EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CLEANING FITTED CARPETS

ALTHOUGH REGULAR VACUUMING CAN remove most of the noticeable soil from your carpet, nasties such as pollen, bacteria and dust mites will remain, invisible to the naked eye. Deep-down dirt will wear at the fibre of your carpet and shorten its life, not to mention look unsightly.

The two most accepted professional methods of cleaning fitted wall-to-wall carpeting are by wet application (known as steam cleaning or hot water extraction), or by shampooing (also known as dry application) using foam made from chemicals, powders or solvents.

Steam cleaning does not involve steam. Instead, hot water is mixed with a cleaning agent within a high-pressure machine, which pumps the mixture through a cleaning tool similar to a vacuum head, producing a deep cleansing process that breaks down the embedded dirt. The dirty solution is sucked back and kept in a holding tank for disposal later. Correct disposal is necessary through a sanitary drain, toilet or proper waste facility; solutions should not be dumped in gutters, gardens or storm-water drains.

It is important not to use detergents that are too strong or too alkaline because they may damage the carpet, especially if it is woollen. Care must also be taken not to over-wet the fibre because this can cause shrinkage. If there is any question about the proper cleaning solution to use, contact the carpet manufacturer.

Heavily soiled areas should be treated with a pre-spotter before extraction. A popular brand is Viper, available from the store of the same name in Chai Wan (5B Cheung Lee Industrial Building, 9 Cheung Lee Street, tel: 2520 0736) for about $60 for 4.5 litres.

Prolonged dampness can promote growth of mildew and bacteria, so dry the carpets as quickly as possible using fans or dehumidifiers. This is especially important during summer months.