Do it yourself Deep Soil Cleaning

Cleaning carpets was, for most of us – who would rather not be bothered with any kind of chore, an all too familiar but yet friendly evil. So it was a little frightening to be told at some point, that the normal routine of cleaning – which was to simply take it outside and beat it, was not an altogether efficient method. But the advent of vacuuming and the vacuum cleaner exceeded expectations, providing a less labor intensive method of cleaning without the risk of doing oneself any serious damage.

Regardless of all of this however, advancements in technology have proven once again that even regular vacuuming falls short, leaving you with hygienically unsafe carpet since dirt can still remain deep within the pile of a carpet.

Deep soil cleaning of carpets simply addresses the shortcomings of vacuuming by using various methods to extract soil residue embedded within the carpet fibers. It eliminates problems associated with both dirt and detergent residue, which can be detrimental to the life span of the carpet.

So what do you do if you want this quality of cleaning without parting with a small sum and hiring a professional?

Nothing. You can’t get clean professionally if you aren’t a professional carpet technician and have the necessary equipment. However, there are a few things you could do that would give closely related results, so don't give up just yet.

Here are – steps to carrying out a standard DIY Deep Soil Cleaning, but first –

What Are the Methods of Deep Carpet Dirt Extraction?
There are primarily three methods of deep soil cleaning, alternatively known as soil extraction

Dry Extraction:
This process uses an absorbent substance containing detergents and solvents which is brushed into the carpet fibers. The compound then attaches to the soil particles, and both the soil and compound are then removed by vacuuming.

Dry Foam Extraction:
In this method, a detergent is selected and made to foam, and then worked into the carpet and rinsed off following wet vacuuming.

Hot Water Extraction:
This is also called steam cleaning. The process involves a cleaning solution being introduced into the carpet fibers under such pressure that the soil is removed. When steam cleaning, areas of heavy use are preconditioned to pull out the soil and then a pressurized cleaning solution is injected into the pile. Subsequently, the soil and the solution are immediately extracted.

What Kind of Carpet Extraction Equipment Do You Need?
There are many factors to take into account when purchasing a carpet extraction equipment. The type of extractor would be determined by the dimensions of the place you would be cleaning, the construction of the carpet and fiber type, and also how frequently it would need deep soil cleaning.

Ultimately, be sure that you purchase the best machine available to you. Cheap doesn’t always translate to ‘good deal’.

How to Carry Out a Do-it-Yourself Deep Soil Cleaning

• Remove all furniture from the carpeted area (if possible). If the furniture cannot be moved, tilt it and place a plastic film beneath its legs or stand.
• Pre-vacuum. This would get rid of loose dirt and lower the soil concentration.
• Follow the instructions on your machine thoroughly, with the cleaner filled in begin at the farthest point from the doorway and work back toward it so that you can step out when you are done.
• Extract as much of the water and soil as possible and wait until the carpet dries before replacing the furniture or walking on the carpet. This may take 6 or more hours.
• Ventilate the room. Open the windows or turn on the air conditioning, but never close the room with a wet carpet, this could encourage the growth of mildew.

While this process might be effective at cleaning spots and spills and provide excellent interim cleaning, they cannot take the place of periodic deep cleaning by a carpet cleaning professional.

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