Have you ever wondered if the carpet cleaner detergent you are using is safe for your family or the carpet itself?
Many ingredients found in most cleaners and detergents can negatively affect your carpet or upholstery. Knowing the science behind these chemicals is the first step toward cleaning your carpets with the least harm.
Detergents and their types
The detergent types commonly used in carpet cleaners are ammonia, phosphates, citric acid, enzymes, oxygen bleach, and other chemicals. Detergents are classified into four different categories:
Foaming
Alkaline
Acidic
Non-ionic or anionic
The detergent used in carpet cleaner is based on the type of carpet being cleaned. For example, if the carpet is stained with oil or grease, the detergent should be made up of an alkaline. On the other side, if the fiber is white, the detergent will be made up of foam. If the rug has a wool backing, the detergent will be made up of an enzyme.
There are several kinds of chemicals used in carpet cleaning systems. They can be divided into two groups:
Non-volatile chemicals
Volatile chemicals
Non-volatile chemicals are the most commonly used. These are usually composed of detergents, solvents, and surfactants. They are typically sprayed on the carpet or upholstery to remove stains or dirt. The most common is the enzyme-based system. The enzyme is a protein that is naturally produced by bacteria. When sprayed, the enzyme reacts with the stain, leaving no residue. The next group is inorganic chemistry. Inorganic chemistry solutions are also used for carpet cleaning. These are alkaline agents (sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate) and other inorganic chemicals. The main advantage of inorganic chemistry is its ability to remove all types of stains. The third group of chemicals is the non-biological compounds, which are not produced by natural processes and are therefore not part of the biological system. They include acids and solvents.
Stain removers
The most popular cleaning products for carpets are spot or stain removers and carpet shampoo-ers.
There are two types of stain removers, chemical stain removers, and enzymatic stain removers.
Chemical stain removers usually contain ammonia, alcohol, and detergents.
Enzymatic stain removers typically contain enzymes that break down stains and dirt into smaller pieces that can be easier to remove from the fibers. Carpet shampooers usually use water and detergent to leave your carpet smelling nice!
Hot Water vs Cold Water Carpet Cleaning
The two main types of chemical carpet cleaners widely used today are hot water and cold water. Hot water systems work by heating water to a high temperature to dissolve the dirt and soil from the carpet fibers and then release the heat into the air. Coldwater systems work by soaking the fibers, which is more gentle on the carpet. The cold water system is the most effective but the most inconvenient, as you need to soak the carpet for a long time.
Carpet cleaner machine usage
A carpet cleaning machine uses the following: water, a carpet stain treatment, a powerful suction or vacuum power, a dryer, a heater, and a fan.
Carpet stain treatment can use any of these:
Abrasive detergents: Are abrasive particles used to remove dirt.
Bleaching detergents: These break down and eliminate stains.
Dry enzymes: Are used to loosen dirt that is stuck to the fibres of the carpet, then they break down and dissolve the dirt.
Wet enzymes: They dissolve the dirt directly, without using an abrasive particle.
Sanitizing agents: These disinfect the carpet fibres.
In conclusion, many have been written about carpet cleaning detergents, but some are still stuck in their old methods and products. They don’t understand why we work so well or why our competitors don’t work as well as we do. We wrote a couple of posts on the science behind cleaning before on our blog. Those three posts can explain why using the right ingredients and methods is crucial to successful cleaning process and why most companies use the wrong ones.
We have the answers. Based on the science. We have the products that make our carpet cleaners clean better. Contact us today to find out why we’re the best choice for your carpet cleaning needs. We are also proud of our cleaning mattress service, which is environmentally friendly and safe for kids and pets.
