Do you work in a carpeted office or commercial building? Without consistent cleaning, these floors can accumulate a lot of dirt, stains, and debris. And these problems aren’t just unpleasing to the eye—they can also deter business! Luckily, there are a couple of ways you can ensure the cleanliness of your facility’s carpeted floors.
How to Clean Carpeted Floors in Commercial Spaces
One of the most common ways to clean a carpet is by steam cleaning. This deep-cleaning method uses hot water and cleaning agents to extract embedded dirt, bacteria, and allergens from carpeting. It’s commonly used in commercial spaces and large office buildings because it’s fast, efficient, and cost-effective. The process usually involves a pre-treatment solution that loosens dirt, debris, and set-in stains. Then, high-pressure hot water gets injected into the carpet fibers and extracted with a powerful vacuum that removes the water, dirt, and cleaning solution.
Then there’s bonnet cleaning. This method of cleaning carpets is pretty straightforward. You use a rotating absorbent pad (or bonnet) to lift dirt from the carpet’s surface.
Discover which carpet cleaning method is right for your commercial space based on the pros and cons of each.
Steam Cleaning: Pros & Cons
Steam cleaning offers a deeper clean than bonnet cleaning. The process can remove deep-seated dirt, bacteria, and allergens and, in turn, extend the lifespan of a carpet by maintaining the integrity of the fiber.
There are a few cons to steam cleaning, though. It can take anywhere from six to 12 hours for a steam-cleaned carpet to dry. What’s more, the process can be labor-intensive and a bit more costly than surface-level cleaning, such as bonnet cleaning.
Bonnet Cleaning: Pros & Cons
If you’ve never heard of bonnet cleaning, it’s when a rotating floor machine agitates the dirt on the surface of the carpeting with friction. The absorbent pad (or bonnet) soaks up the dirt and subsequent cleaning solution. This cleaning method is much faster than steam cleaning and can dry in a much shorter time—about one to two hours. It’s great for a quick refresh of lightly soiled carpets.
However, bonnet cleaning may not be the way to go if you have deep stains in high-traffic areas. The process can push dirt further into the carpet fibers and make it more challenging to clean in the future. Plus, bonnet cleaning doesn’t remove allergens that may be dwelling in carpeted areas.
Steam or Bonnet Cleaning? Which is right for you?
If your business has heavily soiled carpeting, opt for steam cleaning. It’ll give you the deep, long-lasting clean you’re looking for. And if you work in healthcare, education, or hospitality, steam cleaning should always be your first choice. The sanitary qualities of this cleaning method are particularly beneficial for such spaces!
On the other hand, if your operation simply needs some upkeep in between deep cleanings, a bonnet cleaning will do. It’s a quick and cost-effective solution to removing dirt from carpet that’s perfect for office spaces, retail stores, or anywhere that experiences high foot traffic on the daily.
And for those companies looking for the best of both worlds, you’ll want a combination of both cleaning methods! Routine bonnet cleaning with monthly or periodic steam cleans can provide the best results.
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