One of the largest misconceptions in the general public about the cleanliness of their home is that a floor, of any type but carpet in particular, is clean if it looks like it’s clean. Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case. Any professional cleaner can tell you or, better yet, show you that your carpet is not clean just because it doesn’t look like it has anything on it. That has implications not only for the overall cleanliness of your environment, but also for your health and the air filtration capabilities of your carpet. It can also lead to excess wear, requiring a replacement sooner rather than later.

Here are 5 important differences in carpet that looks clean vs. carpet that actually is clean.

1. Clean carpet won’t have anything lurking under the surface – Carpet that looks like it is clean is typically only truly clean on the very surface where the carpet fibers are visible. Generally, the tops of the carpet fibers get the most wear and they will display signs of being dirty the fastest. However, anyone who has come home from the beach covered in sand knows what can be invisible underneath. Dust, skin cells, residue from food or drinks, or small particulates filter down to the bottom of the carpet, invisible to the naked eye.
2. Air filtration is maximized with clean carpet – Carpet that isn’t actually clean will have an impaired ability to filter the air. Like it or not, your carpet is the largest air filter in your house, as evidenced by the dark filter lines under many doors. A truly clean carpet will maximize clean air throughout the house and improve indoor air quality significantly.
3. Bacteria are not removed with vacuuming alone – Bacteria can only be removed through chemical extraction, heat, and pressure. They aren’t coming out with a vacuum, and you can’t see them. Children, pets, and even adults use the carpet on a day to day basis without thinking of what may be in there.
4. Odors can only be eliminated or removed by professional cleaning – You can’t see smells, obviously. Over the counter products mask smells, but they do not remove them. Even if they were to remove the smells, you would be left with the broken down enzymes and the cleaning solution still in your carpet. A clean carpet has no residues, has no broken down enzymes or bacteria,
5. Home cleaning products, including steam machines, simply don’t remove enough – Perhaps the biggest crime against clean carpets is the sale of over the counter cleaning products. Consumers are fooled into believing that home steamers are strong enough to do the job. They aren’t. Not only that, but they don’t pull out enough water and can lead to mold and mildew. Home spot cleaners cover up problems and leave residues in the carpet, they don’t actually remove Home cleaning solutions make your carpet look clean without actually cleaning it.

Keep these things in mind when determining a cleaning schedule for your home. A professional cleaning is usually recommended every 6 months to 1 year, depending on use. For stains and high traffic areas, it may need to be done on a more frequent basis. If you are considering a rental steam unit, get a professional cleaner to come out and take a look first. The units will often cause more trouble than they can solve and, as always, you get what you pay for.

For cleaning in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, consider Bon-Care Custom Cleaning. Give Alex a call at 757-715-0503 for a free estimate!