When your carpets are severely soiled and are in need of a good cleaning, you might initially believe that all it takes is some general shampoo or cleaning solution to take care of the problem. However, choosing a cleaning solution for carpets is a lot more complex than that and requires some basic knowledge of chemistry.
Yes, that’s right—to understand the fundamentals of carpet cleaning in South Amboy, NJ, we’re going to have to take you on a quick trip back to high school chemistry class and explain one of the most important components of carpet cleaning: pH. The pH of the carpet to be cleaned and the cleaning solution to be used have to be correct to not only clean the carpet well, but to avoid creating more damage or voiding the carpet’s warranty.
pH 101
pH stands for the “potential of hydrogen” and is a measure of the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a solution. pH levels run on a scale of 0 to 14. Levels between 0 and 6 are considered acidic, levels between 8 and 14 are alkaline and a level of 7 is considered neutral. Each step up or down on the scale represents a different intensity of the acidity or alkalinity.
Products at the extreme ends, meaning 0 and 14, are extremely corrosive and the most intense acids or alkaline solutions available. Needless to say, these types of solutions would not be used to clean your carpets. However, some heavy stains may require the use of more intense solutions like an alkaline solution with a pH level of 12.
How pH plays a role in carpet cleaning in South Amboy, NJ
The pH level of a cleaning solution and the carpet itself will ultimately determine the cleaning performance. For the most part, cleaning performance on oily soils, which are the most common in carpets, will be increased with an increase in pH level, meaning with more alkaline solutions. However, some soils will be best removed using acidic solutions.
Carpet cleaners need to be able to determine the pH of your carpet and know the pH of their cleaning solutions to effectively clean the carpet without damaging the carpet’s dyes or fibers. The cleaner will determine what type of fibers your carpet is composed of and then determine the type of soil present to select the best cleaning solution for the job.
For example, most of today’s carpets are synthetic, made of nylon or polyester, so solutions with a pH higher than 10 could cause severe damage to the fibers.
After the carpet is cleaned, your cleaners should neutralize your carpet, or balance its pH, so that there is no acidic or alkaline residue remaining that could cause future damage.
Call the expert cleaners at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center
Are you in need of carpet cleaning in South Amboy, NJ? Call Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center! We’ve been your local experts in carpet cleaning for nearly 70 years. We offer a full range of cleaning services for carpets, rugs, hardwood floors, tile floors and more, and can clean, repair, re-stretch and install carpets using all up-to-date products and technologies. Give us a call today for a free estimate on your next service!
Summer is over and the holidays will soon be here, which means now is the perfect time to schedule your carpet cleaning in South Amboy, NJ. The only question is, should you dry clean or steam clean your carpets?
Welcome to the old debate: dry clean vs. steam clean. Dry cleaning methods use chemical-based dry shampoo that includes special solvents and cleaning agents. This dry shampoo is worked into your carpet using a machine with rotating brushes. After the solvent is left to sit in your carpet for a few minutes, it is vacuumed up. With steam cleaning, the carpet is pre-conditioned with a cleaning agent that liquefies soils and oil-based substances. Then, water that is pressurized and heated to a near-boiling point is injected into the carpet and, after a few minutes, removed with a special vacuum.
Steam cleaning is the more traditional form of carpet cleaning, the most widely used, and is recommended by both carpet manufacturers and industry cleaning experts. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that dry cleaning isn’t effective as well. So let’s take a closer look at these two methods on a few important points:
- Effectiveness: Both dry cleaning and steam cleaning appear to clean carpets really well – on the surface. If you take a closer look, however, you may see something different. Steam cleaning is the only method of cleaning that reaches all the way down to the lowest layers of your carpeting and is best for removing deep, ground-in stains. In fact, steam cleaning removes at least 97 percent of dirt, allergens and bacteria hiding deep in your carpeting. Although dry cleaning looks clean on the surface, dig a little deeper and you will find that it leaves a lot of dirt behind, and deep stains often reappear shortly after cleaning.
- Wait times: Both dry and steam cleaning processes take about the same time to clean your carpet. The difference is how long you have to wait after cleaning before you can walk on your carpet. In this category, dry cleaning is the better choice. You can walk on a carpet that was dry cleaned within a few minutes. With steam cleaning, you may have to wait anywhere from a few hours to the next day for the carpet to completely dry.
- Safe cleaning: Both methods typically use chemical-based cleaners, whether in powder or liquid form. However, most companies can offer green carpet cleaning options as well for both methods. The only difference is that steam cleaning removes about 97 percent of the cleaning solution while dry cleaning can leave a lot of chemical residue behind.
So, which cleaning method is best for you? Well, if you want a fast surface clean so you can use your room again right away, the dry cleaning method is your best option. But if you want a safe, effective and deep clean, steam cleaning is the only way to go. To schedule your next steam carpet cleaning in South Amboy, NJ, get in touch with Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center today!
Depending on the color of your carpet, you might not necessarily be able to tell when it is filled with debris. This means that unless you are aware of certain other signs, you might not know when it’s time to get your carpets cleaned, as you cannot be completely sure of the amount of dirt embedded in the fibers.
Just because you do not have visual verification of dirtiness, however, doesn’t mean you should shirk your carpet cleaning duties. Too often people ignore carpet cleaning, which leads to carpets getting dirtier and actually needing to be replaced rather than simply cleaned.
Here are a few signs you need to seek out professional carpet cleaning in South Amboy, NJ:
- Your allergies are acting up in your home: If your allergies are worse than normal and this phenomenon is confined to your home, there’s a chance your carpet has become a trap for allergens. Dust mites, pollen, dander and more can all become trapped in carpeting and lower the overall air quality of your home. This leads to more allergies and asthma attacks.
- You notice a strange smell: A strange smell could indicate mold growth or something else underneath your carpeting. This is especially true if you have felt dampness in the carpet, or know a particular area has gotten wet at some point. While it’s natural for dirt and sweat to seep into your carpet, it should never make your home smell bad, so you need to get this looked at by a carpet cleaner.
- The carpet appears dull: Carpets all go through wear and tear, but they should never look significantly older than they are because of discoloration or fraying. Professional cleanings can extend the life of your carpet and completely refresh their appearance so they can keep looking great for many years to come.
- You recently had water or smoke damage: In some cases, the best course of action to take after such damage is to throw out the carpet and replace it. However, there are certainly situations in which the carpet can be saved through professional cleaning. You will first want to make sure there is no hidden damage underneath the carpet, such as the presence of mold. If everything looks clear, then you can proceed with the cleaning.
- You haven’t had your carpets cleaned in a while: Think of professional carpet cleanings as being similar to an oil change in your vehicle. Carpets should be professionally cleaned every year or so just so they can stay in tip-top shape. If you have pets or children, cleaning the carpets even more often can be beneficial to ensure the carpet stays in prime condition for longer.
Carpet cleaning can be a key task to help keep your home looking great and your carpets in excellent condition. For more information about the services we provide, contact us today at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center and we will be happy to talk to you about carpet cleaning in South Amboy, NJ.
There’s a whole lot more to choosing a carpet cleaning company than simply picking the first entry in a phone book or in a Google search. You should prepare to do some research on the variety of companies available before deciding which one you will hire to do your job. After all, you want to make sure you’re getting good quality work performed at a reasonable, competitive price.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help you choose the best carpet cleaning company in South Amboy, NJ for you:
- Consider the processes used: You have several options when it comes to the type of method that can be used in your carpet cleaning. Some companies opt for wet cleaning or steam cleaning, which can take some time to dry. Other companies opt for dry cleaning treatments, which allow the carpet to be immediately walked on. There are also a variety of chemicals that could be involved, depending on the method. You’ll want to go with the method that works best for your family and home.
- Check reviews: Use sites like Google Reviews, Angie’s List, the Better Business Bureau and more to find reviews of carpet cleaners in your area. You should also be sure to reach out to friends and relatives who have had their carpets cleaned recently. They can give you some good, reliable information about their experiences with certain companies, which will give you more insight into what to expect during the process.
- Ask about the services: You should talk to the companies and find out what services are included in a cleaning. Will they move your furniture for you, or are you responsible for doing that yourself? Do they clean high-traffic areas? Do stairs cost extra? These are all questions you need to keep in mind when making your decision about a carpet cleaner.
- Look for great service: As with just about any type of business, you want to opt for a company that will provide great customer service. A major part of this is the employees that are on staff. When you hire a carpet cleaning service, you are bringing strangers into your home. Therefore, you need to be sure the company does its due diligence in performing background checks and ensuring all employees are honest and caring. You should also be sure that employees working in the customer service department are happy to answer any questions you have.
- Get a number of quotes: You should get quotes from multiple companies, even if you’re fairly certain you have made your decision already. While you should never base your decision solely on which company is the cheapest, this can certainly play a role into your final decision if it acts as a tiebreaker.
These are just a few of the considerations you will want to keep in mind as you prepare to hire a carpet cleaning company in South Amboy, NJ. For more information about our services, contact us today at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center.
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