All carpets, no matter how resistant to dirt and stains, will eventually build up a layer of oily, sticky soil that is not removed by vacuuming. If this soil is allowed to remain, it will bond to the carpet fiber, causing matting and unsightly traffic lanes.
Periodic deep cleaning delays replacement and extends the life of the carpet. There are several methods, each with advantages and disadvantages and include: dry foam, dry extraction, hot water and extraction.
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Dry foam is an effective interim maintenance method. Some of the brands known are "Von Schrader," Chemdry or the dry extraction method such as Host® or Capture®. They are all quick drying and leave a minimum detergent residue.
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Some areas may require the deeper cleaning method of hot water extraction. Hot water extraction improves the appearance and usable life of the carpet in two ways. First, it drives hot water and detergent down into the pile under pressure, flushing out heavy soil and micro-organisms. The results are comparable to in-plant cleaning. Second, some carpet manufacturers require hot water extraction annually to maintain the carpet warranty.
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Carpet that has been neglected through infrequent and / or inadequate vacuuming and cleaning may not respond satisfactorily to the relatively gentle forms of cleaning such as hot water extraction. In such cases it may be necessary to use harsher methods such as a rotary bonnet in order to achieve reasonable cleaning. If this is the case, the facility manager should be prepared to expect some permanent appearance change in the carpet (e.g., possible fuzzing and twist bloom).
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