What Are The Nine Stages Of Steam Carpet Cleaning?
Steam carpet cleaning is the only method to be recommended by so many experts as the number one way to have your carpets cleaned. Steam carpet cleaning is something that needs to be done around every 12 months, but the frequency will depend on how busy your household is.
When you contact a steam carpet cleaner they should have a set process in place to ensure that they are achieving the best cleaning results. This system is usually made up of nine separate stages which are detailed below.
High Filtration Vacuuming
The first step is to ensure that any loose debris is picked up from the carpet, whilst you may have already vacuumed, the cleaner will need to use a high filtration cleaner. This vacuum is of industrial strength and rids the carpet of all the dust and other particles laying on the surface of the carpet.
Remove Furniture
As steam carpet cleaning requires the room to be completely empty your technician should be able to remove any large items that you are unable to move yourself. However, it is advised that you remove any valuable pieces before the cleaner arrives to protect them from breakages.
Stain Removal
Your carpets may not be covered in obvious stains but they are bound to have some smaller ones hidden away somewhere. Your cleaning company should use professional products to remove some of the more stubborn stains before carrying out the standard cleaning.
Pre-Spray
The final preparation before the big moment is to apply a pre-spray. This spray helps loosen and remove the oils and grime that is stuck in the carpet fibres. This step is particularly important as without it the hot water extraction may leave behind some pollutants.
Hot Water Extraction
This is it - the big moment. Your carpet cleaner should be using an industrial hot water extraction machine to steam clean the carpets. The cleaning solutions are pumped into the carpet, break down the particles of dirt, then it is all extracted by the triple vacuum inside the machine.
Rinsing
The extraction machine can also rinse out the carpets after the cleaning, this ensures that no solutions are left behind. If any cleaning product is left in the carpet it can actually cause the fibres to break down and encourage re-soiling.
Protective Tabs
When your cleaner puts all your furniture back in its rightful place it will have foil tabs and Styrofoam blocks under the legs. This is simply to stop any colours or dyes seeping from the furniture in your clean carpets. Once the carpet is dry these can be removed.
Raking
This is a quick and easy step. The steam cleaning technician will use a rake to prevent any of the carpet fibres tangling or lying in the wrong direction.
Overshoes
The carpet cleaner will understand that you might need to pop into the room whilst the carpet is still moist, so you will be provided with some overshoes allowing you to walk on the carpet before it is completely dry.