Carpet Cleaning

Save Time on Safe Carpet Cleaning

Carpet cleaning is a concern in the household or any building that has carpets or runners. A carpet is a floor covering that is also decorative; it adds character or sets the mood in a room.   As shoes, animals, and other things get in contact with it everyday, the carpet collects dirt. This is why, when the residents decide to have a carpet installed, long term care (i.e. having it cleaned) should always be a consideration. Should you do carpet cleaning yourself? Should the company hire a professional to do it?

There are several methods used for carpet cleaning :

Robot Style Vacuums

This is makes use of a machine that uses an air pump. This air pump then creates a partial vacuum. It sucks up the dirt and dust and is collected by a cyclone or a filtering system—usually in a bag that can be disposed later. About 85% of surface dirt can be taken out by regular vacuuming.

Absorbent Pad Method

In this method, an absorbent pad unit that is enclosed by a mesh screen and mounted on the carpet cleaning machine head is used. The highly absorbent outer sheet is made of acid-resistant paper that is strengthened with fiberglass strands. It is located near the screen. The inner sheet is made of the same materials but it has a thick, soft and absorbent core that is wedged in between the outer and inner sheets. These sheets absorb the residue that shall passes through when the screen makes contact with the carpet.

The advantage of this method is that it is cheap, it dries fast (about 30 minutes), fast—because the only place to be cleaned is the surface, and there is less wicking. The downside would be that there could be pile distortion. The fiber could be damaged on cut-pile carpet. Soil ground could happen and also abrasion because of rough soil, detergent and other build-ups.

Dry Chemical Carpet Cleaning

This method uses chemicals only to the areas that need treatment. The chemicals break stains, like pet urine or ink, down. It has no residue and it does not make your carpet wet. There is no guarantee however that old stains can be totally removed with this method. It is very hard to remove deeply embedded stains in the carpet padding.

Dry Foam Carpet Cleaning

This is like shampooing your carpet, and then it is allowed to dry. After that, the dried shampoo shall be sucked into a vacuum. It is a carpet cleaning method but it can leave residue in the carpet, which is why it is not the most effective.

Hot Water Carpet Cleaning

True to its name, it makes use hot water that is mixed with cleaning solution. This is forced in and then sucked out of the carpet. Like the others, this is also one of the common carpet cleaning methods however it could cause shrinking, delaminating, stretching, color alteration, wick back, mold and mildew, and of course downtime because it could take at least 8 hours to get it dry.

Professional Carpet Cleaning

Word of mouth from close friends and family is a good basis in choosing a professional carpet cleaning company. The hired cleaners could either do any of the aforementioned methods or a combination. In choosing, aside from word of mouth, it would be good to look at the list of clients that the company has, and ask for feedback before jumping right in to sign the contract.

How often should we do carpet cleaning ?

It is advisable to diligently vacuum the carpet and remove fresh stains as soon as possible. This will not only help keep your carpet looking good, but at the same time keep the growth of microorganisms and other unwanted buildups at bay.

What chemicals can be readily used in home carpet cleaning ?

This depends on the kind of stain:

Red wine stains can be removed using club soda. Make a 30/70 solution of peroxide and water. Since peroxide is bleach, it should be tested first on an inconspicuous area to see if it will dramatically alter the color or not. If it does not, it can be applied then later rinsed out with vinegar/water solution.

For pet stains and smells, enzyme products shall be tried first. Treat the area by pouring on enough to saturate the pad. Let the pad stay for a couple of hours. These enzyme products can be found at pet stores or marine stores because they are used in holding tanks. They dissolve solid material.

If in case the stain or odor is not removed, the best bet would be peroxide and baking soda. The solution could be made by mixing 30/70 peroxide to water. Add half a teaspoon of baking soda. Before using it in carpet cleaning , make sure to try it out first on a spot for colorfastness.

To clean out grease, oil, and ink, there are products in department stores that can take them out. Ink can be removed using rubbing alcohol. Magic marker ink may not be removed at all since it is permanent, and if in any case a chemical disturbs it, it is most likely going to be smudged.

What is to be avoided in carpet cleaning ?

Avoid using products that contain Tetrachloroethylene. This chlorinated solvent which is usually found in metal and carpet cleaners evaporates rapidly, can be inhaled easily and it causes cancer. It can affect you when you breathe it in or as it passes through your skin. High exposure to this could make you dizzy or pass out. It could cause eye and skin burns on contact and severe kidney and liver damage can occur.

So how often do we do carpet cleaning ?

It is advisable to vacuum frequently to minimize buildup of dirt. The mild carpet cleaning products can be used for regular daily cleaning. Save the stronger products for deep cleaning. It is better to clean carpets frequently so that dealing with tougher stains that would require more cleaning time will be avoided. If the carpet is frequently cleaned and the stains are always attended to while they are still fresh, the use of strong carpet cleaning chemicals that are dangerous to your health can hopefully be avoided.  In any event, it’s worth giving serious consideration to getting a professional company in to do the work for you.