Servpro of Ahwatukee & South Tempe in Arizona, a branch of Servpro, the national fire and water cleanup and restoration company, has a lot of experience restoring different types of materials. That’s why James Cummings, general manager, says they can also help you choose the strongest, most durable options for carpets and home furnishings. Here is their guide to do-it-yourself carpet cleaning.
We recommend professional cleaning for any carpet, especially stain-resistant carpet. But if you decide to do it yourself, carefully follow the carpet manufacturer’s instructions and use the correct products for the job.
First of all, make sure you prepare your carpet for cleaning by vacuuming it. To do so correctly, remove all furniture from the carpet before you start vacuuming. After you are done with that, you are ready to move on to the next step: renting a carpet cleaner machine.
Renting a carpet cleaner machine is far more affordable than hiring a professional carpet-cleaning service. At the most you will spend about $50 to rent this machine, plus the necessary cleaning products. Many carpet-cleaning machine and cleaning product options are available, so it is up to you to do thorough research and find the one that best suits your needs.
Now you are ready to get to work. It’s highly advisable that you use a warm-water solution to clean your carpets, because warm water helps eliminate oils and grime faster. The next step is to apply a commercial cleaning solution to your carpet. It’s important that at this point you make sure you are not over-shampooing or over-wetting the carpet. Just bear in mind that with a little bottle of shampoo or commercial carpet cleaner you should be able to clean all the carpets in your house (unless you happen to live in the Playboy Mansion or Dracula’s castle).
Stain-resistant carpets are different from regular ones, so you will need to clean them with special stain-resistant products that you can easily find at any retail store. Otherwise, you may ruin the stain-resistance quality of the carpet, and void its warranty.
Use the carpet cleaner machine you have rented, and make sure that your carpet is appropriately rinsed. Afterward, allow your carpet to dry completely — and make sure it happens quickly. It’s a good idea to use fans to speed up the process. Remember that your carpet should be completely dry in 24 hours tops to avoid permanent damage.
The last step: Get ready to enjoy your clean carpets! Just by following these easy steps, you will be able to save a lot of money and still get the best results. So gather the necessary products and get to work. You will surely find carpet-cleaning a rewarding job.
