Fragrances can mask odors or can enhance perceived cleanliness, but watch out — in today’s ECO friendly world, they don’t always pay off.

Not all “fresh smelling” additives guaranty customer satisfaction.
 
Fragrances or masking agents are often used in cleaning solutions to enhance the total sensory perception of a carpet-cleaning job. If it smells good, it must be clean, right?  

Well, the problem is that not all agree. All it takes is one asthmatic person in the home or one chemically sensitive occupant of a building to ruin your day.
 
In my opinion, clean is odorless. Clean means that you have removed unwanted matter. This would include anything that smells or off gasses; however, many have different opinions on the subject. They may believe that if there is no lemon lime or orange citrus smell the desired expected result was not achieved. They did not get their money’s worth.
 
What an end-user perceives as clean may be what you have to give them. You should always ask them what they want prior to cleaning. This often requires educating them on the plusses and minuses of fragrance additives.
 
This can be done in a number of ways. Of course, if you do both commercial and residential cleaning, your information can be presented in different formats. For residential customers you may want to inform them by e-mail prior to cleaning or hand them a consumer educational piece at the door. Commercial cleaners can add information into their proposals or add a page to their website.  
 
Facility managers should err on the safe side and go with the fragrance free cleaning. Have copies of material safety data sheets if you choose to use products with residual odors. This can reduce the liability for both of you. Again, you never know how it will affect each person in a building. I have seen whole floors evacuated for weeks because of this. It can be costly for both you and your client.
 
Protect yourself and your company. Good communication about the subject will keep you out of trouble and help the cash to keep flowing regardless of the nice smell you may have or may not have left behind.

Doug Bradford, CR, has been consulting and cleaning commercial carpet for 25 years. He is a USGBC LEED AP, IICRC Master Cleaner & Senior Carpet Inspector. He has been involved with or chaired the IICRC S100 Carpet Cleaning Standard revisions since 2002. His website is www.ecointeriormaintenance.com and he can be contacted at dougb@eco-im.com