DIY Carpet Cleaning Foams and What You Should Know
When it comes to keeping your carpets clean and odour-free, there are plenty of things you can do, and many of them are inexpensive. One of the first things many people reach for is a can of carpet cleaning foam. It smells nice and freshens the carpet for a while, but there are a few other things to consider.
So do carpet cleaning foams actually work? Carpet foam isn’t a deep clean. At best it freshens up a small mark for a while, and used often or heavily it can leave carpets looking dirtier, faster. Here’s what you should know before you reach for the can.
How Carpet Cleaning Foam Works
Most carpet foams contain detergents that loosen dirt in the top of the carpet fibres. As the foam dries, it holds onto the loosened dirt, and the idea is that you vacuum both away together.
What to Watch Out for with Carpet Cleaning Foams
It pays to look past the nice smell. Many carpet cleaning foams soak deeper into the carpet than you’d expect, so even when the surface feels dry, the carpet underneath can still be damp. When someone walks over that damp patch, dirt sticks to it and gets carried around the house, and new stains start to form.
Once the foam finally dries, it often leaves a powder behind. You can vacuum most of it up, but it’s hard to get all of it. Dirt sticks to whatever’s left in the carpet, and as it spreads through the house, more stains start to form, often with a bad odour as well.
Why We Recommend Against Carpet Foams
We recommend steering clear of carpet foams altogether. Many of our customers have damaged their carpets using off-the-shelf foams marketed for carpet cleaning. That’s why our team only uses industry-approved cleaning solutions, which are also eco-friendly and safe for children and pets.
Carpet Foam vs Professional Steam Cleaning
The better option is a professional carpet steam clean. Steam cleaning, also called hot water extraction, sends hot water and cleaning solution through the carpet, then powerful suction pulls it straight back out along with the dirt and residue. That leaves far less behind to attract new dirt. For a closer look at the methods, see our post on steam cleaning vs dry cleaning carpets.
Calling in the professionals could also save you money and time in the long run. Carpet cleaning foams can be quite pricey, and once you factor in the time it takes to use them (sometimes without getting the result you wanted), there’s often not much difference in cost.
At Wizard Cleaning®, we specialise in carpet steam cleaning. Most of our carpet jobs use a truck-mounted hot water extraction system, with portable machines for apartments and places our van can’t reach. Our prices are competitive, and we can even offer same-day service, subject to availability. When we steam clean your carpets, we work to lift stains and bad odours, although some stains may be permanent.
Ready for a deeper clean than foam can give? Call us on 0400 634 609 to book, or send us an enquiry for a free, no-obligation quote.