Carpet Steam Cleaning
Just as
carpet manufacturing has evolved, so has carpet cleaning. Most manufacturers
recommend 'carpet steam cleaning' for cleaning modern-day carpets. We should,
however, use the steam cleaning method after verifying that the carpet fibers
will not be damaged by steam. Sometimes, if a carpet is made from a very tender
thread, steam cleaning could harm it. For most other carpet types, steam
cleaning is considered an effective cleaning method.
The process
of 'carpet steam cleaning' uses a simple scientific phenomenon for 'deep
cleaning' the toughest dirt by drawing dirt to the surface and wiping it off
before it has a chance to stain. To steam clean a carpet, use a liquid-based
cleaning agent, which can be vaporized or turned, into steam, a 'steam cleaning
machine' that is also referred to as a 'carpet extractor' and a vacuum cleaner.
It is always a good idea to choose a mild solution as it is safe for the carpet
as well as the individual using it. As far as the machines or extractors are
concerned, use self-contained ones that have in-built vacuum cleaners.
Alternatively, use the extractor first and then a vacuum cleaner.
How Often Should You Clean Your Carpet?
How often
you clean your carpet depends on a number of different factors. You must
consider how many people are in your home, if you have kids, if you have pets
and whether or not smokers are in your home. For example, if you have a house
with two adults, you should clean your carpet every six to twelve months. If
those two people are smokers, you should clean it every four months. If you
have children or pets in your home, you should clean it at least every 6 months
and if you have kids and pets, you better make it every three months. but if
you’re single, it is advisable to clean your carpet minimum every 12 - 18
months.
Nylon Carpets
Nylon is
extremely strong and can often be found in commercial property giving
durability in frequently used areas.
Nylon
carpets tend to dry very quickly once they have been cleaned as the fibers do
not absorb a lot of moisture, wetting also does not affect its strength,
although Nylon will resist alkalis, it can be damaged by bleach and mineral
acids.
It melts at
250 degrees and between 120 & 250 degrees the fibers soften, this is how
permanent creasing develops, often when a heavy item is dragged over the
carpets surface damage is caused due to heat, which will often appear to be a
'scuff' mark.
Hot Water Extraction (Steam Carpet
Cleaning)
Steam
cleaning is the process of using hot water to wet and clean your carpets. It
can be done with eco-friendly cleansers or none at all since the water
temperatures are high enough to eliminate bacteria and destroy dirt particles.
Now that you know what steam cleaning consists of, let's learn how it can benefit
your home.
• Eliminate
all traces of dirt and dust particles - dirt and dust are a constant in any
home. Getting rid of them is nearly impossible given that the particles can be
found on every surface in your home. However, most people ignore the fact that
their carpets and flooring are perhaps the most susceptible due to the fact
that the particles can cling to the fibers. Vacuuming can help to remove some
of the particles, but it is not considered to be a fully cleansing method. Many
vacuums simply push the dirt in the fibers down deeper in their attempts to
clean. Steam cleaning can not only clean the carpet fibers but remove almost
all traces of dirt and dust.
• Remove
bacteria - you might not think of your carpets as having bacteria present in
them, but the truth is that there is more bacteria in your carpets than you
could imagine. Think about all of the food or drinks you have eaten, how often
you have walked around barefoot or how you sneeze and cough throughout your
home when you are ill. These bacteria have to go somewhere, and they usually go
down right onto the flooring and begin to breed. Steam cleaning uses hot water
vapor which helps in killing the bacteria as they cannot withstand such high
heats. If you are looking for a surefire method of sanitizing your carpets, get
rid of the aerosol sprays and the powders and instead, hire a steam cleaning
company.
