Not a whole lot of people associate shampooing their hair with
cleaning their carpets, but Mike Jacob, owner of Choice Carpet
Cleaning in Hollister, sees an obvious parallel between the
two.
Not a whole lot of people associate shampooing their hair with cleaning their carpets, but Mike Jacob, owner of Choice Carpet Cleaning in Hollister, sees an obvious parallel between the two.
“Let’s say you’ve just shampooed your hair. You’ve got to rinse out all the suds, or your hair’s not going to be clean,” he said. “It’s the same thing with carpet. The trick is to rinse the residue and get the carpet as free of soap as you possibly can, because if it’s not rinsed clean, your carpet’s going to be black in two weeks.”
That may be the reason many people attempt to clean their carpets on their own with rented equipment, such as the Rug Doctor, but end up frustrated and befuddled when their carpet becomes even dirtier than it was to start. At that point – especially for people with kids, pets and frequent guests – sometimes the only path to spotless floors is to hire a professional carpet cleaner.
Running anywhere between $100 and $400 for 1,000 square feet of carpet, getting your carpets cleaned might seem more like an investment than simple spring cleaning. But aside from brightening a room and making floors look brand new, clean carpet has several benefits – including healthier in-home air.
There are a number of carpet-cleaning methods available including steam cleaning, chemical rinses and dry cleaning. The latter two are the most popular methods because they dig deep into the carpet’s fibers to extract dirt, stains and other problem particles, while steam cleaning merely cleans the surface.
When carpet gets dirty, the dirt breaks down individual fibers, acting almost like a little razor blade that cuts the surface of each fiber. As a result, the fibers lose their luster, leading the carpet to appear dull and flat.
Rob Rocha, owner of Quick Dry Carpet Cleaning in Gilroy, uses a low-moisture machine with spin pads for the majority of his jobs, including both plush and non-plush carpet for residential and commercial jobs.
Before using the machine, Rocha vacuums the carpet and applies a non-toxic cleaning solution that washes clean.
Then comes the machine, with mop-style pads that absorb the solution and essentially buff the carpet until it’s almost dry.
“The main thing you want to do is get it as clean and dry as possible,” Rocha said. “It takes about two hours to dry, then I’ll vacuum again when I’m done.”
After the machine is finished, the carpet needs two or three hours on average to dry fully before it can be walked on, Rocha said. Freshly cleaned carpets – especially plush – will feel soft underfoot once clean.
But a professional cleaning is just the first step in keeping carpets in good shape.
Jacob recommended vacuuming two to three times a week and getting professional cleanings three or four times a year for a family of four. For a single- or two-person household, once or twice a year is sufficient.
Many of Rocha’s jobs are a result of stubborn stains, particularly pet stains, or because customers are expecting guests and want to spruce up their homes. Others are preparing to move out and want to get their houses in the best selling condition possible.
“A lot of people are just amazed after they get their carpets cleaned. They say it looks brand new,” he said. “And it’s really frustrating to clean the whole house but then still see a dirty carpet.”
In addition to aesthetic value, clean carpets also can get rid of germs, bacteria, dirt, stale food and whatever else is lurking in your carpet.
For families with children, cleaning carpets is even more important, as kids have no problem touching the carpet and then touching their mouths.
“I’d say as much as 75 percent of the germs in the house are lodged in the carpet,” Jacob said. “Air-borne bacteria and viruses come out of the carpet; fertilizer from the outdoors gets tracked inside. All of that can turn into disease.”
Although regular vacuuming and cleaning can extend the life of your carpet significantly, there is a catch: Professional cleaning is a bit rough on the carpet, Rocha said, as it strips a protective coat that is built into the carpet.
But for an extra fee, professional carpet cleaners can reapply the coat, which repels stains and maximizes vacuuming in between cleanings.
