Don't Ask Yourself: Learn How Your Carpet is Changing Color

The colour scheme of a home is a big part of the design process, and carpets are crucial in bringing the colour scheme together. 

It is worth spending time diagnosing potential carpet problems before they become an issue. When buying new carpets. It is advisable to check that no dye has been used to colour the carpet. 

According to the best carpet cleaner in Port Melbourne, different dyes react differently to environmental factors and cleaning products, which can cause blue carpets to turn pink or other colour changes. However, you must also know that most carpet discoloration is caused by environmental causes rather than man-made or controllable conditions. 

There are two main causes of carpet discoloration:

Smoke Fading

The best carpet cleaning company in Port Melbourne shares that it is caused by environmental factors that alter the chemicals in the dye, such as air pollution, excess nitrogen oxide and sulphur emissions, excessive sunlight exposure, heat, acidic substances in the carpet, and high humidity. 

In such cases, the colour change is usually gradual, starting at the tuft and moving towards the backing. Common examples are blue to pink, brown to red, and green to yellow.

Ozone Fading

This is caused by exposure to ozone in the environment, often combined with exposure to sunlight or excessive heat. Ozone fading is common in urban areas where the amount of ozone in the air increases due to electric motors, storms, fluorescent lighting and light reactions with polluted air. Ozone fading usually results in fading and lightening in colour, often completely changing the colour in the same way as fading is caused by smog.

According to the best carpet cleaner in Port Melbourne, before buying a carpet, it is important to check the type of dye used in the colouring process. Indicator dyes can be used to colour carpets, but these dyes are very sensitive to alkaline products and can fade when washed with ammonia or alkaline detergents. This is known as the 'indicator effect' and is reversed when acidic products are used. Some paints are sensitive to acids and discolours when exposed to acidic detergents or vinegar. In such cases, ammonia can be used to restore the colour.

It is important to remember that aging is also a factor in discolouration and you should seek the help of a professional carpet cleaner who is competent to deal with such situations!