Carpets are an excellent option for your home or work environment due to its softness and cosy look. The multitude of colours, models and prices available on the market, makes it the most popular choice of flooring, especially for private houses. One very important aspect when comes to carpets, is to properly care for them with routine maintenance. Along with regular hoovering and spot cleaning, it’s equally necessary to have your carpets professionally cleaned. This will not only improve their appearance, but will also extend their life span.
There are many benefits you can expect from having your carpet professionally cleaned, and one of the most important is improved health. Over time, dust, dirt and allergens will get embedded within the fibres, and regular vacuuming, simply cannot remove all the build-up of debris. Therefore, if you or any family member are suffering from allergies, asthma or other allergen induced diseases, you should seriously consider having your carpets professionally cleaned at least once per year. The complete removal of bacteria, dust mites and allergens your home will have improved indoor airflow and air quality. Which means, your family will breathe easier and benefit from reduced risk of colds and other health problems.
There is no such thing as “perfect carpet cleaning method”. However, depending on your needs, one might be more suitable than the other. Read our list below to find out more about different carpet cleaning methods, and to make an informed decision.
Hot water extraction method
The reason why hot water extraction is recommended by most manufacturers is that it is capable of cleaning the carpets more thoroughly than any other method. The great advantage is that after cleaning, your flooring will not only look fresh, but will also be sanitised.
By reaching deep inside the carpet, the hot water extraction method guarantees the complete removal of dust, dirt, allergens and bacteria. This is the perfect option for those struggling with watery eyes, sneezing, itchy skin or breathing difficulties as steam kills bacteria, germs, mould, mildew, and other irritants.
While it might not sound like it, actually the extraction method is very gentle on fibres and can be used on nearly all carpet types, including wool. Plus, the ability to use the widest array of stain treatments, helps achieving the best final appearance.
The average drying time is between 4 and 6 hours, so the carpets will not be ready for foot traffic immediately. Another “disadvantage” is that this carpet cleaning method requires extensive knowledge in the field. In the hands of someone unexperienced, the carpet can be left over wet, causing bad smell and wrinkling. Happy Clean uses this method for both carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning, with excellent results. With more than 6 years’ experience on the Irish market, all their agents are professionally trained and know how to deal with high levels of dirt and most stubborn stains.
Carpet shampooing
Shampoo cleaning was very popular in the past, however in the recent years has fallen into disfavour as other carpet cleaning methods prove to be more efficient. The cleaning process consists of a rotary floor machine equipped with solution tanks and shower feed brushes. After a thorough vacuuming, the carpet is scrubbed while a shampoo solution is fed through the shower feed brush. Clean water is used to extract the shampoo, until the carpets are clean and free of residues.
This method is relatively economical and produce good overall results, however, it requires a high level of skill, as over wetting and pile distortion can easily occur. Also, thorough extraction is essential, otherwise a build-up of sticky residues will be left behind.
When done properly, shampooing can be effective as a pre-conditioning step to break down heavy soils in carpeting and area rugs. It should then be followed by a second method, like hot water extraction, to remove residues and soils.
Foam cleaning
Foam cleaning also known as encapsulation method is a low moisture carpet cleaning process, that dries quickly. The chemistry behind encapsulation is its crystalline polymeric formulation. The detergent used as a base it will crystallize into powder when dry. All the loosened dirt particles will be encapsulated into the powder and finally vacuumed or brushed.
Economical and quick, encapsulation makes it simple to maintain commercial carpets and keep them looking cleaner over an extended period of time. However, this method is not very effective on heavily soiled carpets, and for complete removal of dirt and allergens, needs to be followed by a second carpet cleaning method, such as extraction method.
Bonnet cleaning
The cleaning process involves the usage of a machine with a type of thick towel or bonnet over the front. This bonnet rubs rug shampoo along the surface of carpet fibres, and then it’s extracted along with trapped dirt and debris.
One of the main benefits of this method is that is cheaper than other types of carpet cleaning processes and quite quick, with both cleaning the carpets and drying after.
A downfall of bonnet cleaning is that it is only a surface cleaner, therefore bacteria and dirt won’t be removed under the carpet’s surface. It is effective to a certain extent, however in case of pet urine or a paint sill, it will only pick up some into the pad, but can spread it throughout the rest of your carpet.
You should consider bonnet cleaning if your carpets are not that filthy or matted down. If you need light carpet cleaning on a consistent yet affordable basis, this is a great option.
Dry cleaning
The carpet dry cleaning method involves the usage of a detergent with minimal amount of moisture. The chemical mixture is sprayed onto the tough stains and then lightly across the carpet, so it can absorb dirt and grime, which turns into crystallized powder. The final step is to vacuum the entire carpet. The great advantage of this method is that your floors are ready for foot traffic immediately, and is also cheaper than the wet technique. However, is not very effective, as it only cleans the top layer of the carpet and it’s not powerful enough to revitalize and disinfect your flooring.
Dry cleaning is a good option for hotels, offices and busy work environments, but not suitable for those suffering with allergies or breathing difficulties, or houses with pets.
Installing carpet in your home can be quite an investment, so make sure you take good care of it so you can enjoy its good looks for many years to come. Daily maintenance and routine professional cleanings are mandatory if you want your flooring, as well as your home, to be clean and healthy. A bit of online research, before deciding on which carpet cleaning company to call, might save you time and money. Google reviews and social media activity are a great way to find out more about a business. Happy Clean is the best Dublin carpet cleaning company, with hundreds of 5 star reviews and amazing before and after photos of their work.