There’s more to carpet cleaning in Perth than just using a vacuum cleaner. You have to know how to apply the correct pressure so you can effectively remove stains. If you ask a professional carpet cleaner about the right psi settings, they’ll probably tell you that it depends on a variety of factors. Not all carpets are created equal and each one requires a different approach when vacuuming.
If you want your carpets to look brand new, then you’ll have to figure out which psi setting best suits your textile flooring. Here is our guide on how to apply the correct pressure when cleaning carpets.
Consider the type of fabric
Regular carpets require a different psi than say a furniture with thick, leather upholstery. Most professional carpet cleaners use a psi setting of 100-400, but can go as high as 500 for a deeper clean. Delicate fabrics like nylon and cotton require a significantly low psi setting of only 50 to avoid damage to the carpet pile while still using enough pressure to suck up dust, dirt, and other particles.
Identify the pile height
When using a vacuum cleaner on textile flooring, you should identify the pile height before you can determine the correct psi. A tall carpet pile can accumulate plenty of dust, dirt, and debris which can get stuck at the bottom of the carpet. Standard vacuums may not offer enough pressure to effectively lift up the particles from a tall carpet pile, even if it’s vacuumed on a regular basis.
A psi setting of around 300-500 will do a great job of lifting stuck particles on a high-pile carpet. Conversely, if you’re dealing with a short-pile carpet, there’s no need to use added pressure to give it a good clean. A psi as low as 100-200 will get the job done without harming the pile itself.
Check the condition of the carpet
This one is very important because it’s crucial to figuring out the exact psi needed for the job. Blasting 80 psi on a heavily stained carpet won’t do much in terms of cleaning. Some professionals run their carpet cleaning pumps as high as 1,500 when dealing with filthy carpets to not only suck up particles, but dislodge stains that have hardened over time. Here’s a tip on when to increase the psi on the pump:
- If the carpet hasn’t been treated for a while, a higher psi may be required. A psi setting of 500-100 psi will provide enough pressure to dislodge any particles that may have seeped inside the carpet fibers.
- Tough stains require a high psi setting, especially if the stain occurs on a light-coloured carpet. Combine this with pre-treating and you’ll be able to make a dent when cleaning stubborn stains.
- Pet urine can be a struggle to deal with. The smell itself is quite off-putting and it only gets worse because the stain can be quite tough to remove. If this is the case, consider blasting the stain with a high psi setting of 400-600 to eliminate both the stain and odour.
Be mindful of the drying time
To achieve better cleaning results, consider the drying time when cleaning your carpet. Keep in mind that running a higher psi setting uses more pressure and water, thus extending drying times.If you want to speed things up, you can use a Dri-pod or a carpet dryer (which is crucial for areas where there is minimal airflow). Lower psi settings offer quicker drying times, but may not provide the same level of cleanliness compared to higher pressures.
Another factor that affects the drying time is the temperature inside the room. For faster drying times, aim to keep the room temperature around 22° Celsius or 71° Fahrenheit. Keep the windows open to promote increased airflow inside the room. If you can’t afford to wait for long drying times, use the lowest psi setting that’s applicable to the type and condition of your carpet.
Combine pressure with agitation
Agitation is a crucial element in this whole carpet cleaning process. Of course you can simply turn up the psi settings to achieve the same effect, but you’re much better off by using brushes and suction to better clean your carpet. If you’re dealing with stubborn stains or an old carpet that needs thorough cleaning, consider agitating the carpet fibers before blasting it with high pressure.
Finding the right pressure
Applying the correct pressure requires a bit of trial and error on your part. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different psi settings and test out different areas of your carpet to see which ones deliver the best results. Remember that pressure is only one part of the equation and you still have to consider things such as using high quality detergents and equipment to fully deep-clean your carpet.