Dry Or Wet Carpet Cleaning – You Decide

Dry carpet cleaning is the only way to remove dirt from natural carpets and is also suitable for synthetic ones. Wet carpet cleaning you can apply exclusively for synthetics. What are the differences, and how to perform the treatment at home?

From time immemorial, the carpet has been the embodiment of comfort, warmth and wealth for people. Not every family could afford carpets on the floors in their house, especially when woven by hand. Today, natural carpets are not cheap either. If you have a natural carpet at home, you need to follow the basic rules of cleaning to prolong its life and facilitate its care:

  • do not wear shoes at home;
  • place a mat at the entrance and wipe the soles of your shoes well before entering;
  • do not pour food residues or crumbs on the surface of the carpet. Do not pour water; keep away from grease;
  • if you have young children who have already started crawling, you need to put something else on top of the carpet;
  • If you can’t imagine life without pets, you should wipe their paws and cut their nails so they don’t ruin the carpet.

Of course, everyone in the house has a vacuum cleaner, and you should use it, if not daily, at least once every two days. This independent, seemingly simple, easy cleaning will help keep the carpet in good condition longer. The vacuum cleaner should be equipped with a rotating brush if you prefer a carpet with long hair.

When is the time to trust professionals?

There is nothing we can do about the dust in the deeper layers of the carpet. Also, sometimes the carpet care methods described above are not followed correctly. You never know what might happen: you came in with shoes rushing to work, accidentally spilt tea or sprinkled bread, had dinner in front of the TV, the child accidentally turned his pot – life is life, and we are all human.

Hot water extraction for a dirty restaurant carpet

Therefore, we recommend professional dry cleaning of carpets every 5-6 months (or once a year, depending on pollution). Why dry? Everything is simple. Natural carpets do not absorb water at all:
First, water compresses the hair. After drying, the carpet remains sticky and thinner, therefore less fluffy.
Second, the colouring of natural carpets is superficially, and wet cleaning helps to wash the colour. That is why they quickly fade in the sun when dried.

So, even if your floor covering seems perfect, you carefully monitor its cleanliness and vacuum it daily; it does not give the same effect as professional cleaning. Only with the help of qualified specialists and special industrial equipment can you remove almost 100% of microbes, the finest dust, and dirt, which inevitably remain in the fibres after cleaning at home.

It is also worth mentioning cleaning carpets in offices and other public places. Office coverings are used more often and need cleaning more often.

Dry cleaning methods

Several technologies are equally successfully used to clean carpets without water. Which option do you prefer – decide based on the recommendations of specialists who know all the intricacies of processing certain materials. But of course, do not forget the factor of affordable price. In most cases, it is what becomes the determinant.

Surface cleaning

Before you start cleaning, it is always necessary to ensure that you have placed the carpet firmly. Professional vacuum cleaners do the cleaning with high power and low noise. You can use this method every 3-4 months to clean the home. For offices, hotels – once a week. This cleaning does not affect the depth of the hair, but when the trained staff do the work, a reasonably high result is achieved.

Cleaning with powder and granules

Powder or granule cleaning technology includes floor machines or a machine equipped with a rotating cylindrical brush, dry powder or granules containing detergents. This method uses granules or powder that absorb dirt particles. They act like a sponge and absorb dirt inside. The whole procedure for dry cleaning carpets by this method is effortless and includes the following measures:

  1. The powder or granules are distributed on the carpet’s surface.
  2. Rubbing into the bristles with a brush.
  3. Remove the mixture that has absorbed the dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
    Here water is not used at all, and you can immediately walk on the carpet after such cleaning.

Steam cleaning

Such dry cleaning of carpets involves the use of a particular steam engine. The steam penetrates the carpet’s fibres during processing, dissolving grease and dirt. Dirt is removed immediately after applying the high-temperature steam.
After cleaning, the carpet does not stay wet.

Wet cleaning of synthetic carpets

Many people prefer synthetic coatings, as the current range includes products that look very decent but at the same time cheap. Everything is much simpler in terms of care – they can be washed. There are several wet cleaning methods, depending on the product type and equipment used. Every one has pros and cons, so which you prefer – depends on you.

Remove dirt with spray

That is a cosmetic cleaning product designed to remove stains from the carpet. The spray is applied only on the stains, left for 20 minutes, and then extracted with water and a vacuum cleaner. Everything is straightforward and does not require much physical effort and financial costs. But of course, the effect of such cleaning will be primarily local. This option is unsuitable for thoroughly cleaning the floor covering after very long use and lacking preventive maintenance procedures.

For offices and other public places, it is recommended to call professionals who perform such cleaning with powerful equipment using the right technology.

Shampooing

Put a special shampoo in water, and stir vigorously to make foam. Apply this foam evenly over the entire surface of the carpet, then rub it with a brush. Such wet cleaning of carpets ends with a vacuum cleaner and drying.

Again – in public places, professionals and special equipment perform such cleaning.

Natural carpet cleaning methods

To maintain the attractive appearance of the decor of your interior, creating comfort in your home, it is not necessary at the same time with the purchase of the product to run to the store for household chemicals and professional care products. It is quite possible to deal with proven methods over the years.

Washing with vinegar water

Perhaps such wet carpet cleaning is most affordable for any owner of a decorative finish. The application is simple: make a solution of 50 ml of vinegar in 500 ml of water, and apply it with a brush in the direction of the hair. Then vacuum.

Cleaning with baking soda

This choice is ideal for individuals who would rather not spend a lot of cash on professionals but need dry carpet cleaning. Soda is a cheap, natural cleanser that does not always require water. Soda can remove dirt even in a dry state. Cleaning the carpet with such a tool is quite simple:

  1. Sprinkle powder on the surface of the coating – a layer of about 0.5-1 cm. Leave for 1-2 hours.
  2. Vacuum the coating thoroughly.

Of course, soda will refresh, remove stains, dust, or other contaminants and save on professional dry cleaning. However, it is better not to use your strength and cheap material at least once a year or two. You should contact a cleaning or dry cleaning company.