Shampoo Carpets

by Mike Horstman

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    Everybody thinks they have the answer for carpet cleaning, but the truth is that the best method of carpet cleaning depends on a number of factors including the condition, age, and type of carpet, as well as how much time and money the homeowner has at his or her disposal. There are a few, good pieces of wisdom to follow, however. Generally, carpets are best cleaned once a year, although this too is dependent on use and condition. As for the rest, take a look at these tips and instructions to guide you through the best cleaning method for your carpet.

    Note: If your carpet has been installed in the last year or so, be sure to refer to your care and maintenance guide. This will provide you with the best instructions for your carpet type.

    Carpet Cleaning Tips and Instructions

    Balancing Dirt Removal with Residual Moisture
    Dirt and grime can be a huge menace to carpets but so can residual moisture from carpet shampoo. This moisture can leave a foul odor from mold and mildew and/or attract new dirt particles more quickly. This is often why the condition of the carpet and fiber type are so important to consider: Sometimes, residual moisture is worth the risk to try to clean very dirty carpets that might not be serviceable in their current condition, anyway. Likewise, some carpet fibers are more naturally resistant to residual moisture than others.

    Generally speaking, steam cleaning-especially high-pressure, low-flow steam cleaners-will leave less residual moisture in the carpet than shampoo methods. For this reason, steam cleaning is highly recommended by most professional contractors. You don't want your carpet to be wet for longer than 6-8 hours so try not to saturate the carpet as much as possible.

    Don't Confuse Carpet Cleaning with Carpet Repair
    Don't fall into the trap of cleaning the carpet with a heavy-duty, moisture-laden treatment to get at a severe but small and isolated stain. These should be treated with targeted stain cleaning methods, but many carpet stains simply can't be removed. In these circumstances, a cut-and-plug carpet repair, not carpet cleaning, is called for.

    Take the Time to Prep the Room
    If ever you were going to find a way to move that bulky wood dresser, here is the perfect excuse. You don't want to leave dirt lines as a thin border around your furniture. Carpet cleaning isn't known for hitting nooks and crannies. In some cases, it may be necessary to do half a room at a time, alternating the furniture position. And as most carpet cleaning instructions will tell you, it's important to give your carpet a thorough vacuuming before you start.

    Read the Instructions
    Speaking of which, different carpet cleaning methods and equipment will use their own step-by-step instructions. Some shampoo treatments are designed to soak into the carpet for a few minutes, or even a few hours, before the cleaning starts. The equipment may have guidelines for different settings and cleaning speeds. Be sure to carefully read any and all manufacturer's recommendations before proceeding.

    Start Small and Conspicuous
    Even the best-laid plans can go awry. Advanced carpet cleaning equipment requires a deft touch. For this reason, it's always best to start in a small, conspicuous area that can be managed if the carpet cleaning starts off on a bad foot. If you have extra reason to be concerned, you might even want to let this area of the carpet dry before continuing to clean the rest of the carpet.

    Ventilate and Circulate to Promote Drying
    When you're done, it's important to ventilate the room, circulate the air, and reduce the humidity as much as possible. Keep the windows open, set up a fan at the edge of the room, and/or crank up the home's air conditioner, which will help drive down humidity levels. As ridiculous as it sounds, it may be necessary to keep an eye on the weather forecast to coordinate your carpet cleaning timing.

    High-End Carpet Recommendations
    High-end carpet is a solid home investment that can last a decade or longer and look beautiful doing it. So long as it's properly cleaned and cared for. To protect this investment, it's often worth a little extra money to hire a professional carpet cleaning service or to buy and master the use of your own carpet cleaning equipment.

    Mike Horstman
    The Carpet Medic

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