Carpet Cleaners Vs Steam Cleaners

Shampoo

• Carpet shampoo uses water and detergent to create a foamy substance. Carpet machines scrub the surface of the carpet and apply pre-mixed "optical brighteners" to make it appear brighter. Optical brighteners are special dyes that absorb ultraviolet light. According to Baneclene one of the cons of shampooing is that it scrubs the surface but pushes dirt down to the base of the carpet. Additionally, chemicals in the brighteners can irreversibly turn some carpets yellow, especially lighter colored ones.

Dry Cleaning

• Carpet absorbent and carbonated cleaning methods are both classified as dry cleaning. The carpet absorbent method uses little water while carbonated cleaning uses more. These methods are preferable because of little-to-no drying time and carbonated cleaning offers oxygenation for a deeper clean.

  The down side is carpet absorbent can leave a film behind. After the carpet dries, it appears as a grainy white powder that is embedded in the carpet fibers. Carbonated cleaning doesn't leave a film but its strong brushes and oxygen solution can destroy delicate carpets, such as pile cut carpet.

Steam Clean

• Steam cleaning is preferred above all other methods because it cleans dirt beneath the surface and can be used on any type of carpet. A machine sprays water into the carpet and then vacuums it up, along with the dirt. Shampoo and dry cleaning methods allow dirt and exhaust to linger within the home and can smell bad, but with steam cleaning the dirt and exhaust are released outside so the home smells fresh. A con with steam cleaning is you cannot do it yourself, which means you have to hire professionals. Be aware that despite advertisements many rental steam cleaning machines do not steam clean but rather use a dry vapor to clean the surface.

Additional Comments

• Despite the problems associated with shampoo and dry cleaners they are effective cleaning measures when used for upkeep purposes. For example, one may steam clean once a year but rent dry or carpet cleaners three or four times per year. Many choose to start with a professional steam cleaning then perform dry or carpet cleaning upkeep themselves every few months in order to lessen the frequency of steam cleanings in the future.