Should You Steam-Clean Your Carpets?

Should You Steam-Clean Your Carpets?

Posted by Ben on Feb 06, 2022

No matter what type of industry you work in, your commercial or residential property needs clean carpets. A popular and effective way to clean your carpets is using a steam cleaner.

Below, we’ll tell you about the steam cleaning process, along with its pros and cons. At the end of this blog, you should be able to make an informed decision about whether or not steam cleaning is right for you.

Steam Cleaning

Because of the name, you might assume that steam cleaning uses steam to clean your carpets-it’s only logical. Actually, steam cleaning combines cleaning chemicals with water to remove dirt and grime from your carpets.

First, a steam cleaner, more accurately called a carpet extractor, sprays carpet-cleaning detergent mixed with hot (though not steamy) water, and then uses a wet vac to extract the now dirty water from the carpet..


Pros of Steam Cleaning

Using carpet extraction is probably the best deep-cleaning method you can use on your carpets. Because it combines hot water with chemicals, it cleans much more than just the surface of your carpet-it can remove dirt and debris that have sunk deep into your carpet. The spray from the water also helps jostle difficult-to-remove particles loose.

If you use a steam cleaner on your carpets, you can expect nearly pristine results. The process should deal effectively with most stains, dirt, and debris and can remove allergens and pests.

Cons of Steam Cleaning

Some business owners worry that the chemicals used in steam cleaning can damage carpet or harm employees. However, Ben’s Cleaner Sales carries many chemicals including Green Seal Certified chemicals that are environmentally responsible, and are critical to not leaving any residue.

Others worry that because steam cleaning uses water, it could cause mold and mildew to grow in the carpet.

In general, if you let the water sit on the carpet for too long, use too much water, or don’t properly vacuum the carpet with a wet-vac, the water could seep deeper into your carpet and cause mold. However, if you make sure to vacuum properly and not let the water completely soak your carpets, you should dodge this problem.

This is why you use a carpet extractor such as the commercial ones Ben’s Cleaner Sales rents and sells which have high CFM and water lift for pulling all dirt and moisture out of the carpet unlike the grocery store or box type that don’t have the power.

Because of the low moisture content left behind by a Ben’s extractor, any residual can be wicked out of the carpet by running a fan across the carpet overnight.

What Else Should You Know About Carpet Cleaning?

Every business needs effective, regular carpet cleaning. This regular maintenance will extend the life of your carpet by removing the deep dirt and grime that grinds at the carpet fibers. However, you can take steps to protect your carpet and ensure that you don’t need to clean your carpets more often than necessary:

  • Vacuum your carpets at least every week, though preferably you should vacuum twice a week. Vacuum high traffic areas even more frequently.
  • Use mats near doorways to keep muddy boots and abrasive snow-melting salts off of your carpets, often called walk-off mats.
  • Clean up stains immediately-don’t let them sink into your carpet.

If you need to rent or purchase carpet cleaning equipment and chemicals, including steam cleaners, get in touch with our company. We’re happy to talk to you about the right cleaning options for your company.

Rest assured that no matter which method you choose, we can provide you with high-quality equipment that helps you get the job done.