Steam cleaning for carpets is an eco-friendly way to get rid of dirt and bacteria stuck in the fibres of your carpet.
Using only steam, this carpet cleaning process eliminates dust mites and other allergens without the use of chemicals or detergents while sanitising your carpet at the same time.
There are many carpet cleaning methods. However, steam cleaning and dry carpet cleaning are the two most commonly used.In steam cleaning, a portable cleaner that runs on electricity or gas uses pressurized hot water to produce steam that is injected into the carpets. A rotating brush loosens dirt and grime before being sucked away using hot water extraction equipment into a separate tank where it's stored until you're ready to dispose of. You can choose from two types of cleaners with several attachments, each depending on the type of carpet cleaning you need to do. For spot cleaning, you can add a stain remover agent to the steam. Pre spray the stubborn stains and spots. You can also use this for furniture and fabrics such as curtains and upholstery, but be sure to check that the heat and hot water mixture will not damage the material. Steam cleaning uses a lot of hot water. Once the carpet is clean, suck as much water from the wet carpet. Leave the carpet in the open until it's completely dry. A dry cleaning solution works slightly differently from the steam cleaning method. Vacuuming is done to remove all dirt and dust on the surface. Minimal water is used. A dry cleaning solution is applied to the carpet. The cleaning solution is supposed to loosen the dirt. Vacuuming using a rotary machine sucks the loose dirt. An alternative approach in this dry cleaning process is where polymer detergent encapsulators applied to the entire carpet bind the dirt or particles together. Similarly, a rotary machine is used to vacuum out the dirt that has bound together. Carpet dry cleaning uses minimal water compared to steam cleaning. Dry cleaning carpets, therefore, take less time to fully dry. In contrast, steam cleaning is a more effective cleaning method, especially when handling heavy soiling situations. Why? Injecting hot water achieves a deeper clean as the hot water extraction removes more dirt out of the carpet. Additionally, the vacuum machine is better at vacuuming out dirty water than the rotary machine. When cleaning carpets, ensure to follow your manufacturer's cleaning and maintenance instructions. Many carpet manufacturers recommend steam cleaning. Dry cleaning the carpet can void warranties. Commercial cleaners can deep clean carpets in large spaces such as businesses or warehouses rapidly with their high-pressure sprayers. They're even able to suck up excess water, so your carpet is dry nearly instantly after they're done.
Eco-friendly because it uses only steam and no chemicals or detergents.
Saves time because it's more effective than simply vacuuming your carpet.
Gets rid of dust mites and other allergens.
Sanitises your carpet.
Prior to commencing a steam clean carpet activity, move any furniture off the carpet to access all surfaces. Be sure to check that you won't damage the floor underneath if they are sensitive materials such as wood or tile. Choose whether you want concentrated steam for cleaning stains or less saturated steam for general cleaning. Fill the tank with water before plugging it in and allow it to heat up until you see hot steam coming out of the nozzle. Then, test it on an inconspicuous spot in case there is any discolouration or damage done to the fabric or fibres. Steam clean your carpets by holding the nozzle about 20cm from your carpet and keeping it in one spot for a bit to loosen any dirt or debris. Use small circular motions to clean in between the carpet fibres. After you've finished carpet cleaning, use the vacuum cleaner function on your machine to suck up any excess moisture.
While both can clean carpets, there are some differences between them. Carpet cleaners use water and detergents or chemicals to get rid of stains and surface dirt, while steam cleaners use only pressure and heat to do so. They typically take less time than carpet cleaners to dry out the carpet after they're finished cleaning but may not be as effective at removing germs or bacteria. Steam cleaners also cost more than normal vacuum cleaners, which you can use for your carpets yourself. There are several different types of steamers on the market that you can choose from if you want to save some money when it comes to getting them professionally cleaned.
Canister or upright carpet cleaners can be easily moved around your home and they come with many attachments that you can use to clean other surfaces as well. For example, you can purchase a steam mop and attach it to a handheld steamer to remove dirt and germs from your mattress and upholstery as well as the floors. You can also opt for a dry vapour steam cleaner which doesn't contain any moisture at all but works just as effectively as its counterparts.
Steaming carpets is just as effective at removing stains and dirt as using harsh chemicals or steam cleaners. The only difference with this method is that you won't have to worry about any chemical residue left behind on your flooring, making it a particularly great choice for homes with young children or pets.
Steam cleaners can deep clean carpets, tiles, grout lines, furniture, car interiors and more. Depending on the type of cleaner you get depends on what kind of surfaces they are able to sanitise. You can also get handheld cleaners that are cordless which makes them easier to transport around if you need to clean multiple rooms or surfaces.
Steam cleaning uses hot steam to kill germs, bacteria, and dust mites, so it can actually be beneficial for your carpets. Certain cleaners will also use special attachments to clean between the carpet fibres, which helps in stain removal. Steam cleaning may not be the best method if you want to clean a lightly soiled carpet. Rather pre-spray the soiled section with hot water and stain removal detergent, then follow the spot cleaning procedure. Perform hot water extraction to that section alone. The benefits of doing this are that carpet takes a shorter time to dry than if a full steam cleaning is done. Again, the carpet can last longer since damage caused to fibres sustained in the cleaning process is minimised. However, you should always do a patch test first on areas that aren't as noticeable but safe to try this on, the backside or underneath of furniture or any upholstered items in case there is any discolouration or damage done.
The price of getting your carpets cleaned professionally depends on the size of your home, what type of flooring it is and how bad the stains are that you need to have removed. You should also take into account factors like if any furniture has to be moved and or replaced and what kind of cleaners they use in order to determine an exact price. You can expect to pay anywhere between $50 to $100 per room for professional steam cleaning services. This goes up depending on your geographical location too, so getting quotes from several different companies is highly recommended.