Professional Carpet Cleaning Myths
Myths in Professional Carpet Cleaning As the chemist for Bane-Clene®, I surf the internet reviewing carpet cleaning articles and find large numbers of myths and errors. Here are just a few: - Professional carpet cleaning is too expensive.
- Yes, the customer can clean your carpet themselves with a rental or even buy a little machine. But, as so often happens, the customer ends up overwetting the carpet. We even had one homeowner call who had rented a machine from a drug store, but could not understand why the carpet was soaked and none of the dirt and stains had been removed. Upon questioning the homeowner, we discovered that the vacuum wasn’t working - the machine was putting out plenty of cleaning solution and leaving it!
- The maintenance brochure published by the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, Shaw Industries, recommends professional carpet cleaning over “Do-It-Yourself” because of the potential problems that can occur from using rental equipment - such as yellowing, overwetting, fiber tip damage, severe resoiling, overuse of detergents, etc. Most rental units available do not adequately clean and may actually damage the carpet
- It doesn’t matter what method is used to clean carpets.
- The only method recommended by the Carpet and Rug Institute and most carpet manufacturers is hot water extraction.!
- The choice of the best carpet cleaning method is extremely important. Some systems leave residues which promote re-soiling and defeat the whole purpose of cleaning. Some methods actually damage the carpet fibers and shorten the life of the carpet. Check with the carpet manufacturer for recommendations.
- Bane-Clene’s web site has an article titled “Comparison of Carpet Cleaning Methods” that covers this question more thoroughly.
- The best time to clean or vacuum a carpet is when it starts to look dirty.
- By then, stains may become more difficult to remove, if not permanent, and abrasive soils my have severely worn the carpet fibers.
- All carpet cleaning companies clean the same way.
- No. Many will come in with a little portable in the trunk - hardly professional or capable of adequately cleaning carpets and rugs.
- Some clean with a rotary floor machine (a buffer), which will void the warranty on most carpets.
- The lowest price is the best price.
- The lowest price is usually from a “bait and switch” company and the customer ends up paying even more than expected along with terrible results!
- I have a carpet protector on my carpet or my new carpet repels all stains. So, spills and stains will come right up with a little water and towel.
- Carpet Protectors against Stains and Soil - How do they work? Do they work?
- Stain-resistant does not mean stain-proof. Be sure to act immediately to prevent spots and spills from causing permanent damage.
- “Dry Cleaning Carpet” Is Better Than Steam Cleaning.
- There are two types of “dry carpet cleaning” - absorbent powder and bonnet cleaning.
- Bonnet cleaning , also called spin pad carpet cleaning or absorbent pad carpet cleaning or carbonated carpet shampoo cleaning, is simply an adaptation of hard floor spray buffing to carpets. Even though it is not true “dry cleaning”, many people using this system call it “dry cleaning”, which is highly deceptive, because it definitely is not “dry”. Nearly all carpet and fiber manufacturers recommend against using the bonnet method on cut-pile carpet.
- Absorbent Powder Method of Cleaning Carpet: In this carpet cleaning method, dry absorbent compound is sprinkled over carpet or worked into the carpet with a machine or a brush. Does not deep clean the carpet fibers - just surface cleans at best because it does not fully reach the base of the carpet. This carpet cleaning method won’t remove most dried stains.
- Carpet protector is just a way for carpet cleaning companies to make
more money off of me.
- Today, almost all carpets are protected at the mill during the manufacturing process. However, it is important to maintain this protection with an application of an after-market carpet protector. Soil, stains, traffic and even aggressive spot cleaning are all enemies of carpets.
- Fluorochemical protectors can provide excellent initial and durable soil resistance, along with outstanding oil and water repellency. Additional acid dye blockers can be formulated into some fluorochemical protectors to provide additional stain resistance for nylon carpets. Fluoropolymer protectors, such as Bane-Clene’s Bane-Guard™, Sta-Clene®, Teflon® Advanced and Scotchgard™ Protector for Carpet and Upholstery change the surface energy of fibers and provide soil resistance as their primary function. Additionally, they help fibers resist both water-based and oil-based spots and spills.
- Repeated Professional Carpet Cleaning Makes Carpet Get Dirty Faster.
- Properly formulated carpet cleaning detergents will not cause resoiling. But, carpet shampoos, hand dishwash detergents and laundry detergents definitely will because they leave a sticky residue.
- Too frequent vacuuming of carpet is a waste of time and will wear out carpet.
- Vacuuming carpets frequently and thoroughly is probably the most important factor in carpet care. Dirt works its way down into the fibers of the carpet where it acts like sandpaper, grinding away at each tuft, leaving it limp and dull. Dirt also combines with oil residues carried through the air and eventually glues itself to the carpet.
- Regular vacuuming prevents both problems. Most experts agree that proper carpet care involves thorough vacuuming about once a week, with heavy traffic areas being vacuumed more often.
- About 80% of carpet soil is abrasive dry particulate matter and will be removed by routine vacuuming. Dry carpet fibers will not be harmed by brushing, so a good upright vacuum cleaner with a reel-type brush is suggested to move the tips of the pile so dirt can be removed.
Related Articles and Information:
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Copyright: Bane-Clene® Corp. Author: Donald W. Terry, Sr. - Bane-Clene’s Chemist Date Modified: August 12, 2020 Date Published: August 12, 2020
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