Do It Yourself Carpet Cleaning Tips
Few of us look forward to cleaning our carpets, but cleaning those carpets is important not only to their good looks but to their useful lifespan as well. Learning which cleaning methods and cleaning supplies work best for your own carpet is a great way to make them last as long as possible and keep their good looks for many years.
While frequent vacuuming is of course an important part of caring for carpets, it is also important that those carpets be given a thorough deep cleaning at least every 12 to 18 months. This occasional deep cleaning will serve to remove the deep seated dirt that simple vacuuming cannot reach. No matter how good the vacuum or how thorough the cleaning, there will always be some dirt remaining in the carpet pile. A thorough deep cleaning, using either wet or dry methods, will help to remove this built up dirt.
Before you clean your carpet, however, it is important to check with the manufacturer for recommendations. Each carpet maker will have their own recommendations when it comes to materials and supplies for cleaning the carpet, and it is important to carefully follow these recommendations.
The equipment and supplies needed to perform this thorough carpet cleaning can be rented from a variety of different sources, but it is important to choose the right cleaning method. A carpet comprised of synthetic fibers can use either the wet or dry method of deep cleaning, while wool or other organic carpets should be cleaned using the dry method only.
The wet extraction method of carpet cleaning uses a solution of water and detergent to penetrate the deepest parts of the carpet. A powerful vacuum is then used to vacuum up the water, the detergent and the dirt which has been attracted by the detergent. This wet extraction method of deep cleaning carpets can be quite effective, but it is important to thoroughly dry the carpet following the cleaning. A fan can be hooked up to help the carpet dry more quickly.
An alternate method of carpet cleaning is known as the dry foam extraction method. This carpet cleaning method uses a cleaning solution comprised of dry foam. This dry foam is then applied to the carpet using a machine which uses brushes and a vacuum.
When it comes to carpet cleaning, the do it yourself method is certainly the most cost effective, and cleaning the carpet is not as difficult as many people think. The key to getting the best results from a do it yourself carpet cleaning job is to vacuum the carpet as thoroughly as possible prior to the deep cleaning, and to carefully follow the recommendations of the carpet manufacturer.