Dry Carpet Cleaning vs Steam Cleaning: Pros and Cons

DIY carpet and rug cleaning methods don’t always work as they should. Or maybe it’s just time for a good thorough cleaning to make your carpet look fresh again. In that case, you turn to a professional carpet cleaning company to do the job. But at one point, you are left at the crossroad – is dry carpet cleaning or steam cleaning the right one for your carpets?

In this article, you will read about the main differences between the two carpet cleaning methods, making your choice a bit easier.

So, if you:

• Wondering if you should steam clean or dry clean your carpet;
• Want to know what’s the difference between dry & steam carpet cleaning;
• Looking for the most effective carpet cleaning method;

Then look no further! This post is for you.

What is the difference between dry carpet cleaning and steam cleaning?

Steam carpet cleaning / Hot water extraction

Before we begin explaining the process, it’s very important to mention that steam cleaning, as a term, is widely used by companies when trying to describe the hot water extraction carpet cleaning method.

This method uses a professional steam machine that basically injects a mixture of warm water and a special eco-detergent into the carpet and extracts the water right after, along with the dirt. This treatment is especially good for removing stains and built-up residue.

You should be aware that after the cleaning is complete, your carpets will need a couple of hours to dry out completely, mostly depending on the season and the type of your carpet. That’s why we offer our clients a special machine we can bring that is called AirMover, which speeds up the process of drying by up to 5 hours.

This is the most powerful method; if a stain does not come out after a steam cleaning, it probably never will.

Steam carpet cleaning pros and cons

Dry carpet cleaning method

This method is mostly used for more delicate materials. Not many people choose to have velvet upholstery or a nubuck carpet, but for those that do, one needs to be aware that those materials require some special treatment to be cleaned properly. There are detergents made just for dry cleaning and for different materials, as well. They are gentle to the surface and won’t damage it, but at the same time, they are strong enough to clean it and kill any bacteria.

Here is how this method is performed: the technician starts by applying the chemicals to the affected area and proceeds to spray some water to help the detergent react on the carpet or the upholstery item. After the chemicals have reacted with the dirt, everything is vacuumed, and unlike steam cleaning, you can use the freshly cleaned carpet immediately.

Dry carpet cleaning pros and cons

What is the best method to clean a carpet?

So, these are the fundamentals of dry and steam carpet cleaning techniques, along with their advantages and disadvantages. The most important thing is to be completely sure of what material your carpet or upholstery is made of. This will be the main factor in determining which one of the techniques will be better for you. If a spill occurs, no matter the material, take care of it immediately.

Often, if the stain is already embedded deep into the fibres, even the strongest method will not be able to take care of it.

Read our blog post on the best carpet cleaning methods to learn more about the different cleaning techniques and their positive and negative sides.

Professional carpet cleaning by Fantastic Services

If you are still unsure which method suits your type of textile floor covering, worry not!

Take the safe road from the beginning, and turn to a professional carpet technician. He will not only clean your carpets the way they should be cleaned but will also give you thorough instructions on how to take care of them better and avoid unpleasant situations in the future. We at Fantastic Services offer steam carpet cleaning and dry rug cleaning services.

Takeaways

• Steam cleaning is a term used to describe the hot water extraction method.
• Hot water extraction is especially effective against stains.
• Steam cleaning is suitable for microfibre, man-made, polyester and woollen materials.
• Dry cleaning is mostly used for delicate materials, such as jute, sisal, sea grass, etc.
• Dry cleaning is not very effective against stains.
• It takes very little time for carpets to dry after dry cleaning.
• Before choosing the cleaning method, it is important to check what material your carpets are made of.

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What are your thoughts and impressions of steam and dry cleaning? Let us know in the comments below, and if you enjoyed this article, don’t forget to share it with your family and friends.