4 Elements of Carpet Cleaning
This is not to be confused with the carpet cleaning process.
Instead, these are the elements that go into the process and why they are essential.
Also, it must be stated that these elements all work together; if one element is lacking then the other three must pick up the slack.
None of the elements can ever be completely eliminated.
Heat It has been proven that as water's temperature rises, its ability to clean and dissolve soil dramatically increases.
Carpet cleaning machines are equipped with a mechanism (whether it be electric or powered by a propane heater) that heat the water that they use.
Some truck mount machines can heat water within 20 seconds to outrageous temperatures.
A good water temperature to use is around 220 degrees.
Some electric heaters can get close to around 200 degrees.
There is no doubt that hotter water works better for cleaning.
Chemical The cleaning chemicals that carpet cleaners use may seem more important than the other three elements on this list, but the truth is they represent equal importance.
There are hundreds of chemicals on the market, what we must remember is that different chemicals are made for different problems.
You can't use one chemical for all of your problems.
What is chemically engineered to break down coffee stains is much different (chemically) than the chemical that is designed for pet stains.
It is important to use chemicals specific to the problem that you are trying to solve.
Dwell Time Dwell time refers to the amount of time that chemicals are left in the carpet before extracted/rinsed out.
It is important that they remain in the carpet for at least 10 minutes (some chemicals call for different dwell times but 10 minutes is a general standard).
This allows the chemical to perform its natural function: attract soils and break them down.
This process makes the rinsing process easier because the chemical does most of the work.
There is a diminishing return on most chemicals after certain amounts of time.
Therefore it is not beneficial to let chemicals dwell for more than thirty minutes.
Plus, chemicals must remain wet in order work, they are deactivated when they dry.
Agitation Agitation is another element that is a sub element of chemical.
The chemicals must be agitated into the carpet fibers.
This is a process similar to scrubbing.
One must scrub the chemical deep into the fibers where certain soils may be residing.
It is not enough to merely apply the chemical; they must be worked into the fibers.
This can be accomplished by a few different methods.
The most efficient and effective method is to use a rotary tool to push them down into the carpets.
A more affordable method is to brush the chemical into the carpet by using a push broom or a groom rake.
The most important factor is that these 4 elements must be present.
None of them can be ignored.
If circumstances don't allow for all of them to be at maximum potential, one may be neglected but the other three must be enhanced to cover the lost ground.
Instead, these are the elements that go into the process and why they are essential.
Also, it must be stated that these elements all work together; if one element is lacking then the other three must pick up the slack.
None of the elements can ever be completely eliminated.
Heat It has been proven that as water's temperature rises, its ability to clean and dissolve soil dramatically increases.
Carpet cleaning machines are equipped with a mechanism (whether it be electric or powered by a propane heater) that heat the water that they use.
Some truck mount machines can heat water within 20 seconds to outrageous temperatures.
A good water temperature to use is around 220 degrees.
Some electric heaters can get close to around 200 degrees.
There is no doubt that hotter water works better for cleaning.
Chemical The cleaning chemicals that carpet cleaners use may seem more important than the other three elements on this list, but the truth is they represent equal importance.
There are hundreds of chemicals on the market, what we must remember is that different chemicals are made for different problems.
You can't use one chemical for all of your problems.
What is chemically engineered to break down coffee stains is much different (chemically) than the chemical that is designed for pet stains.
It is important to use chemicals specific to the problem that you are trying to solve.
Dwell Time Dwell time refers to the amount of time that chemicals are left in the carpet before extracted/rinsed out.
It is important that they remain in the carpet for at least 10 minutes (some chemicals call for different dwell times but 10 minutes is a general standard).
This allows the chemical to perform its natural function: attract soils and break them down.
This process makes the rinsing process easier because the chemical does most of the work.
There is a diminishing return on most chemicals after certain amounts of time.
Therefore it is not beneficial to let chemicals dwell for more than thirty minutes.
Plus, chemicals must remain wet in order work, they are deactivated when they dry.
Agitation Agitation is another element that is a sub element of chemical.
The chemicals must be agitated into the carpet fibers.
This is a process similar to scrubbing.
One must scrub the chemical deep into the fibers where certain soils may be residing.
It is not enough to merely apply the chemical; they must be worked into the fibers.
This can be accomplished by a few different methods.
The most efficient and effective method is to use a rotary tool to push them down into the carpets.
A more affordable method is to brush the chemical into the carpet by using a push broom or a groom rake.
The most important factor is that these 4 elements must be present.
None of them can be ignored.
If circumstances don't allow for all of them to be at maximum potential, one may be neglected but the other three must be enhanced to cover the lost ground.
Source...