Every home keeper knows their trusty vacuum cleaner is the best weapon against a dirty, smelly carpet. When pets are part of the household or to remove infrequent spills, proper spot removal is in order. Modern carpet is stain-resistant, making it easier to keep accidents from becoming permanent stains. Be mindful, stain resistant does not mean stain proof. You’ll still need to be vigilant and attack offenders timely.
Carpet cleaning products bearing the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) seal of approval are generally safe to use on any type/color carpet. Still, it would be wise to test it on a small concealed area of carpet. Follow manufacturer’s directions, remembering not to scrub the area vigorously.
Preventive measures go a long way toward keeping carpets clean. By placing mats inside and outside doorways, a great deal of dirt stays outside where it belongs. This may sound strange, but scheduled changes of your HVAC air filter allows it to remove dust that would otherwise fall on your carpet.
Beyond preventive measures, regular vacuuming and timely spot removal, carpets should be professionally deep cleaned every 12-18 months to get rid of the ground-in grunge, which is invisible to the human eye. It is the only method that prolongs the life and beauty of your carpet.
Deep cleaning systems target embedded grime resulting from air pollution, outside dirt that travels inside and cooking vapors. If allowed to remain in your carpet, it eventually will look lackluster as its color disappears beneath layers of soil.
It’s your personal decision whether to employ professionals to clean your carpet, or rent/buy home equipment and do-it-yourself (DIY). However, home carpet cleaning equipment is not as powerful as commercial systems. Cleaning an entire house is quite labor intensive.
When you engage a professional carpet cleaning service, it’s important to select a system that does not leave residue behind, which exacerbates the intent of deep cleaning in the first place.
Hot Water Extraction
Commonly known as deep steam cleaning, this method is recommended by the CRI as having the best potential for cleaning. First, the carpets are pretreated with a chemical agent, which is applied using high temperature.
Professional carpet cleaners use an external truck mounted extractor. A hose attaches to the extractor and a handheld pressurized wand is attached to a hose. The wand is used to rinse the pre-treated surface, extract particles and residue of the pretreatment solution and vacuum.
It generally takes from 4-12 hours for the carpet to dry thoroughly. However, it can dry within 6-7 hours when professionals use optimal equipment.
Be mindful if your carpet is still under warranty, you may be required to validate periodical hot water extraction cleanings. Whether you prefer to DIY or hire professionals, all cleaning equipment must carry the CRI seal of approval.
Advantages of Professional Carpet Cleaning Services
When a carpet is deep-down dirty, it holds debris such as: cockroach allergens and pet dander. Eventually toxic gases stick onto to debris and pollute the air. Professional carpet cleaners kill and rid your carpet of them with powerful extraction equipment.
Your carpet dries quicker, which helps prevent harmful growth of mold.
Why Dirty Carpets are Harmful to Health
Extremely dirty carpets breed dust mites, which kick-up allergies in most people. Breathing the residue of dead dust mites can cause irritation to eyes and nose and/or rashes.
Did you know athlete’s foot can be caused by walking barefoot on carpets containing parasitic organisms?
Inhaling various volatile compounds from dirty carpet can result in asthma attacks, coughing, runny noses and breathing problems.
It’s not the dirt you see on your carpets; instead deep-down dirt is the core of many health issues. In this light, hiring a professional carpet cleaner is definitely not a luxury, it is a necessity.