Despite our best efforts, dirt, grime, and stains accumulate on carpeting. Sure, having your carpet cleaned is a pain, but did you know that keeping your carpet properly cleaned and maintained (vacuuming would be considered maintenance) extends its life? To keep your carpeting in good shape, it’s highly recommended that you have it cleaned at least once a year in most cases (be sure to look at your carpet warranty). Wet and dry carpet cleaning are both popular options. So how do you choose which of the two methods to use? The following will provide the most important things to consider when choosing a method.
Both wet and dry cleaning have their advantages and pitfalls, depending on several factors that include the kind of carpeting you have, the underlay, the type of stains, the age, the kind of cleaning agents that are used and more. An experienced carpet cleaning specialist is the best person to ask to find out more about the method that they recommend for your specific situation.
Wet Method
This method is also referred to as deep cleaning because it’s the only one that’s proven to remove at least 97% of the dirt, stains and bacteria from carpeting. This is also the only method that reaches right down to the pile (the lowest layer) of your carpeting for a thorough clean, making it the best option when it comes to dealing with ground in dirt and grime and challenging stains. Additional benefits is that the wet option helps neutralize chemical reactivity, is considered a “green,” more eco-friendly method for cleaning carpets and is highly recommended by experts in the industry, as well as manufacturers.
The wet (steam) carpet cleaning process involves spraying a solution of detergent and water into the carpet pile, followed by extracting soil and water with a powerful vacuum, sucking it into a holding tank. Yes, the wet process will leave your carpeting marginally wet afterward, typically taking around 4 hours to dry (depending on air flow and the home’s climate). When you compare the benefits of this method, dealing with wet carpeting for a few hours is worth any inconvenience.
Dry Method
With this method, a chemical laden, absorbent powder solution is used instead of water, followed by a vacuuming process. The Dry method lacks the ability to remove thoroughly all of the soils, contaminants, chemicals and other pollutants that end up in your carpeting over time. Also, there’s a good chance that this method will leave chemical residues behind that leaves you, your family and your pets exposed to them. Before you consider this option, consult with the professional carpet cleaning service you’re considering and find out which chemicals they’ll be using (then do a bit of research yourself online). For those who have concerns regarding chemical exposure, wet is the better option. The Dry method includes the use of machines and chemical technologies that make it possible for a dry or low moisture clean.
Experience, Reputation, and Knowledge
When it comes to wet versus dry carpet cleaning services, the result is dependent not only on the method used but on the experience, knowledge and reputation of the specialist. Bottom line, it’s important to choose wisely.
DIY or Professional Carpet Cleaning
Shaw Industries, the world’s leading carpet manufacturer, recommends in their maintenance guide that consumers hire a professional carpet cleaning service over trying to do it themselves. Some of the potential problems that can occur if you “do it yourself” include problems with the equipment that causes overwetting, yellowing, using too much detergent, damages to the carpet’s fiber tips and more.
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