A technology that was developed for use in outer space may now help zap dirt and allergens in your home. You may throw all your house painting work to the house painter, lanscaping to the landscape designer,but you have to be careful about your carpet clean affairs.

It’s yet another case where “rocket science” has come home to improve life on earth. The technology, an X-ray analyzer “gun” used on Space Shuttle Discovery, has been adapted to measure exactly how much soil cleaning products remove from carpet.

That's good news for homeowners because this technology is being used to keep today's durable stain-resistant rugs cleaner and help them last even longer.

Periodic Deep Cleaning

Vacuums and wet-cleaning equipment that you buy or rent can remove loose soil, spots and spills. But even with this type of regular cleaning, soil builds up.

Proper carpet clean requires periodic deep cleaning, preferably every 12 to 18 months, to remove trapped soil and residues, say experts. Professionals using portable extractors and equipment mounted in service vans do this type of cleaning. Your carpet warranty may require such periodic cleaning.

Not all cleaning equipment and solutions clean equally well. Independent testing shows that various cleaning detergents and spot removers clean no better than water.

These cleaning products can leave a sticky residue that attracts soil back to the carpet, degrading carpet appearance. There are also great differences in the soil removal capability of carpet cleaning equipment, especially extractors.

Seal of Approval

Fortunately, the X-ray fluorescence technology enhanced by NASA has allowed the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) to develop a new Seal of Approval testing and certification program for carpet cleaning products.

Only those products meeting high performance standards receive the bronze-, silver- or gold-level Seal of Approval. This not only helps customers recognize quality products, but it also highlights the best methods for preserving the life and beauty of carpet.

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The process of steam cleaning your carpet involves hot water being fed to a spray extraction tool or wand, coupled to a pump vacuum power unit.  The cleaning solution is injected under pressure deep into the carpet through water jet nozzles. 

The water will then penetrate the fiber all the way down to the backing.  This action will loosen any embedded soil, remove oil and grease deposits, and get your carpet cleaner than it has ever been.

There are many types and makes of steam carpet cleaners available on the market, ranging from small portables to the large and very powerful truck mounted units.  The principle is the same no matter what model you pick.

The models that are truck mounted are designed so that only the hose and the wand are taken into the area being cleaned.  These units are very powerful, delivering hot water and generating a high vacuum recovery that can be powered by diesel fuel, gas, propane, or even by the motor of the truck.

Most carpet manufacturers, fiber producers, and professional cleaners endorse this process for  achieving soil removal efficiency.  With the present state of art equipment and technology, we are more than capable of high production and cleaning of  carpet.

The real disadvantage to steam carpet cleaning are the problems that are associated with over wetting and longer drying times.These can be eliminated however, by a skilled operator who uses equipment that is well maintained and in good overall operating condition.

Currently, there are two methods being used with steam carpet cleaning.
1.  This method involves a traffic lane cleaner being sprayed onto the traffic lanes and then agitated into the fibers.  The entire area is then cleaned by using a hot water extractor that has a cleaning solution being injected into the fibers through the wand.
2.  The second method involves a free rinse emulsifying pre-spray being sprayed onto the entire carpet, then agitated into the fibers. 

Steam cleaning procedures
1.  Prepare the equipment and supplies.  In a pump or power sprayer you should mix the free rinsing pre-spray.  In the solution tank of the extractor, mix the rinsing agent.
2.  If you have a lot of furniture to move, make yourself a floor plan.
3.  If the area being cleaned has furniture, you should remove as much as possible.
4.  Thoroughly vacuum the carpet.If the pile is crushed or matted, use a pile brush to loosen the soils which will make vacuuming more effective.
5.Pre-spray a good amount of the pre-spray.
6.  Using a grooming tool, agitate the pre spray deep into the fibers then let it sit for 10-15 minutes, making sure that it doesn’t dry out.
7.  Extract the area using a portable, truck mounted, or automatic carpet cleaner.
8.Repeat steps 5 through 7 until the entire area has been cleaned.
9.  Groom the cleaned area, replace all
furniture that was removed, then clean all equipment that you used.

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