The Difference between Steam Cleaning and Dry Cleaning

If you feel caught in a dilemma between choosing dry cleaning or steam cleaning, you should know some things about these cleaning methods before you make your decision. In the end you are the one to make that choice, though without sufficient information you will not know what works best in your case.

The largest carpet manufacturer in the world is Shaw Industries. According to their website they favour steam cleaning as their preferred method. As part of their instructions on proper care for carpets they encourage people to follow their guidelines among which is the advice of using steam cleaning. But why is it they have such a preference for this method lacking proper chemicals durign the cleaning process? To understand that we need to go back in time, back to the 1970s when steam cleaning had a bad reputation. Back in the day bonnet cleaning was the typical method used by the businesses, using machines with a shag pad and chemicals to clean any carpet. This left the carpets wet for hours afterwards, needing a long time for them to dry off.

Times have changed since those days however and so have the methods used by the industry. Steam cleaning is something else. Steam cleaning machines producing boiling hot water are easy to use. What was once a job requiring many hours to complete, today can only be done in less than four hours. It is a convenient and useful way of cleaning carpets, opening up a new avenue in cleaning techniques since the old days.

With the rising efficiency of steam cleaning typical dry cleaning methods have started to decline in use. Customers are no longer bound by waiting for their carpets to dry for a whole day, leaving their floors bare and unpleasant. Steam cleaning can do the same job dry cleaning can, removing stains, dirt, soil and anything else that has become a problem with your carpet. With dry cleaning you risk discolouration and staining as the long exposure to water and cleaning chemicals can affect the pH of the carpet. In the end however it is still up to you to choose your preferred method of cleaning. Trust the professionalism of the company you have chosen and if possible, choose steam cleaning for a more eco-friendly and quick solution.

How to prolong the life of your carpet?

One thing we know about carpets is that the good ones are expensive, but they certainly deliver in quality, beauty and usefulness. We would love to protect these qualities for as long as possible and this is where the proper care for it comes into play. Follow these simple steps to protect your carpet for as long as possible without unpleasant side-effects:

Remove stains from the carpet right away. Any spilled beverages such as soda, coffee or chemicals such as paint have to be removed immediately to prevent any long-term damage. Never leave this for later as the damage might be difficult to deal with once time has passed.

Follow the instructions left by the carpet manufacturer. Sometimes you'll be able to use a carpet cleaning solution that works on the spot to remove individual stains.

Follow carpet cleaning instructions correctly and you will have very little trouble with removing stains.

Use mats and runners to enhance the decoration of your home and the protection of your carpet. Using these will help keep the dirt and stains away from your carpet so they won't get on it right away after exposure. The stubborn and annoying dirt will have a hard time reaching your carpet because of these protective coverings. They are also easy to clean, unlike the heavy and large carpets.

Avoid stepping on carpet with your bare feet. Although it may feel nice and pleasant, your feet have natural oils which are in fact damaging to a carpet. Socks, flip-flops and slippers are something you can wear instead.

Replace the padding when you replace a carpet, as the old padding used for a new carpet may damage it. It is a good decision if you want to prolong the life of your carpet. Having a good padding will reduce footprints, sags and any surface damage to the carpet.
Use a quality vacuum cleaner to clean your carpet. This is very important as many vacuum cleaners simply don't have the necessary lifting power, often leaving dust and debris between the fibres of the carpet. It is a good investment you should consider when you're looking for a vacuum cleaner. Regular use of the vacuum will also remove dirt capable of developing mould under the right circumstances.

Doing all of the above will lengthen the life of your carpet, saving you a heap of trouble further down the line. You will also save money on future cleaning if you maintain the carpet properly.

How to Get Rid of Stains on Your Carpet

Stain removal products you'll find on the market have a specific purpose, defined by the materials of the carpet and the severity of the stain you have on it. You can use a great number of these products to remove stains, as there are different methods used in tandem with these chemicals. You will have a chance to improve the condition of your carpet, making it as fresh as possible and close to what it was when you first bought it. Before you begin however you will need to be aware of the proper cleaning methods and procedures for every stain removal product.

Before you do anything you will need to be sure the product you're aiming at won't cause any damage to the surface of the carpet. Some carpets are more sensitive because of the nature of their fibres, so certain stain removal products will have a very unpleasant effect on them. Read the instructions carefully, both these of the carpet manufacturer and those on the cleaning chemical itself.
You can always do a spot testing check to see if the solution will cause any damage to the carpet fibres. Discolouration or breakages can become something very unpleasant as a result of an improperly applied cleaning agent. Do your best to avoid the use of harsh chemicals as these are especially damaging to its fibres.

Using the spot testing method will also let you know whether you are allergic to a given cleaning agent. Having kids and pets at home is a good reason to be careful with it. If you have stains caused by pets and kids however, you will most likely have a bit of a challenge on your hand. There are specialized odour removal products on the market for exactly these cases. They are perfect for cleaning up “accidents” made by your dog or cat as they will neutralize the sharp and unpleasant smells.

If possible you should choose a stain removal product with anti-bacterial properties, since pet “surprises” can cause health problems in children and adults. This will lower the risk of allergic reactions to any bacteria present in the dust and particles remaining in the spot.

While you clean your rug you can encounter a wide variety of spots that are harder to clean than the usual suspects, These can be anything such as soda, ketchup, blood and any other liquid with staining properties. Even water can leave its mark on a rug given the right circumstances. It is wise to take measures to prevent staining by addressing the problem right away. If you can't remove the stains with commonly found products you may need to use the help of a professional cleaning company instead.