Color Changes or Discoloration
Description
In some cases, the fibers in the
carpet fade or undergo color changes. This may be observed in either
a small area of the carpet or only in certain colors in the
carpet.
Cause
Dyes exhibit color changes due to many causes:
chemical reactions with atmospheric gases, sunlight or chemicals
(shampoo, chemical finishes). These changes are usually caused by
the chemical changes in dyes that may not be reversible. Most of
these chemical reactions are accelerated by heat, sunlight, humidity
and the presence of certain chemicals like ozone, oxides of sulfur
and nitrogen etc.
Treatment
When this discoloration occurs
due to an alkaline dye's reaction to alkaline solutions like
ammonia-based cleaning agents, it can be reversed by treatment with
treatment with diluted acetic acid. In the opposite scenario, acid
dyes react with acidic chemicals and the consequent discoloration
can be reversed by treating the discolored fibers with diluted
ammonia. But in cases where the reaction occurs under the influence
of strong acids or alkalies, the resulting chemical reaction is
irreversible.Fading due to exposure to
sunlight is usually irreversible and here precaution is often easier
than cure. To protect your valuable rugs, make sure that they sre
not exposed to strong/direct sunlight. Use of window blinds and
ultra-violet (UV)ray-proof glass also prevents color loss due to
sunlight.
NoteIn many cases` this discoloration is hidden by soils and is more apparent after cleaning.