Carpet Cleaning: Q&A on Carpet Cleaning

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The IICRC answers below several commonly asked questions about professional carpet cleaning. [Note: Ad or content links featured on this page are not necessarily affiliated with IICRC (The cleantrust) and should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by IICRC (The cleantrust)].

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Question: What are the steps that I can expect a certified professional to take when cleaning my carpet?

Answer: The principles of carpet cleaning are listed in the S100 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Carpet Cleaning, last published by The IICRC in 2002. These include:

Dry Soil Removal - thorough vacuuming using an upright vacuum with brush agitation and high-efficiency double-lined collection bag, or a final filter, to remove fine dust.
Soil Suspension - This involves the application of properly specified, formulated and mixed preconditioning agents designed to separate soil from fibers. There are four fundamentals involved in soil suspension: application of preconditioning Chemicals; using Heat or temperature to speed chemical reactions; Agitation for proper chemical distribution, and providing dwell Time so that chemical reactions can be completed before soil extraction is attempted. The acronym "CHAT" makes the fundamentals of soil suspension easy to remember.
Soil Extraction - Any method of cleaning must physically remove soils if it is to be successful. Soil removal takes place with absorption, wet vacuuming, rinsing, and, of course, dry vacuuming. The most popular method for soil removal among professionals is hot water extraction.
Grooming, as necessary - Grooming has little to do with physical soil removal; however, it is needed to eliminate pile distortion and matting, to properly distribute additives, such as carpet protectors, and to create an even appearance for your inspection.
Drying - Damp carpet resoils rapidly, creates potential for slip-fall problems and ultimately, can grow bacteria or other microbes with associated odor.

If you need a professional cleaner in your area that is committed to applying the Principles of Carpet Cleaning accurately and thoroughly, please click here.

Question: What is the proper way to deal with furniture indentations in carpet?

Answer: Indentations from furniture re-arrangement are a normal phenomenon in carpet. Sometimes, the situation is self-correcting when the furniture is moved and the carpet backings and pile are allowed to re-acclimate. In other cases, vacuuming coupled with light brushing can bring up the indented areas. In extreme cases, the indentation can be covered with a damp towel and steamed with an iron for a few seconds, followed by brushing while warm to "resurrect" the pile in that area. Nylon carpet pile (about 70% of residential carpet) responds particularly well to this procedure.

There are, however, limitations brought on by the type of pile fiber. If the pile is made of non-resilient olefin, as in olefin Berber or level-loop olefin commercial carpet, the indentation may be permanent. That's a characteristic of the fiber. This is why non-resilient olefin often is combined with resilient nylon in several popular carpet styles.

Question: How often should I get my carpets cleaned?

Answer: Frequently used carpet should be professionally cleaned by a qualified technician at least annually - perhaps a little longer interval for infrequently used carpet and even sooner for carpet in homes occupied by respiratory sensitive or allergic persons; or in homes with indoor pets.

Question: How long does it take mold to start growing in wet carpet?

Answer: There is no defined time frame to predict when mold will grow in carpet. For any material to support common indoor mold growth, it must:

      1. be organic,
      2. be damp or wet,
      3. have a moderate temperature (68-86ºF),
      4. be in a stagnant air environment, and
      5. have these conditions present for several days.

Most tufted carpet is made of plastic face yarns and backings, and synthetic latex. There is nothing organic to support mold in the carpet itself. Therefore, mold cannot technically grow on carpet. However, average household soil is about 40% organic (12% cellulose, 12% protein, 10% oils, 6% food stuffs); therefore, mold can grow on the soil in carpet given the right conditions listed above.

However, if carpet is kept clean and dry, there is little or no possibility for mold growth. Even with soiling and normal household conditions found in most homes, it takes considerable time for mold to grow on carpet soil, and then only if dampness is present.

Question: What is the standard drying time when carpet is cleaned?

Answer: The IICRC S100 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Carpet Cleaning specifies:

Section 7.5, Drying
  "... When cleaning carpet, it is highly recommended that drying occur within six to eight hours or less: however, drying time must not exceed 24 hours. Failure of the professional to implement drying procedures could result in a variety of after-cleaning problems. Often, occupant cooperation is needed to expedite drying."

  "...With normal temperature and humidity coupled with use of your heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the carpet should be dry in much less than 24 hours. If it stays damp longer than that, the opportunity for microbial growth and associated odor arises."