We’re all familiar with that smell.
The musky damp scent of a carpeted flooring that should have seen better days.
On the onset, it looks almost like any other decent room or office setting. Yet, the moment you take a step in, you know something needs to be done.
And it gets worse the more you think about it.
Sure, the carpet doesn’t look too bad, but just how long has it been since it has gotten a good cleaning?
There are probably millions of germs, bacteria, and other dirt particles mingling within the very fibres your feet is about to tread across.
Not to mention the amount of sweat soaked stains from the day-to-day foot traffic, thanks to our hot and humid Singapore climate.
If these disgusting thoughts aren’t enough to push you into action, then perhaps this article on the hidden health risks of dirty carpets might trigger a reaction.
Are Beautiful And Precinct Carpets A Myth?
Thankfully, no.
Maintaining and taking care of your carpets doesn’t have to be difficult.
In fact, with the right care and concern showered on your flooring, you can still have a beautiful looking carpeted room without the additional health risks associated to it.
At the same time, we’re not going to hide the truth, like any other types of flooring, regular maintenance is important.
While the dirt and dust aspect isn’t as obvious as other types of flooring materials, it doesn’t make it any cleaner.
The adage, “out of sight, out of mind” is not a saying to follow when it comes to carpets.
That’s why we decided to get the opinion of the carpet experts from CarpetCleaningSingapore.Org to share their knowledge and some home care tips to help our readers take better care of their carpets.
Having cleaned many offices around Singapore, this company is all too familiar with the many (unsightly) habits of everyday Singaporeans. Actions that are otherwise harmful to their carpets.
Sure, in most cases, these carpets don’t belong to them as they’re merely working in that environment…. but that doesn’t justify not contributing to the upkeep of the office.
After all, it is still a place we’re working at, and we’re still breathing in the air, and the last thing we really want is to contract a severe illness that will put us out of action for days on end. (Okay, maybe some of us are actually looking forward to that)
Regardless, maintaining a clean environment is always an ideal scenario for a home.
How Experts Conduct Their Carpet Cleaning Service
Speaking with the experts, we understand that a bulk of their clients are corporations and offices with carpeted flooring.
And because of the nature of their clients, they tend to combine this service with a wider range of office cleaning services to cater to the various job requirements.
That said, the cleanliness attitude of a home owner and an office worker is quite different.
Most home owners make a more conscientious effort to maintain their house. It is only in emergencies or serious situations, do they engage professionals to come in and “restore order”.
In the office environment however, partly the company is paying for the service, many employers disregard their personal responsibility of keeping the place clean and tidy.
Perhaps knowing professional part-time cleaners are there to clear the mess.
Or perhaps being clean is never a key concern to them.
Either way, these actions becomes even more severe when there’s carpeted flooring to also think about.
And for this, that’s where the professionals come to the rescue.
The 2 Most Common Carpet Cleaning Methods
In the past, most cleaning companies relied solely on hot water extraction techniques.
With this method, they spray a high-pressure heated water directly onto the carpet’s surface. And because of the heat, it looks like steam is coming out of the vacuum cleaner – hence the term steam cleaning.
This blend of pressure to loosen the dirt particles combined with the sucking force of the vacuum is effective in removing dirt, grime, and stains.
A drawback to this technique however, is it does leave your carpets damp after each round of cleaning.
You will have to avoid the area for a duration of time or risk getting your feet soaked stepping into a “puddle”.
An alternative method (albeit a pricier option) is the dry carpet cleaning method.
With this method, the company applies a specially formulated chemical on the carpet to dislodge stubborn stains.
They then combine with the chemical over a period of time to form small grain-like particles which is easily sucked up with a vacuum cleaner.
The best part?
You won’t have to worry about accidentally stepping on a damp or soaked floor.
Within the dry cleaning methods are other terminology such as carpet shampooing, bonnet, and encapsulation.
These are different industry applications depending on both the carpet’s material and age.
To have a better idea of which method is best for you, we’ve found a helpful comparison article from cleanlink.
What About The Everyday Home Owner?
The first thing to take note of is the type of carpet flooring you have.
Natural materials and man-made carpets have a higher tendency to shrink with regular heat treatment.
This can be harmful for your carpets in the long run.
Instead, you’ll want to look for a good quality solution for cleaning your carpets through the dry method.
At the same time, take care not to use chemicals which are too strong as it can cause bleaching or tearing of your carpet’s fibres.
If you ever find yourself in doubt, do consider consulting an experienced team to guide you on the best carpet cleaning practices that works for your home.