Dry Carpet Cleaning vs. Traditional - Which Is Best?

The big debate in the professional carpet cleaning industry is: Which carpet cleaning method is best-dry carpet cleaning or wet carpet cleaning? Let’s dive into the dry vs wet carpet cleaning debate. 

Some professional carpet cleaning companies believe waterless carpet cleaning is the best way to go. They know dry carpet cleaning delivers a deep down clean that stays cleaner longer. Organic carpet cleaning powders replace detergents and water to effectively remove dirt, allergens, dust mites and bacteria. These organic powders have been proven to safely remove tough stains while avoiding the use of harmful carpet cleaning chemicals. Specialized machines then remove the organic carpet cleaning powders that have absorbed dirt and bacteria from the carpet fibers. Truly clean and fresh smelling carpets are ready for traffic after 30 minutes. 

Other professional carpet cleaning companies use steam or wet carpet cleaning methods. The vapors produced by steam carpet cleaning are odorless and will lift up dirt while the hot steam and detergents kill bacteria. Steam carpet cleaning will do a good job of lifting and restoring carpet fibers; but should be used sparingly as it will wear out your carpet faster. Due to moisture left behind after steam carpet cleaning, you will likely need to let your carpet dry for 24 hours before walking on it.

Soap and water is what we use for most household cleaning jobs, so it seems only natural to think that way for carpet cleaning. Traditional carpet cleaning, also known as “steam carpet cleaning”, follows our normal thinking of using soap and water for cleaning. Detergents with chemicals and water are used to clean carpets. Heavy equipment is then used for hot water extraction to remove as much of the dirty water as possible. When it takes around 24 hours for the carpets to dry after steam carpet cleaning, you can bet that not all of the dirty water was extracted. Sometimes it’s necessary for another hot water extraction pass to happen to remove extra moisture left behind with wet carpet cleaning and often times, the carpet padding is over saturated with moisture. You cannot wring out and re-rinse carpets as you can with a dirty washcloth. That’s why an alternative to steam carpet cleaning was developed.

There are, however, some situations where turning to wet carpet cleaning is very helpful. A truck mount hot water extraction process should be used when your carpets are flooded with water for some unfortunate reason.

What is Dry Carpet Cleaning? 

Dry carpet cleaning takes a different approach to the traditional steam carpet cleaning status quo. Safe organic carpet cleaning powders that work like magic to remove dirt, allergens, dust mites and bacteria are applied to the carpets. Specialized equipment then agitates the natural dry carpet cleaning agents and removes them from the carpet, pulling out the dirty particles and bacteria with them. Dry carpet cleaning will leave your carpets cleaner and fresher with lasting results. Within thirty minutes after the dry carpet cleaner is removed, your carpets are ready for use.

Those who are concerned about carpet care, avoiding chemicals, and conserving water should seek out professional carpet cleaning companies that use the dry carpet cleaning process.

Dry carpet cleaning is a superior method to clean carpets for a clean and healthy home. Dry carpet cleaners effectively remove stains while protecting the carpet fibers and carpet padding. Very low moisture is used, so the drying time is fast and the home environment is protected from possible mildew issues due to over saturated carpets. The results with dry carpet cleaning last longer because no sticky residue is left behind and the carpet fibers will repel dirt after cleaning. 

A combination of hot water and cleaning chemicals are used with wet carpet cleaning methods. If you are avoiding chemicals, which can adversely affect children and pets, you will want a carpet cleaning alternative. Eco-friendly cleaning agents are used with dry carpet cleaning making it a safer option for your home and the environment.

Steam carpet cleaning uses volumes of hot water with noisy machines that use a lot of fuel and expel toxic fumes. The older wet carpet cleaning method is not exactly eco-friendly. Only 60-80% of the chemically treated water is actually removed from your carpet; and the extracted water has to go somewhere! It is necessary to find a legal place to dump the contaminated carpet cleaning water. For these reasons, dry carpet cleaning is safer for the environment.

Choose a better way to clean your carpets and contact Hemingway’s Floor Cleaning Services Today!

We have been keeping floors clean in the Myrtle Beach area for over 20 years and are dedicated to our loyal customers (many of whom have been with us for years). As a fully licensed and insured carpet cleaning company your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.  Our professional carpet cleaning technicians have the knowledge, equipment and supplies to restore your carpets like new.