A Charlotte Carpet Cleaning Pro Gives You the Lowdown on Wet Cleaning vs. Dry Cleaning

There are several ways that your carpet cleaner can clean your carpets. You have two basic methods: “wet cleaning” or “dry cleaning”. Many people ask me, as a Charlotte carpet cleaner, what the differences are between the two. The main difference between the two is that one uses more water. However, it is not as simple as that.
There are several ways that your carpet cleaner can clean your carpets. You can choose between a “dry-cleaning” or “wet-cleaning” method. Many people ask me, as a Charlotte carpet cleaner, what the differences are between the two. The main difference between the two is that one uses more water. However, it is not as simple as that.

Vacuuming the carpet is a good idea before you start either method. The cleaning process is made easier by vacuuming the rug first.

Wet Carpet Cleaning
Wet cleaning is the first method that we will examine. As the name suggests, wet cleaning methods use the largest amount of water during the cleaning process. Wet cleaning methods are mainly divided into two types: steam cleaning and shampooing.

The shampooing method is literally shampooing the carpet. The carpet cleaning machine sprays a foamy shampoo on the fibers. The process of cleaning the carpets stirs up dirt and stains. The dirt gets trapped in the shampoo when it is agitated. Vacuum the carpet after it has dried. With the dried shampoo solution, the dirt and stains that were previously attached to carpet fibers are removed.

Steam cleaning is also known as wet cleaning. Steam cleaning involves spraying a hot water-detergent mixture on your carpet. The dirt is then loosened. The water is removed from the carpet using a specialized vacuum.

Dry Carpet Cleaning
The dry cleaning method involves spreading a wet powder over the carpet and massaging it into the fibers using a machine. The powder is primarily detergent, dissolving solvent, and absorbent. The powder also contains just enough water to moisten it. Its special composition allows it to be a powerful cleaning agent. The carpet is cleaned after the powder has been spread over it.

The Advantages and Drawbacks of Each
Dry cleaning is a surface clean, meaning it does not clean as thoroughly as wet cleaning. Dry cleaning is faster. You may have to wait 12-24 hours for a solution to dry when you do a wet clean. This is the downside of a damp cleaning – it takes a bit longer. As mentioned above, the wet clean is more thorough and forceful, so it is worth the wait.

How to Clean Carpets
For my carpet cleaning business in Charlotte, I follow the following procedure.

The first thing I do is to survey the area I am cleaning to determine the layout and type of dirt or stains that I will be dealing with.

I then vacuum the area, removing as much dirt as possible.

I condition the carpet after vacuuming with a cleaning solution. This solution emulsifies dirt and biomaterials that have been suspended.

Then I start agitating the areas with the most foot traffic. This helps to loosen up the dirt that has been compacted.

I rinse out the cleaning solution that was applied in Step 3 after agitation. The carpet fibers are left residue-free.

If you have stubborn stains, I will treat the area with stain removers. These areas may need to be “dwelled” in order for the spot removers to do their job. After the appropriate amount of time, the spot removers are wiped off the carpet.
There are several ways that your carpet cleaner can clean your carpets. You have two basic methods: “wet cleaning” or “dry cleaning”. Many people ask me, as a Charlotte carpet cleaner, what the differences are between the two. The main difference between the two is that one uses more water. However, there are other factors involved.

Vacuuming the carpet is a good idea before you start either method. The cleaning process is made easier by vacuuming the rug first.

Wet Carpet Cleaning
Wet cleaning is the first method that we will examine. As the name suggests, wet cleaning methods use a lot of water to clean. Wet cleaning methods are mainly divided into two types – steam cleaning and shampooing.

The shampooing method involves literally washing the carpet. The carpet cleaning machine sprays a foamy shampoo on the fibers. The process of cleaning the carpets stirs up dirt and stains. The dirt gets trapped in the shampoo when it is agitated. Vacuum the carpet after it has dried. With the dried shampoo solution, the dirt and stains that were previously attached to carpet fibers are removed.

Steam cleaning is also known as wet cleaning. Steam cleaning involves spraying a hot water-detergent mixture on your carpet. The dirt is then loosened. The water is removed from the carpet using a specialized vacuum.

Dry Carpet Cleaning
The dry cleaning method involves spreading a wet powder over the carpet and massaging it into the fibers using a machine. The powder is mainly detergent, dissolving solvent, and absorbent. The powder also contains just enough water to moisten it. Its special composition allows it to be a powerful cleaning agent. The carpet is cleaned after the powder has been spread over it.

The Advantages and Drawbacks of Each
Dry cleaning is a surface clean, meaning it does not clean as thoroughly as wet cleaning. Dry cleaning is faster. You may have to wait 12-24 hours for a solution to dry when you do a wet clean. This is the downside of a damp cleaning – it takes a bit longer. As mentioned above, the wet clean is more thorough and forceful, so it is worth the wait.

How to Clean Carpets
For my carpet cleaning business in Charlotte, I follow the following procedure.

The first thing I do is to survey the area I am cleaning to determine the layout and type of dirt or stains that I will be working with.

Next, I vacuum to remove any “easy” dirt.

After vacuuming the carpet, I use a pre-conditioning solution. This solution emulsifies dirt and biomaterials that have been suspended.

Then I start agitating the areas with the most foot traffic. This helps to loosen up the dirt that has been compacted.

After agitation, I rinsed the cleaning solution applied in Step 3. The carpet fibers are left residue-free.

I use specialized stain removal products to remove stubborn stains. These areas may need to be “dwelled” in order for the spot removers to do their job. After the appropriate amount of time, the spot removers are rinsed out.

After the carpet is completely cleaned and the stains are removed, I apply Dupont’s Teflon® Advanced Fiber Protectant® for carpets. This last step, although optional, is one I highly recommend.

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