Carpet Cleaning
Methods
When
choosing someone to clean carpeting, the consumer can
become very confused. The prices vary as do the different
methods. Each cleaner claims that his methods are best.
DRY
CLEANING –
There are 2 types, bonnet cleaning(chem dry) or dry
compound cleaning(Host or Capture).
Bonnet Cleaning -
a method where the carpet is vacuumed, then a solution is
sprayed on top of the carpeting from a low pressure
sprayer, then a cotton pad is attached to the bottom of a
rotary machine and the carpeting tips are wiped with the
bonnet. This method was developed for commercial carpet
maintenance. It is now being sold as a annual cleaning
method. There is no rinse in this method and it is not a
deep cleaner, spots tend to resurface because it is more of
a "tip cleaning method". This method is not effective on a
carpet that is appreciably soiled.
Dry
Compound Cleaning -
a carpeting is vacuumed, a powder is scrubbed into the
carpet and vacuumed again. This method also has no rinse.
The powder that is used is very hard to vacuum out of the
carpeting and a "build up " can occur after a few
cleanings. Alot of residue remains in the carpeting and
residue can attract soil.
Dry
cleaning methods donot use a rinse. Rinsing is healthy,
over the course of a year skin folicles, sweat, soil from
outside, hair drops into the carpeting and is driven into
the backing with foot traffic. If you donot rinse, these
materials remain in your carpeting. When a carpet is
appreciably soiled rinsing is required.
Most carpet mills require the rinsing of the
carpeting every 12 - 18 months to maintain your
warranty.
These methods are similiar to putting soap in your hair and
wiping the soap off with a towel - sound like a good
idea?
SHAMPOO
–
A method in which an alkaline detergent solution (usually
8-10 pH) is scrubbed into the carpet to loosen soil,
followed by wet dry vacuuming. Very little soil or shampoo
is recovered in the wet-dry vacuum tank.
STEAM
CLEANING (also
referred to as hot water extraction) – A system where
an alkaline detergent solution (9-11 pH or higher) is
sprayed into carpet under pressure to loosen soil and then
a majority of the solution is extracted by means of a
vacuum system.
COMBINATION
METHOD –
A system where the carpet is first shampooed to loosen soil
and then given a
rinse with
a steam machine (truck mounts give the best rinse) to
remove soil and alkaline residue.
A recent study found this to be the best method for carpet
cleaning.
For the consumer to make a wise choice in picking a
cleaner, he must first understand what constitutes good
cleaning and what problems can develop from poor cleaning.
We will try to explain the benefits to look for and the
potential problems to be avoided.
Soil on carpet is normally acid and must be neutralized
with an alkaline solution to remove. Neutral is 7 pH,
shampoo is usually 8 – 10 pH, and steam is usually 9
– 13 pH or higher. Shampoo because of the brush, is
made milder than steam solution. The biggest problem with
either method is the alkaline residue left by cleaning
solutions that are not rinsed from the carpet fibers after
cleaning. You cannot clean and rinse with the same
solution.
Alkaline hydrolysis is a condition of potential damage of
fibers brought about by alkaline cleaning agents not rinsed
from fibers after cleaning. The major effect is the
weakening and breakdown of the plasticizers found in
natural and synthetic fibers. The plasticizers give the
fibers elasticity and bendability and allow them to spring
back after being stepped on. This condition may not be
apparent for many months after cleaning and is usually
blamed on poorly crafted carpeting. This problem can be
avoided if the carpet is rinsed with neutral or mildly
alkaline solutions after cleaning.
Another problem caused by residue is the rapid resoiling
rate of the carpet. This necessitates cleaning more often
compounding the alkaline residue problem and true cost.
Quality is hard to judge - price can be very misleading.
The cheaper cleaner may be leaving an alkaline chemical in
your carpet a thousand times stronger than one rinsed from
the carpet by another cleaner. One cleaner will spend a
considerable amount of time on the detail work, traffic
areas, stains, while another will spend very little time.
The more expensive cleaner is well worth the additional
price if he is paying attention to detail, putting extra
effort into traffic areas, has the professional knowledge
to work on stains (and uses it), and most important rinses
the carpet with a separate neutral or mildly alkaline
solution after cleaning or loosening soil.
The cost of good cleaning is worth the price when you
compare that price with possible premature replacement.
Call for a free estimate!
8:00 am - 5:00 pm Mon Thru Fri
8:00 am - 2:00 pm Sat
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Dunne Cleaning Specialists Inc.
3050 S. 25th Ave - Broadview - Il - 60155