USE CONDITIONS AND FOLLOWING ROUTINE, ACCEPTED MAINTENANCE PRACTICES.  MILLIKEN RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE ALPHASAN® AGENT PROVIDES LONGER-LASTING PROTECTION THAT OTHER ANTIMICROBIAL TYPES.

Density Factor:
Density Factor is a key measure of performance, but it is important to remember that getting into a numbers game on any one-performance factor is not prudent.  Performance is a function of many factors, not just one.  Density factor is a measure of stitches per inch, tufting gauge and yarn size. To vary anyone of this construction elements can affect the overall performance of the carpet.  The following graph relates density factor to carpet performance.  In the chart below, carpets of each density level were tested at 400,000-foot traffics. A jury rated the performance of the carpets on a 1 to 5 scale.   1 indicates poor performance and 5 indicates excellent performance.  The 2 blue dots represent Milliken Carpets Max32 and Max42 hospitality base constructions.

Notice that the graph has a flat top, meaning that performance does not continue to increase as additional Density Factor is added.  The following guidelines may be useful in interpreting Density Factor:
Heavy Commercial: 300,000 with Milliken Attached Pad and 350,000 Without Attached Pad.  (See performance backings)

Notice also that the relative importance of Density Factor decreases at higher numerical values.  For example, increasing density factor from 150,000 to 200,000 is very significant in improving the performance of the carpet.  But, the same 50,000-unit increase from 450,000 to 500,000 will yield little, if any improvement because the carpet is already sufficiently dense to provide good service, even in heavy traffic. 

Performance Backings:
ALL MILLIKEN CARPETS feature THE ENHANCER® backing system developed by Dow Chemical.  The backing system is the foundation of the product, and the base on which all other attributes of the carpet’s performance is built. Milliken research on carpet appearance retention points to the polyurethane cushioned backing system as the most critical part of the composite. The reason is that the face yarn receives the day-to-day force of rolling and foot traffic.  If there is no opportunity to transfer that force to another area, the entire load is carried by the face yarn.  Milliken studies show that the Attached Pad polyurethane cushioned backing system engineered to absorb that force, greatly increases the appearance retention of the carpet, thus increasing its usable life and lowering total cost over the duration of the installation.

Further compelling evidence is test data showing dramatic proof of the beneficial effect that cushion has on appearance. * In a traffic test, it took 50% longer (134,000 vs. 84,000) for the carpet installed with cushion to reach the same appearance point on the ISO appearance retention scale as the carpet installed without cushion.  * Data from Carpet Cushion Council.
The impact of the backing system on long-term performance is documented in the chart below.

5 = New Carpet; 4 = Superior; 3 = Good; 2 = Fair; 1 = Poor

Warranties

LIMITED TEN YEAR WEAR WARRANTY, Applies to Carpets Made of 100% Nylon Only.
Milliken & Company warrants that it will repair or replace any portion of this carpet (including the cost of installation) if the surface pile in any area is worn more than 10% by abrasion within ten years of installation.  This warranty covers only abrasive wear resulting in loss of fiber from the pile surface of carpet used indoor in a commercial installation.  Repair or replacement will be limited to the worn area of the carpet.  In the event that the identical carpet is not available, you may choose from a selection of carpeting of comparable quality.  This limited Ten-Year Warranty is available only for certain Milliken styles.  Check with the dealer or Milliken Sales Representative to confirm applicability.

2-YEAR LATENT DEFECT WARRANTY:
Milliken will be responsible for latent defects caused during the manufacturing of Milliken Commercial carpet for a period of two years from the date of invoice.  Service properties, such as pile shading, pile crushing, traffic lane wear (or abrasion); soiling and/or staining are not manufacturing defects and are not guaranteed.  This warranty shall apply only when published Milliken installation procedures are followed.  Should it be necessary to replace the carpet, Milliken will not be responsible for the expense of removal of furniture, partitions, temporary walls, and the like which are located on, above, or around the carpet installation--these expenses shall be borne by the owner.

PATTERN MATCH WARRANTY, 13' 6" Broadloom Carpets:
Pattern match is guaranteed over pad on all patterned carpet where the installer has followed published instructions using a power stretcher.  Due to the fact that patterned goods may run off slightly from side to side, Milliken cannot guarantee pattern match on a direct glue down installation.

100% PATTERN MATCH WARRANTY, Modular Tile Carpets:
Milliken guarantees the pattern match on all Grand Plaza installations to within 1/16 of an inch in both length and width.  This guarantee will be provided when a certified Milliken modular installer has performed the installation as outlined in Milliken's current published installation instructions.

CASINO WHEELED TRAFFIC, Modular Tile Carpets:
MILLIKEN GUARANTEES THAT MILLIKEN MODULAR CARPET, WHEN PROPERLY INSTALLED BY A MILLIKEN CERTIFIED INSTALLER USING MILLIKEN MODULAR ADHESIVE, WILL NOT BUCKLE OR SHIFT AS A RESULT OF ROLLING TRAFFIC FROM MONEY CARTS, DRINK CARTS, WHEEL CHAIRS, OR OTHER WHEELED TRAFFIC NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH CASINO FLOORS.