What method of cleaning is the best? I mean, I have
used most of them at one time or another. Which method is more environmentally friendly? It seems everyone is talking about green cleaning, and every carpet cleaning method can be sold on some sort of "Green" appeal, although somewhat of a stretch for a few methods.
The truth is in order to ensure quality, you have to be able to use a range of tools, and solutions with the knowledge and experience to know when to use them. North Raleigh Carpet Care has the professional equipment, with a superior knowledge base, (IICRC Trained and field experienced) and the best service in the industry. We will be on time, and I will communicate in a professional manner, and of course, follow up is certainly a key.
used most of them at one time or another. Which method is more environmentally friendly? It seems everyone is talking about green cleaning, and every carpet cleaning method can be sold on some sort of "Green" appeal, although somewhat of a stretch for a few methods.
The truth is in order to ensure quality, you have to be able to use a range of tools, and solutions with the knowledge and experience to know when to use them. North Raleigh Carpet Care has the professional equipment, with a superior knowledge base, (IICRC Trained and field experienced) and the best service in the industry. We will be on time, and I will communicate in a professional manner, and of course, follow up is certainly a key.
Descriptions
So, what are these methods? First some quick education for you here. (Carpet Geek Alert!) There are basically 4 components to cleaning carpet. In no particular order the first component is some form of moisture. (There is no such thing as "Dry carpet cleaning." I explain this in more detail below) Second there is agitation. Third, there is removal, and forth there is heat. (or lack of it) You must have those four, but the percentages used in each method of cleaning varies. The descriptions below are my personal descriptions of each method.
Exclusive Hot Water Extraction- Needed only in the messiest of situations where there is a great need for flushing and suction power. This is true restorative cleaning. Examples of when HWE is needed: if you have major dirt, filth, grease, spills and grime, mainly that has gone down to the pad or carpet backing. Also areas with major spills and pet urine, and often times stairs will need it too. This method uses a lot of water, (It is measured in Gallons per minute or GPM) and some type of cleaning solution, heat, and of course water and soil are removed by a vacuum pump. There is not much agitation used in this process as a wand glides over the carpet spraying and then quickly removing the solution. (The high pressure is the only agitation, and can be the reasons for spots reappearing.)This process has a longer dry time and requires you to remain off the carpet. It also requires special inserts to place under furniture to prevent creating new stains in the carpet from the furniture legs. My "dry" process cleans dirty carpets, however removing major pet stains is a service that we must charge additional fees for. Proper pet stain removal requires chemicals, deodorizing, and removal with a water claw tool combined with high water lift capabilities.
Encapsulation- The Encapsulation "Green Science" cleaning methods began to infiltrate the market over 15 years ago, mainly in the commercial environment where the carpet is glued to the floor. It provided a "fix" for some of the HWE issues that arise in commercial settings, mainly access to taller buildings, carpets being just damp to the touch, and no employee needed down times. It is a safer alternative to use in office settings and around computers and desks. In this process, I spray a solution of water and a non detergent, non soapy encapsulating polymer that attracts the soil. (It is an approved product by the CRI.) This solution is mechanically agitated into the carpet fibers by a specialized machine that has two Counter Rotating Brushes, which pulls up debris and coats the fibers loosening the soil. Then it quickly drys to a slick crystal like substance that is vacuumed up, leaving the carpets clean and dirt free. This is Green Science at it best! I use this method on mainly commercial carpets with very good success.This process uses much less water and solution, some heat, and much more agitation, and then again, vacuum extraction. It is a great choice in most commercial office and retail settings. There is virtually no downtime to the staff. The carpet is never really "wet," it can be described as slightly damp, which means it drys in usually an hour or less. It can be walked on during the cleaning process.
Dry Cleaning- I want to be clear, there is no such thing as dry cleaning carpet. The industry developed this term, so I am using it to describe the process. As I stated above, you MUST have some type of moisture to clean. So while you can not dry clean, you can clean using "controlled or limited moisture." This is a method used by North Raleigh Carpet Care with great success. It is a powerful organic green cleaning system. It sprays a solution of water and a releasing conditioner, then an organic powder (holding the cleaning solution like a sponge) is sprinkled on the fibers. These sponges are then agitated in the carpets by two Counter Rotating Brushes and then removed by vacuum. The soil attaches to the organic sponge compounds. This is really the only method that allows immediate use of the space. This allows areas to be cleaned when the facility is in operation or the homeowners are home, and it does not leave a detergent residue behind to attract new soil.This process used small amounts of water and solution, lots of agitation, some heat, and removal.
There are certain variations in these processes, (Thats where my skill and training comes in!) but all use some form of these components. At North Raleigh Carpet Care, I can look at your carpets and decide what method, or combination of methods, we could use to get your carpets as clean as they can be. Please contact me to schedule a cleaning.
919-522-0707
So, what are these methods? First some quick education for you here. (Carpet Geek Alert!) There are basically 4 components to cleaning carpet. In no particular order the first component is some form of moisture. (There is no such thing as "Dry carpet cleaning." I explain this in more detail below) Second there is agitation. Third, there is removal, and forth there is heat. (or lack of it) You must have those four, but the percentages used in each method of cleaning varies. The descriptions below are my personal descriptions of each method.
Exclusive Hot Water Extraction- Needed only in the messiest of situations where there is a great need for flushing and suction power. This is true restorative cleaning. Examples of when HWE is needed: if you have major dirt, filth, grease, spills and grime, mainly that has gone down to the pad or carpet backing. Also areas with major spills and pet urine, and often times stairs will need it too. This method uses a lot of water, (It is measured in Gallons per minute or GPM) and some type of cleaning solution, heat, and of course water and soil are removed by a vacuum pump. There is not much agitation used in this process as a wand glides over the carpet spraying and then quickly removing the solution. (The high pressure is the only agitation, and can be the reasons for spots reappearing.)This process has a longer dry time and requires you to remain off the carpet. It also requires special inserts to place under furniture to prevent creating new stains in the carpet from the furniture legs. My "dry" process cleans dirty carpets, however removing major pet stains is a service that we must charge additional fees for. Proper pet stain removal requires chemicals, deodorizing, and removal with a water claw tool combined with high water lift capabilities.
Encapsulation- The Encapsulation "Green Science" cleaning methods began to infiltrate the market over 15 years ago, mainly in the commercial environment where the carpet is glued to the floor. It provided a "fix" for some of the HWE issues that arise in commercial settings, mainly access to taller buildings, carpets being just damp to the touch, and no employee needed down times. It is a safer alternative to use in office settings and around computers and desks. In this process, I spray a solution of water and a non detergent, non soapy encapsulating polymer that attracts the soil. (It is an approved product by the CRI.) This solution is mechanically agitated into the carpet fibers by a specialized machine that has two Counter Rotating Brushes, which pulls up debris and coats the fibers loosening the soil. Then it quickly drys to a slick crystal like substance that is vacuumed up, leaving the carpets clean and dirt free. This is Green Science at it best! I use this method on mainly commercial carpets with very good success.This process uses much less water and solution, some heat, and much more agitation, and then again, vacuum extraction. It is a great choice in most commercial office and retail settings. There is virtually no downtime to the staff. The carpet is never really "wet," it can be described as slightly damp, which means it drys in usually an hour or less. It can be walked on during the cleaning process.
Dry Cleaning- I want to be clear, there is no such thing as dry cleaning carpet. The industry developed this term, so I am using it to describe the process. As I stated above, you MUST have some type of moisture to clean. So while you can not dry clean, you can clean using "controlled or limited moisture." This is a method used by North Raleigh Carpet Care with great success. It is a powerful organic green cleaning system. It sprays a solution of water and a releasing conditioner, then an organic powder (holding the cleaning solution like a sponge) is sprinkled on the fibers. These sponges are then agitated in the carpets by two Counter Rotating Brushes and then removed by vacuum. The soil attaches to the organic sponge compounds. This is really the only method that allows immediate use of the space. This allows areas to be cleaned when the facility is in operation or the homeowners are home, and it does not leave a detergent residue behind to attract new soil.This process used small amounts of water and solution, lots of agitation, some heat, and removal.
There are certain variations in these processes, (Thats where my skill and training comes in!) but all use some form of these components. At North Raleigh Carpet Care, I can look at your carpets and decide what method, or combination of methods, we could use to get your carpets as clean as they can be. Please contact me to schedule a cleaning.
919-522-0707