What is in my carpet and what can it do to it?

To clean carpet well, one must take specific steps to remove three kinds of soil:

Non-soluble — minerals (dirt, dust), hair (both human and animal), vegetable fibers, pollens, and pollutants;

Water-soluble — sugars, starches, salt, urine, and residues from foods and beverages;

Solvent-soluble —cooking oils, cosmetics, paint, and ink.

Please keep in mind, that some of these types of soil will not release from the carpet depending on what type of material the carpet is. As professional carpet cleaners, our goal is to remove as much of these types of soil as possible.

There is a 4^th type of soil that cannot be removed. It’s called apparent soiling and is classified into 3 categories.

Wear is missing fibers, reduction in pile height, and physical damage that has been done to the carpet fibers. Fibers get damaged when non-soluble soil rubs against them.

Fading is when a natural substance like the sun’s rays or gas discolor the carpet. Essentially the color is removed from the carpet leaving a bleached spot or entirely different color.

Shading is when light is absorbed in the carpet or reflected at different angles leaving a darker appearance. This is mostly seen in traffic areas. It can have a grey or dirty look and can be caused by a lot of twisting and turning paired with non-soluble soil that has not been removed.

What are some of the benefits to cleaning carpet?

This is a question we get asked frequently. There are lots of benefits, but before we tell you what they are, lets first understand what is in carpet.

The best example I can give someone, carpet is much like an air filter in your air conditioning unit. Every so often, usually once per month, you need to change the air filter. Carpet acts like an air filter. Dust, debris, pollens, and pollutants are circulating in your home 24/7. Gravity naturally pulls down these substances and they land on a variety of items. Imagine for a moment all the stuff you see on hardwood floors, tile, counter tops, etc. That same stuff is landing on the carpet.

As we walk and let time go by, those substances get ground in deeper and deeper to the carpet. In addition to those substances, there is animal hair, human hair, dead cells that fall from our bodies, and other organic matter from the foods we eat and beverages we drink. All that stuff eventually goes into the carpet. In addition to that stuff, bacteria and other living organisms can live in the carpet. It can be a great food source for them.

When we walk on the carpet, those substances get kicked up into the air and we naturally breathe them in. Are your allergies or asthma acting up in your home? Try cleaning your carpet and air ducts. This will improve the indoor air quality in your home. We have countless customers that tell us that those symptoms improve after having us out to perform some of our services.

Does your carpet feel stiff or sticky? This is usually from residues. Having the carpet cleaned will help soften it up and remove any sticky feelings.

Have you ever wondered why the carpet mills put in their warranty that an IICRC certified firm must clean your carpets every 6 months to 1 year to keep the warranty valid? All those foreign substances damage the carpet over time and they can potentially harm your health. Work with a professional cleaner and set up a regular schedule to maintain your carpets. You will find them lasting longer, saving you some big money in replacing carpet sooner.