Carpets and rugs act as giant air filters, trapping dirt and keeping it out of the air we breathe. But they can only do this if they are clean!
The best way to keep your carpeting looking fresh and new is through regular Carpet Cleaning El Dorado Hills CA. There are a variety of cleaning methods available, depending on the environment and the recommendation from the carpet manufacturer.
Using hot water to penetrate carpet fibers, steam cleaners help to loosen embedded dirt, dust, dead skin cells, and stains. It also kills germs, bacteria, and viruses that hide in your carpet. Regular steam cleaning can extend the life of your carpet and keep it looking fresh and new. It is important to use a quality steam cleaner and professional steam extraction services so that you don’t damage your carpets.
It’s advisable to use the services of an accredited steam cleaning company instead of doing it yourself or hiring unqualified cleaners, as poor cleaning methods lead to carpet deterioration and may even void your manufacturer’s warranty. Untrained cleaners often use the wrong chemicals and brushes, resulting in carpet discoloration, distorted fibers, weakened fabrics, and overwetting of the carpet.
The most popular and effective method of carpet cleaning is hot water extraction, or HWE. It starts with preconditioning, in which alkaline agents (ammonia solution for synthetic carpets or dilute acetic acid for wool) are sprayed onto the surface of the carpet to help break down heavy soil deposits. This is followed by a pressurized manual or automatic scrubbing machine and a hot water rinse. Then, a powerful vacuum is used to remove the dissolved dirt and the dirty carpet water.
Another common cleaning method is carpet shampooing, which involves the application of a special detergent with lots of hot water and then scrubbing it into the carpet fibers with a rotating brush, after which clean water is extracted. It is important to make sure that all traces of detergent are completely removed, as residual detergents act like glue and trap dirt against carpet fibers.
Other forms of cleaning include encapsulation, in which a dry powder detergent is sprinkled over the carpeting and then agitated with a brush. Then, the carpeting is vacuumed to extract the powder as well as trapped dirt and debris. Another form of dry cleaning is bonnet cleaning, in which a special foaming agent is applied to the carpet and then the carpeting is rubbed with a brush to work the foam into the fibers. This type of cleaning is very good at removing general stains but is not very effective for severe stains.
Hot Water Extraction
Hot water extraction (HWE) is one of the newer carpet cleaning methods that combines the power of machine pressure, a strong cleaning detergent, and high temperatures. It has proven to be very effective, especially in removing stubborn and ground-in stains like food, oil, wine, and pet urine. It is a safe and environmentally friendly method that also eliminates germs, bacteria, and allergens from your home.
During the process, technicians inject hot water mixed with cleaning solution deep into your carpet and rugs using industry-grade equipment. Then, the machine extracts up to 95% of the moisture back, along with all dirt particles and stains. This will leave your carpets and rugs looking clean, fresh, and restored. Besides carpets, hot water extraction is also ideal for cleaning upholstery and mattresses.
Professional carpet cleaners use HWE because it’s an eco-friendly cleaning technique. They also avoid leaving detergent residue behind, which can attract more dirt and make your carpets dirty faster. They do this by following a certain process, which includes applying a pre-treatment chemical that will help dissolve the dirt particles. They will also vacuum your carpets and rugs to get rid of loose dirt particles, pet hair, and dander, as well as large debris.
Before starting the actual cleaning, specialists will pre-inspect your carpets and rugs to assess their condition and determine which type of cleaning solution is best for them. This is a necessary step to ensure that your carpets and rugs are cleaned properly. They’ll also check whether they have any difficult or stubborn stains that require special stain removal treatments.
Another important part of the pre-inspection is to identify the fibers and determine if your carpets are wool, synthetic, or natural. This will affect the way your carpets and rugs are cleaned, as different types of fibers need different care and cleaning.
Steam and hot water extraction are often interchangeably used, but they’re actually two separate processes. Steam cleaning uses boiling water to convert it to steam, while hot water extraction uses water that is hot enough for cleaning but not at a high enough temperature to cause damage or mold growth.
Dry foam cleaning
A low-moisture cleaning procedure, it utilizes a machine that mechanically aerates a liquid detergent into dry foam. The foam is then brushed into the carpet fibers, where it encapsulates and suspends soil. This process also removes the sticky residue left by other cleaning methods and is particularly useful for removing grease and oil. The low moisture content of this method reduces the risk of damage to carpet, rugs, and upholstery often associated with overwetting.
In addition to being an effective sanitizer, the dry foam cleaning process helps deodorize and inhibit the growth of microorganisms that cause fungus. It is particularly useful in industrial settings where odor control is important.
Unlike steam cleaners that remove only loose, easy-to-see dirt, dry foam cleans deep into the carpet, where most of the soil is located. This makes it ideal for commercial environments, such as restaurants, hospitals, and office buildings, where a healthy interior environment is essential.
However, there are a few drawbacks to this method. First, it is not as thorough a cleaning method as steam cleaning. Second, it requires a good-quality dry foam machine capable of thoroughly extracting the residue and soil. If not properly extracted, dry shampoo can leave behind a sticky residue that promotes rapid re-soiling.
Third, it is important to thoroughly vacuum the carpet prior to using this cleaning method. Some carpet manufacturers require that this step be taken before a warranty can be applied. It is also important to follow the application instructions carefully and not exceed the suggested application rate.
a premium aerosol dry foam carpet and upholstery cleaner for use on carpets and fabric wallpaper that are sensitive to water. It contains no alkalis, soap, or surfactants and is free of dyes and perfumes. It dries in as little as 30 minutes to minimize downtime. It is designed to eliminate soils at various levels and encapsulate them for dry removal during the vacuuming process.
Like any cleaning process, there are pros and cons to every method. If done correctly, this method can be very effective at removing soil from carpet and eliminating odors. It can be less costly than steam cleaning and is an excellent choice for commercial or residential environments where the carpet must be back in service quickly. But if not done properly, it can leave behind a sticky residue that promotes re-soiling and may even damage the carpet.
Absorbent Compound Cleaning
Our absorbent compound cleaning method uses a highly absorbent treatment brushed into the carpet using a counter-rotating brush machine, and similar to bonnet cleaning, it agitates and dissolves soils, then pulls them into a cotton or microfiber pad where they are trapped. When the pad becomes soiled, it is removed and a new one is put down, thus continually providing a deep cleaning. This process also reduces dry time and allows the carpet to be back in service sooner than most other cleaning methods.
Unlike traditional powders that only remove surface dirt, this product actually breaks the bond between the soil and carpet fiber, dissolving and suspending it for removal by the vacuum cleaner. This low-moisture process is designed to reduce or eliminate re-soiling, wick-back, and mold problems that are sometimes associated with over-wetting.
a very popular and effective method for heavily soiled areas or for removing recurring spill stains. Control contains a blend of solvents that emulsify and hold soils so they can be easily removed by the vacuum cleaner when dry. It is a low-cost option for businesses that want to provide a high level of cleanliness with minimal downtime.
Pros: no need to pre-condition the fiber; quick dry time; less downtime for business operations; no contaminated wastewater; superior soil holding capacity, especially with heavy oily conditions. Cons: Limited cleaning ability; poor vacuuming can leave “sawdust” flakes behind; may require pre-vacuuming with a coarse brush or power head for best results.
This is a unique VLM system that employs the use of an absorbent compound (resembling sawdust) and a special machine that is used to buff and agitate it into the carpet fiber. The compounds are impregnated with cleaning solvents and detergents that release and suspend the soils. The soils are then absorbed into the compound, and the entire pile is then vacuumed up, leaving no residue and resulting in a very clean carpet. This method is recommended by carpet manufacturers and provides excellent soil removal, good rinsing, and very fast drying. It is often used in conjunction with encapsulation cleaning for the ultimate in commercial carpet maintenance.
