A carpet is one of the main components of a home. Apart from giving an interior a beautiful look, a carpet helps to keep it clean and hygienic. There are many ways of cleaning a carpet but two of the most used and effective methods are steam cleaning and shampooing carpets. Choosing the right methodology for your carpet is an important decision and you must understand the mechanism of each method to be able to choose the right carpet cleaning company for yourself.
What Is Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning is also known as hot water extraction. This is probably one of the most popular and recommended ways of carpet cleaning. It works by injecting a cleaning solution in the form of hot water deep into the carpet fibers. The solution is then left to penetrate the fibres for a few minutes, and in this time the dirt and other unwanted particles such as dust, allergens and other debris are drawn to the solution. The solution and dirt are then removed by the use of a powerful vacuum.
Deep Cleaning is one of the most effectual ways to clean a carpet. Deep Cleaning reaches all the way down to the bottom of the carpet pile, where millions of particles and deposits have built up from previous cleanings. Deep Cleaning is carried out extensively by our staff and the end result is always a stunning carpet with very little dry down. While some companies provide only one method of cleaning, others can give customers the choice between steam clearning vs traditionaly cleaning methods, we’ve used Lorr carpet cleaning which provides both methods of cleaning the carpets.
Benefits of Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning can be an excellent way to deep clean and long term clean surfaces. It can also pick up lots of ground in dirt, bacteria and allergens which is ideal for pet owners and those who suffer with allergies. Also steam cleaning uses less chemicals then other cleaning methods. Since the hot water and the vacuum in the cleaning wand provides the main power, the need for cleaning agents is reduced. Which is much healthier for children and animals.
Steam Cleaning will bring your carpet back to its original condition. Deep cleaning a carpet can raise the depressed fibers, and dislodge years of ground in dirt and grime. When we are finished, your carpet will look and feel as fresh as it did the day it was installed.
What Is Carpet Shampooing
Carpet Shampoo is a method of cleaning using a soap and water type of foamy detergent which is applied directly to the carpet. The machine is used as a cleaning tool to scrub the carpet fibers to remove the dirt and stain. The carpet is then completely vacuumed or lightly rinsed to remove the detergent. Even after shampooing your carpet there may still be a tremendous amount of dirt and old shampoo that is not being removed. In fact it can often sit on the surface of the carpet.
Benefits of Carpet Shampooing
Shampooing is a process that we apply to shampoo your carpet. This method is great for cleaning a large area that needs an extreme cleaning or for high traffic areas. The shampoo process will scrub your carpet so the dirt and stains will be visible to the naked eye. If it has been a while since your carpet has been cleaned, we recommend giving shampooing a try!
Key Differences Between the Two Methods
There are many cleaning methods and products used to clean and restore carpets. By far the most common are Steam Cleaning and Shampooing. However, Steam Cleaning and dry carpet cleaning methods clean much deeper than a shampoo method. Shampooing and other surface cleaning methods sit on top of the carpet and do little more than move dirt and soap residue around. This soap residue can act as a magnet to new dirt and greatly reduce the carpet’s soil resistance.
Steam cleaning, like many other cleaning methods can come down to personal preference and suitability of the surface. Steam cleaning takes some time to fully dry down after the water has evaporated. So will traditional hot water extraction (also known as deep cleaning). A shampooed carpet will also take a considerable amount of time to dry as well as leaving behind carpet residue in the fibres of the carpet which acts as a magnet for attracting dirt particles.
Steam cleaning will generally keep your carpets cleaner in the long run. Shampoo leaves behind a residue on the fibers. The residue attracts dirt to the fibers and leads to soiled carpet more quickly.
Which Carpet Cleaning Service Works Best
Steam cleaning is generally considered the best method for cleaning your home’s carpet. Steam cleaning in fact penetrates deeper into the carpet fibre allowing for a more thorough cleaning than the average dry vacuum cleaning method. Steam cleaning will also remove bacteria, viruses and allergens from the carpet. It leaves almost no cleaning residue behind and is a highly recommended method to use on your carpets in the long term. Steam cleaning will not only leave your carpets looking clean and smelling fresh but also ensure that your home has a cleaner atmosphere, with less allergens in the air.
We have spoken in previous blog posts about the fantastic benefits of dry carpet cleaning. So, in this post we will discuss the situations in which it may be necessary to shampoo a carpet. The short answer is yes, there are a number of occasions where it is still necessary to shampoo a carpet. Heavily soiled carpets may need to be pre-treated in order to enable the dry cleaning powder to work effectively. The pre-treatment is shampoo, which needs to be rinsed and dried in order to prepare the carpet for dry cleaning. Another instance in which it is necessary to shampoo a carpet is when there are stains present that cannot be lifted and removed by dry cleaning alone. In these situations the carpet will need to be shampooed and rinsed before dry cleaning can take place.
The most effective method of cleaning a carpet is steam cleaning. Steam cleaning is far and away the most effective means of cleaning a carpet and is the best way to improve your home air quality and the longevity of your carpet. We highly recommend steam cleaning for routine maintenance as well as in homes with young children and pets.
There are so many companies to choose from, so it can be hard to decide which one is the best for you. Usually we are drawn to a company because of a commercial we see on TV, or because a friend or family member has recommended them. While these things can be important, they shouldn’t be the main things you base your decision on. Before you decide to hire a company to come in and clean your carpet, it is a good idea to do some research so you can choose a company that will fit your needs.
