What is carpet shampoo and does it work?

Carpet shampoos have a foaming agent in them that, when sprayed over the carpet, are intended to foam through the carpet fibers and break down the dirts bond with the fibers.  Anionic detergents in carpet shampoos are used to break the electrostatic bonds that the dirt has created with the carpet fibers.  The foam is then worked into the carpet before being left to dry and vacuumed away, or suctioned away with water.

Cylindrical Foam machine: This device produces dry foam using an air compressor.  This is then worked into the carpet with the cylindrical brush, the foam is left to dry, and then the carpet needs a thorough vacuum.  The issue is that much of the dirt stays stuck in the fibers, and this process does not draw up the debris from deep within the carpet.

The Rotary machine:  The foam is sprayed onto the carpet before the rotary brush agitates the shampoo into a foam, working it into the fibers.  This works the solution into the fibers more successfully, however there is massive potential for carpet damage - carpet fiber manufactures discourage the use of such machines as they believe the brushed will damage the carpet fibers, particularly cut pile carpets - which are the most common carpet type.  There is also a common issue with over wetting of the carpet, leading to problems such as shrinkage and mold.

Portable home use carpet cleaner

Portable carpet cleaners has two functions.  Firstly, by holding a button in, you release the hot water and shampoo solution to wet the carpet whilst it is agitated by the rotary bristles. Then, upon release of the button, the moisture and any loosened dirt are sucked back into the machine.  There is a major issue with over wetting the carpets if the machine is not strong enough.  There is also a high tendency to over mixing the shampoo meaning a lot of residual shampoo is left in the carpet.

The major issue with all carpet shampoos is the residual solution left on the fibers, this tends to be a sticky residue that will cause faster resoiling.  To counter this issue some carpet shampoo makers include resin in the shampoo as an "anti-resoiling" agent.

Another commonly used additive in carpet cleaning shampoo is "optical brightener", this attaches to the carpet fibers and works by converting invisible ultraviolet light into visible light so that the carpet appears brighter....because carpet shampoo is not very effective at actually removing dirt this is a cunning way to make the carpet appear cleaner for time.  This chemical, however, eventually yellows the carpet which is a permanent stain.

What do the professionals say?

Professional carpet cleaners tend to stay away from carpet shampoos, and the types of machinery described above.  Most professional carpet cleaners now opt for the Hot Water Extraction system.  Most choose to use little or no chemicals as the pressure and heat of the hot water extraction system works so effectively at removing the dirt lodges within the fibers - even down in the depths of the carpet fibers.  The powerful system quickly extracts the dirt and moisture so that the carpets dry more quickly.

Art of Clean are specialists in: 

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Hardwood Floor Cleaning, 

Stone floor Cleaning,

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information about our services please contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or visit www.artofclean.co.uk.

How to clean stairs- carpet cleaning - Art Of Clean Cambridge,

Cleaning Stairs Carpet

 Stairs get notoriously grubby, and they are a pain to clean - especially if you have hired a machine like a rug doctor.  Take a look at the video below to see our very cleaver stair carpet cleaning machinery in action.

We are a professional cleaning company who specialise in Carpet, Rug, Hardwood floor, Stone floor, Upholstery and Leather cleaning for domestic an commercial clients.

 For more information about our services contact the team on 01223 863632 or at www.artofclean.co.uk to find out more.

Cleaning your fine handmade rug?? Only the best will do! Here's how to find the best person for the job..

Having your precious rug cleaned for the first time is usually a big stretch for many people. Why is this the case?

When choosing a fine rug for your home is not easy and it is usually a big investment. When buying rugs people may sometimes be informed not to have the rug cleaned. This is not totally incorrect as there are many cleaners out there that will not have the correct knowledge to clean fine rugs and can easily cause damage to the fine rug while cleaning it. If you find a reputable rug cleaner this will not need to be a concern for you anymore.

Here are a few questions to ask to help you find a reliable cleaning company to clean your fine rug.

What experience do you have cleaning rugs – Some companies state that they have been cleaning for “x” amount of years – what they do not say is what they have been cleaning. Some firms might have been cleaning offices for the last 20 years and only started cleaning rugs more recently.

Check them out online – If companies have been cleaning rugs for a long period of time you will notice their videos, photos and testimonials of the work they have done will be older – If they have no proof online that they have done rug cleaning for a long period of time it raise the question if you should trust them with your rug.

Are they insured? – Insurance is a minefield – many firms are insured – fewer firms are insured for goods in trust – as specifically if the company hold insurance for goods in trust.

What method is best to clean my rug? – Many rug cleaning companies only use one method of cleaning and this is usually hot water extraction or steam cleaning. This method can cause unstable colours to run. Here at Art of Clean we use a cold water bath and we then have the correct equipment to safely remove the water from the rug and let it dry in our drying room.

Your last question to the rug cleaner you will employ is – “who will clean my rug” many rug cleaning companies will subcontract the cleaning work out – your rug might get send many miles away for cleaning.

Art of clean are proud to be the only registered Master Rug Cleaners in Cambridge.  If you would like some more information about our professional rug cleaning services please contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or visit www.artofclean.co.uk.