When most homeowners get their carpets installed, they often think all they need to do is make sure the carpet is vacuumed or shampooed on occasion. Too bad: this is one of the common misconceptions of carpet cleaning. When you have your carpet installed, you expect it to last for a long time, right? Well, in this article we will help you protect your carpet and ensure it lasts for the intended period. We have debunked several myths and misconceptions that you should be aware of when it comes to proper carpet cleaning and maintenance.

1. Carpet cleaning should only be done when there is a lot of dirt

First of all, let’s not limit ourselves to the dirt that we see. Outdoor air, for instance, contains several things that can as well collect up in your carpet. Such include pollens, bacteria, fungus, air pollution from car exhaust, cigarette smoke among many other chemicals. Now you’re probably wondering the relationship between outdoor air and your home. As you and your family members come into your home you carry those bacteria, pollens, etc. from outside and even before you think of having a shower, the dirt falls off and accumulates in the carpet. You can blame gravity by the way.  If any of your family members have allergies or other breathing problems, the main source could be the chemicals caught in the carpets. So, in addition to getting out dirt, one of the other reasons to regularly clean your carpet is to remove small pollens, cigarette smoke, and several other chemicals out of your carpet.

2. Any method of carpet cleaning will work just fine

Absolutely not. When you decide to clean your carpet, you have two options; hot water extraction and dry cleaning. Here’s a more detailed overview of these methods.  Hot water extraction: This method involves a hot water cleaning solution under high pressure exerted into the carpet and then immediately sucked back out of the carpet. It is one of the most effective ways to thoroughly clean your carpet and gets off the dirt quickly. Some critics will tell you that hot water is harmful to your carpet- this is far from reality. Hot water is safe and can never harm your carpet.

Dry Foam method: Here, shampoo is applied to your carpet and then allowed to dry for a
while. The cleaner then sucks the dried shampoo into a vacuum. That doesn’t
sound as effective. It is similar to applying shampoo on your hair, leaving it
to dry and then removing with a vacuum. Of course, there will still be some
residue left on the base of the carpet’s fiber.

Dry-Chem method: similar to dry foam, a chemical-soaked cotton bonnet is applied
and placed on your carpet. The bonnet then spins absorbing dirt from your
carpet until saturated. The cleaner repeats this process with a new bonnet until
satisfied that the carpet is clean. It is still not effective in cleaning stubborn
elements hidden from deep down.

Dry-compound method: Here, the cleaner spreads a sawdust-looking mixture all over the
carpet. Then the machine brushes this mixture, absorbing dirt into it. When dried,
a vacuum cleaner sucks the material out of the carpet. Since the method does
not involve rinsing the carpet, there is a possibility of remnants in the
carpet.

3. Look for the cheapest carpet cleaning service

Well it may work sometimes, but not always.  Before you choose a company, consider the amount of dirt that you want to clean. If you want the carpet cleaner to do away with some of the dirt, then you really don’t need a cleaner after all. But, you can choose from hundreds of carpet cleaners that use small shampooers or you can decide to rent one from the store and do it yourself.  On the other hand, if you want a thorough cleaning job and want to remove all the harmful chemicals, including allergens, then you need to hire a cleaning company that uses hot water cleaner. So, keep in mind what type of cleaner the company will use. You’ll soon realize that the price offered is not necessarily equivalent to the services you want.  With this knowledge in mind, you can now make a better decision when choosing the right carpet cleaning service for you.

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