Carpet cleaning is done to remove dirt, stains, and allergens in carpets. Carpet cleaning is essential to reduce allergies, allergens, and mold that may trigger asthma attacks among susceptible persons. Many common techniques used in carpet cleaning include dry-cleansing, steam cleaning, hot water extraction, and carpet shampooing. Dry-clean or steam cleaning is the most often recommended cleaning technique for regular household dirty carpets and rugs making your home a place for a clean carpet.
Importance of Carpet Cleaning Services
Carpet cleaning is important not only to remove stains but also to remove carpet stains, dirt, and molds that may have accumulated in the carpets over time. Stains are the visible dirt that shows up after regular wear. When dirt gets embedded in the carpet fibers, it becomes harder to clean with just basic warm water and some ordinary carpet cleaning solution, which makes it more difficult to maintain a clean appearance. In addition, certain types of stains require a different carpet cleaning method with respect to the carpet manufacturer’s ideal cleaning method.
Homes with new home construction should be cleaned to remove dust mites and any dirt that might be on the carpets before the home is finished being built. Homes that were built with carpeting have an extra challenge since the fibers are slightly more porous than those found in existing carpets, making it harder to clean without damaging the carpet. There are special vacuums and techniques for removing dirt and dust mites from carpets that cannot be used on new home carpets or rugs.
Some stains are extremely difficult to remove and will require professional dry carpet cleaning services to make sure that carpet protection is not compromised. One of the best tips is to make sure you know what is causing the stain. If you know the material of the carpet, you can use common household cleaners that are safe for carpets and furniture. The same goes for liquid stains. If you know the substance causing the stain, you can use cleaners that are safe for carpets and furniture and neutralize the acid to neutralize the stain, preventing it from coming back.
Even in homes where new carpets and furniture were installed, there can be dirt, dust and grime embedded in the carpet fibers. Even in homes where the carpets are spotless, there can still be traces of dirt and dust. Most people have the temptation to sweep or vacuum away the dirt and dust, but this only stirs up more of the dirt and grime. The particles are then deposited in corners and areas of low friction, creating further obstacles to easy clean up. Instead of attempting to clean the carpets by hand, it would be better to call in a professional carpet cleaning company.
Professional carpet cleaners have the equipment and the knowledge to remove the dirt from the rugs and to clean them effectively, some of them use hot water extraction to basically to make a dirty carpet to a clean carpet. This saves the homeowner from additional clean up and the expense of hiring another person to do the same job. Carpets need to be dried thoroughly before reinstalling them to reduce odors that emanate from porous carpets and to eliminate any residue remaining from cleaning that was not removed. In order for the carpets to dry appropriately and completely, they need to be hung to dry. For an indoor carpet, this means allowing them to be outside on the floor and not on hooks or racks.
Most rug cleaners also offer steam cleaning and dry cleaning services. These services provide a deep cleaning that removes stains and deeply cleans the fibers. While these services may take longer than the vacuuming and steam cleaning methods, it is more thorough and usually does not require the services of a machine washer. There are even shampoo products available that can effectively remove stains from rugs with mildew and dirt without damaging the fibers.
In order for the carpet to maintain its appearance and prolong its useful life, regular cleaning of the carpets is necessary. Vacuuming is the first step, followed by steam cleaning and drying. According to different carpet cleaning tips, Newer stiffer carpets will have stains that can be easily lifted out with a gallon of water alone. However, older carpets may retain some of these stubborn stains that can be removed with some cleaning solutions and a little patience. Carpet stain removers and deep carpet cleaning/fiber-shield can also be used as additional steps to getting rid of pet stains.
Eight Tips for Carpet Cleaning
Whether you’ve had a carpet cleaning several times in your own home or you’re thinking about your choices between a dry carpet cleaning business and a steam carpet cleaning business, here are five reasons to avoid steam carpet cleaning.
First of all, there’s the issue of residual chemicals left behind from the cleaning solution. They soak up moisture, which leaves nasty smelling chemicals in your carpets. In fact, when I was vacuuming out my own bed, I nearly got burned trying to get those nasty chemicals out of the carpet fibers! Steam cleaning can leave residual chemicals in your carpets that can be much more harmful than they first seem. Sometimes its better to use clean water or soapy water for cleaning your carpet whether it be your bedroom carpet or your living room carpet.
Second, you don’t actually get rid of all the stains in your carpet; you just get rid of some of them. Yes, that’s true, and that’s a problem, too. Carpet cleaning can leave spots in your carpet, which are much harder to remove than stains that have been lifted out with a vacuum. If there are still stains, you can do a spot remover process. With regular vacuuming, you get rid of the stains, and then what happens is the spots will attract more dirt, which will even more difficult to remove. So if you do get your carpets professionally cleaned, you’re better off having your carpet professionally cleaned again, so that all of the stains have been lifted out, but this time with a steam cleaner that also removes the dirt that has been attached to it. Make sure that you have a foot traffic scheme inside the house or the office, limiting foot traffic on the carpet area when it is being place.
Third, you won’t be able to completely disinfect your carpet with a standard carpet cleaning machine. With a steam cleaner, the water vapor is blasted through the carpet, which goes right into the fibers. The dirt is lifted right out of the carpet, along with the water vapor. If you use a professional carpet cleaning machine, the dirt will stay inside the fibers, where it will begin to break down into new dirt, instead of breaking down into the water vapor in the carpet, which will escape and go somewhere else, unless you have a good vacuum. It’s better to have the water vapor trapped inside than to have the water to escape because it will eventually end up as mold and mildew in your house.
Fourth, you may introduce mold into your home. Vacuuming isn’t enough to take out the moisture in the air if you’re doing it on a regular basis because you’re introducing bacteria into your home. This bacteria is being introduced into your house every time you vacuum, and it’s only going to grow. So, yes, regular vacuuming is necessary, but you should also make sure that you get your carpets cleaned by a professional once per year, if not more often.
Fifth, if you don’t do proper cleaning of your carpets, you may be introducing toxins to your family. Dust mites are known allergens. In fact, they are known to cause asthma and allergies. If you have children or any pets in your home, you’ve probably had to deal with dust mites before. The spores from dirty carpeting can easily be breathed in by anyone who spends some time in your house.
Sixth, if you’ve just moved into a new place, your old carpeting could contain harmful dust and dirt particles. On top of that, it may also contain animal hair and dander, both of which are potential allergens. Even old furniture can contain debris that you’ve brought with you. Carpet cleaning services can help remove these potentially harmful materials from your home.
Seventh, the use of a steam cleaner can remove dirt, grime, oil, and mite residue. But, steam cleaners are unable to extract stains from the carpeting. So, it’s important to also use a stain remover, such as a liquid detergent, when you steam clean. If you do use a detergent, it’s important to note that regular spot-cleaning can help remove stains from carpeting. So, don’t neglect spot removal when you apply a detergent-based cleaning product.
Finally, keep in mind that carpet cleaning service providers use a carpet extractor to loosen dirt, sand, and another residue so that they can be removed by a separate method. If you have carpeted floors in your household, this is usually done with a vacuum cleaner that has an extraction head. It sucks up the debris and filters it with its air filter. So, if you want to avoid having to pay a professional to do the job for you, ask if the cleaning service you’re considering uses an extractor.