When is the last time you had your carpet professionally cleaned? No matter how often you do do-it-yourself carpet cleaning methods, dust, dirt, debris, and allergens will build-up over time. Vacuuming will remove some of the contaminants but will be ineffective at removing stains and debris that have moved deep into the carpet fibers. For a thorough carpet clean, you should call a commercial and residential carpet cleaning professional like Steamex Eastern.
Which type of carpet cleaning method should you choose – dry carpet cleaning or steam cleaning? Well, each method has its advantages and disadvantages. To help you decide on the best carpet cleaning method for your home or business, the experts at Steamex Eastern explain how each method below.
What is Steam Carpet Cleaning?
Did you know, despite the name, steam carpet cleaning does not use steam within its process? Steam carpet cleaning uses a hot water extraction method. This method uses a carpet cleaning machine to push hot water into the carpet and then immediately remove it, extracting all dirt, debris, and other contaminants. A cleaning solution can be added to the hot water to improve the effectiveness of removing the contaminates from the deep carpet fibers. If you have a small space, a professional cleaner will use a steam cleaning machine that can plug directly into the wall and be easily moved from room to room. For a larger space or commercial operation, a carpet cleaning professional will use a steam cleaning vehicle that passes hoses into the building.
To assist in the removal of deep stains, your carpets may need to be preconditioned with an alkaline agent. This solution will be sprayed on the carpet, scrubbed with a brush, and then it is rinsed out. The carpet has its pH neutralized before the steam cleaning begins.
Advantages of Steam Carpet Cleaning:
- There are a lot of experienced steam carpet cleaning professionals. By calling an experienced professional, like Steamex Eastern, you can feel at ease knowing your carpets will be cleaned thoroughly.
- There are only a few chemicals used within this carpet cleaning method. Steamex Eastern uses conventional detergents to steam clean your carpets. We do not use unusual or potentially toxic chemicals in your home or business.
- Steam carpet cleaning can be a green cleaning method. Some professional steam cleaners use common household substances like white vinegar or soap to perform the cleaning. These substances are 100% natural and completely biodegradable.
Disadvantages of Steam Carpet Cleaning
- Your carpets will need time to dry. After professional steam cleaning your carpets will be wet for 1 to 12 hours. If you attempt to do the cleaning yourself, they may be wet longer. The drying time depends on the temperature, humidity, and sun exposure to your cleaned space. While you can still walk on your carpets when they are wet, this can be very inconvenient for a business or commercial space.
- Steam cleaning can remove pre-installed stain protection. Sometimes, carpet stain protection can be removed when it is exposed to the hot water or cleaning detergents. If this happens, you may have to reapply some form of carpet protection to your carpets after they are cleaned.
- Sometimes you may need multiple steam cleanings. Some pet and chemical stains can be challenging for this method to remove. If these stains are too tough to handle, various applications may be required.
- Steam cleaning may be ineffective for older carpets. If your home or business has older carpets, especially those with natural fibers, steam cleaning can cause the backing to shrink. This may result in unnecessary wear, tear, and wrinkles appearing on the carpet.
- Stains may reoccur during the drying period. If your carpet stains were from mold, mildew, fungus, or another similar contaminant, the stain might reoccur during the drying period. To reduce your risk of recurring stains, have your steam cleaning done during the day, and open windows to let a breeze enter or use fans.
What is Dry Carpet Cleaning?
Dry carpet cleaning is a popular method that uses very low moisture. Typically, a damp compound is deposited evenly on the carpet and in some cases, it is pushed deeper for hard to reach contaminants. The chemical compound absorbs contaminants and stains by attaching itself to the particles themselves. After a while, the compound is either vacuumed or removed with special pads leaving the carpet clean and dry. If any of the chemical compounds are left in the carpet, the contaminates will be released back into the carpet.
Advantages of Dry Carpet Cleaning:
- There is almost no drying time. After dry carpet cleaning, carpets can be used immediately – convenient for busy homes or businesses.
- This is a quick and easy cleaning method. Even though this is a straightforward cleaning method, knowledge and experience are required to apply the chemical cleaning products correctly.
Disadvantages of Dry Carpet Cleaning:
- The chemicals used can be toxic. Some drying carpet cleaning processes use strong chemical solutions. These chemicals may cause an offensive odor or an adverse reaction to people with chemical sensitivity.
- This is not a deep cleaning method. Dry carpet cleaning cannot penetrate into the deep layers and fibers of the carpet. Steam carpet cleaning is a more effective deep carpet cleaning method.
- The cleaning chemicals may not be completely removed. Sometimes not all of the chemical compound is removed from your carpet by the vacuum or special pads. This can cause the chemical compound to simply release the contaminants back into the carpet, and in the worst-case scenario, the chemical compound could damage your carpet.
It can cause excessive contaminate build-up over time. Sometimes the powdery chemicals can remain trapped in your carpet. This can cause excessive dust and debris to build-up deep within the carpet.
419-382-1973
419-382-1973