Dry Cleaning Versus Steam Cleaning Carpets
Dry cleaning is a godsend for people who do not have a lot of time on their hands but do have a lot of household items that need to be cleaned. There are also some (very expensive) types of clothing that will shrink if they are anything but dry-cleaned. However the same does not necessarily apply to other items like your sofa covers or carpets. These can be cleaned via another, and similarly effective, method.
Carpets are a literal smorgasbord of germs. They might make your sitting room stand out, however the fact remains that they tend to get filthy over time. You cannot expect to just haul your carpets out for a good beating. It is during times such as these that people seek the aid of steam and dry cleaning. These are two very different methods.
This does not mean that you attempt these methods yourself. Carpet dry cleaning and steaming services exist for a reason. They include people who are experts at what they do. In other words, there won’t be anyone else better suited to handling your heavy carpets plus they have the machinery necessary for the job. Your priority would be to weigh the pros and cons of each cleaning method to determine which one will suit you the best.
Steam cleaning is also called hot water extraction. It uses a pre spray to first jostle the debris out of carpets. After that water or cleaning liquid is pumped onto them and extracted with very high pressure. The high pressure extraction method is effective in pulling out all the fluid from the carpets. This also includes other pollutants such as oils and dirt from the tiny fibers.
Dry cleaning, on the other hand, employs difference cleaning techniques entirely. It involves beating the carpet with a powder. The powder is then left on for a certain period of time. After that, it is sucked out by a vacuum cleaner. However, the powder cannot be removed.
This is also why carpet manufacturers recommend steam cleaning methods for carpet cleaning. Not only does it prevent the carpet from getting soiled too quickly but it is much more effective in getting out stubborn stains. One of the reasons is that the technique leaves behind no residue. Dry cleaning powders do tend to leave traces of powder on carpets sometimes. This can lead to stains.
However, dry cleaning methods do come with their own perks one of them being the nature of the cleaning methods themselves. Since it is dry or VLM (very low moisture) it is faster than steam cleaning. This can come in handy especially if you remembered that you forgot to give the carpet to the cleaners for the dinner party the next day.
In the end, the choice depends on your personal preferences. If you have the time, steam cleaning would be the way to go. However, while dry cleaning can damage your carpet in the long run it is ideal for last minute cleanups.
