Carpets are added to homes and offices to bring more comfort to these areas spreading out through all common areas and being an essential element of indoor décor. However, when poorly maintained, carpet can present odors, stains and compromise the quality of the indoor air. Because of its textures and materials, carpets are commonly found to be sinks for chemicals, contaminants, dirt, soil, mold, and pathogens that might represent a health risk and compromise the safety of the indoor air. In this sense, several methods have been developed to provide efficient and low-cost solutions for carpet cleaning and maintenance. Among these methods, steam extraction has been pointed out as one of the easiest, inexpensive, and fast methods to clean carpets in homes and offices safely.
Get the best Carpet Cleaning service in Singapore, contact Big Red now!Here are the Step-by-Step Process for Better Carpet Cleaning Results
Pile Lifting of Carpet
To guarantee the removal of all dirt and soil from the carpet when proceeding with steam extraction, a pile lifting procedure in which vigorous vacuuming is initially carried out. Because large amounts of dirt and soil can compromise the effectiveness of the steam extraction, the first session of vacuuming is carried out. This process removes the thin layer of dust deposited on the top of the fibers as well as removing the massive chunks of dirt that might be loosely found throughout the carpet.
Pre-Spray of Chemicals on Carpet to Break Down Soils
Once the loose dirt and soil are removed, select chemicals are sprayed on the carpet, penetrating the fibers and helping to detach particles, pathogens, chemicals, mold, and other material that might be fixated onto the threads more strongly. These chemicals represent a specialized formulation for each type of fiber, and content found in your carpet. Therefore, it is essential to understand both the composition of your carpet as well as the contamination found.
In other words, the chemicals applied to your carpet during this process can vary immensely and should be chosen, taking into account the materials that compose your carpet and the possible forms of contamination present. Here, the help of a qualified professional is fundamental to ensure the durability and effectiveness of the cleaning process.
Mechanical Scrubbing of Carpet Fibers
Once the chemicals are left to act, according to recommendations, the next step in the steam extraction process is mechanical scrubbing. Differing from the vigorous cleaning, mechanical cleansing uses a specialized scrub to actively remove the chemicals applied and promote the detachment of any deposited dirt and soil that has been released due to the action of the chemicals. Mechanical scrubbing, especially after the application of pre-spray substances, can be quite aggressive to your carpet and might lead to detachment of fibers, thinning of the carpet, and loss in color and texture. In this case, specialized scrubs, along with qualified professionals, is considered the ideal choice to avoid any damage to the carpet.
Owners commonly report having issues during this process in case of trying to self-clean the carpet or when reaching out to unqualified professionals. Once the chemicals applied to come in contact with the fibers, they promote the opening of the pores and the release of in-depth contamination, which is one of the fundamental problems addressed by carpet cleaning processes. However, this procedure can also attack the linings of the carpet, making it more brittle and delicate to friction. Thus, special care has to be taken in this stage, and relying on a qualified professional is recommended.
Hot Water Carpet Extraction
The final step of steam extraction consists of hot water extraction. Here, specialized equipment vacuums the carpet surface while also applied hot steam to the surface. When the hot steam reaches the fibers of the carpet, the increased temperature leads the dirt, soil, and other material adhered to detach and be prone to the suctioning force applied. Moreover, the hot water also serves as an eluent removing the chemicals from the surface of the carpet and allowing them to be suctioned.
In this step, the chemicals that were applied on the surface of the carpet are heated up and exposed to hot water steam. This step can lead chemicals to evaporate and change from liquid to gas phase according to how volatile they are. Inhaling large amounts of these chemicals can be dangerous, and both the products chosen as well as the method used for this step are fundamental to ensure the safety of workers and people exposed to the carpet afterward. That is why this step of carpet cleaning should be done carefully and by trained personnel, is recommended to evacuate the area and provide proper air circulation to avoid a rapid increase in chemical levels in the room.
Advantages of Carpet Steam Extraction
Despite the additional precautions needed, steam extraction is one of the most effective, low cost and fast methods of carpet cleaning available in the market. Compared to carpet shampooing and other processes, steam extraction is capable of removing impurities from the fibers to a greater extent, reaching more profound layers of the fiber and removing material that is more strongly adsorbed. Thus, the main advantages of steam extraction are:
- Effective removal of in-depth adhered materials
- Low amount of water required
- The short dry-out period after cleaning
- Rapid cleaning process
- Low incidence of chemicals leftover in the carpets after cleaning
How can Big Red help?
Big Red has been providing cleaning services throughout the area of Singapore for a wide range of clients being able to supply them with varied options aligning to their different needs. As a fully-equipped cleaning company, Big Red is prepared to carry out carpet cleaning by:
- Pile Lifting
- Hot Water Extraction or Steam Cleaning
- Rotary Shampoo
- Combination of Hot Water Extraction and Rotary Shampoo
- Dry Foam
- Bonnet/Pad Cleaning
- Absorbent Dry Compound Powder System
Additionally, Big Red is proud of providing services with no downtime, allowing customers to use their carpet as soon as the cleaning process is over. Moreover, our methods are active on the removal of dust mites, fungi, mold, and other pathogens that could be representing a health risk in your building. With a team of professionals trained by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC), Big Red also provides a 30-day satisfaction guarantee with a re-clean in any area that attention is needed.
People also ask
- Is steam cleaning good for carpets?
- Cleaning your carpet periodically is recommended to help keep the quality of its fibers. Most cleaning methods will improve the appearance, smell, and texture for your carpet but also carries the risk of causing several issues post-cleaning. Methods that rely on large amounts of water, large numbers of chemicals, and others are prone to leave behind moistures and residues that can help shorten the carpet’s lifetime. However, steam cleaning presents the advantages of using a low amount of water and chemicals, avoiding posterior problems.
- How often should a carpet be steam cleaned?
- Regular vacuuming of carpets is recommended for the daily maintenance of the product. More thorough deep cleaning methods such as steam cleaning are recommended at least once a year.
- Which is better, steam cleaning or shampooing carpet?
- While shampooing carpets are considered less aggressive to the fiber, steam cleaners are much more effective and present better results in dirt and soil removal. Additionally, steam cleaning has a lower tendency to leave moisture and chemical residue on the fibers, which can lead to the appearance of mold and stains.
- Can you walk on the carpet after steam cleaning?
- Usually, it takes six to eight hours to dry out a carpet after steam cleaning completely. However, with new devices and technologies, this time can be shortened down to a couple of minutes using a steam cleaning method. In any case, it is essential to respect recommendations from carpet cleaners and keep the area ventilated while waiting for the carpet to dry-out.
Keep your carpets clean and stain-free. Call Big Red now!
Big Red’s commercial and residential cleaning services extend beyond carpet and rug cleaning to upholstery cleaning, marble & parquet polishing, and a lot more!
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