Carpet cleaning is performed mainly to remove dirt, stains, and allergens in carpets. Carpets absorb the human body’s perspiration and dead skin cells. These substances are then absorbed into the carpet fibers through a process known as capillary action. Hence, carpet cleaning involves cleaning of the dirt, stains, and allergens which may have built up on the carpet fibers. Carpet cleaning techniques include dry cleaning, hot water extraction, and steam cleaning.
There are two types of dry carpet cleaning method employed for cleaning carpets: wet cleaning and dry cleaning. Wet carpet-cleaning method involves using a solvent, such as de-ionized water (Dishwasher liquid), acetone, or chlorine bleach. These substances loosen dirt particles that have become embedded in the fibres of the carpet, making it difficult to vacuum up. For this reason, wet cleaning can be considered a less effective way to clean carpets than steam cleaning, which involves the use of heated water, and thus more intense cleansing of the carpet.
Dry carpet cleaning involves the drying off the carpet using a machine that combines air with heat. The carpet is dusted, then vacuumed thoroughly in order to pick up all the dust and dirt particles which may still be present. In most cases, this carpet cleaning technique does not employ mechanical tools. However, there are carpet steam cleaners that employ several of these mechanical tools, in order to increase the carpet cleaning efficiency. The carpet steam cleaning equipment consists of a vacuum cleaner, a sprayer, a dryer, and a compressor.
Vacuum cleaners extract the dirt from the carpet by using suction power. A good quality vacuum cleaner is capable of extracting a full liter of water! On the other hand, one should make sure that the vacuum cleaner is properly maintained so that its suction is efficient. One should ensure that the vacuum cleaner does not get plugged while in use, and so that the head of the vacuum cleaner does not get clogged with hair, dust or other particles. It is very important to keep one’s vacuum cleaner clean and in good working condition, in order to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the carpet cleaning process.
Dry carpet cleaning machines employ high-powered air to dry the carpets to a depth of six inches or more, and to completely remove the surface dirt. This method has the potential to cause damage to the carpet fibres, as the heat generated during this process is not gentle on carpets, as it can melt and distort them. Some people believe that this type of carpet cleaning could leave some residue on the surface, which would attract more dirt once vacuuming was performed again. However, this residue is not permanent, as the carpets can easily regain their original shine after being dried for a few days. The dry cleaning method also leaves no residue on the carpet, as the moisture extracted is not retained on the surface.
While professional cleaners generally use hot water, or an extremely hot water extraction (HWE), this is not a preferred method of cleaning, as it could also cause damage to the carpet fibres. Hot water extraction (HWE) uses concentrated chemicals to remove surface stains and deeply clean the carpets, as it removes the need for any form of heat treatment with carpet shampoo. HFE is also much more costly than hot water extraction (HWE).