Difference of Dry Carpet Cleaning vs Steam Carpet Cleaning

Dry carpet cleaning and steam carpet cleaning are the 2 most popular professional carpet cleaning solutions in Singapore.

Carpet cleaning service is a good way to increase the lifespan of the carpet and also maintain a healthy indoor environment. Carpets trap a lot of dirt and allergens which build up over time. 

Professional carpet cleaning should be considered every once a year as they are able to help you remove embedded packed in dirt, debris, and allergens. They are also able to at the same time take care of hard-to-remove stains using professional stain-removal products.

So, let’s take a look at how dry carpet cleaning and steam cleaning clean carpets, and compare their disadvantages and advantages.

Steam Carpet Cleaning

Steam carpet cleaning is done with machines that clean surfaces by heating water and producing hot steam. The high-pressure hot steam vapors are then forced out of the steam cleaners through a brush or nozzle attachment. The high-temperature vapor is then able to loosen surface dirt and kill microorganisms such as dust mites, mold, and bacteria.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Steam Carpet Cleaning

As with any other cleaning solution for carpets, there are advantages and disadvantages to using this method you should know about.

Advantages

1. Effective and Cheap – Steam cleaning is one of the cheapest ways to clean carpets and it is able to eliminate microorganisms effectively.
2. Chemical Safe – No harsh chemicals are needed for steam cleaning
3. Neutralize Carpet Odor – Steam cleaning neutralises odors in carpet fibers as the hot steam eliminates odor-producing bacteria and enzymes

Disadvantages

1. Longer drying time – This process can leave your carpet very wet and it can take up to 24 hours for the carpet to be completely dry.
2. May cause permanent damage – High-pressure steam may cause permanent damage to the carpets. Insufficient drying may lead to moisture trapped in them. The high heat moisture can also cause discoloration to certain carpet materials.
3. Risk of mold and mildew – Carpets not properly dried after steam cleaning encourages mold and mildew to grow. Though does not impact the integrity of the carpet – is a health risk to us.
   
4. Does not remove stains effectively – Steam cleaning is not ideal for carpets that are dirty and soiled. Steam cleaning is unable to remove deep-set contaminants or greasy spots which can only be treated through a deep carpet cleaning process involving stain treatment.

Dry Carpet Cleaning

Dry carpet cleaning, also known as low moisture cleaning, is a highly efficient cleaning process that deep cleans carpets efficiently using 90% less water than conventional wet carpet cleaning methods.

There are 2 types of dry carpet cleaning:

Encapsulation

This type of cleaning uses a special solution that essentially encapsulates the dirt and grime into fine powders, which can then be vacuumed easily.

Compound Cleaning

This method is not only highly effective but also the lowest moisture option available in removing dirt, dust, and other debris from the carpet fibers. This method cleans the carpet by spreading moistured sponge-like biodegradable cleaning compounds on the carpet. The compound will be brushed into the carpet using a counter-rotating brushing machine which will then be removed by vacuuming.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dry Carpet Cleaning

As with any other cleaning solution for carpets, there are advantages and disadvantages to using this method you should know about.

Advantages

1. Reduced risk of carpet damage – This method uses less water which reduces the risk of it being damaged due to extended exposure to water. Water can cause discoloration to the carpet and also cause carpet shrinkage.
2. Eco-friendly – This method generally uses 90% less water than conventional wet carpet cleaning methods.
3. Negligible drying time – Encapsulation and compound carpet cleaning require negligible drying minutes compared to steam cleaning which may take minimally 6 hours. This saves a lot of time and increases productivity.
4. Safe from chemicals – The compound or encapsulation method uses minimal cleaning chemicals as it depends on carpet brushing to loosen dirt particles instead of relying on chemicals.

Disadvantages

1. Longer manhours – The cleaning process brushes in cleaning products meticulously into the carpet to loosen the dirt and absorb stains within the carpet. Thus, the cleaning process takes longer time to complete. 
2. Remaining compound trapped within carpet – Fine cleaning compounds could be trapped in the carpet after cleaning. The compounds are biodegradable and safe. Vacuum the carpet thoroughly to remove fine compounds trapped in the carpet. 

Why We Recommend Dry Carpet Cleaning

We recommend dry carpet cleaning for the reasons above. Dry carpet cleaning ensures there is minimal downtime. In almost every situation, carpets dry in under 30 minutes so you can almost immediately use them after cleaning.

Low moisture carpet cleaning also keeps carpets looking cleaner for a longer time. It extends the life of the commercial carpet, resulting in long-term savings for business owners.

Using less water also makes this method of cleaning eco-friendly.

How Often Should I Clean My Carpets?

As a general rule of thumb, you should always vacuum any type of surface at least once a week. You’ll need to however vacuum on a more regular basis if you have a lot of foot traffic on your carpet.

• Daily – Areas with high traffic and pets
• Twice a week – Medium traffic areas 
• Weekly – Low-traffic areas

Deep cleaning on the other hand is recommended minimally once every year and this is also very much dependent on the traffic your carpet is on. 

Besides vacuuming, engage professional carpet cleaners for deep carpet cleaning. Professional carpet cleaners have the required cleaning products and tools to ensure thorough cleaning of dirt, stains, and removal of micoorganisms.

De Hygienique offers dry carpet cleaning and here is why you should hire us

Eco Friendly

We use eco-friendly carpet cleaning products which produce less harmful waste to the environment than conventional carpet cleaning methods. Our eco-friendly cleaning products produce excellent carpet cleaning results and have been certified safe for users and the environment.

Professionally Trained

Our carpet cleaning specialists are technically trained, skilled, and highly experienced to clean different types of carpets and rugs.

Clients’ Satisfaction

Having close to 20 years of carpet cleaning experience, we have accrued knowledge and cleaning experience to ensure our carpet cleaning services are effective and safe, most importantly meet our customers’ satisfaction.

To schedule a no-obligation onsite assessment and quotation, call +65 6749 1950 or contact us online to learn more about what we have to offer.