Steam Cleaning vs. Dry Cleaning

Carpets are beautiful and comfortable to walk on. But like any other surface meant to be walked upon, carpets are susceptible to water spills, stains, and dirt. While a simple vacuuming would clear off the dirt, it won’t do much good against spills and stains. This is where dry cleaning or steam cleaning comes in. To keep your carpet spotlessly clean and hygienic, you can use either cleaning method to get the best results. Here’s what you need to know concerning steam cleaning and dry cleaning:

Steam Cleaning

Steam cleaning is the act of using high-pressure hot water to clean the carpet. Just like your vacuum cleaner uses high-pressure air suction to remove dirt from the carpet, steam cleaning uses specialized equipment that injects hot water into the carpet in the form of steam. The hot water soaks up the build-up of dirt and stains and is then sucked in by the cleaning equipment. For excessively dirty carpets, a pre-spray of cleaning agent is applied to help loosen stubborn dirt and stains before the actual steam cleaning.

Steam cleaning has a deeper cleaning and long-lasting effect on the carpet. It also has a longer timeframe for the carpet to dry. At the end of a steam cleaning session, you have a spotless and “hot” carpet.

Dry Cleaning

Carpet dry cleaning is divided into two phases – pre-vacuuming and dry cleaning. A vacuum cleaner can technically be considered a dry cleaning machine because it doesn’t require moisture. However, when cleaning a carpet, you apply a dry cleaning solution to the carpet to loosen the dirt and stains before the dry cleaning machine is used to complete the cleaning. The dry cleaning machine usually has cotton pads that serve as floor polishers. The cotton pads are spun at high speed, which picks up dirt, spills, and stains from the carpet.

You have a much better result with dry cleaning a carpet than typical vacuuming. What’s more, you won’t need to wait long for your carpet to dry when dry cleaning. However, you’ll have to constantly change the cotton pads, as they’re responsible for trapping and cleaning dirt. You’ll also need a high-grade cleaning solvent to break up stubborn dirt and stains effectively.

Which Should You Use?

Both steam cleaning and dry cleaning are effective carpet cleaning methods. However, steam cleaning offers a deeper and more thorough cleaning than dry cleaning. There is no residual dirt when steam cleaning, but with dry cleaning, you’re exposed to residual dirt and cleaning chemicals that are harmful. However, dry cleaning is faster and more affordable in terms of machinery hire than steam cleaning. You can easily use your vacuum instead of a standard carpet dry cleaning machine.

To decide which cleaning method is better for your carpet, here’s what you should consider:

Carpet Material

Not all carpets can handle the heat from steam cleaning. So, it’s best to look up your carpet material and cleaning recommendations before deciding. Dry cleaning is excellent for thin and soft carpets – they’re easy to clean and don’t require thorough cleaning to remove stains. Steam cleaning is, however, perfect for thick carpets – it’ll easily reach deep into the carpet and remove stubborn stains and hidden dirt.

How Often You Walk on The Carpet

Carpets are designed to be walked upon, and as such, the accumulation of dirt is inevitable. However, the level your carpet is being walked upon determines how consistently it’ll become dirty. For instance, a carpet in the bedroom can’t get dirty quickly compared to a carpet in the living room, where everyone spends most of the day walking in and out. So, for carpets with lesser consistency in being walked upon, there’s a lesser accumulation of dirt, meaning dry cleaning would be good enough. Carpets in the living room or spaces where there’s consistent walking or activity, you’ll need steam cleaning.

Cleaning Budget

You obviously can’t break the bank just because you’re trying to clean your carpet. If you have the money to spend on hiring professionals for steam cleaning, you should opt for it. Where you don’t have the means to spend more on cleaning, dry cleaning is enough. You can also steam clean your carpet once a year, and resort to vacuum cleaning to maintain the carpet’s life and cleanliness.

Choose The Best Option with a Professional

Choosing between steam cleaning and dry cleaning is a difficult choice. But, you can make things easier by asking a professional for advice. Besides knowing the best cleaning products, the professional has the expertise and experience to offer you the best carpet cleaning service. At Premier Carpet Cleaning, we have the best hands and tools for the job. We can also provide an affordable carpet cleaning option that fits your budget. It’s all up to you.