There’s no time like springtime to get yourself into the mood for cleaning your whole house. Today, however, we will be focusing just on carpet cleaning.
Besides the weekly maintenance vacuuming, you should give your carpeting a deep cleaning every 12 – 18 months.
Many people believe carpet cleaning is just getting rid of the visible stains, but that’s not the case at all. Having a clean carpet is a means to keep your home clean and extend and refine its performance and lifespan.
There are three methods you can choose your cleaning method from – dry, wet, or DIY. So, before you choose one, let’s explore these methods and learn about them.
We hope you’ll have decided by the end of this article which one is the best for you.
Which Method Is Best for Your Carpet?
You’ll notice we mentioned three cleaning methods earlier. Initially, there are only two methods – dry or wet, but we have included DIY in it as well.
They have their fair share of pros and cons and by looking over and comparing them, we’re sure you’ll be able to decide which method will work best for you.
So, without further ado, let’s check them all out:
Dry Cleaning Method
Even though it’s called ‘dry’ cleaning, it still needs a little bit of water. Usually, this type of cleaning is referred to as surface cleaning, and this convenient method is best for those carpets with heavy traffic areas that also need fast drying time.
However, keep in mind, this method is not the best when it’s time for a thorough cleanup but is suitable for maintenance cleanups. It works quite well with an absorbent compound. Just make a mixture of powder with solvents and cleaning agents.
Spread them over the problem areas and then work it into your carpet fibers. You can do this with a machine that comes with rotating brushes.
This mixture absorbs the soil within 10-15 minutes, and when it’s done, you can just vacuum the mix right up.
The Pros
Dry cleaning is a simple and easy cleaning method. You don’t need any special or technical training for it. It also dries quickly, and you can use your carpet within 20 minutes! The dry cleaning method is not only fast and straightforward, but it’s also inexpensive as well.
The Cons
There is a chance the mixture you use on the carpet might not get vacuumed up thoroughly. That will cause a build-up of dust in your home and your carpet. Since it’s like a temporary solution, this also means you’re not deep cleaning your carpet.
Wet Cleaning Method
Unlike dry cleaning, the wet cleaning method uses hot water extraction to deep clean your carpet. It’s also known as steam cleaning, and the first step requires you to apply a pre-conditioning shampoo on your carpet.
This shampoo solution helps your carpet to liquefy any oil or oil-based stains. Hot water can also be a good first step to remove pet stains and odors – the same way you would removing dog or cat urine smells from concrete floors. Next, the professional cleaning machine sprays a cleaning solvent on the carpet and suck up all the allergens and dirt growing on it.
It gets deep into your carpet fibers and ensures a thorough clean.
Portable and Truck-Mounted Machines
These cleaning machines can be both portable or truck-mounted, and yes, both have great benefits.
The portable spot cleaner machine is suitable for small spaces like an apartment or a condo. However, the truck-mounted machine has more power for heavy-duty cleaning jobs.
Finally, if you are thinking about how much it will cost to get a professional to clean your carpet, you can consider only cleaning the areas facing heavy traffic.
Since furniture tends to hide most of the carpet, it’s alright if you don’t clean those areas regularly.
The Pros
The wet cleaning method is the most commonly used method to get a deep clean out of your carpet.
Using high temperature, high pressure, and various chemical concentrates, this method will get the soil out of your carpet and allow for the cleaning solvent’s reaction over a prolonged period.
The grooming tool or an extraction wand helps to agitate the chemical reaction. This method is trusted by cleaning experts, carpet manufacturers, and professionals.
The Cons
Wet cleaning is more expensive than dry cleaning. It takes a while for the carpet to dry, but some technicians can reduce the wait time using powerful equipment.
You’ll get maximum efficiency if you use the heavy-duty professional machines.
DIY Carpet Cleaning
Last but not least, on the list is the DIY carpet cleaning method. This method lets you rent a carpet cleaning machine and clean your carpet yourself!
If you’re wondering where you can rent a carpet cleaning machine from, then you can take a look at your local hardware or grocery store.
There are different machines available, and this can seem confusing. But if your carpet is prone to spills and accidents, then we believe a small cleaner is a right choice.
Just keep in mind that these cleaning machines can’t give your carpet a deep clean as a wet cleaning machine might. Instead, these DIY carpet cleaning machines are suitable for just spot cleaning and last-minute emergencies.
The Pros
You’re saving money, and you have total control over the areas that need to be cleaned. You don’t have to book for an appointment and can do it yourself at a time of your convenience.
Even the spot and stain removal products are also cheap as well.
The Cons
This method won’t give you a deep clean, and you have to do the work yourself. The carpet takes a long time to dry, and the stains you treated might come back.
Conclusion
Carpets help to give people an impression of your home. When they first walk in, they see the carpet first, and it’s essential you keep it clean.
In conclusion, we’d like to say that all 3 of these methods are great options, but you have to figure out which to use when! Always make sure to do your research when you’re hiring a carpet cleaning professional to clean your carpet.
A suitable cleaning method can prolong your carpet’s life and help you maintain a nice and clean home.
