“Green” Carpet Cleaning
Green carpet cleaning is friendly to the environment, and avoids the use of harmful chemicals that can be hazardous to humans and pets.
Carpet cleaning requires the following steps:
vacuuming - removes most soil
pretreatment and conditioning - loosens soil with a mild solvent cleaner
extraction - rinses away the cleaning solvent
nap setting and drying - allows the remaining solvent to vaporize and dry
If the above steps are not followed accurately, indoor air quality could pose a health concern for the cleaner, as well as those in the home or commercial space.
Traditional Carpet Cleaning Methods
Depending on the location of the carpet or the type of treatment required, two different carpet cleaning procedures may be used:
Dry cleaning - uses a minimal amount of liquid with a blend of compounds for restorative cleaning, regular scheduled maintenance, and emergency cleanup. This process uses a homogenized blend of solvents: a cleaning agent, rinsing agent, and neutralizing agent. It is heated to about 200 degrees Fahrenheit and applied to the carpet.
Steam cleaning - or “steam extraction, uses antimicrobial, urine and odor treatment chemicals. The extraction process uses the same chemicals used in “dry” cleaning, but the rinsing agent is blended in a truck-mount, and more water is used in rinsing. This procedure is usually used for carpet restoration jobs.
The Harms of Traditional Carpet Cleaning
Carpet cleaning creates waste water that includes chemicals from the cleaning formula as well as waste products such as grease and organic material from the carpet itself. Many of the chemicals currently used are highly alkaline and aggressive enzymes, which if used improperly, can cause harm to humans and the environment.
A traditional cleaning formula might contain:
- sodium bicarbonate
- sodium phosphate
- sodium silicate
- anionic surfactant
- nonionic surfactant
- various dyes, enzymes, alcohols, bleaches, etc
All of these elements can be harmful to one’s health, on one level or another.
Green Alternatives
By using environmentally safe chemicals to clean carpets, it keeps everyone less exposed to hazardous toxins. Non-toxic alternatives to traditional carpet cleaning products are labeled as “green” cleaning agents, and are relatively safe for the cleaner to handle. The cleaner ought to follow the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification standards when using “green” products.
Green encapsulation - Encapsulation is the latest trend in dry cleaning technology, which creates crystalized residue from the soil in the carpet, making it easy to extract. Green encapsulation are less harmful to humans and pets, than its traditional counterpart - steering clear of the aquatic and oral toxins.
Home recipes - Although they might not come in a bottle with the word “green” on it, many house hold carpet cleaning solutions have shown to be potent, safe, and very cost-effective. A common recipe is to mix a ¼ cup vegetable oil-based liquid soap with 3 tbsp. of water. The foam is applied to the problem areas of the carpet, and after 15 minutes, is rinsed thoroughly with water. While this recipe is usually only used for small areas of carpet, it is a great alternative to the harmful commercial spray can solutions on the market.
