Carpet encapsulation cleaning basically involves using a detergent or carpet shampoo that encases dirt particles and soil during the cleaning process. These encapsulated particles can then simply be sucked up during the vacuum phase of the cleaning process once the carpets have dried.
There are a number of benefits to using this encapsulation technique for carpet cleaning over and above other types of cleaning methods:
1. Low Water
Encapsulation does not require that the carpets be soaked with water or rinsed once the shampooing phase has been completed. Less water means a faster drying time and that carpets are less likely to become damaged or warped due to excess water. A fast drying time is absolutely essential when cleaning carpets to prevent the fibers from becoming stretched or even compounded. However, additional ventilation, fans or heaters may be used to speed up the drying time even further.
2. Large Areas
The encapsulation technique is ideal for cleaning small and large carpeted areas and is therefore perfect for commercial use. The fast drying time is also a benefit when it comes to cleaning larger areas in commercial, retail, hospitality or other establishments. Encapsulation continues to work long after the carpets have been cleaned meaning they stay cleaner for longer eliminating the need to regularly or constantly clean carpets in a commercial environment.
3. Resolves Wicking
Wicking is when a small stain visible on the surface of the carpet is only the tip of a much larger stain below the surface. Encapsulation will resolve the stain below the surface as well as on top of the carpet fibers and prevent it from rising. It can also prevent wicking from occurring. In any carpet cleaning process it is impossible to eliminate detergent residue completely. With encapsultaion detergents, the chemicals will continue to act in encasing dirt from spills preventing wicking.
4. Detergent Residue
Carpet shampoos often leave a sticky residue that is likely to attract more dirt after the cleaning. This means that carpets do actually get dirty faster once they have been cleaned. Quality polymeric encapsulation detergents crystalize around the dirt particles making them far easier to remove during the vacuum process which means far less detergent residue remains behind.
As explained above, the leftover residue will continue to work, trapping and encapsulating new dirt on the carpet. This means that it keeps carpets cleaner for longer rather than resulting in carpets that are more like to get dirty quickly after cleaning. Simply vacuuming on a regular basis will continue to remove the encased dirt particles from the carpet fibers.
5. Odor Control
Like most chemical detergents, encapsulation cleaners are fragranced to provide a fresh clean odor and to hide the chemical smell that can often be problematic with other types of carpet shampoo. The quick drying time once again contributes to odor control by preventing the carpets from having a damp or musty odor after the cleaning process has been completed.
While you can purchase good quality polymeric detergents on the market to clean carpets yourself, it is highly recommended to have the technique performed by professional carpet cleaners. This is because following the correct process, using the recommended dilution and having experience in implementing the technique are important for the best outcome.
This is especially important for commercial use where large areas of carpeting need to be cleaned in a relatively short period of time. A team of professional cleaners will ensure that carpets are cleaned, dried and vacuumed in as short a period as possible. It is recommended to contact your local carpet cleaning provider and find out more about the benefits of carpet cleaning using the encapsulation technique.
