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There are literally hundreds-of-thousands of pages of carpet cleaning tips floating around the internet. Some work, some dont, some leave your carpet dirtier then it was before. The point is its hard to get professionally looking clean carpets unless you actually hire a professional carpet cleaner. But if you follow some simple tips that the pros know you can dang near match that quality of clean.
Heat is your best friend when it comes to cleaning your carpets. If you can get your cleaning solution above 118 degrees Fahrenheit you dramatically improve your cleaning fortunes. Professional hot water extraction cleaning is done between 150 to 200 degrees so the hotter the better.
Besides heat there are two other factors that are important in cleaning the dirt and grime from your carpet. Lets look at all three together: Heat, Dwell Time, and Agitation. Used together these are the three keys to clean carpets. The neat thing about these three principles is that if you can't maximize one of them you can make up for it by hitting the other two harder.
If the cleaning solution isn't hot enough let it dwell or sit longer and scrub harder.
Here are some more secret carpet cleaning tips:
1. Carpet detergents attract dirt if they are not thoroughly rinsed from the carpet. Rinsing your carpet after cleaning can help keep it cleaner over the long run.
2. Use your Shop-Vac. If you have a tough stain you can use the suction power of the Shop-Vac to thoroughly extract all the cleaning solution from the carpet. Repeatedly washing, rinsing, and extracting is a good way to get rid of stains.
3. Stopping the dirt before it ever gets in your carpet is a proactive way to keep your carpets clean. Placing rugs inside and outside all entrances to the house will catch and trap dirt that would otherwise get tracked through your house.
4. If you are steam cleaning your carpets your self it is important to vacuum first. Removing loose dirt and debris before hand will allow the machine to do a more thorough job on that deep down dirt.
By following these carpet cleaning tips you too can keep your carpets looking as good as new.
There is no better choice then a Hoover Carpet Shampoo when it comes to cleaning your carpets and upholstered furniture. To learn more about Hoover Carpet Cleaners please Click Here.
You make some interesting points. I am a professional carpet cleaner and you are right about hot water being a key to cleaning power, but that it not all there is. One of the problems with home cleaners or rental machines is that the "Do It Yourself" carpet cleaner has no way to neutralize the cleaning solution they put into the carpet. Carpet cleaners who follow the IICRC recommendations for cleaning carpet rinse the carpet not with regular water or detergent. They rinse the carpet with a neutralizing agent. When you wash you hair with soap have you ever noticed it only really feels soft after adding conditioner? The condition neutralizes the soap in your hair. This process is the same with carpet.
I have information discussing these issues on my website. Soon I will write an article on these topics here.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
