The Truth Behind Common Carpet Cleaning Myths
Carpeting is an investment that not only creates a beautiful and comfortable living space for you and your family, but it also adds value to your home. This is why it’s important that you always have correct information on how you can best take care of your carpet and prolong its life.
However, most people don’t know how to take care of their carpet. Using incorrect cleaners and cleaning methods can oftentimes cause irreversible damage, which ruins your carpet permanently. In this article, we shed some light on the most common carpet cleaning myths to help you determine how you can best clean and care for your carpet.
Myth: Professional carpet cleaning is not needed when I vacuum regularly.
Truth: While vacuuming your carpet once or twice weekly is a good practice, it isn’t enough. Vacuuming only rids the carpet of crumbs, dirt, pet hair, dust and other debris on the surface. Professional carpet cleaning on the other hand, deeply cleans the carpet’s fibres and effectively removes dirt and grime that may have become deeply seated in the carpet overtime.
Professional carpet cleaning is recommended every 12 months. If you have pets or children, you should have your carpet professionally cleaned every 6 to 9 months. Regular vacuuming is recommended in between deep carpet cleaning to keep the carpet looking clean and healthy.
Myth: All carpet cleaning processes are the same.
Truth: Carpet cleaning methods and processes are not the same. Two of the most popular professional cleaning methods are carpet dry cleaning and steam carpet cleaning.
Carpet dry cleaning uses a dry-cleaning solution (mixture of dry cleaning solvents and water) when treating the carpet. The solution breaks down the oily residue in the carpet which holds the dirt to the carpet fibres so that the soils and stains can be easily removed. Then, cotton absorbent pads are immersed in hot water with a conditioning rinse and placed on the carpet under a rotary machine (similar high speed floor polisher). The pads are spun around on the carpet at high speed and the dirt is released from the carpet onto the pads.
Steam carpet cleaning, also known as hot water extraction, involves injecting hot water into the carpet under high pressure and extracting the water out. The dirt and soil deep within the carpet fibres will be extracted with the water, thus deep cleaning the carpet. The powerful vacuum action of the machine also significantly reduces carpet drying time.
Steam carpet cleaning digs deep to remove germs, dirt and odours, as opposed to carpet dry cleaning which only cleans the carpet surface.
Myth: Professional carpet cleaning makes my carpet soil quickly.
Truth: Carpets tend to soil quickly when sticky residue is left behind after cleaning, which was the often the case with old cleaning methods. Using incorrect soap also leaves a film over the carpet which results in carpets soiling quicker.
However, carpet cleaning methods have improved significantly over the previous years, so you will find that modern methods can effectively clean carpets while preserving its aesthetics. One advanced carpet cleaning method is hot water extraction which is one of the best ways to clean your carpet and extend its life.
Myth: I only need to clean my carpet when there are stains.
Truth: Carpet cleaning is more than just removing spots or stains on your carpet. Even if there are no visible stains, you should still get your carpet professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Carpet cleaning not only removes spots and stains, but eliminates debris that has settled deep within the carpet fibres. Deep carpet cleaning also removes allergens such as dust, pollen and pet hair, creating a healthier home environment.
Myth: My carpet is new. I don’t need to have it professionally cleaned.
Truth: It is a common misconception that you don’t need to have your carpet cleaned until it is visibly dirty. Your carpet being new doesn’t give it immunity to dirt, dust and debris that comes from everyday traffic or from the home environment. When tiny pieces of dirt are caught in your carpet, the constant movement of the feet grinds these particles into the protective fibres of the carpet, causing the fibre to break down.
Even though your carpet is new and may look clean, regular vacuuming and professional carpet cleaning services is still recommended to preserve the health and life of your carpet.
Myth: Regular carpet cleaning will shrink my carpet.
Truth: Carpet cleaning will not cause your carpet to shrink. Carpet shrinkage only happens when the carpet is soaking wet after cleaning and left to dry for a long period of time. Modern cleaning techniques, such as hot water extraction, uses a powerful vacuum action that extracts the water back up and out of the carpet fibres, reducing carpet drying time.
Myth: Professional carpet cleaning will cause mould and mildew to grow in my carpet.
Truth: While carpet cleaning does make your carpet wet and moist, it will not promote the growth of mould and mildew. The cleaning agents used by a professional cleaner will sanitise your carpet, which discourages the growth of these unwanted microorganisms.
Making sure your carpets are thoroughly dry after cleaning is also important in keeping mould and mildew away. Hot water extraction is a cleaning method that can effectively reduce drying time.
Carpet cleaning is a necessary process to maintain the life and aesthetics of your carpet. When done regularly, it helps in keeping your carpeted areas look like new. It is also important that you select the most appropriate professional carpet cleaning service that can best take care of your carpet.
Forest Cleaning Services uses the hot water extraction cleaning method to give your carpets a thorough clean. We are also eco-friendly, ensuring that our products are not harsh and are safe to use around children and pets while producing a high-quality finish – killing bacteria and getting rid of dust mites and fungus in the process.
Call us on 1300 994 861 for any enquiries or to schedule a carpet cleaning service.