The water will then penetrate the fiber all the way down to the backing.  This action will loosen any embedded soil, remove oil and grease deposits, and get your carpet cleaner than it has ever been.

There are many types and makes of steam carpet cleaners available on the market, ranging from small portables to the large and very powerful truck  mounted units.  The principle is the same no matter what model you pick.The models that are truck mounted are designed so that only the hose and the wand are taken into the area being cleaned.  These units are very powerful, delivering hot water and generating a high vacuum recovery that can be powered by diesel fuel, gas, propane, or even by the motor of the truck.

Most carpet manufacturers, fiber producers, and professional cleaners endorse this process for achieving soil removal efficiency.  With the present state of art equipment and technology, we are more than capable of high production and cleaning of carpet.

The real disadvantages to steam carpet cleaning are the problems that are associated with over wetting and longer drying times.  These can be eliminated however, by a skilled operator who uses equipment that is well maintained and in good overall operating condition.

Currently, there are two methods being used with steam carpet cleaning.

1.  This method involves a traffic lane cleaner being sprayed onto the traffic lanes and then agitated into the fibers.  The entire area is then cleaned by using a hot water extractor that has a cleaning solution being injected into the fibers through the wand.

2.  The second method involves a free rinse emulsifying pre-spray being sprayed onto the entire carpet, then agitated into the fibers.

Steam cleaning procedures

1.  Prepare the equipment and supplies.  In a pump or power sprayer you should mix the free rinsing pre-spray.  In the solution tank of the extractor, mix the rinsing agent.

2.  If you have a lot of furniture to move, make yourself a floor plan.

3.  If the area being cleaned has furniture, you should remove as much as possible.

4.  Thoroughly vacuum the carpet.  If the pile is crushed or matted, use a pile brush to loosen the soils which will make vacuuming more effective.

5.  Pre-spray a good amount of the pre-spray.

6.  Using a grooming tool, agitate the pre spray deep into the fibers then let it sit for 10 -  15 minutes, making sure that it doesn’t dry out.

7.  Extract the area using a portable, truck mounted, or automatic carpet cleaner.

8.  Repeat steps 5 through 7 until the entire area has been cleaned.

9.  Groom the cleaned area, replace all furniture that was removed, and then clean all equipment that you used.

Antique carpets represent enormous range in motifs color harmonies and you’ll simply lose yourself seeing the diverse combinations of rich antique colors and heavy intricate weaving.

Antique carpets and rugs are imported mostly from China, Persia, India, Afghanistan, Caucasus, and Turkey. Some of the famous weaving areas of such antique carpets include Kashan, Agra, and many other locations.Antique carpets have a more artistic integrity, as they are exclusively hand woven.  They are sold all  over the world, with clients more than willing to pay  whatever they have to in order to redefine their home and decorate in style.

If you are looking to add luster and glamour to your home or office and are ready to spend a fortune on the exquisite pieces of art, then you shouldn’t wait a single minute.

The first thing to do, is contact one of the several reliable, knowledgeable, and genuine art dealers and galleries who deal in antique carpets and have profound knowledge about the various aspects of a good and genuine antique carpet.  They can guide you in selecting the best one per your budget and tastes.

You’ve got a bit of work to do as well.  You should visit a lot of dealers and educate yourself about dyes, wools, design quality, and the many styles of weaving as well.  Touch the carpet and scrutinize them carefully.  Beware of the machine made synthetic carpets that some dealers will tell you are antique carpets.

Below are some tips to help you when buying antique carpet.

1.  You have to remain careful and thoughtful while analyzing each piece of antique carpet.

2.  You’ll also need to try and understand the age and origin of the carpet that will in turn give you a much better insight about the overall quality of the carpet.

3.  You’ll also need to look and see if the edge and borders are there in the antique carpet you intend to buy, as the end and edge borders are sometimes lost or even cut out on purpose.  Keep in mind that the borders will determine the overall value of your carpet.

4.  Keep an eye out for holes and moth attacks that are both common when dealing with antique carpets.  These problems must be attended to before you buy the carpet.

5.  You should always deal with dealers who have the prices marked on the carpet.  See to it that your dealer sticks to that price.

Carpet offers you several advantages that other flooring options can’t compete with.  Below, you will find many of the features that carpet will add to your home.Warmth

Carpet is the best choice you can make for your bedroom, family room, and other areas where you need warmth underfoot.

Insulation

Both carpet and carpet padding will provide an extra layer of much needed insulation between the floors of your home.  Depending on the density and weight of the carpet, it contributes to the R-value of your home, which adds to the energy efficiency as well.

Safety

Carpet offers a slip resistant surface that will prevent accidents along with a natural cushion in the event of someone falling.  For young children and the elderly, this is very important.

Reduction in sound

Carpet will also reduce noise better than any other type of flooring.  Carpet works to dampen noise in three ways:

1.  Reduces surface noise from foot traffic

2.  Absorbs airborne sound

3.  Blocks transmission of sound

These qualities are valuable in apartments as well as semi-detached homes.

Surface

Adding carpet to a room can also disguise any existing damage to the floor and also hide any other problems such as warped floors.  The thicker density the carpet is, the more problems it will be able to hide.

Easy to care for

The carpets of today are more stain resistant than they have ever been in the past, which makes cleaning even the worst possible spills easier than ever.  No matter type of spill it may be, there is always a way to clean it up.

Clean air

Research has proven that carpet can indeed improve the quality of air by trapping allergy causing dust and allergens if it is properly cleaned and maintained.

Variety of use

Carpets aren’t only for floors anymore, which is a really great thing.  You can easily add carpet to steps, stairs, walls, posts, and other no level surfaces, without having to worry about it slipping, lifting, or buckling.

Flexibility

Carpet is the primary foundation in almost any room.  Because it is available in a variety of different colors and textures, it helps to create an unlimited number of possibilities for decorating.  From the neutral tones to rich solids, carpet is the first step you can take to make your home look better than ever.

Low cost

Carpet doesn’t cost a lot of money, as it offers an economical alternative to the other types of expensive flooring.  Even with professional installation, you won’t pay near as much as you would for hard surfaces.  Unlike hard surfaces, carpet can keep you comfortable if you decide to lay down on it.

Life span

The carpets of today are very durable and can outlast most other types of flooring available on the market.  All you have to do is select a type of carpet that has a life span of 5 – 30years or more, which is very common now days.

Warranty

With most manufacturers, you can get great warranties with your carpet purchase.  This way, you’ll be protected when you install your new carpet.  Once installed, all you have to do is enjoy it – as the warranty will ensure that you are very well protected.

The two most popular choices of carpet today are the loop pile and cut pile.  Loop pile has individual strands of yarn pulled through the backing of the carpet twice, which creates a small loop.

The cut pile has the loop cut at the top, leaving tufts of yarn that stand straight up. Cut pile is normally more durable than looped pile.  Cut piles come in many styles, such as shag, textured, saxony, and velvet.  Loop pile choices include berber, cable, or sisal.  For high traffic areas, loop pile is an excellent choice.One of the factors with choosing your carpet is the cost.  Even though there is nothing more luxurious than having wool carpeting in your home, most of us can’t afford wool.  If you are able to afford wool carpeting, you’ll find that even though it costs more to install, it will prove to be far more superior to any other type of carpeting.  There is no man made carpet fiber that come close to the durability, rich look, or even the feel of wool – which can also last for 30 years or more.

Acrylic carpeting is very similar to wool, and sometimes referred to as man made wool.  It is resistant to moisture, fading, mildew, crushing, and staining, although it isn’t recommended for high traffic areas.

Nylon carpeting is also popular, as it is recommended for high traffic areas.  Nylon is one of the most expensive types of synthetic fibers, although it is still cheaper than wool.

Olefin is a low cost carpet material, often used for indoor or outdoor carpeting.  Olefin is color fast and strong, very easy to clean.  One of the draw backs to olefin is that it can easily be crushed.

Another consideration you’ll have is the color and patterns of the carpet.  Light carpeting colors help to create a spacious effect, making the room appear to be larger.  Light color carpets will of course, show much more soil than dark colors.

If you have pets around the house or little kids, dark colors may be your best bet.  There are many different varieties of dark colors, which is great for those interested in style.  Dark colors are ideal for stains or pets, as they don’t show soiled areas near as much as light colored carpets.

If you end up selecting light colors around pets or little kids, you’ll find yourself having to work twice as hard to make stains less noticeable.  It would be easier and also smarter to select a dark color and make it easier on yourself.

Make sure that you get a deep cleaning of the carpet as often as it is needed.  To achieve a clean carpet, you’ll need to have it cleaned by a professional or you’ll need to use a deep cleaning machine.  There are advantages and disadvantages to this method, although a thorough cleaning is needed every six months or so.

Tip 2

Keep your eye out for spills and take care of them in a quick manner to keep your carpet clean.  Simply using water on a spill will help most of them.  If that doesn’t work, simply expand your search.  You’ll find several products out there on the market that can help you get rid of spills quick.The products range in use and can be helpful when matching them with the different types of spills.   You can also use a mixture of water and vinegar to help you keep stains out.  By taking immediate action you can prevent spills from becoming stains that leave you with a dirty and messy carpet.

Tip 3

A clean carpet is a carpet that has been taken care of very well.  You should always take the time to vacuum your carpet often and make sure you do a good job.  This means going over the floor in several directions to allow the vaccum time to pick up all it can.  High quality vacuums are the best choice, as they get up the most debris.

Tip 4

The proper use of entrance will greatly help to clean off people’s shoes and keep most of the tracked soils off the surface of the carpet.  You should always use entrance mats outside of your doors and make sure that anyone who enters your home use the mats to help get debris and dirt off of their shoes before they enter.  You can also take off your shoes and request that guests do the same, prior to entering your home.

Around 80% of the soils that enter a building or home are dry.  The remaining 20% are greases, oils, and starches.  The dry soil types are easily removed by vacuuming.  As long as they are removed on a daily basis, it will help to minimize the damage to the carpet.

Maintaining and keeping a clean carpet is more than just healthy, as it can also help to prolong the life of the carpet.  If you have just laid the carpet, you are already aware of the expenses involved with doing so.

Even if you haven’t had this done, you probably know the benefits of keeping a clean carpet.  A clean carpet will add value to the home if it is maintained well.  It will also help to keep the home free from odors as well.  Also, it will help to make a comfortable living area for your friends and your family.