How To Choose A Carpet Cleaner

     If you find yourself in need of a professional carpet cleaning, you will also find that there are several different cleaning options available to the consumer.  The carpet cleaning industry employs a variety of methods to address the cleaning requirements of the average home or business owner.  Choosing a company or method that best suits you needs will require a basic understanding of the types of carpet cleaning that are now available.  Most professional carpet cleaners use the method of hot water extraction.  This method is most often referred to as steam cleaning. 

     Steam cleaning is the process of removing dirt and stains through the application of detergent and hot water to the carpet.  This solution is most often applied manually through the use of a carpet cleaning tool known as a wand.  The user will make repeated passes over the area being cleaned paying special attention to the high traffic sections.  In areas where a stain has occurred, the carpet will be pretreated with an emulsifier solution.  This will break up the stain at a deeper level and will allow the carpet fibers to release the dirt and grease which commonly accompany the stained area.  Some professional cleaners, in an attempt to be more green conscious, have employed the use of water at a higher temperature of 200 degrees.  The water is made softer and thus has a higher ph and alkalinity.  This allows the cleaning professional to use less, or even no detergent.  The obvious benefit of this method is the lack of detergent residue common to most hot water extraction methods.  Detergent residue can actually begin attracting dirt soon after the cleaning has been completed.

     Another option currently being employed by professional carpet cleaners is the dry cleaning method.  Although this method is not entirely devoid of moisture, it does significantly reduce drying time.  This is especially helpful in applications where an area must remain useable or open to foot traffic.  The compounds used with the dry cleaning method are in the form of a powder rather than a liquid solution.  The dry cleaning compound will be spread out over the entire surface of the carpet and then brushed down into the carpet.  Professional cleaners most often use a rotating brush to work the compound deeply into the carpet fibers.  Dirt will then be attracted to the compound which then is removed by thoroughly vacuuming the area.  This can also be accompanied by the use of encapsulation which is the crystallization of dirt and grease particles rendering them more readily accessible to the extraction process.  Although steam cleaning systems tend to clean deeper, dry cleaning methods are usually not as labor intensive and can be less intrusive to the home or business owner.

     Finding a professional carpet cleaner is a matter of preference.  If time is not an issue, steam or hot water extraction is still the first choice of most consumers.  If the area of carpet that needs to be cleaned is in a public space or a business setting, then a dry cleaning method may be preferable.  There are many well known and established carpet cleaning companies currently in operation.  If you need help finding a qualified professional in your area, try using the links listed below.