The CleanSeal® performance criteria for cleaning and maintenance products for textile floor coverings are based on accumulated performance data and on internationally used standards and protocols.
The CleanSeal® performance criteria are detailed in WoolSafe Standard WS 1011, Protocol for the evaluation and accreditation of carpet cleaning chemicals for the CleanSeal Mark, Appendix B.
Dilution
Testing is carried out on products diluted according to the manufacturer's instructions. If there is a range, the worst case scenario is taken; e.g. the buffering and re-soiling are done on the most concentrated form, while the cleaning effectiveness on the most diluted one.
For all products
| Test for: | Requirement: |
| Buffering | If pH is below 4 or above 10, product must not be strongly buffered |
| Effect on colour fastness of floor coverings | Must not have a detrimental effect |
| Evaporation residue | Must be dry, preferably powdery or crystalline; waxy could be accepted if dust adhesion is minimal |
| (Re-)soiling characteristics (ISO 11378 - Part 1) | Must not increase re-soiling after application |
| Hazards and other safety aspects (e.g. flammability) | Must be free of safety hazards |
| Application instructions | Must be accurate, clear and unambiguous |
Additionally for cleaning chemicals
| Oxidising agents | Must be absent |
| Reducing agents | Must be absent |
| Cleaning performance (ISO 11379) | Must meet or exceed industry standard |
Additionally for spot and stain removers
| Reducing agents | Allowed in specialist products |
| Oxidising agents | Allowed in specialist products (e.g. oxi-spotters) |
| Spot (stain) removal performance (ISO 13750) | Must meet or exceed industry standard |
Additionally for soil retardant and stain resist finishes
| Influence on texture, colour, handle | Must not have any detrimental effect on texture , handle or colour of floor coverings |
| Level of treatment (oilwicking) | Must show adequate covering of fibres |
| Oil and water repellency tests | Must meet industry standards of repellency |
| Soiling (Soil Retardants) | Must significantly improve soil resistance |
| Staining (Stain Repellents and Stain Resist agents) | Must significantly improve stain repellency or stain resistance |
Additionally for pile rinsing and neutralising agents
| pH | Must not be lower than pH 2.5 |
Additionally for deodorizers
| Odour removal characteristics | Must be able to remove objectionable odours1 |
Additionally for antistatic agents
| Static dispersing characteristics | Must be able to suppress the generation of static on floor coverings |
Additionally for insect resist agents
| Insect resist characteristics | Must be able to resist insect infestations on floor coverings |
1 Tested by WoolSafe, or WoolSafe will accept independent Test House certification
2 Valid, independent Test House certification is required
