Carpet steam cleaning vs dry cleaning: what’s the difference?

27 Nov 22

Unlike other service providers, when you book a carpet cleaning service with us, your expert technician will tailor the right technique for your home and carpets: steam cleaning or dry cleaning. But what’s the difference – and which approach is best for your home? Here’s everything you need to know.
 

What is carpet steam cleaning?

Also known as hot water extraction, carpet steam cleaning uses hot water to clean your carpets. Typically, your technician will use a pre-spray product and equipment to agitate the carpet fibres first. They then use a commercial hot water extraction machine which injects hot water into the carpet, before extracting it back up along with all the ingrained dirt. For this reason, carpet steam cleaning is often the top choice for heavily stained and soiled carpets.

Bear in mind your carpets will be damp for a while after cleaning, and you may need to leave them to dry for around two to four hours.

Why choose steam cleaning?

Here are some of the reasons why we might suggest hot water extraction for your carpets:

• Combats heavy soiling: If your carpets have a lot of stains that just won’t budge, steam cleaning is usually recommended.
   
• Deep cleaning: Carpet steam cleaning does an excellent job at removing a high volume of dirt and grease that’s embedded deep into the fibres.
   
• Removes nasties: It’s great at getting rid of germs, dust mites, allergens and other unwanted visitors.
   

What is carpet dry cleaning?

As the name suggests, carpet dry cleaning (also known as bonnet cleaning) involves a neutral cleaning product sprayed onto the carpets. First, your technician will do a pre-vacuum with commercial equipment to remove any dry dirt and soil. They’ll then treat the carpet with the neutral cleaning product, which works to break down oils that make dirt stick to the fibres. Finally, they’ll use a grooming technique to reset the carpet.

V.I.P. Carpet Cleaning technicians will also provide a HEPA pre-clean vacuum, to guarantee the best possible results. HEPA, which stands for High Efficiency Particulate Absorption, traps around 99.97% of tiny dust particles into an internal air filter – rather than sending them back into the air like conventional vacuums. That’s how we can guarantee a healthier and more hygienic home!
 

Why choose dry cleaning?

Here are some reasons why your carpet cleaning technician might recommend dry cleaning:

• Quick dry: It’s recommended for quick drying and light to medium soiled carpets. carpet. Usually, you can walk on the carpets immediately after they’re cleaned.
   
• Easy: Carpet dry cleaning is a simple, gentle and effective way to maintain your carpets in between deeper cleans. Carpet dry cleaning can be used with steam and hot water extraction, this is known as a dual cleaning process to remove more stains. This process is very effective with heavily soiled and contaminated carpets.
   

The verdict

As you can see, both carpet steam cleaning and dry cleaning have their benefits. For heavy stains and soiling, it’s usually best to go with steam cleaning. For lighter to medium soiling and fewer stains, your technician will recommend dry cleaning.

Just be sure to choose a professional, trained and accredited technician like V.I.P. Carpet Cleaning. With the right advice at a great price, we have the expert knowledge, skills and equipment to get your carpets looking near-new once again – backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Disclaimer: The content in this article is intended to be informational only and does not constitute cleaning advice.