WHY STEAM CLEAN AND NOT DRY CLEAN
Steam cleaning extracts 90% of dirt particles from carpet where Dry cleaning only removes 30%, which also means many stains will return
There are several variations of dry cleaning, none of which involves the rinsing of your carpet when finished.
One method uses a foam that dries in your carpet and then is vacuumed up. It is doubtful that all the residue can be extracted.
Another method uses a spinning cotton bonnet that’s meant to absorb the dirt in your carpet. There are some questions as to how deeply this method can clean your carpet.
Finally, there’s a dry-cleaning compound that looks like wet sawdust. This is brushed into your carpet where the dirt adheres to it. When it’s dry, it is vacuumed out.
Given their doubtful effectiveness, why are these methods used? The primary reason may be that the equipment costs less, being thousands of dollars less than hot-water extraction equipment.
Steam Cleaning Carpet is actually hot-water extraction, and is also the best way to clean carpet. A good truck mount hot-water extraction unit forces very hot water into the carpet under high pressure then sucks it (& the dirt) out thoroughly.
“Steam Cleaning” as it is commonly called, has the following advantages:
- The high heat kills bacteria, fungus, mould, and dust mites
- It doesn’t leave residue if done correctly.
- Detergent residues attract dirt which can damage carpet.
- The high pressure cleans carpet more deeply.
- The strong vacuum also cleans carpet more deeply.
- Heat really helps! Above 48 degrees Celcius, every 7 degrees higher changes chemical reactivity by 100%. Hot water extraction cleaning is done at approximately 85 degrees Celcius.
The bottom line is that it’s just the healthiest & best way to clean carpet.