Clearing The Air On Carpet Cleaning
There are some common misconceptions that have been peddled around concerning carpet cleaning, and some of these can even cause one to keep postponing having their unit worked on. Let’s have a look at them, and show the false nature that lies within:
- Too much vacuuming will damage the carpet
Only if you have installed the carpet wrongly, or you’re using an inappropriate vacuum machine – perhaps even one that is not properly maintained. Otherwise, you can vacuum the carpet as often as you can in order to keep the dust and allergen levels to a minimum. Carpets are durable furnishing items, and all the vacuuming does is to lift off the loose particles and debris from the material. Usually, households vacuum once or twice a week, though it may need to be more frequent for those high traffic sections.
- Carpet cleaning causes it to get dirtier faster
This myth has its routes to the traditional methods which resulted in residue being left within the carpet. The soapy residue causes it to trap more soiling, acting like a dirt magnet. This caused it to get resoiled at a faster rate. However, this all came down to the wrong carpet cleaning methods being used. A thorough rinsing is required after the process, to ensure that there is no residue that is left behind.
- Hot water extraction leads to mould
This also comes down to improper application. Yes, hot water extraction bases its application on copious amounts of heated water being pumped into the carpet, flushing out the grime. However, that does not mean that the carpet will be left soaking wet. Professionals employ high powered wet vacuums to extract the excess moisture from the carpet before leaving your home. This results in the carpet being left just slightly damp to one’s touch – and this residual moisture will have dried off in as a few hours. This approach enables the carpet cleaning and drying to all be accomplished within the same day, allowing you to resume using your carpet sooner, and it takes away the risk of mould growth.
- All carpet methods are the same
This myth is quickly debunked by the wide assortment of cleaning methods that are available, each with their different processes and qualities of results. Take dry cleaning for instance. Here, you can use the carpet immediately it has been worked on. Basically, a powder is mixed with a solvent and spread onto the carpet, attracting the dirt and grime. This settles, and the carpet is vacuumed, after which it is ready to be used. However, it doesn’t deliver the deep cleaning that is desired, as there will still be mounds of grime buried within the carpet. Bonnet cleaning, on the other hand, is usually seen in areas that handle heavy footfall – like commercial establishments, where the carpets have a higher grade of durability. This particular method is not common for residential carpet care, as it will wear down the material. What’s more, when it comes to effectiveness, it only removes the soiling that is on the upper layers of the carpet, leaving the lower sections untouched.
Shampooing carpets is a notch higher than the regular vacuuming. Here, the shampoo, in the appropriate ratios of soap and water, is spread all over the carpet. One of the main complaints about this process is the level of residue that is left behind, which accelerates the resoiling. Encapsulation is another carpet cleaning method, where polymer action in the formulations used is relied on to crystalize the dirt in the carpet, which is then vacuumed up. Then there is hot water extraction, which is a popular method amongst carpet cleaning companies. The temperatures involved, coupled with the scrubbing action and stroking of the machines, dislodges the grime for it to be removed. This is an intense cleaning method that gets to the grime that is buried deep within the carpet, ensuring that it is truly clean. As you can see, these methods vary, hence it is vital for you to have a discussion with the cleaning crew being hired about the approach that they intend to take when working on your unit.
This one likely cropped up with those looking to delay the carpet cleaning as much as possible. Sure, it’s understandable to want to wait for longer in between the cleaning sessions, especially when budgets are strained. However, this doesn’t not mean that you prolong it till the carpets are so obviously soiled. Firstly, carpets can be surprisingly deceptive. Just because they look “clean”, doesn’t mean they are. In fact, one of the key reasons behind their popularity as a flooring chose is their ability to hide dirt and grime. Over time, it accumulates, with the lush pile having the capacity of holding in multiple times its weight in dirt.
As such, this puts you in a more difficult situation, especially since it shortens the lifespan of the carpet due to the grime that will have accumulated in it. Without the regular vacuuming and deep carpet cleaning, the particles that are trapped in the material get ground into the lush pole, destroying the fibres of your unit. Left unchecked, this accelerates, causing more cuts and tears in the material, and the carpet becomes all dull and forlorn. This is such a prevalent issue that carpet manufacturers stipulate the need for regular cleaning and include it as one of the terms in the warranty provided.
When hiring a carpet cleaning company, don’t be quick to snap up the lowest priced offers. These do not necessarily translate to a good deal. In the same regard, companies with really high prices may not exactly equate to having the best service in the market. What you want is to get value for your money. You want a firm that gives you a reasonable quotation, accounting for every aspect that will be handled. Look into companies that use quality equipment and invest in the training of their teams, and engage with them about the cleaning options that they have for your carpet before settling on your pick.
