Carpet Cleaning is Bad for Carpets!
Have you heard that Carpet Cleaning is Bad for Carpets? This falls into the category of what we commonly term as “old wives tales”. However, with lots of stories we hear, they are often rooted in truth. We’ve all heard the expression “there’s no smoke without fire”. This prompted me to examine why this belief about carpet cleaning came into existence.
In part it was, (and can still be) rooted in truth. It came about mainly because of bad cleaning chemistry and methods (which is why I say it can still be true), although it needn’t be.
When carpet cleaning was in it’s infancy, little was understood about the detergents used and the fibres reaction to them. Also very little was understood about the drying process or of possible problems due to over-wetting. So it was quite quickly that problems started occuring such as; carpet taking days to dry out; when they eventually dried out there was pooling of stains; rapid re-soiling; fibre degradation; delamination; shrinkage. In these cases, it could certainly be argued that carpet cleaning was bad for carpets. What followed was a lot of head scratching to try and understand what was going on.
This prompted the development of alternative cleaning techniques, methods and systems. The most significant advances were made in understanding the characteristics of the various fibres and constructions of carpet types. This has led to better and better chemicals, equipment, machinery, processes and perhaps most importantly, knowledge.
With the right knowledge, chemistry and equipment, all of the problems associated with carpet cleaning of old, can be avoided. A trained and qualified carpet cleaning technician will select the right process, the right chemicals and the right system for your carpet’s needs. When carpet cleaning is carried out properly, there is no need for your carpet to take days to dry out. Hours are all that are required. Your carpet will not re-soil quickly because there will be no detergents left in your carpets. Your fibres will not break down or oxidise due to poor chemistry. Shrinkage and delamination will not occur either.
If you choose your carpet cleaning company based purely on the price they charge, you cannot be sure that they are going to give you the best possible service and treatment. The most common first question I get on the telephone is “How much do you charge?” What we should be asking is “How do you go about cleaning? What system do you use? What products do you use? What insurances do you have? Do you offer a Money Back Guarantee? Do you have Training Certificates you can show me? Can you come and give me a quotation?” Pre-occupation with price will sadly lead to cleaning that is bad for your carpets. Cheaper companies will use cheaper, poor quality chemicals and equipment and you could still expose yourselves the dangers that the “old wives tale” was trying to warn you about. When carried out incorrectly, carpet cleaning can still be bad for your carpets. BBC’s Watchdog highlighted this recently with more and more rogue companies using Bait & Switch tactics, but also phoning pretending to be the company that you had clean for you last time.
A properly trained and conscientious carpet cleaner will only use the best equipment, chemicals and processes to give you the client the best possible results for the long term life of your carpet. When carried out properly, Carpet Cleaning is Good for Carpets, as it can double the life of your carpet.
In summary then, perhaps I can put it this way. Bad Carpet Cleaning was, and still is Bad for your Carpets. Good Carpet Cleaning is Good for your Carpets. What you receive will be down to who you choose to use.
Till next time.
