After you get out your carpet cleaner, fill the clean tank to the line with hot (not boiling) tap water. Hot water does a better job cleaning than cold but, if you boil it, you run the risk of melting parts of your carpet cleaner.
With cold water, the cleaning chemicals stay where they belong — in the carpet — which is better for users' lungs, as well as for cleaning. Worker productivity may also improve with the use of cold-water equipment.
The ideal temperature range for carpet cleaning is between 100°F to 150°F. At this temperature, there would be enough heat to accelerate the chemical reaction during cleaning, but it will not be hot enough to create problems with the carpet or the carpet cleaner.
Steam cleaning, which uses boiling water steam, damages the inner fibers of carpets, reducing its lifespan. It can also lead to water stains and mold growth because of the longer drying time, post-treatment.
Hot water extraction is the better choice for cleaning, and this is the method used by most professional carpet cleaners, even those that refer to their cleaning as “steam cleaning.” As steam cleaning doesn't rinse the fibers, it's important to ask the cleaners to explain their cleaning method in detail.
Simultaneously, the water is vacuumed up, along with any dislodged and dissolved dirt. Many carpet manufacturers recommend professional hot water extraction as the most effective carpet cleaning method.”
In a bowl or small bucket, mix one part white vinegar with three parts water. Dip the bristles of the scrub brush into the solution and rub them into the carpet. Massage them into the fibers well (without fully saturating the carpet) and follow up with a cloth to help blot excess moisture.
Fluff it up
Matted carpet can easily be brought back to life. Spritz a little warm water onto the matted area then gently blow-dry with a hairdryer as you fluff the carpet fibres back into place with your fingers, the edge of a spoon or a hairpin. Allow the carpet to dry completely before walking on it.
When choosing between steam cleaning and shampooing your carpet, you really can't go wrong with both, but steam cleaning would be the better option. It removes more unseen pests and dirt, and can handle heavy-duty cleaning without making you wait long for drying.
Faster Drying Time
Despite the heat of the warmer months, your carpet will actually dry faster in the colder temperatures. When the air is cold and dry outside, the warmed air inside your home will absorb moisture at a faster rate.
When dealing with stains, cold water is more effective in removing them while hot water pushes them deeper into the fabric. Delicate clothing items and coloured fabrics that bleed require to be washed in cold water that is 80°F or below.
Vinegar removes odors and loosens many food stains from carpet fibers. For cleaning and deodorizing, mix equal parts vinegar and water, then spray the solution onto the stain.
Of all the options, white vinegar is the best alternative for cleaning tough stains because of its main ingredient, diluted acetic acid. This makes it an excellent absorbent for most stubborn carpet stains.
Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup borax, and 1/4 cup vinegar, then apply this paste to deep stains or heavily soiled sections of carpet. Allow the paste to sit on the carpet for several hours until it dries completely, then vacuum it away.
As you know, when you clean carpets or clean your rugs, wet or damp carpets and rugs can lead to mold or mildew, so it's important to let them dry thoroughly before using the area again.
Baking soda is an excellent choice for cleaning heavily soiled carpet, as it absorbs mud, grease, and other unsightly residues. To use baking soda over your entire carpet, sprinkle it heavily along the surface and then grind or push it into the fibers using a fresh, dry sponge mop.
Mix a 1/4 teaspoon of white vinegar with 32 ounces of water in a spray bottle. Spray it on simple spills and then blot the area to remove all the residue.
Hot Water Extraction Breaks Down Even Build up Dirt
After the solution reaches this temperature the technician sprays it deep into the carpet fibres under high pressure. The combination of quality detergents, high temperature, and pressure helps break down the bonds between the textile fibres and the dirt.
Hot water cannot bond with any insoluble dirt, making it a better medium to clean than cold water. Therefore, hot water is more effective for cleaning purposes than cold water as it has higher kinetic energy, extra space between its molecules, and is more compatible with detergents.
Fact: Hot Water is an Effective Solvent
This makes it the first choice for cleaning any kind of syrup, sugar, or salt crust. Additionally, hot water transfers heat to whatever it touches. Hot water mixed with soap gives you hot soap, which is more effective at lifting dirt.
Fill up with warm water.
That's why we recommend filling up your carpet cleaner's tank with warm water. Some BISSELL Carpet Cleaners also use HeatWave technology to keep the water hot throughout the cleaning process.