Carpet Cleaning Myths

By Author: Jeremy Peters
Total Articles: 6
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Myth#1
Wait as long as you can to have your carpet cleaned the first time, because once you have it cleaned it never looks the same again.

First of all, if you wait too long to have your carpet cleaned, there has already been permanent damage done to the fibers. The main reason for this belief can be attributed to carpet cleaners who leave the carpet either too wet, full of residue, or both. Too wet leaves suspend soils in the excessive moisture. When it dries, this soil will wick up to the top surface of the carpet fiber.

If your carpet is cleaned properly, there will be maximum removal of residues, quick drying, and a fresh clean carpet under your feet for months to come.

Myth#2
The store where we purchased our carpet said it had to be dry cleaned only.

We hear this one a lot. This could not be further from the truth.

This consensus of opinion among carpet retailers (salespeople) is derived from carpet cleaners who consistently leave the carpet too wet. This causes a great amount of soiling to be left behind, which wicks back to the surface after drying finally occurs. This opinion ...
... has no factual or proven claims to back it up, it is just that — their opinion, and it is WRONG!

The largest manufacturer of carpet states that hot water extraction(know as carpet steam cleaning) is their recommended method of carpet cleaning. They also recommend PROFESSIONAL carpet cleaning using this method.

Myth#3
If I have my carpet steam (wet or hot water extraction) cleaned, it can shrink, mold or mildew, split the seams, or otherwise ruin my carpet.

Again, this can only happen if the cleaner leaves the carpet extremely wet. In the case of a professional, removing all excess moisture is one of the most important steps in the hot-water extraction (steam) cleaning process.

Modern hot water extraction equipment is designed to do just that — remove all excess moisture and leave only what the carpet fiber itself will absorb.

A professional carpet cleaning company will properly use this cleaning process which only penetrates to the base of the carpet fiber, and does not penetrate the carpet backing (either primary or secondary), pad, or your floor underneath.

Even some of the dry cleaning companies actually use water, so it is not dry at all.

Myth#4
Dry Cleaning is better than Steam (wet) Cleaning because it is dry.

This myth comes from the overbundance of *bad* steam cleaners. By using the term *BAD*, I am referring to steam (wet) cleaners who leave the carpet way too wet (and there are plenty that do this). Someone came along and figured the opposite of very wet would be better (dry). Best is removing the *excess* moisture and only leaving the *absorbed* moisture the fiber picks up.

To improve upon this further, steam clean with a solution that will remove existing residues and leave your carpet or upholstery extremely clean and fresh. Now that's the BEST way to clean — period.

Dry cleaning, on the other hand, has a BIG tendancy to leave a lot of residue in the carpet. There is either no extraction, or very little extraction involved with dry cleaning. Guess where the soiling and cleaning residues remain? IN THE CARPET!!!

Here the author Jeremy Peters writes about Myths of Carpet Cleaning. For More information on Carpet Steam Cleaning, visit http://www.aquaqleencleaning.com