Carpet Cleaners
Getting out what the cat dragged in
Nothing says your home is clean or grubby like your carpets. When you look at your carpets and you see the stuff the kids dropped, or the dirt the dog tracked in, you know it´s time to clean them again. Hallways and heavily trafficked areas in particular take a beating. And it´s the dirt, not wear and tear, that really reduces the life expectancy of your carpets.
You can "do it yourself" by renting a rug shampooer at the grocery store or buying a home system to try to keep up with it, but nothing works as well as occasionally hiring a professional carpet cleaning service to suck out that really ground in dirt.
There are several different types of carpet cleaning techniques including foam, dry methods, shampoo, and steam cleaning.
- Foam—Applies shampoo foam to the carpet using a buffer-like machine. Once the foam dries, the entire area is vacuumed to remove the dirt. It is effective in high traffic areas, but like shampooing, residues are often left behind. Over time, the residue attracts dirt.
- Dry methods—Once a dry solvent is applied to the carpet´s surface, a buffer is used to drive the solvent into the carpet to attract and absorb the dirt. The solvent and dirt are then vacuumed out. The biggest advantage is that the carpets are not wet so there is no drying time needed before they can be walked on. However, like shampooing and foam treatments, residues do tend to accumulate.
- Shampoo—By this common method, a machine applies shampoo to the carpet. then removes it by vacuuming. It is thought by some professionals to be a good way to move dirt around without efficiently getting it out. The carpet may initially look clean because of additives in the solution, but over time remaining shampoo residue acts like a magnet to attract more dirt.
- Steam or water extraction cleaning—Steam cleaning is considered by many pros to be the best way to clean carpets. Hot water and a cleaning solution is applied to the carpet, then suctioned out using a wand and hose system connected to a high powered extractor. Some systems are truck mounted so only the hose and wand enters your home. If the company can´t get its truck close enough, a separate machine is hauled in. Though the carpet is left damp when the process is completed, current systems are so powerful drying time is minimal.
Many carpet cleaning companies are small businesses with few employees. Some are very good and some are not. Ask for references and what types of satisfaction guarantees they provide. Some larger companies have branches or franchises across the country. Regardless of size, most companies want to provide excellent service and frequently offer a range of additional cleaning services including draperies and upholstery.
To maintain the long-term investment you have in your carpets, vacuum often and thoroughly, and have them cleaned at least once a year.
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