When your home’s carpets are in need of a good cleaning, which powerful cleaning system should you choose?  We look at the benefits and drawbacks of dry carpet cleaning systems and steam cleaning systems to help you decide which is ideal for the state of your carpets in your house.

Advantages of Dry Carpet Cleaning

A dry cleaning (low-moisture) method for carpet maintenance goes above and beyond the standard vacuum cleaner routine. Dry carpet cleaning provides deep cleaning power by supplementing with compound cleaning agents prior to machine washing to pre-treat fibres and break down contaminants. The cleaning agents are brushed or buffed into the carpet before being removed, together with all of the dirt, oils, and other sediments that loosen as the cleansers become entrenched between the fibres. Cleansers can also protect carpet fibres from future stains, similar to how a stain shield spray protects furniture.

The technique is more commonly used in residential settings where homeowners need spot treatment, but it’s also useful in situations when traffic on the carpet is difficult to control (such as at the entryway or hallway in a commercial space). Dry cleaning systems are less expensive than steam cleaners, and because they use less liquid, they allow households to have a faster dry time. The treated rooms are normally unavailable for 30 minutes to an hour.

If renting the equipment isn’t an option, there are various store-bought powder cleaners that mimic the dry cleaning process. These products contain chemicals that absorb odours and intensively clean carpet fibres before being readily vacuumed away after a short length of time.

You can also make your own carpet cleaning powder. To provide a pleasant smell, one of our favourite homemade mixtures contains baking soda, borax, cornstarch, and cornmeal, as well as cinnamon and bay leaves. All of the ingredients’ disinfecting and cleansing capabilities make it a pleasant addition to your cleaning cupboard and a simple material to sprinkle on carpets before vacuuming.

Advantages of Steam Cleaning

Individuals and families who suffer from allergies or fragrance sensitivities may find that steam cleaning is the best way to deep clean or spot clean carpets in the home. The created water vapour has no odour and is an excellent way to kill bacteria and lift dirt that contributes to other unpleasant smells.

In contrast to sprays and dry cleaners, steam cleaning a carpet does not inject agents that leave residue on the carpet fibres.

Steam cleaning is a highly effective and efficient method for removing buildup from carpet fibres, including mod land pet odours. It is also good at restoring the appearance of neglected carpets over time. The restorative benefits are nearly always visible in high traffic areas, such as hallway carpets, where foot traffic compresses a “path” over time.

When all other cleaning methods have failed, steam cleaning is frequently a “last chance” approach that produces results. Steam cleaning does inject moisture into the carpet fibres, but far less moisture than hand shampooing to cleanse and freshen it.

Disadvantages of Dry Carpet Cleaning

Dry carpet cleaning solutions work well, but when you need a deep rejuvenation, the process is frequently insufficient to restore and cleanse a carpet.

Dry carpet cleaners can use chemicals that leave residues on carpet fibres or fragrances that cause allergies in certain people, which is something to keep in mind if you have toddlers or babies who spend a lot of time on the carpet.

Residue accumulation can actually age a carpet over time since it collects more dust than an untreated and routinely vacuum cleaner.

Disadvantages of Steam Cleaning

The most obvious downside of steam cleaning carpets is that it usually requires the use of strong rental equipment, which is heavier and more difficult to carry than dry cleaning units.

The dirt retrieved from deep within the fibres may appear to re-emerge in the days and weeks following a steam clean; a further steam clean may be required for the best results.

When using a steam carpet cleaner to remove stains, it is still vital to consider the age of the stain, how deeply it has infiltrated the fibres, and what caused it. Steam cleaners work well, possibly even better than dry cleaners, but they aren’t always completely effective at removing deep, tenacious stains.

Steam cleaning is a procedure that can be used on occasion but should not be utilised on a regular basis because it might cause unnecessary wear on the carpets.

Finally, steam cleaners frequently leave moisture in carpets that might take up to 24 hours to dry.