Cleaning the carpet with a pressure washer
The range of carpet is wide. It ranges from insensitive carpeting with a short pile to high-quality and sensitive woven fabric. Some types of carpet should not come into contact with a pressure washer. In some cases, with a measured approach and possible steam function, cleaning can be done without damage.
Dosed pressure and consideration for materials
Carpet can generally be cleaned with a pressure washer in the low pressure range. As an upper limit, the working pressure of eighty bar should not be exceeded for any carpet, be it carpeting or loose carpeting. Sensitive fibres such as high pile and materials such as silk and wool should not be treated with a pressure washer.
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Quality of knotted and looped carpet
Whether and at what pressure a carpet can withstand the jet of a pressure washer depends decisively on the quality. The knotting density of a woven carpet ranges from 15,000 to over 200,000 knots per square metre. Fine silk carpets reach over one million knots. Mechanically, the resistance increases with the knot density. However, sensitive yarns can be damaged by too much water pressure.
In the case of carpeting, the embedding of the pile in the backing determines the stability. The fibres can be attached as a looped fabric by so-called tufting, also with cut loops, or simply “tucked in”. A needlefelt is made by piercing several times in different directions. It can withstand strong water pressure, while tufted carpeting can withstand different loads individually.
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Cleaning a carpet with a pressure washer is not recommended as pressure washers are typically too powerful and can cause damage to the carpet fibers and backing. Instead, it is best to use a carpet cleaner specifically designed for cleaning carpets. Carpet cleaners use a combination of water, detergent, and brushes to deep clean the carpet without causing damage.
If you want to clean your carpet effectively and without the risk of damage, here are the steps to follow:
- Vacuum the carpet: Before starting the cleaning process, thoroughly vacuum the carpet to remove loose dirt, dust, and debris. This will help improve the effectiveness of the carpet cleaning process.
- Spot clean stains: Treat any visible stains or spots on the carpet with a suitable carpet stain remover or cleaner. Follow the instructions on the product and gently blot or scrub the stain until it is removed.
- Prepare the carpet cleaner: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prepare the carpet cleaner. This usually involves mixing the cleaning solution with water in the appropriate ratio and filling the carpet cleaner’s tank.
- Test a small area: Before proceeding to clean the entire carpet, test the carpet cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area to ensure that it does not cause any damage or discoloration.
- Clean the carpet: Using the carpet cleaner, work in sections and slowly move the cleaner over the carpet in a back-and-forth motion. Ensure that you are overlapping each pass to avoid missing any areas.
- Pay attention to heavily soiled areas: For areas with heavy dirt or stains, you may need to go over them multiple times or use a specialized cleaner or pretreatment for better results.
- Allow the carpet to dry: After cleaning the carpet, it is essential to allow it to dry completely before walking on it or replacing furniture. Open windows, use fans, or run the air conditioning to facilitate faster drying.
- Vacuum again: Once the carpet is fully dry, vacuum it again to remove any loosened dirt or debris that may have surfaced during the cleaning process.
