Homes or offices, who doesn’t like to give them a pleasant and lavish look? And for this purpose, carpets play a centerpiece amongst different elements of a room and give it a lively and modern look. But don’t ignore the fact that, carpet cleaning is very important to maintain a healthy indoor environment (especially if someone has an allergy/breathing problem and if you have pets) and to increase its lifespan. Carpets come in different kinds of materials, colors, and designs. Their cleaning is mandatory once or twice a year to remove dirt, allergens, and pet hair, and also to prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, and mold.
Here is a brief guide to the carpet cleaning process.
Process of Carpet Cleaning
There are three major steps of cleaning a carpet.
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Application of the appropriate detergent
The first step of carpet cleaning is to apply detergent. Depending on the type of stain, enzyme-based detergents work best. The detergent works to soften up the stains and or the dirt while also acting as a lubricant to ease the scrubbing. Use detergents according to the type of fabric and the nature of the stains. Since most dirt and stains on surfaces are organic ( food, drinks, etc). So, active enzyme-based detergents usually work best. A spot test is always a better idea before going through the cleaning process to check for any bleaching effects of the detergent on the fabric.
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Mechanical agitation (Scrubbing)
The next step is mechanical agitation. Scrubbing can be done manually by using a soft bristle brush or an electric-powered scrubber. Ensure there is enough detergent to assist as lubrication for the scrubbing process. The intensity of scrubbing can vary based on the type of fabric and stains.
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Extraction/Washing
The last step is extraction. There are 2 methods to extract water depending on the type of carpet.
To wash a wall-to-wall carpet, a water extractor machine is used. The machine is designed to spray water and vacuum it up effectively forming a loop to wash and then extract the dirt and the detergent. This method is specially useful for carpets that cannot be removed. Because the cost of removing and then installing the carpet back is very high and a tedious task.
Some individuals and service providers use vacuum cleaners for this final step. Using a vacuum cleaner can leave residual detergent in the fabric, which can lead to discoloration over long periods.
For a removable carpet, wash it thoroughly with water after scrubbing. After washing, hang the carpet away from sunlight and let it air dry. Again the purpose of this step is to remove not only the dirt but also the detergent completely from the carpet. Any residual detergent in the carpet over a longer period of time can cause discoloration .
A spot test is important before proceeding with the process of carpet cleaning. Use detergent with a light formula for hand-woven and vegetable-dyed carpets to retain their color.
Pro tip
Use warm water for both the dilution of the detergent before applying it and in the water extractor. Warm water works significantly better than room temperature or cold water to loosen up any dirt or grease.
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