Undoubtedly, carpets in your home uplift your home’s interiors while adding a touch of warmth.
However, one of the disadvantages of carpets is that they can be a magnet for dust, dirt and stains.
When a carpet is left uncleaned for too long, bacteria and mould multiply and ultimately can destroy your carpet and the overall air quality of your home.
On the other hand, a regular, thorough carpet cleaning helps remove stains, keeps your home looking great and increases the time you can use your carpet.
Carpet Cleaning Methods
If you’ve done a quick search online, you would’ve seen a lot of different types of carpet cleaning methods – so it’s hard to figure out which one is the best for you.
With our experience and knowledge about carpet cleaning, here’s a quick review of how you can clean your carpet to help you decide which one you should pick.
Best To Save Money – DIY Carpet Cleaning
Many carpet cleaning machines are available for sale or rent in your local hardware or department store. While some machines do a good job, you may need to deep clean your carpet occasionally.
When you clean your carpet on your own, you might find that many stains remain – and if your carpet is still pretty wet, you will have to wait a long time until it’s completely dry.
This is why most people prefer to have a professional crew to clean their carpets.
Pros
- Save money on paying cleaning companies.
- Can clean only the areas you need.
Cons
- Long dry time.
- Tiring and less effective than cleaning by professionals.
- Purchasing and storing tools and solutions takes up a lot of space.
Best For Overall Cleaning – Hot Water Extraction
Hot water extraction, a.k.a steam carpet cleaning, is a method that uses high-pressure hot water to dislodge and dissolve dirt within the carpet fibres.
This method takes care of a lot of stubborn grime without damaging the colour or structure of your carpets.
- First, the professional cleaners will pre-condition the carpets.
- Then they will use pressurised hot water to dissolve the dirt and stains.
- Then, a rotary brush is used to eliminate any leftover grime.
- Once the washing process is done, your carpet will be rinsed with warm water.
- Then, it is left to air-dry before it can be used again.
Pros
- It provides a deep clean without damaging the carpet.
- Steam also kills bacteria, mould, mildew, etc., so it’s great for people with allergies and sensitivities.
Cons
- Since removing every bit of moisture from the carpet fibres is challenging, its drying time can extend to over a few hours (depending on the carpet size and material).
For Really Stubborn Stains – Carpet Shampooing
Carpet shampooing is a pretty self-explanatory process.
- The cleaners will use carpet soap solutions to lather and form foam during the cleaning process.
- A counter-rotary brush is used to agitate and scrub stubborn stains and grime from the carpet.
- Finally, your carpet is rinsed thoroughly to ensure no soap residue is left behind.
Pros
- Shampooing carpets effectively removes stubborn stains.
Cons
- High water consumption.
- Potential to have some foam leftover in the carpet.
- Long drying time.
- Works best only on low-pile carpets.
High Traffic Areas – Bonnet Cleaning
Bonnet carpet cleaning is a professional method where a scrubbing pad saturated with a soap solution spins on the carpet at high speed to dislodge and absorb dirt and dust from the topmost layer of the carpet.
Pros
- Provides excellent surface cleaning.
- Quick and affordable
- Quick cleaning and drying time.
Cons
- Not a deep clean – so another carpet cleaning method will eventually have to be used.
- This can lead to an accumulation of chemical residue on the carpet.
Quickest Drying Time – Dry Carpet Cleaning
This carpet cleaning method is used by offices, commercial establishments, hotels or people who want to have their carpet clean and dry in a jiffy.
Here’s how a typical dry carpet cleaning goes:
- A special cleaning powder is used on the carpet. This powder works like tiny sponges, which absorb dissolved dirt and can easily be removed.
- Next, a rotary brush is used to separate carpet fibres, allowing this cleaning powder to run down the bottom layer of your carpet.
- Finally, a strong cleaner is used to remove every last bit of dirt from the carpet.
Pros
- Safe for all types of carpets.
- Very low water consumption.
- No residue is left behind.
- Quick drying time.
- Some cleaning companies use biodegradable powders – making this process eco-friendly too.
Cons
- Sometimes the detergents used can smell strongly, so they will not work for people with sensitivities.
Lowest Water Consumption – Encapsulation Cleaning
One of a quick and used methods in high-traffic areas is the encapsulation carpet cleaning method
- Professional cleaning companies will use a unique cleaning solution on the entire surface of the carpets.
- The solution turns into foam and is left to dry. This foam encapsulates dirt and dust and turns into solid granules.
- Finally, a vacuum is used to remove all granules from the carpet.
Pros
- Very low water consumption.
- Quick drying time.
Cons
- Does not work very well on very heavily soiled carpets.
- Use of chemical cleaning solutions, so not good for people with sensitivities.
Easy Tips To Keep Carpets Clean
A professional carpet cleaning is your best bet to keep your carpets in great shape. However, here are a few simple things you can do to keep it looking good for a bit longer.
- Treat stains immediately.
- Trim your pet’s nails and claws to reduce the dirt brought inside and avoid loosening carpet threads.
- Use an air purifier to trap and lock airborne dust and dirt so they cannot settle onto your carpeting.
- Invest in smaller window and door screens to help filter the dust entering your home.
- Vacuum daily (or every couple of days, depending on the usage). Remember to use the proper attachment to avoid breaking the carpet’s fibres.
- Wipe your shoes when you get home before you walk onto your carpet.
However, if you’re on the lookout for the least tiring and time-consuming carpet cleaning method…call in the professionals!
