How does Carpet Dry-cleaning work?
How does Carpet Dry-cleaning work?
Cleaning Helps Ensure Your Carpets Remain Fresh
When you think of the dry-cleaning process, what usually comes to mind? Most assume that it’s a luxury only necessary for that delicate silk dress you need to freshen up for an event, or the kid’s school blazers that aren’t resilient enough for the household washing machine. What a lot of people fail to realise, is that dry-cleaning isn’t just specific to special clothing items or heavy household linen. What about the withstanding carpet you laid down years ago, that endures hours of foot traffic a day, while continuously insulating your floors and keeping your home cosy? Surely this feature of your home deserves the same care and attention as a dress or blazer?
The bottom line is – your carpet needs to be maintained if you want it to remain in good condition. The same goes for almost anything you own and use daily. And don’t worry if you’ve neglected your carpet cleaning and care habits up until this point – it’s better to start now but be informed before you do so. Carpet cleaning needs to be a process that is carefully researched and understood so that you don’t choose the wrong method. Dry versus steam clean can be a very bad oversight if you don’t know the right questions to ask and the right people to speak to.
What does the carpet dry-cleaning process involve?
Well to really state the obvious, your carpets are left dry. This may seem like a given, but ironically a lot of people aren’t aware that there isn’t water actually involved from start to finish. You see a stain and instantly think you need to douse it with bubbly detergent – but this is not an effective long-term practice. A professional dry-cleaning service entails a thorough, complete maintenance of your carpet that won’t leave one area in particular more saturated than others. Stains can be removed from different spots without it changing the appearance or quality of that particular area. Sure, DIY stain-cleaning efforts can seem instantly effective, but it’s far better to know your facts and identify when you might need to call on a professional opinion.
Rolling out the process
Carpet dry-cleaning includes a pre-vacuum of your carpet to remove any dry surface dirt such as mud or sand. This step is also applied to the steam cleaning process as well – because regardless of the technique implemented; dry surface debris can be incredibly hard to remove if it has become wet, compacted and somewhat solidified. A professional team will still give it a good go, but they will likely warn you that there is potential for lasting surface abrasion due to the way the dirt is now embedded in the carpet.
The solution to the problem
After vacuuming, the carpet is then treated with a special cleaning solution; a gentle yet effective combination of dry-cleaning solvents mixed in with water. The solution breaks down the oily residue contained within the carpet – this residue is what enables the dirt/debris to be held into the fibres, hence why you often spot-treat a stain but can’t seem to get rid of a residual stain shadow. Therefore, when the solution removes this obstructive oily residue, the carpet is now in a condition for easier removal of engrained dirt.
The importance of cottoning on
As unusual as it may seem, cotton plays an important role in the final stages of the carpet dry-cleaning process. Large absorbent pads are saturated in hot water that has been blended with a conditioning rinse, and then these are placed on the carpet under a rotary machine that acts in a similar way to that of a floor polisher. The pads are spun around on the carpet at high speed and the dirt is released from the carpet onto the pads. These pads are continually changed in the cleaning process and in some trickier cleaning situations, this will be done a second time.
What else do you need to consider?
Just because you understand what the carpet dry-cleaning process entails, doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you will have an end result that is professionally acceptable. That’s because every carpet cleaning business will claim to be “professional”, but this won’t be known to you until you’ve actually witnessed the finished product. Doing your research of not only the technique that will be used, but also being careful about who to trust with facilitating this, can be the difference between an average end result or an exceptional one. If a company aren’t friendly, informative or willing to provide a reasonable quote from the get-go, the chances are that their attitude to the dry-cleaning process will reflect this sub-par service. Other factors to keep in mind:
Ask questions
Make sure you understand what exactly their “solution” contains within its ingredients. Be alert for chemicals you’ve never heard of and don’t be afraid to ask why they use this product. Not every company will necessarily use the solution that they should be. Or, the solution appropriate to the material of your carpet.
Read reviews online
You’ll probably always find one or two customer reviews that give aggressively negative feedback, these people may or may not be justified in what they are saying. Make sure to read reviews across the board, take into consideration both positive and negative comments, and look at the context within the comments too. Bad customer service is unacceptable; however, this may be an unfortunate one-off situation that doesn’t reflect the company as a whole. How you yourself are treated as a new customer is what is most important. Go with your instincts.
Why do I need to go to this much effort?
Well, you don’t really – the professionals will do the hard stuff. Your efforts will be rewarded if you can understand and value the importance of booking in periodic carpet dry-cleaning jobs. You paid good money for your carpets, they look beautiful, they feel soft and healthy. Therefore, establishing a solid business relationship with a trusted carpet cleaning company is the key to ensuring your carpets remain beautiful both on the visible surface and within the fibres you can’t actually see.
Carpet Cleaning Melbourne – who do I choose?
Drytron Carpet Dry-Cleaning in Melbourne specialise in the dry-cleaning process, and you’ll find instant relief with the quality of the service you receive. Drytron are dedicated to their customers from the initial consultation through to the pre-assessment and then the exceptional final result. Carpet dry-cleaning bookings can be made online or over the phone, and in no time at all, you’ll add extra time to your carpets – the only choice you need to make is whether to do it today or tomorrow!
Complete a quote using our booking engine or call our friendly team to discuss your carpet cleaning requirements:
Book Online or Call: 13 12 50
Carpet vs Hardwood vs Tiled Floors - What's Best?
Carpet vs Hardwood vs Tiled Floors - What's Best?
Choose the Right Flooring for Your Home
So, either you’re building a new home, currently renovating, or keen for a change, and you’re stuck answering the following question: what type of flooring should we have in our home? While it might seem like a simple question, the answer is a lot more complicated and can depend on a few factors you should consider.
Hardwood floors, carpets, vinyl and tiles all have their benefits and drawbacks, and their suitability totally depends on your lifestyle, your budget, the style of your home, and the amount of effort you want to put in to maintaining your floor. The most suitable option for you can also differ depending on if you are trying to add value to your home if you are planning on putting your house on the market, or to add convenience if you are staying put.
Your flooring choice sets the scene for your home, and it’s one of the first things you and your visitors will notice as you open the front door and enter your home, so it’s important to get it right.
Carpet
Carpet is the most comfortable and welcoming flooring type, and instantly adds warmth and texture to your home. Carpets can be a great option for all households, especially for those with young kids, as it is more comfortable for us adults to be down on the ground with them than on a harder surface. It also means when the little ones take a tumble, the carpet can soften their fall.
Carpet requires more maintenance than other flooring options, as spills and stains require extra elbow grease, or a trained carpet cleaning professional in order to get them back to looking like new. Carpet can also be a bit more pricey than other options, especially as it can be quite noticeable if you are opting for a budget brand carpet. With carpet you pay for what you get, so consider your carpet an investment if it is for your own home. You want the carpet to be clean, comfortable and of a high quality for your family.
Hardwood floors
You might be renovating your home and peel off some old carpet to find some stunning hardwood floors underneath – jackpot! You should seriously consider polishing them up and bringing out your home’s true character. Hardwood floors are a great way to add value to your home in a cost-effective way (if you already have hardwood floors you can work with). While it can be a bit of a process to sand, polish and dry your hardwood floors, often with a professional needed, they are incredibly low maintenance and easy to keep clean with a broom, mop or vacuum.
Also, if you like the idea of hardwood floors, but love the comfort of carpets, you can always add a rug to your hardwood floors for layering, texture and warmth so you get the best of both worlds!
Hardwood floors still require a bit of TLC every now and then though, especially if stiletto heels are worn on them. Prepare to rebuff/sand/polish every 5 years or so. If you’re building a new home and like the look of hardwood floors, you can definitely install these, albeit at a bit more of a cost than a home with existing hardwood floors, or alternatively, opt for a timber look vinyl covering.
Vinyl Floors
Vinyl flooring is a low cost, low maintenance option for those wanting to emulate hardwood floors or tiles without the price tag. This is a popular choice for rental properties as they are easy to install and maintain, and can often be done without the help of a professional.
Vinyl flooring has a bad reputation for being synonymous with cheap and tacky, however some vinyl flooring options are incredibly stylish and high quality, and will fit right in with your new build or renovation. Some timber look vinyl tiles look just like the real deal. Like hardwood floors, they are easy to keep clean with a broom, mop or vacuum, yet don’t require as much maintenance as hardwood floors do. And as they are a lot cheaper than other flooring options, they are easier to update when you decide it’s time to freshen up the bathroom again.
Tiled Floors
Tiles are the perfect way to add style and pizzazz to your home, with so many patterns and tile shapes to choose from. You can even jazz it up by opting for a coloured grouting! Tiles are a lot more permanent than vinyl due to the cost and time involved in installation (professional tilers required), however they are a lot more durable and last much longer than vinyl.
Good quality tiles installed by professional tilers can last up to 20 years, just make sure you are certain of your tile choice. Tiles are also easier to keep clean than carpet, and like vinyl and hardwood floors only require a mop or vacuum to clean. Tiles can be a lot tougher than vinyl and hardwood floors though being super heavy duty and requiring little maintenance over its lifespan.
Regardless of which flooring option you select, the most important factor in its quality and longevity is the amount of energy you put in to maintaining your flooring. It’s all well and good to choose the highest quality tiles or carpet, or paying a professional to transform your hardwood floors, but all that is lost if you do not put in the effort to maintain it.
If you’ve decided on carpet or rugs anywhere in your home, you should consider consulting with a carpet specialist on an annual carpet clean to ensure a healthy and clean home for your family. Drytron are the experts in carpet cleaning in Melbourne, and can ensure the longevity of your carpets and keep them looking like new.
Call the friendly team to discuss your needs.
Book Online or Call: 13 12 50
