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September 21, 2021Tips on Keeping your Carpet Cleaned.
Carpet can greatly contribute to the aesthetic of a home through its contribution of texture and color. Maintaining your carpets is crucial to preserving not only its appearance, but also the health of those in your home.
In the past, carpet cleaning involved pouring water on it and scrubbing it with a brush; but today, technology has enhanced and established various and effective ways of keeping the carpet clean and prolonging its life. The truth is, carpet needs more than just vacuuming, although it does help to minimize dirt build-up. A carpet needs regular cleaning in order to preserve its aesthetic appeal, and it is an easy way to keep your family healthy by minimizing allergens.
Applying the wrong method in cleaning your carpet can shrink it, alter its appearance, and leave behind product and dirt that can be harmful to you, your family, and your pets. You will find below various safe ways of ensuring a clean carpet for years to come.
Different Methods of Cleaning Carpet
There are various kinds of carpets, which changes their care and maintenance. They include but are not limited to:
- Wool carpets:This type shrinks with temperature rise or under any form of heat.
- Plant fiber carpets:Dry cleaning is appropriate on it.
- Synthetic carpets:Steam cleaning is perfect on it.
There are cleaning methods that are best for each type of carpet. This is where involving a professional can be of immense help to ensure that the right method is applied in cleaning your carpet.
Discussed below are the different ways of cleaning carpets:
Steam Cleaning Method
This is also known as hot water extraction cleaning, or wet cleaning. It is best to use on synthetic carpet. First, the carpet is pre-treated with a detergent that dissolves oil-based stains and other soil materials. The machine induces pressure on steam (fine spray of H2O) from heated water passing through the nozzle onto the carpet so as to suck stain/dust from the carpet which is immediately sucked back.
Steam cleaning is a deeper surface cleaning method compared to other methods and does a great job of getting rid of dust mites, odors and germs. However, it takes time for the carpet to dry after cleaning, and the equipment is expensive. But it is important to adequately saturate the carpet with the proper equipment in order not to destroy the carpet underlay and avoid odor and shrinkage.
Dry Cleaning Method
In dry-cleaning, a fine particles substance is first applied on the carpet for about 10 to 12 minutes. This is to soak up soil for easy removal before the application of moisture in small quantities on the carpet, which is then removed using a high suction vacuum cleaner with an attached brush.
It is important to use a high suction vacuum cleaner to remove the applied fine particles so that there won’t be any left over that can pile up after cleaning. Also, note that people that are sensitive to dust cannot use this method of cleaning, and it is not appropriate where deep cleaning is required. However, this approach requires minimal time for the carpet to dry after cleaning and is a dedicated method to clean some special carpet material.
Carpet Shampoo Method
This method of is the oldest way of cleaning a carpet. This method is inexpensive, effective in removing soil, and allows the carpet to dry very quickly after cleaning.
Wetting is used in this method with high lubricant properties to minimize harm to the carpet materials. This method is utilized at low temperatures, so it can be adequate for fiber carpet types but is not appropriate for high-pile carpet in order to keep it from getting warped. The shampoo draws out dirt from the carpet surface, and then it is removed with the use of a vacuum with an attached motorized brush.
Encapsulation Method
This method is similar to the dry-cleaning method, but zero water is employed while cleaning your carpet. It employs the use of a substance that has dual agents of cleaning and crystallizing. This method leaves zero residues after cleaning, there is no need for drying afterwards, and it leaves the carpet clean for a long time. However, it can be expensive to employ in cleaning your carpet and the machine is heavy and difficult to move around. However, it is perfect for cleaning large carpet surface areas.
Regular Carpet Cleaning Method
This method yields the best result when carried out regularly and is the most popularly employed cleaning method in the homes. Here, the carpet is cleaned often to avoid being excessively soiled. All that is required is a regular vacuum cleaner with a rotary brush to do this. The method is solely used for dry dirt, has no ability to get rid of stains, and deep cleaning of carpet with closely arranged woven fibers can be difficult. However, it is cheap and easy to use.
Using a Professional Carpet Cleaner
Although hiring a pro to clean up your carpet can be quite expensive, it is an effective way of ensuring the cleanest state of your carpet because a pro employs and combines various appropriate techniques to clean your carpet, factoring in size, stain type and carpet materials.
Conclusion
It is important to be aware of manufacturers’ specifications and recommendations while preparing to clean a carpet. Each method employed in cleaning a carpet has its pros and cons. Some methods can leave your carpet warped, destroy its fibers or reduce the carpet lifespan. Hence, it is critical to always pay close attention to details while preparing to clean a carpet. Ask yourself the following questions: Do I want a holistic process? What budget do I have for the job? Do I want a super clean carpet after cleaning? Am I willing to wait a length of time for the carpet to dry? Is my carpet very dirty?
Having a professional carpet cleaning can eliminate different kinds of stains you may not be able to remove yourself, such as chocolate, gum, wine, blood, and paints.