Despite your best efforts, carpets can easily become dirty and stain. Steam cleaning your carpet is a popular method for cleaning. Some carpet cleaning companies say it is an effective way to remove dirt, stains, and bacteria. However, there are some downsides to steam-cleaning that are often overlooked.
However, the truth is that steam cleaning your carpet isn’t always the best idea. It presents problems such as mold and mildew growth, reappearing stains, and a high risk for water intrusion or bacterial growth. When you want a better way to clean your carpet that uses 95% less water, contact us today at Hydra Clean Northwest.
The Problem with Steam Cleaning Your Carpet and Water Recovery
Steam cleaning your carpet might seem like a quick and easy way to get rid of all the dirt and grime that’s built up over time. However, it’s important to consider the potential downsides before taking the plunge. Here are some of the dark sides of steam cleaning your carpet that you need to think about:
- Risk of mold and mildew: Steam cleaning involves using a lot of water. This means your wet carpet can create a breeding ground for mold and mildew. You’ll need to be sure that the carpet thoroughly dries.
- Dirty water left behind: Even the biggest steam cleaning machines can’t recover all of the dirty water used in the process. This ends up drying in the carpet and causing odd odors.
- High risk for mildew, mold, and bacterial growth: Steam cleaning is like pressure washing indoors. It can create an environment that’s perfect for mold, mildew, and bacteria to thrive.
- Water intrusion in baseboards and subfloors: Baseboards can swell up if they get too wet. This can cause problems with the subfloor and lead to costly repairs.
- Difficulty in water absorption: Some modern carpets are made from recycled plastic, which is hydrophobic and doesn’t absorb water easily. This means that the water used in steam cleaning can run right off the fibers and straight into the backing.
- Machine malfunctions: If the steam cleaning machine isn’t functioning properly, it can lead to the oversaturation of your carpet.
- Lack of training: Many carpet cleaning companies hire technicians for low hourly rates and don’t provide extensive training. This can lead to inexperienced cleaners causing more harm than good.
Steam Cleaning Uses a Tremendous Amount of Water
During steam-cleaning, only about 80% of the water used can be recovered. This means that the remaining 20% of water gets pushed past the fibers and down into the backing of the carpet. All the excess dirty water that remains in the carpet, even with the biggest steam cleaning machines, is left to dry.
This excess water can lead to mold and mildew growth in carpets, which can be a serious health risk. The risk of mold and mildew growth is so high that some companies no longer use steam cleaning for residential properties. When you pull up a carpet after it’s been steam cleaned for 5 or 10 years, the backing of the carpet can be really disgusting. The good news is that you can avoid this situation by calling Hydra Clean Northwest.
Wicking and Reappearing Stains: The Unexpected Side Effects of Carpet Steam Cleaning
Carpet steam cleaning is a very popular solution for a deep clean that leaves your carpets looking as good as new. But the question remains: are your carpets really clean after steam cleaning? The answer might surprise you.
While steam cleaning is generally effective, it can sometimes lead to a phenomenon known as “wicking” and the frustrating reemergence of stubborn stains.
The Science of Wicking: What Happens During Steam Cleaning
Wicking is a natural process that occurs when a liquid travels through a porous material like your carpet fibers. When steam cleaning, the high-pressure hot water extraction process loosens dirt and grime. It’s then vacuumed up along with the excess water. However, sometimes the water can travel deeper into the carpet fibers and pad. It can carry dissolved dirt and stain particles with it.
Wicking and Reappearing Stains: A Frustrating Connection
As the carpet dries after steam cleaning, water from the deeper layers evaporates. Then, the wicking moves the dissolved dirt and stain particles back up to the surface. This can cause the seemingly “vanished” stains to reappear. Understandably, this leads to much frustration.
The risk of wicking increases if the carpet gets too wet during steam cleaning. This can also happen when the carpet takes an unusually long time to dry.
The Gross Reality of Reappearing Stains
Let’s consider a common scenario: you’ve spilled a glass of red wine on a white carpet. You quickly grab your trusty steam cleaner, hoping to erase all evidence of the accident. After cleaning, the stain appears to be gone – success!
But a few days later, you notice that the stain has mysteriously come back. Not only is this unsightly, but it’s also unhygienic. This is because the reemerging stain may contain bacteria, allergens, and mold spores that were drawn up from the deeper layers of the carpet during the wicking process.
To avoid wicking and reappearing stains, it’s important to ensure proper steam cleaning techniques. This includes using the right amount of water, extracting as much water as possible during the process, and ensuring adequate ventilation for quicker drying. However, the average homeowner may not know the techniques. This further increases the risk of mold and mildew growth in your home.
The Better Way to Clean Carpets with Hydra Clean Northwest
Hydra Clean Northwest has introduced an innovative and eco-friendly method for carpet cleaning that uses significantly less water than traditional methods. With this process, the company uses a high-powered, truck-mounted extraction method that leverages dry steam to kill and remove germs, bacteria, and dust mites that are deeply embedded in carpet fibers. The result is a fresh, sanitized, and clean carpet that requires minimal water.
Here is how our solution to water conservation during carpet cleaning works:
- The method uses only 5% of the water typically used in traditional carpet cleaning processes.
- The dry steam extraction method necessitates minimal drying time, eliminating the potential for mold and mildew growth in the carpet.
- The process does not leave any soapy residue on the carpet, which can attract dirt and lead to re-soiling.
- It is safe for most types of carpets and does not damage carpet fibers.
- Minimal water usage reduces the likelihood of water damage to the carpet and surrounding areas.
- The solution is highly efficient and eco-friendly, ensuring a safer and healthier environment for your home.
HydraClean Northwest’s carpet cleaning method is highly effective and sustainable as it uses up to 95% less water than traditional cleaning methods. This means that your carpet will not be saturated during the cleaning process, reducing the risk of mold growth and damage to the underlying floor.
HydraClean Northwest & Water.org: The “Save Water, Give Water” Initiative
HydraClean Northwest is donating a portion of sales to Water.org. Our “Save Water, Give Water” initiative will help provide safe water to underprivileged communities in need. By choosing HydraClean Northwest for eco-friendly carpet cleaning, you are contributing to a worthy cause. You can smile knowing that you are helping to bring clean water to those who need it most. You’ll get to experience fresh and clean carpets in your home, too!
Stop Steam Cleaning Your Carpet: Call Hydra Clean Northwest
Hydra Clean Northwest offers eco-friendly carpet cleaning solutions for every room in your home. If you want to have clean carpets while caring for the environment, contact us to book an appointment today.