Carpet Cleaning Help Using Dry Foam Shampoo With Encapsulation Technology

Most people think of steam cleaning when it's time for carpet cleaning, but many people aren't aware that there's a much healthier way for cleaning carpets and it's just as effective as steam cleaning. The carpet cleaning method I'm referring to is a method called dry foam. This carpet cleaning technique is not actually dry as the name implies, but professionals refer to it as dry because the moisture content is so low.

How it Works

The power of dry foam carpet cleaning is in the specialized shampoo. A chemical process called encapsulation. Encapsulation technology is a carpet cleaning process that actually traps dirt and residue into a suspension, once trapped these particles crystallize so that the carpet cleaner can remove them. This approach for carpet cleaning is just as effective to remove dirt and stains as steam cleaning. It's important however, to use a professional who has experience with this method of carpet cleaning. Steam machines are very straightforward to use, but dry foam carpet cleaning relies more on the skill of the technician than the machine.

Dry foam carpet cleaning is an especially superior method of maintenance for Berber carpets. Berber carpets are a looped pile and because of that, dirt is trapped easily at the base. With steam cleaning, water is flushed into the carpet and then extracted with a high-pressure vacuum. The improved carpet cleaning in dry foam comes from the encapsulation formula, combined with a brush that works the shampoo into the carpet. The brush spins so quickly it vibrates the particles at the base of the carpet and loosens the soil that is trapped.

Why it's Healthier

The problem with steam cleaning your carpets is that it often over wets the carpet and can result in damage to many different carpet fibres, including shrinkage, color bleeding and discoloration. However, the worst problems that have been reported from steam cleaning your carpets are the health issues caused from mould and mildew. When you inject so much water into your carpets the under pad gets soaked underneath, without any air circulation it is a prime environment for the formation of mould and mildew.

Mould is a type fungus that grows in a moist environment, and its spores contain allergens and irritants. Health Canada warns people that mould growth in residential buildings is a potential health hazard. If you live in an area that has mould or mildew growing, you are more apt to suffer from health problems that include symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and headaches. Asthmatics are particularly at risk as mould may prompt asthma attacks.

But Are the Results Really the Same?

The results of dry foam cleaning are not only just as good as steam cleaning, but often better. Two common phenomenons that occur from steam cleaning that don't happen after dry foam cleaning are wicking, and re-soiling.

Wicking takes place when excess water is applied to carpet. When the carpet dries the water rises up from below the carpet's surface, this process is called wicking. If there is dirt or soiling that hasn't been fully removed that will also "wick" up to the surface. This is the why people who've had steam cleaning done often criticize that their carpets look dirty again once the carpet has fully dried.

Another reason people complain about re-soiling after steam cleaning is the result of a residue that remains in the carpet from the shampoo used in the steam machines. One of the greatest advantages of dry foam carpet cleaning is the encapsulation technology in the shampoo. Because dry foam shampoo crystallizes, it doesn't leave any residue on the carpets. If there is a residue left on the carpet, dirt and grime stick easily to that residue and actually cause the carpet to appear dirty much faster. It's no wonder that dry foam carpet cleaning is quickly becoming the more preferred method of carpet cleaning.