Steam or Dry Cleaning? Which Method is Better for Your Carpets
No matter how hard you try to keep your carpets clean, dirt, stains and grime will accumulate and, at some point, they’ll require cleaning. Carpet cleaning can improve your family’s life and help you stay healthy; it improves overall appearance of your house or apartment, as well as extending the life of your carpets. Steam and dry cleaning are two most popular carpet cleaning methods and you might be wondering which one you should choose. To help you make this important decision, we’ve asked professionals who provide the best carpet cleaning Brisbane could offer to tell us more about these methods and whether one has advantage over the other.
Is steam cleaning really chemical-free? Even though a machine uses hot water that’s giving off steam, detergents are needed to clean carpets, too. In fact, hot water, which is also a chemical compound, is necessary to activate the detergent on the fibers; for natural and wool carpets the machine sprays acidic detergent on the carpet, while it uses alkaline detergents for synthetic fibers. Therefore, the answer is no; steam cleaning isn’t chemical-free. However, that’s not something to be worried about; there are many hypo-allergenic and non-toxic cleaning solutions available. What’s more, any cleaning solution used for steam carpet cleaning will be removed and rinsed by the carpet cleaning machine.
How long does it take for the carpets to be dry after steam cleaning? If you buy or rent a steam cleaner and opt for DIY carpet cleaning, you should stay off of your carpets for up to 24 hours. Hiring professionals to steam clean your carpets means you’ll have to wait less for the carpets to be dry. And, what about the dry cleaning method, is it completely dry? A small amount of moisture is required for dry carpet cleaning method, too. Thus, the answer is no; after dry cleaning, carpets can be used again in no time at all. This is one of the reasons why this method is better for retail and industrial settings.
Steam cleaning – facts: It only requires the machine, hot water and the appropriate detergent. On the downside, it’s necessary to wait up to 24 hours to be able to use your floors again. Certain stains, such as chemical and/or pet stains, require more than one steam cleaning treatments, while some ground-in stains simply cannot be removed by this method. Carpet manufacturers often recommend steam cleaning method for carpet cleaning.
Dry cleaning – facts: Basically, there’s no drying time and stains are effectively removed. The disadvantage of this method is the use of harsh, potentially harmful chemicals. It’s recommended to speak to a professional cleaner about the detergents that will be used and whether they have strong odors. People with allergies and asthma should in most cases avoid this method, unless cleaning professionals don’t assure them they’re using safe, odorless and allergy-free chemicals.
When it comes to prices, dry cleaning is usually more expensive, but it’s good to know that carpet cleaning prices do vary greatly. The cost depends on the cleaning method, the detergents that are used, and of course, the size and type of carpets you have. Typically, a carpet cleaning company offers upfront fees that will cover all basic costs. However, it doesn’t mean that there won’t be any add-on. Sometimes, you might be charged extra for moving furniture, targeted spot cleaning or when the basic service isn’t enough to remove some stubborn stains and further follow-up will be required.
Whatever you decide, make sure you clean your carpets (professionally or yourself) on a regular basis. In most cases, homeowners should do this at least once a year.