Nobody likes spring cleaning and carpet cleaning falls into that same category. Neither would be classified as fun, but most agree they are both necessary to keep a clean and healthy home. Most people who own carpets only clean their carpets once every few years and some even less than that. Hiring a professional is always an option. So, is professional carpet cleaning worth it?
Cleaning carpets is about more than just removing stains. It will actually prolong the lifespan of your rug and improve its performance. So, if it must be done, let’s explore the best ways to ensure it gets done right.
How Often Should You Clean Your Carpet?
Manufacturers recommend you steam clean carpet every 12 to 18 months, depending on the traffic of your home. It also helps extend its performance for as long as necessary. Many warranties indicate frequent cleaning as one of their conditions, so you should carefully read your warranty conditions.
Nylon Carpet
Even though ensuring you enlist a professional carpet steam cleaner regularly is vital for all types of carpet, it is crucial for nylon carpeting. Nylon is resilient because of the presence of a hydrogen molecule.
When foot traffic flattens the rug’s fibers, the hydrogen molecule can be reactivated and cause the fabric to bounce back by cleaning the carpet. This optimizes the carpet’s performance and revives it.
Hot Water Extraction or “Steam Cleaning”
Most carpet manufacturers and flooring installers recommend you contact a carpet steam cleaner rental to help you with cleaning your carpet. In the hot water extraction method, the carpet receives a spray of hot water from a machine. Then, the hot water and any dirt on the carpet are sucked back into the machine.
A professional carpet steam cleaner will usually add a cleaning solution to the hot water to help get rid of soiling and stains. This method of carpet cleaning isn’t the same as actual steam cleaning. However, today, people accept that to steam clean carpet refers to hot water extraction, which is the most popular carpet cleaning method.
Professional Carpet Steam Cleaning
A professional carpet steam cleaner may either use a portable machine or a truck-mounted unit. The benefit of the portable machine is that it can be used in condos or apartment buildings that a truck-mounted unit’s hose wouldn’t reach. However, a truck-mounted unit should be used when possible because it provides maximum efficiency since it’s more powerful.
DIY Carpet Steam Cleaning
There are various carpet steam cleaner rentals if you want to DIY your carpet cleaning. Machines are abundant on the market, which will leave you wondering whether to call a professional to steam clean carpet or handle the job on your own.
It might be beneficial to purchase a small cleaner if accidents and spills are commonplace in your home. But, you should contact a professional carpet steam cleaner if you need your entire carpet surface cleaned thoroughly.
The Risks Of DIY
Unlike professional machines, DIY machines cannot heat water to high temperatures. As a result, cleaning with these machines is less effective. Also, DIY machines aren’t as powerful as the machines a professional carpet steam cleaner would use. Consequently, they cannot suck back as much water and dirt from the carpet after cleaning.
After a thorough clean, the carpet should only feel slightly damp. A machine that’s not powerful enough to do an effective job will leave behind a wet carpet. Use fans to help your carpet dry faster if it’s still wet after cleaning. Until the carpet is dry, please don’t replace the furniture and stay off it.
Other factors- the technique of machine use and the amount of carpet shampoo used on the machine- may result in issues with DIY machines, unlike those used by a professional steam clean carpet company.
Cost-Saving Concerns
Consider having only the high-traffic areas of your carpet cleaned if you’re worried about the cost of a carpet steam cleaner rental. This means that your steam clean carpet professional will go around big pieces of furniture such as the beds and sofa.
The carpet under your heavy furniture isn’t usually exposed to foot traffic or air, so it won’t require regular cleaning. If you move your furniture regularly and expose such areas, it would be best to have the entire carpet cleaned. Only cleaning the high-traffic areas will save you quite a bit of money instead of cleaning the whole surface.