Professional Rug and Carpet Cleaning

 
Even though vacuuming can remove most of the dry soil, it is also necessary  to clean your carpet on a regular basis to remove the oily, sticky soil that  develops in the pile as a result of cooking vapors, air pollution, and tracked- in dirt from outdoors.

The particles of oily soil deposited on carpet fibers can cause gradual but  substantial dulling of the colors; the color isn’t lost, it is merely is hidden under the film. If this type of soil is allowed to accumulate, it begins to attract and hold  the dry soil. This is the reason cleaning is so important when muting of the  color is first detected; if allowed to remain too long, it becomes gummy and  difficult to remove.

If carpet is cleaned before it becomes too unsightly, the cleaning task will  be more painless and more successful. It is a myth that cleaning the carpet before it  is absolutely essential will cause it to get dirty faster. Carpet in a typical household should be cleaned every 12 to 18 months depending upon the  number of occupants and amount and type of activity.

Choice of the proper cleaning system is important. Some systems may leave  residues which promote re-soiling and defeat the whole purpose of cleaning.  The recommendations below represent the best current knowledge and  should help prolong the time between cleanings.

The cleaning system –
Many manufacturers recommend the hot water extraction system, which research argues provides the best capability for cleaning. This system is commonly referred to as “steam cleaning,” although no steam is actually generated.

The process consists of spraying a solution of water and detergent into the carpet pile and reclaiming the water and soil with a strong vacuum into a holding tank. This can be done from a truck-mounted unit outside the home with only the hose and wand brought inside or, where a truckmounted
unit cannot reach, by a portable, self- contained system brought into the home.

Professional carpet cleaners - It is to your advantage to use professional cleaners because their experience enables them to do a better job than you can do yourself. Their equipment has more extraction power than the rental cleaning units accessible to you, and the carpet should dry more quickly.

True professionals have also attained the investment in training to understand the equipment, to know the proper cleaning agents for the situation at hand, and to recognize the differences in fibers and carpet construction. One way to find a professional cleaner is to contactthe Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. This organization keeps a national directory of independent professional
cleaners who are trained and certified in a variety of cleaningspecialties.

Do-it-yourself systems - If you decide to rent a steam cleaning machine and do it yourself, check a few more cleaning systems before making a selection. Most rental units available do not adequately clean and may actually damage the carpet. Consider the following:

1) Some rental companies have cleaning equipment that is similar to what the professionals use. The cleaning equipment should have enough vacuum power to permit the carpet to dry within 6 to 12 hours after cleaning.

Avoid the rental units found in many retail and grocery stores that do not have enough power to draw out the cleaning solution from the carpet adequately and which may actually damage the carpet due to overwetting.

2) Avoid overwetting the carpet or rug. Protracted dampness may promote growth of mildew and bacteria in the carpet or cause detachment of the backing. A carpet that is wet for more than 24 hours could develop a growth of mold and mildew. This is controlled by a combination of proper equipment and operator training. Most problems in do-it-yourself cleaning are due to overwetting and use of too much detergent.

3) Use a cleaning solution with a pH less than 10, preferably near 9, and with a minimum of nonsticky residue. The attraction between the detergent and the particles of soil and oil is critical during the cleaning procedure. However, the detergent residue keeps on attracting particles after cleaning. Increasing the amount of cleaning solution beyond the recommended level does not
greatly increase cleaning performance, but makes the removal of detergent more difficult. Because buildup of detergent residue is the most common cause of accelerated re-soiling complaints, do not use extra cleaningsolution. A clear water rinse after cleaning is recommended.

4) Carpets or rugs with stain resistant treatments must be cleaned with products formulated for this purpose, or the stain resistance will be impaired and the warranty voided. Do not use cleaning or spotting solutions that contain bleaches or optical brighteners because they can discolorthe carpet.

5) Do not use any silicone-based anti-soil treatments on carpets unless specified by the carpet manufacturer.

6) Shorten drying time by using several fans to move air across the carpet in combination with a dehumidifier or air conditioning to pull moisture out of the air. Carpet should be dry within 12 hours; even less is better.

Bonnet cleaning systems –

Bonnet cleaning systems employ a rotating bonnet of terry cloth or other absorbent material to agitate the carpet pile and absorb soil. A detergent solution is sprayed onto the pile and then worked with the bonnet attached to a rotary floor polisher. The bonnet system has very limited capability for
soil removal and leaves much of the detergent in the pile since it employs no real extraction. As a result, rapid re-soiling often occurs. Another disadvantage is that the spinning bonnet may distort the fibers of cut pile carpet, fuzzing the pile and leaving distinct swirl marks.