Attached cushion: a cushioning material, such as foam, rubber, urethane, etc., adhered to the backing fabric side of a carpet to provide additional dimensional stability, thickness, and padding.
Backing: materials (fabrics or yarns) comprising the back of the carpet as opposed to the carpet pile, or face.
Biological hazard (biohazard): an organism or substance derived from an organism that poses a threat to human health; can include substances harmful to animals.
Bleeding: transfer of fiber dyes from carpet or other fabrics by a liquid, usually water, with subsequent redepositing on other fibers.
Blend: a mixture of two or more fibers or yarns.
Carpet cushion: a term used to describe any kind of material placed under carpet to provide softness and adequate support when it is walked on.
CBSE: Certified Building Service Executive, a designation awarded by the Building Service Contractors Association International.
Degreaser: a cleaner designed to remove oils and greases.
Disinfectants/disinfecting: killing microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi) with a chemical agent; many disinfectants are safe and commonly available, some are toxic and damaging to surfaces.
Dry cleaning: a cleaning process that uses chemicals rather than water; dry cleaning isn’t necessarily done without moisture.
Dry compound cleaner: carpet cleaning preparation consisting of absorbent granules impregnated with dry cleaning fluids, detergents, and other cleaners; dry powder is sprinkled on the carpet, worked into the pile with a brush, left to absorb soil for a short time, then removed with the absorbed soil by vacuuming.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): U.S. government agency responsible for setting and administering air and water standards.
Fastness: retention of color by carpet or other materials.
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA): U.S. government agency that oversees laws requiring employers to provide employees with a workplace free of hazardous conditions.
Resellers’ permits: state Department of Revenue–issued permits that allow you to purchase items you intend to resell without paying sales tax; you’re responsible for collecting and remitting sales tax on those items when they’re sold.
Rug: carpet cut into room or area dimensions and loose–laid.
Soil retardant: chemical used to help textile fibers resist soiling.
Solvent: any liquid capable of dissolving other liquids or solids; in cleaning, it generally means one of the volatile petroleum or plant distillates used to dissolve oily and greasy soils.
Spot–clean: cleaning a small portion of an object—typically carpet, furniture, or walls—rather than the entire item.
Stripping: process of removing numerous applications of floor finishes (or wax) from hard–surface flooring.
Wet–clean: a cleaning process using water and detergents or soaps.