Wet Vs Dry Carpet Cleaning

Wet Vs Dry Carpet Cleaning Everything you ll ever need to know Totally Dry The Specialist Dry Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners Call Now 01484 290249

Contents 1 Types of Carpet 4 Carpet: The Dirty Secret 6 Wet Vs Dry Cleaning (Wet Methods) 8 Wet Vs Dry Cleaning (Dry Methods) 9 Wet Vs Dry Cleaning Comparison Chart

1 Types of Carpet Carpet is everywhere! Whether it takes pride of place in a luxurious living room or fitted within an office, it sets the tone of any environment and fills empty space with character and colour. Despite how popular carpet is it wasn t ever initially intended to end up on the floor. Back in the thirteenth century it took the form of a thick, woolly cloth which, in some religious orders, was used as a garment. It was also commonly used as a cover for beds and tables so it wasn t until the fifteenth century when folk discovered these lovely thick bed covers also offered excellent protection under their feet against cold stone floors that it became carpet. Hundreds of years have now passed and the early examples of carpet types have rapidly evolved; from man-made fibres with stain resistant technology through to internal carbon filament to eliminate static build up. These breakthroughs and advances in the textiles we use has also led to a wide variety of carpets to be on the market. All with very unique construction, properties and varying ability to soil and damage.

2 Types of Carpet Fibres & yarn used in Carpet Nylon The first nylon fibre was developed in 1939 and is used in a variety of products from toothbrushes to parachutes. Nylon is continually being engineered to resist stains and abrasions, be tougher and more durable and is now into it s sixth generation. It is the most common material construction for carpets and can easily be dyed and printed on. The benefit of nylon is that it is hard wearing, however, due to the round construction it also magnifies soil and often makes carpets look dirtier than they are. Polypropylene Possibly the most inexpensive option to produce carpet yarns. Polypropylene is difficult to dye and does not tend to wear as well as wool or nylon. Also referred to as olefin (where it is used to construct Berber carpets)it is mainly used in the construction of commercial grade low level hoop carpets. These carpets have good stain resistance (with some varieties available on the market that can be cleaned with bleach)but oil based agents can be difficult to remove. Wool & Wool Blends With it s luxurious appearance and durability, wool is readily available and can be easily dyed. Often blended with synthetic fibres (eg 80/ 20)to create a harder wearing carpet this type of manufacture is used extensively in the production of many carpets you see now. Polyester Known also as PET, this is used in the manufacture of both spun and filament constructions. Polyester is strong and has great stain resistance, however, the downsides are that it crushes easily being used mainly in the low priced carpet market. Acrylic Old acrylic carpets have the disadvantage of pilling (small bobbles collecting on the surface)however over the years it has been developed to withstand some of these initial problems. It is difficult to dye but is washable and has the look and feel of wool. Did you know? A person sheds about 1.5 million skin flakes an hour, most of which becomes embedded in our carpets.

3 Types of Carpet There is a huge number of different types of carpet on the market which are often quite difficult to tell apart by just looking at the surface. Here is a very quick guide to a few different types which should illustrate exactly what is going on under your feet. Example of carpet types Level Loop Berber Multi-Level Loop Velvet/ Plush Saxony Frieze Tip Sheared Random Sheared Shag

4 Carpet: The Dirty Secret Did you know? Early 20th century vacuum cleaners were large, powered by coal, and required three people to operate them. Does cleaning a carpet make it get dirty faster? and How do I clean really dirty carpet? are (obviously)the most common questions which come up in regards to carpet care. Before looking at how to clean it is also important to understand what makes a carpet dirty. A very basic comparison is to look at hard flooring Vs a carpet floor. Hard Surface Carpeted Floor Horizontal, flat and smooth Nonporous Zero absorption Dirt easily spreads Can be sealed & protected Simple to vacuum Requires total surface clean Vertical, textured & uneven Porous Liquid goes straight through Hides dirt Difficult to seal & protect Difficult to vacuum liquid Requires mainly spot cleaning

5 Carpet: The Dirty Secret It is hardly surprising that around 90%of carpet dirt gets tracked in by people s shoes with the rest being a whole variety of airborne particles, spills, splashes and day-to-day wear. However, due to the many types of soiling and carpet varieties people are often left with patchy, dull matted carpet. For example, grit or sand will get trapped within the carpet whereas water and liquids will soak deep down into the pile. In terms of liquid, carpet always dries from the top down so as the liquid evaporates moisture is slowly drawn up (this is called wicking)and often results in resoiling, carpet spots and that dreaded damp smell. The varieties of dirt therefore that falls onto a carpet can be categorised into three specific groups. Real dirt: Physical, tangible dirt which, if we wanted to, could be extracted and weighed. Dirt in this group includes soiling trapped in fibres, bundles and at the carpet base. Visible dirt: This dirt sits on the top 33%of a carpet changing the colour of the fibres and giving flooring that dull, dirty appearance. 90% of carpet dirt is tracked in by people s shoes Apparent dirt: This is where carpet gets worn by every day wear and tear. Dye becomes less vibrant, carpet abrasions appear and it looks uneven thus giving it additional shade and making the floor appear dirty. When you over-do the water and detergent The problem with adding water onto a dirty carpet is how unpredictable the results can be. Below illustrates the consequence of adding water to tackle dirt. 1. 4. 2. 5. 3. 1. Water & detergent dissolve dirt 2. This dirt sinks to the base 3. The dissolved dirt begins to evaporate 4. The dissolved dirt is drawn to the surface 5. The water completely evaporates and leaves behind all the dirt

6 Wet Vs Dry Carpet Cleaning Along with the wide variety of carpet and dirt types - to keep the theme there is also a variety of carpet cleaning methods. There is a time and a place for all methodsand no single process will solve all problems. Each has their meritsand their downfalls. In all cases, where in a building the carpet clean takes place and the condition of the floor needs to be taken into consideration before selecting your method. This ebook acts purely as a guide for you to understand what each process involves. Did you know? Stachybotrys chartarum is a house mold that can grow on wet carpeting. Some strains produce mycotoxins which cause a number of acute and chronic health problems in humans and animals. Types of Wet Cleaning Wet cleaning methods are exactly that. Processes that use mainly water. Types of wet cleaning include Steam, also known as hot water extraction along with shampoo cleaning. Rotary Shampoo Method: In shampoo cleaning special detergents are applied to a carpet and agitated with a machine. In commercial instances this can be done with a rotary machine. Once the shampoo has been agitated through the carpet vacuuming helps to remove the soil. If vacuuming isn t included there is little soil removal. Bonnet Rotary Method: Usually performed in commercial buildings as it mainly restores the appearance of carpet. An absorbent pad is immersed in chemicals and water then spun across a carpet. The pad absorbs surface dirt and therefore needs to be wrung out and rinsed frequently. Detergents can contain optical brighteners to make carpet appear clean. Little removal of soil. Restores the appearance of carpeting. Tends to spread & smear dirt if care is not taken. Heavily fragranced leaving carpets and rooms smelling fresh. Shampoo and soil remain in the fibres. Covers large areas quickly. Can damage carpet fibres. Can result in texture distortion. Immediate resoiling. Dry time: 6-12 hours. Rapid resoil rate. Leaves a lot of residue. Dry time: 1-2 hours

7 Wet Vs Dry Carpet Cleaning Hot Water Extraction (Steam Clean) Method: Professional services use this method for a very deep clean. This process combines pressure washing with a wet vacuum pickup where a machine will spray a solution of water and detergents under a varying pressure directly into a carpet. A vacuum follows behind the spray using suction to extract dissolved soil, detergent and water from the carpet. There are a wide variety of machines on the market for this process from portable machines to larger units all which contain separate tanks for the solution and the dirt which is vacuumed up. This method is preferred for commercial settings and carpets which need a very deep clean however this process requires a greater skill level to operate the machine and avoid using too much water. Removes as much soiling as possible. Leaves carpets looking fresh and as new. Offers a very deep cleanse which is good for renovations and restorations. Depending on the operator up to 40%of dirty solution can remain in the carpet. High risk of mildew, damp and mould. Risk of colour bleeding. Cleans more stubborn stains easily. Wickback is very likely to occur if not extracted correctly. Shrinkage is possible. Uses a large amount of resources. Drying time: Up to 24 hours and often more.

8 Wet Vs Dry Carpet Cleaning Types of Dry Cleaning Dry carpet cleaning barely wets carpeting and is by far the most efficient of all cleaning methods. Dry foam is one option where foam is applied, agitated through the pile and vacuumed whilst another more preferred option is the use of an absorbent compound where a moist powder absorbs dirt, odours and stains from carpet. Dry carpet cleaning with an absorbent compound This, low moisture process, eliminates a large portion of the risks which are usually associated with wet cleaning methods. In this instance, Totally Dry s Envirodri Microsponges would be applied to a carpet and agitated using a special dry carpet cleaning machine. The microsponges are exactly what they sound like; millions of tiny sponge-like particles which are impregnated with just the right amount of natural detergents to dissolve and absorb both water and oil based dirt from the carpet fibres. The special dry carpet cleaning machine is used for agitating the sponges into the carpet has counter rotating brushes which not only brush the microsponges deep into the pile to extract dirt but also acts as a pile lifter to restore crushed carpet. Following this the built in triple vortex vacuum extracts the microsponges and dirt leaving your carpet fluffy, dry and like new. Completely dry. Suitable for ALLtypes of carpet. If not agitated correctly into the pile this method will only work as a surface cleaner. Suits both deep cleaning and regular maintenance schedules. Prevents shrinkage and colour bleeding. Leaves no sticky residue. Very slow resoil rate. Lightweight, fast and efficient. No wickback Can be used for spot cleaning or entire areas. Lifts and restores crushed carpet pile. Natural and 100%biodegradable. Drying time: Almost none. Carpets can be walked on during & immediately after cleaning. Did you know? Research has shown that cleaning with a dry system reduces Dust Mites by 78%, Dust Mite Allergen by 75%, Cat Allergen by 85%and Mould Spores by 85%.

9 Wet Vs Dry Carpet Cleaning At a glance The below chart takes into consideration all of the carpet cleaning methods so you can compare the outcome of each. Please note; these figures are subject to the equipment being used during the cleaning process. Rotary Wet Approx Coverage (M2 per hour) Rotary Spin Pad Dry Foam Wet Extraction Dry Clean 92 186 112 55-92 70-186 6-12 hours 1 hour 2 hours Up to 24 hours Colour Bleed Residue Excessive Considerable Reasonable Limited Resoil Rate Most Rapid Very Rapid Reasonable Slow Slowest Shrinkage Likely Unlikely Unlikely Very Likely Mildew Likely Unlikely Unlikely Very Likely Wickback Highly Likely Likely Likely Unlikely Browning Dry time We hope you have found this ebook useful and are now able to make a more informed decision on which type of carpet cleaning system you require. It is important to note that this document has been designed to illustrate the different methods and show how each compares to the best of our knowledge - not to misrepresent or slur other methods on the market.

Led by Science - Defined by nature Cleantec Innovation specialise in blending science and nature to produce innovative ecological cleaning products for both domestic and commercial uses. As the world becomes more focused on sustainability, ensuring that the cleaning products we use are safe for people and the environment is becoming increasingly important. Our products are formulated from the highest quality ingredients, placing prime importance on efficiency of performance, effectiveness and care for the environment. About Cleantec Innovation Cleantec Innovation, home the Envirodri dry carpet cleaning system, has been operating in the UK since 1996. Starting life as carpet maintenance specialists they have since evolved into a leading supplier to the commercial market of high performance, ecological cleaning ducts. Ranging from their Woolsafe approved and Green Seal tested & certified Envirodri dry carpet cleaning system through to a number of biological cleaners and solutions. Based in the UK and with an impressive portfolio of customers in over 30 countries, Cleantec Innovation is becoming more renowned in the cleaning market for their effective products, technical support and first class customer service. Cleantec Innovation work closely with their customers, from private individuals through to the leisure industry and bluechip companies, to identify requirements and formulate bespoke solutions to meet their needs. www.cleantecinnovation.com Totally Dry Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning use Cleantec Innovations cleaning solutions. Having tested cleaning solutions from many suppliers we find Cleantecs products compliment our philosophy of using only environmentally friendly, safe and effective cleaning solutions. We would like to thank Cleantec Innovation for providing the bulk of the input into this ebook and hope you have found it useful in deciding which cleaning system to choose.