Carpets are a major cause of indoor air pollution and affect lung power due to trapped pesticides, allergens, and bacteria. Chemicals from carpet cleaning can further disrupt air quality in homes and offices.
How many individuals walk through your office space each day? Depending on that number, you may be working in an infected dust storm.
Inflammatory particles trapped in the carpet can become airborne when disturbed. Particles are released continuously as dozens of people walk over the same paths each day.
As a busy office manager, the last thing you need is to add something further to your weekly schedule. Yet, cleanliness must be a top priority, especially in the face of the global pandemic. Understanding what carpet cleaning methods are available will allow you to cross this off with ease.
Continue below to find which method is best to care for your office and its inhabitants.
Different Carpet Cleaning Methods
Keeping your carpets clean will increase your office's air quality, hygiene, and appearance. Large office spaces see hundreds of employees, clients, and staff members walking on soiled carpets every day. Even smaller office spaces can invite high traffic numbers.
Prioritising clean carpets will keep your office fresh no matter the number of people there!
There are many different commercial carpet cleaning methods you can use to cut pollutants present in carpet fibres. You should review all your options before moving forward with the best system for you.
Here are a few to get you started.
Carpet Shampooing
Carpet shampooing mixes soap and water in a handheld machine that runs across the floor. The substance from shampoo can take longer to dry than other methods and may become sticky.
Dry Carpet Cleaning
Dry carpet cleaning is a new method that uses a powder substance applied with a rotating brush. The powder absorbs dirt and other particles, and it gets vacuumed to finish the clean.
Steam Cleaning
Also known as hot water cleaning, this uses near-boiling water to agitate and release dirt. A cleaning substance is first applied to dissolve soiled material. A hot water rinse and lengthy dry time complete the process.
Bonnet Cleaning
Bonnet cleaning uses an absorbent pad attached to a rotating machine. The pad rubs the carpet with a cleaning solvent and picks up the dissolved soil after. Bonnet cleaning is a suitable method for routine maintenance and top layer cleaning.
Foam Cleaning
Foam cleaning uses a thick, speciality foam on carpets that need extra dirt or stain removal. The foam expands upon contact with dirt particles. That substance hovers to the surface, and steam removes the remaining detergent.
Steam as the Best Way to Clean Carpet
There are many factors that you should consider when deciding on the best method for cleaning carpets. You should become familiar with your office's carpet material, style, and foot traffic. All features will impact cleaning, both the style and schedule you stick to each quarter.
However, many recommend steam cleaning as the best way to clean carpets.
Steam cleaning and hot water cleaning are synonymous, so don't get confused by terms. Both make sense of this cleaning method as high-temperature hot water covers the carpet and dissolves dirt particles. The particles are then vacuumed away.
This method is useful for ridding a carpet of dirt and dust and killing bacteria and fungi with hot water. You can rest easy knowing that the hot water penetrates the carpet's many layers, creating hygienic, high traffic areas.
The Process of Hot Water Cleaning
Steam cleaning utilises simple tools and processes to sanitise dirty carpets. Prepare the carpet before applying any steam with a few quick steps.
A quick vacuum clears away any easy-to-remove particles and allows for deeper clean. Shift aside any furniture or create a plan for where a professional team can move oversized items.
Water is heated to a high temperature, 65 degrees or more, and applied to floors with a vacuum-like machine. The hot water permeates the carpet and breaks down dirty particles upon contact.
The steam cleaner covers all carpeted areas in a regular pattern, immediately freshening up your office space. No inch should be left untouched to ensure a proper, total clean.
After a short time, the damp carpet enters the next step in the process. Dry steam gathers the dirt, dust, and other particles that have broken apart and removes them with another vacuum-like machine.
Now the carpet enters into a drying period, and opening windows or turning on fans speed up the process.
Benefits of Steam for Carpet Cleaning
As the caretaker of your office space, you tend to the many needs of the location and its inhabitants. Your to-do list runs full most days, and carpet cleaning doesn't need to be an item that takes up mental energy.
Steam cleaning is the best way of restoring and cleaning commercial carpets because of the plethora of benefits you receive from one, deep clean.
This method provides exceptional aesthetic advantages to your carpet cleaning. The high water temperature breaks down stain particles to make them easy to vacuum up. Further, the steam penetrates deep into the carpet to create a thorough clean that shows the carpet's original shine.
Sometimes, carpet cleaning products actually bring more chemicals into your office. The harsh substances decrease air quality further.
Cleaning shouldn't make the problem worse and your job more difficult!
Steam cleaning is a zero chemical method to make your carpets live-able and sanitised. Unlike other methods, the hot water clean uses precisely that – hot water – to penetrate the carpet's upper and lower layers.
Cleaners add a simple soap to the stream cleaner that activates on contact with heat. The soap and hot water don't bring strong chemicals into the office as a dry powder or shampoo would.
Carpets hide many different living particles, including fungus, dust mites, and mould. That could make anyone uncomfortable knowing what they're walking over every day. The high water temperature used in steam cleaning kills these living pollutants and makes them easy to vacuum away.
Disadvantages of Steam
Steam cleaning's powerful disinfectant rejuvenates carpets, clears debris, and improves air quality. The benefits are indisputable, but there are disadvantages for you to be aware of before you steam clean your office space.
First, using hot water and steam means the carpets will need several hours to dry completely. Opening the windows or turning on fans can lessen the dry time, but some carpets may take 12 hours or more to finish.
Steam cleaning breaks apart dirt particles deep into the carpet. This could be apparent in the weeks following the clean as other dust and debris make their way to the top. You may need an extra vacuum or two in the days following your steam clean.
This top carpet cleaning method needs the assistance of a professional carpet cleaning company. The machines and materials can be cumbersome for someone attempting to do it alone. Professional office carpet cleaners make the process efficient and effective.
Finally, deep stains that have been present for extended periods may need extra cleaning support. Steam breaks apart dirt particles in the carpet, but long present stains tend to bond with carpet fibres. Spot treatments and a more potent chemical should be used if needed.
Keep Your Space Fresh
The last thing you want is soiled carpets immediately after steam cleaning them. Your goal should be to steam clean a few times a year and do general upkeep in-between. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can keep steamed freshness alive!
First, carpets should dry for a significant time before anyone walks in the space. Steam cleaned carpets take anywhere from eight to twenty-four hours to dry. However, usually, six hours is a good time length before you can walk on it.
Commercials carpet cleaners move your furniture back in place with feet protectors. These should remain on the furniture for the full dry time, and they are easy to remove after 24 hours.
Finally, vacuuming and light spot-cleaning keeps the carpet fresh before the next steam.
Look After Your Commercial Carpets Now
As an avid office manager, your list of things to upkeep can be long, and carpet cleaning is a must. Many bacteria and pollutants live in office carpets, especially in high trafficked areas.
Looking after your commercial carpets starts today with professional steam cleaning!
Steam is the best way to clean carpet that uses very few chemicals, kills living particles, and breaks apart dirt. You will notice an immediate difference in your office's carpets after a steam, and your lungs will too.
If you're ready to get your office carpets cleaned, check out our commercial services to experience true clean.