Homeowners often don’t realize that shampooing is not necessarily the best way of cleaning carpets in their homes and that they have more options for cleaning carpets than ever before. Some carpet cleaning methods include lightweight and affordable cleaning, while other methods are a better choice for removing tough stains, dirt, and debris.
The best way of cleaning carpets is usually by steam cleaning, which removes more than 90% of dirt and bacteria from the carpet. Dry cleaning rugs are also effective to ensure the rugs are ready to move the feet as quickly as possible.
To ensure that the rugs and carpets in your home, as well as all other flooring materials, are kept in good condition and looking at their best, note some important differences between the ways to clean the carpets as well as some tips to keep the floors as clean as possible. You can then discuss your choices with a carpet cleaning company near you when the time comes to clean the carpets and floors by a professional!
Different Carpet Cleaning Services
Note the most common carpet cleaning services you may choose for your home so you can better understand the advantages and disadvantages of each option:
- Hot water extraction or steam cleaning uses hot water applied to high-pressure stick carpet fibers. Hot water and pressure relieve dirt, mud, dust, and other debris from carpets, allowing it to be extracted easily. Steam “blowing” the steam-coated carpet fibers so your home rugs look softer and feel comfortable underground.
- Shampooing carpet wash uses specialized detergents applied with lots of water, just like shampooing hair! Swivel brushes may exfoliate the shampoo in the carpet and help reduce dirt and debris. Clean water is used to extract the shampoo until the carpets are clean and waste-free.
- Dry cleaning of the carpet uses a special powder cleaner or similar chemicals that are used in a small amount of water. The rotating brush pushes the powder into fibers and a special extraction tool then removes the cleaner with trapped dirt and debris.
- Carpet or cleaning foam is often used for special cleaning the carpet. The special foam is applied to the carpet as it then begins to bubble and expand; this expanded foam traps dirt and debris and connects it to the surface of the carpet. Steam extraction then removes trapped foam and dirt.
- Bonnet Cleaning uses a specialized cleaning of the carpets machine with some kind of thick towel or hood on the front. This hood smells rug of shampoo on the surface of carpet fibers, then the shampoo is extracted along with the trapped dirt and debris.
What Is the Best Carpet Cleaning Method?
There is no “best way to clean carpets” that fits all types of carpets and treats all dirt and stains, and all the cleaning carpet methods have pros and cons. Think about some of the advantages and disadvantages of the most common carpet cleaning methods so you can decide on the right choice for your home.
- Hot water extract is an excellent choice for people who are allergic or sensitive to detergents and shampoo. Steam also kills bacteria, germs, molds, and other irritants, which is another benefit for people with sensitive sinuses! However, it is difficult to remove all traces of water after cleaning carpet vapor, so the carpet may not be ready for foot movement for several hours after cleaning.
- Shampoo rugs are effective in removing stubborn stains but require good, thorough extraction. The sticky detergent residue left behind after shampooing will keep hair and more dust and dirt closed along the surface of the carpet until the home rugs look dirty after shampooing.
- Dry cleaning of carpets in offices and crowded homes are preferred with families who cannot wait for the carpet to dry! However, detergents and chemicals used in dry cleaning rugs can be somewhat permeable, so proper ventilation is vital, and this carpet cleaning method may be a bad choice for those with allergies or breathing difficulties.
- Bonnet cleaning only removes the surface dirt from carpets, which is a disadvantage for floors that need deep cleaning. The advantage of cleaning the hood is that this method is fast and affordable. Consider cleaning a bonnet rug if your rug is not particularly dirty or shaded and if you need light rug cleaning on a consistent and affordable basis, to ensure your home rugs are always looking for the best.
DIY Carpet Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid
To ensure your home rugs are thoroughly and safely cleaned, contact a cleaning carpet company near you! Cleaning carpet contractors have the tools and expertise to clean hard stains and dirt, without damaging the carpet fibers. However, if you decide to clean carpets in your home on your own, notice some common mistakes in DIY carpet cleaning to avoid:
- Avoid using too much pressure when cleaning or brushing carpets. Pushing a swiveling brush into the carpet fibers can pull these fibers loosely so that the carpet looks threaded or fuzzy.
- Extract all traces of shampoo, detergent, foams, and chemicals to completely clean the carpets. As has been said, the remaining detergents are sticky, trap and lock dirt against carpet fibers, so it is necessary to spend time to properly remove cleaning carpet agents.
- Use fresh water with every application of steam or the extracting stick and do not rush to clean the carpets. Allow the steam to penetrate the carpet fibers and make sure to continue removing dirt and detergent until the water in the tank is clean.
- Avoid walking on wet carpets as this can crush the carpet fibers and make the carpets look flat and worn.
- Do not lose sight of the need for a lot of ventilation during and after shampooing or steaming your carpet, to help dry the carpet and the baseliner completely. Added ventilation will reduce the risk of fungi and mold growth due to the moisture trapped under your carpets. Open windows and bring fans and dehumidifiers if you have one, to remove excess moisture.
How to Clean Tile Floors
When scheduling a professional cleaning carpet for the home, you may also have professional floor cleaning tiles and other surfaces. Professional hygiene is more comprehensive than daily cleansing and will remove dirt, mud and other waste. For daily cleaning between professional visits, note some tips on how to clean tiles and other common floor surfaces:
- Avoid harsh abrasives on ceramic tiles, as this causes patterning and other damage. Use a multi-purpose cleaner and rinse it with a completely fresh mop, then dry the ground to avoid getting more dirt and debris on its surface.
- It is best to clean sandstone floor tiles and planks with a floor polishing machine or floor polishing machine. Stone floors also need to be stripped and sealed occasionally, to prevent dirt and mud.
- Never use hot water or solvents on waxed floors, as many of these solutions damage the coatings used to wax seal. Use a special tarpaulin cleaner and make sure the water used during the cleaning is cold or lukewarm, never hot.
- Marble tile is porous but needs polishing to retain its overall look. Use a water-soften fabric softener to clean and polish your marble floors, and be sure to remove your stone slabs as needed.
Simple Tips for Keeping Carpets Clean
Regular professional shampoo washing with carpets is the best option to keep your home and carpets clean, but note some practical and simple tips to ensure your home floors are at their best between professional cleaning:
- If you have a pet, then make sure to cut your pet’s nails and claws, not only to reduce the amount of dirt that may be tracked on the carpet but to avoid pulling the strings and fibers of the carpet. Dried strands allow more dirt and debris, so pruning nails can lead to the cleaning of indoor rugs!
- Invest in an air filter or air purifier for the entire home, or at least for the rooms you use the most. The air purifier will trap and lock the airborne dust and dirt so that the debris cannot settle on the carpet, keeping the floors generally clean.
- Check the door window and screens of your home. If the screen of these screens is very wide with large holes, invest in screens with smaller networks to keep the airborne dust and other debris outside the home.
- Have the external surfaces of your home wash regularly. Dirt, dust, and other debris outside the home can become airborne and make its way from the inside, settling on carpets and other flooring materials.
- Change your oven filter at least every year, if not more, throughout the year, and clean your home’s air ducts professionally as well. Dirt and dust settle into the ducts of the house and then blows them onto the carpet, and the old clogged furnace filter will not trap most airborne dust and debris, which also allows it to settle on floors.
- Never assume that vacuuming damages the carpets in some way, as daily cleaning removes dirt and dust that brushes the fibers and corrodes the carpets on a large scale. Invest in a powerful vacuum cleaner and use it daily to keep your carpet looking the best in professional cleaning!
