Guest Article By: Windsor Equipment | December 27, 2012
Vacuuming and encapsulation are important in keeping your carpet looking good and preserving your investment as long as possible. Ultimately the day will come when you will clean even deeper that that; thorough wet cleaning is an important step to consider when taking care of carpets.
Why is it even necessary to take on challenge like that? Are vacuuming and encapsulation not enough? The answer: no, they are not. Even doing them regularly will not eliminate the need for a deep, restorative cleaning. Luckily extraction is not as difficult as it sounds. Using the right methods and machines will minimize the down-time of the area as much as possible.
To really get down into the carpet structure, you need water, chemical, and a machine that will work the above mentioned items into the carpet as well as get them out of the carpet again! There are two options for this: Use a spray-extraction cleaner or for deep extraction use a carpet extractor.
Step 1: Preparation
Check your carpet and make sure that it is safe to use water and the selected cleaning agent on it. Remove all loose dirt from the carpet surface with a carpet vacuum. Prepare the machine with fresh water and cleaning agent. Make sure the area you are about to clean is marked, so there will be no foot traffic on the wet carpet.
Step 2: Let's Get Started
Decide on whether you want to work in a 1-step or 2-step method. This will depend on the type of carpet and how soiled it is.
1-step method (for lightly soiled carpets or water-sensitive carpets): Spray water and cleaning agent on the carpet, work the solution in, and remove it in the same pass.
2-step method (for heavily soiled carpets or water-sensitive carpets): Spray water and pre-spray on the carpet, work the solution in and allow it to dwell. Make sure that you reach all room areas (sides, door area, close to wall, etc.) with your cleaning pattern. Use a hand tool for difficult-to-reach areas. To remove all cleaning agent residues extract the carpet with water and an acid rinse.
Step 3: Drying Time
The carpet needs to dry completely before it can be open for traffic; therefore, make sure the cleaned area is ventilated as well as possible. You might want to use a carpet blower/dryer to significantly shorten the drying time. Finally admire the good looks of your carpet and enjoy the fresher appearance.
Contact your WAXIE Account Consultant today to schedule a training session or learn more about cleaning equipment, preventative maintenance programs, and necessary maintenance.