Dry Foam Cleaning of Carpets and Upholstery
Dry foam cleaning is a method used on carpets and upholstery. It isn’t
actually totally dry, but moisture is so low -- 90% of the foam is air, and 10%
liquid -- the name for the procedure is no misnomer at all. The procedure works
exceptionally well on old carpets.
Foam is made by pouring a mix of water and shampoo into a machine equipped with
a pressure tank. Once the solution is converted into foam with the help of a
compressor, it is ready for dispensing through a revolving cylindrical brush.
The brush will act as a comb through which the individual strands of the carpet,
also known as piles, will pass for cleaning.
The bubbles created must be of uniform size to ensure success. After the foam
has been applied and drying is completed, the carpet is thoroughly vacuumed to
extricate whatever dirt crystals may have remained lodged amongst the fibers.
The carpet cleaning procedure is outlined as follows:
1. Do some preparatory cleaning of the carpet by vacuuming out as much dirt as
you can.
2. Mix the solution to create dry foam, as instructed by the chemical
manufacturer.
3. Shampoo the carpet with the foam, and once dried, vacuum once more.
4. Groom the carpet with the cylindrical brush by passing it over the piles to
hasten drying.
5. Finally, clean spots that need extra attention with the aid of a block of
wood or furniture leg pad placed underneath.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Dry foam cleaning has its own set of pros and cons. Advantages include greater
cleaning area coverage in a shorter span of time, and the very minimal risk of
over-saturation or excessive wetting. Drawbacks include dirt removing capacity
that is limited to average levels of soiling, and residue buildup if the
extraction capability of the machine used is inadequate.
You may rent the foam-making machine with dispenser from stores that sell
carpets if you think use will not be frequent enough to warrant the expense of
buying one. Renting is also a good idea if your intention is to give the
procedure a try and see what happens. The fees charged are reasonable.
Dry foam carpet cleaning isn’t difficult at all to perform. Even those without
experience with the mixing and extracting machine can easily do it. You
shouldn’t have much trouble as long as you follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for blending the foam solution and using the information furnished
in this article. Try cleaning your carpet or upholstery with dry foam and see if
you don’t love the outcome. |
