THE GREAT DEBATE - STEAM CLEANING vs. DRY CLEANING of carpet

Over the past twenty years or so, there has been a lot of discussion and debate whether carpets should be steam cleaned or dry-cleaned. There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods, and I want to present this in a non-biased way.

Back in the early days of steam cleaning, or more precisely “hot water extraction” cleaners only had portable extraction units available, such as Rug Doctor and similar units which can be rented at grocery stored and tool rental facilities. These machines, as well as many modern-day portables, are wonderful for spotting and small areas, but tend to over-wet and leave too much soap residue in carpet due to their weak ability to extract.

In the early 1970’s truck mounted steam cleaning began to be used widely in both residential and commercial applications. However, in its early stages, many cleaners were poorly educated in cleaning techniques. A combination of very high alkaline cleaning solutions, too-high pressure and/or volume of water used, and weak extraction systems resulted in many carpets sustaining more damage than benefit. Sometimes carpets took several days to dry; some carpets shrunk, wrinkled, or delaminated, depending on the type of yarns and primary secondary backing which were used.

These problems led many carpet-owners to look for alternative methods of cleaning their floor coverings. There are several types of dry cleaning available, some using foam, some using carbonated water, some with cotton bonnet attached to a rotary machine. The dry cleaning methods are generally less dangerous to the carpet’s health and well-being, and most will allow the carpet to be dry within a few hours.

Thru the 1980’s and 90’s many advancements were made in steam cleaning equipment, cleaning chemicals, and most importantly, training and certification of cleaning technicians. Unlike plumbers, electricians, masonry contractors, etc, carpet cleaners are not regulated, nor required testing or licensing. You may see a large number of cleaners in the local phone book or advertising circulars, and only a fraction of which are educated and certified in the areas they profess to know about. In addition, I have heard many horror stories of steam carpet cleaners who have done unethical things like charging homeowners to apply Scotchgard or Teflon when in fact they applied only water.

Therefore, we at Pro Care believe strongly in the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Our firm and each technician is certified in at least one of the following areas of expertise: Carpet Cleaning, Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning, Fire and Smoke Restoration, Water Damage Restoration, Odor Control, Carpet Repair and Reinstallation. Tim Kissel is not only certified but is a Master in all of these areas.

Now, back to the debate of steam cleaning vs. dry cleaning. It is my firm belief that steam cleaning is the best method of cleaning in the majority of situation. I have not yet seen another method superior to steam cleaning. However, the faults of steam cleaning, such as prolonged drying time, especially in humid seasons, can be exchanged for a form of dry cleaning, which I believe to be less effective. I’m not saying dry cleaning is less effective just because Pro Care primarily uses steam cleaning. We have over the years used three different types of dry cleaning as well, and continue to offer the cotton bonnet system as an alternative. Unless your priority is to have carpets dry within and hour or two, you will find steam cleaning to be more effective overall.

 Finally, Pro Care Carpet Cleaning has recently added the DriMaster system as a “Best of Both Worlds” option, steam cleaning that dries in 1-4 hours. This system is the best choice when you need to use the carpets soon after they’ve been cleaned but is intended for less soiled carpets. Click on our DriMaster link for more information.