As a general rule, it is best to have your carpets cleaned at least once per year. This will ensure your carpet warranty is maintained and most of the dirt, dust, and allergens that typically build up in your carpets will be kept under control.
People wonder, “How often should you shampoo carpets?” and “Do carpet cleaners get stains out?” Professionals recommend having someone professionally clean your carpets every 12 to 18 months to remove dirt. Between professional carpet cleanings, you should be maintaining your household's cleanliness.
Spring is typically one of the most popular seasons for a professional carpet cleaning. You're finally starting to let fresh air into your home, and want to remove the salt, dirt, and debris that gets tracked in all winter to kick off your spring cleaning.
Most carpet manufacturers recommend having a professional steam clean the carpets every 12-18 months to maintain the warranty. That's the absolute minimum, according to the people who make carpet!
When choosing between steam cleaning and shampooing your carpet, you really can't go wrong with both, but steam cleaning would be the better option. It removes more unseen pests and dirt, and can handle heavy-duty cleaning without making you wait long for drying.
Yes, steam cleaners can clean carpets. It does so utilizing steam from the hot water inside its reservoir. You'll need a machine with a nozzle (with a brush) and a tube to use it on carpets. Also, look for a model with a microfiber attachment to apply steam evenly.
Most cleaning methods simply can't remove all the old hair, dust mites, dirt, soapy residues and chemicals. After the cleaning crew leaves, the gunk remaining in your carpeting acts like a magnet for a whole new layer of grime.
Some people perceive DIY deep carpet cleaning as a job for spring or summer, when temperatures are warmer. The truth is, you can deep clean your carpets all year round.
Carpet cleaning helps your carpet to last longer and look newer, so you save money on carpet replacement. Effective carpet stain removal removes the need for carpet patching, which keeps carpet flawless and retains value for your flooring. Clean and unstained carpet contributes towards your overall home value as well.
Skin Irritation
Itchy skin, rashes, athlete's foot, and eczema are all dirty carpet dangers that can be triggered or made worse by dust mites in unclean carpet. Even if you maintain a regular cleaning schedule, dust mites are small enough to evade the most diligent home cleaners.
We find that most hotels clean their carpets every six months, which keeps everything looking nice year round.
Monthly steam cleaning of carpets helps to wash the fabric and clean any dander, hair, or saliva that has seeped into the fibers. If you are wondering, “what can I use to clean my carpet?” it is best to pick a cleaner designed for just freshening up the carpet or intended for homes with pets.
Vacuum. Vacuuming high-traffic areas before your carpet cleaners arrive helps them get right down to business. Removing dirt and debris from the carpet allows the carpet cleaner to focus on the dirt that is embedded in your carpet fibers.
We recommend vacuuming 2 to 3 times per week and getting your carpet deep cleaned every 3 to 6 months to keep your family clean, happy, and healthy. Lastly, extremely large families with multiple pets, heavy traffic, and heavy soil will probably benefit from daily vacuuming and a deep cleaning every 2 to 3 months.
Hot Water Extraction
Otherwise known as steam cleaning, this is easily the most common professional carpet cleaning technique. Steam cleaning uses hot water at high pressure to penetrate into carpet fibers, breaking down the dirt and bacteria stored deep within. The hot water is then extracted via vacuum.
Did you know that cleaning your carpet can improve your indoor air quality? Winter is the season when you spend more time indoors, so getting the contaminants out of your carpet – and by extension out of your indoor air – makes the most sense during this time.
After you get out your carpet cleaner, fill the clean tank to the line with hot (not boiling) tap water. Hot water does a better job cleaning than cold but, if you boil it, you run the risk of melting parts of your carpet cleaner.
Sure, cold air dries carpets. Just not very fast. Given the same humidity levels, warm air has the capacity to take up more water and speed evaporation of water in the carpet than cold air.
The Main Reason for Musty Smells After Cleaning
Underneath your carpet is a layer of backing or padding. If that bottom layer gets wet and isn't dried properly, it can give off an odor. The good news is that as the backing or padding dries out, the sour smell should go away all on its own.
The use of pressurised water agitates the carpet fibres and dislodges dirt from deep within the carpet and the vacuum immediately draws the waste out, leaving your carpet thoroughly clean. For the removal of stubborn stains and ingrained dirt, hot water extraction really is the best method of cleaning.
The fibers should feel soft and smell fresh. A clean carpet will also not have any signs of stains, mud, or contaminants. Clean carpets feel lighter and fluffier in hand once completely dry. In other words, a professionally well-cleaned carpet will feel as good as new.
So, where does the dirt go when you steam clean? Actually, it doesn't go anywhere. Instead, the heat and vapour of steam cleaning ensure that all the unwanted substances or stains are fully broken down and easy to get rid of.
There are a few disadvantages to using steam cleaners. One is that they can be expensive. Another downside is that they require a lot of water, which means you will need to empty and refill the tank often. Finally, steam cleaners can take longer to clean than other methods.
Steam cleaning can take anywhere from 8 to 24 hours to completely dry. However, it only takes 4 to 8 hours to dry when carpets are cleaned without the use of traditional steam cleaning methods that use large amounts of water due to their reliance on soaps and shampoos.
Using baking soda as a carpet cleaner can help to freshen and revitalize your carpets in between regular professional cleanings. Baking soda is an inexpensive solution that is safe for your entire family and the environment; it will even help to get rid of odors and stains with ease.