The heat/steam combination should help lift the fibres to “re-fluff” the carpet.
If you have access to a steam cleaner, it can be an effective way to soften carpet fibers and remove dirt and stains. The steam helps loosen dirt and debris, while the heat helps lift and fluff the fibers.
Professional cleaning can help. By using advanced cleaning technologies, experts can gently lift a carpet's pile again, so that it enjoys a fuller texture and form, just like when you first bought it.
Fluff it up
Matted carpet can easily be brought back to life. Spritz a little warm water onto the matted area then gently blow-dry with a hairdryer as you fluff the carpet fibres back into place with your fingers, the edge of a spoon or a hairpin. Allow the carpet to dry completely before walking on it.
So, where does the dirt go when you steam clean? Actually, it doesn't go anywhere. Instead, the heat and vapour of steam cleaning ensure that all the unwanted substances or stains are fully broken down and easy to get rid of.
Carpets that still look dirty or have stains reappear after cleaning is a result of something called wicking. This is due to over wetting the carpet, the backing, and pad which causes them to return back to the surface once dry.
Although we offer both approaches, in our opinion, steam cleaning tends to be the better option in most situations. Here's why: It can usually remove ingrained dirt more effectively – particularly stubborn stains that have embedded themselves deep into the fibres.
Too Much Moisture
Moisture often causes carpet buckling after cleaning. Wet carpets—from cleaning or spills—allow water to soak into the fibers, making them expand.
You can clean carpet — especially a low-pile carpet — with a stiff-bristled broom and a dustpan. To make an old broom stiff again, wrap a rubber band around the middle of the bristles. You can clean carpet — especially a low-pile carpet — with a stiff-bristled broom and a dustpan.
If you're hiring a professional carpet cleaner near you, it's not necessary or expected to give them a tip. However, if they're prompt, courteous, do a wonderful job, or exceed expectations by doing extra work at no charge, it's a nice gesture to tip them. It's also nice to tip service providers around the holidays.
Dry cleaning (some water is used though less than in steam cleaning), is what the standard refers to as a 'surface cleaning'. It's handy for areas that receive a lot of traffic and need a fast drying time. Dry cleaning can be used as a maintenance clean, but steam cleaning is best as your full clean.
If your carpet is crunchy after getting cleaned, that means that particles of the shampoo, detergent, or chemicals that were used during the cleaning process were left behind in the carpet fibers.
These particles can embed themselves deep within the carpet fibers, making it challenging for steam cleaning equipment to effectively extract them. By pre-vacuuming, you eliminate much of this surface debris, allowing the steam cleaning process to target deeper, more stubborn stains and contaminants.
The main disadvantage of steam cleaning is that carpets must dry out before being walked on. This can take a few hours. If it takes more than 24 hours, too much water has been used during the clean. To speed up the drying process, turn on heaters and open windows and doors to improve airflow.
The carpet padding takes longer to dry after carpet cleaning. Sadly, when the carpet padding takes too long or doesn't dry thoroughly, it creates a conducive environment for mildew and mold growth, and can even cause your carpet to be lumpy or rippling after carpet cleaning. The two fungi result in a musty odor.
It is recommended that you try to stay off the freshly cleaned carpets until they are dry – about 6 hours. If you MUST walk over your damp carpet before it is dry use EXTREME caution. Where you transition from carpet to another hard surface, like tile or hardwood, can be very slippery.
After steam cleaning, the surface can be rubbed dry using a cloth. Note for silicone grouting: apply steam only briefly to avoid damaging the material.
When the carpets are steam cleaned, the dust mites get killed and all the dirt is broken down. This happens due to the heat and the tiny pieces of dirt particles still remain there. To remove the dirt from the carpets after the steam cleaning you have to wipe it out with a broom, cloth or vacuum cleaner.
Steam cleaning is a low-moisture method of cleaning that is 100% chemical-free. You can clean and sanitize virtually any surface in your home, using only tap water.
Apply heat to the surface
The best way to make a carpet fluffy again is to dampen a white piece of cloth and lay it over the flattened areas. Take a clothes iron and gently run it over the covered surface. Don't press too much and set the iron to work with low to medium heat.
Target high traffic areas
Spray the concentrated solution on the affected areas, let it sit for roughly 30 minutes and clean with a carpet cleaner. This will lift your carpet pile and any embedded, discoloured stains.
Steam Iron Method: Hold a steam iron a few inches above the carpet dent, being careful not to touch the fibers directly. Allow the steam to penetrate the area, softening the fibers and making them more pliable. After steaming, use a spoon or your fingers to gently lift and fluff the carpet fibers back into place.