Soap free carpet cleaning is the latest hype in the industry. Many householders will ask for this service, and most carpet cleaning companies offer either soap free or \”no residue\” cleaning. But what is this all about, and how important is it? This article will examine the relevant issues and attempt to shed some light on the subject, for interested householders.

Most people are wary about the effects of \”soaps\” used in the carpet cleaning process, especially when the hot water extraction or steam cleaning method is employed. This is a carry over from the old days when the principal cleaning agent used in this process was highly alkaline soaps derived from natural plant or animal fats and oils. This soap was usually made from the reaction of sodium hydroxide or lye, with the fatty stearic acids in a process known as saponification. The resultant detergent was very effective in the removal of all kinds of soils, but was very caustic and had a very high pH value. To ensure proper cleaning, the residues from the cleaning process would have to be thoroughly neutralized and extracted, or they would become a virtual soil magnet, that would only attract more dirt when dried.

Thus, the old myth that it is better to wait as long as possible before cleaning your carpet, and that carpets will get dirtier much more rapidly after cleaning, has been perpetuated. But lets look at the chemistry of cleaning, and particularly, at developments in the production of detergents in recent times.

Carpet cleaning is the process by which soil is removed from the fabric, either mechanically or by the use of solvents or emulsifiers. Some soils are soluble in aqueous or organic solvents and are relatively easy to remove, while other types become trapped in tars and oils and get fixed or permanently embedded unto the carpet fibers. You might hear that all you need is specially treated water or steam to get your carpet clean. This will work if the carpet is not heavily soiled or stained, but for situations where the fabric is heavily contaminated, that definitely will not suffice.

Cleaning is accomplished when the soil is sequestered from the carpet fibers by the action of a wetting agent, and transformed into a solution, emulsion or suspension which can then be flushed out. This is a complex process, but for simplicity, consider water-soluble soiling. Water is a good wetting agent, but its action is limited by surface tension which has to be reduced in order to get it close enough to the soil particles. That is what the soap does.

Now, fast forward to today. Most soaps or detergents, are now made from synthetic materials. There is wide variety of chemical formulations available. These not only have cleaning properties, but may have accelerants, builders, deodorizers and fluorescent dyes included. As a result, their effects vary widely, and they are no longer called soaps. In reality, they are surfactants, or surface acting reagents, and vary widely in properties.

But the most aggressive surfactants, are quite similar in effect to the old type soaps, and therein lies the problem. They are high in alkalinity and must be neutralized after cleaning, or they will leave a soapy residue that will attract soils when dry, just like in the olden days.

A good carpet cleaning professional will be thoroughly familiar with different types of cleaning agents, and will be able to determine the best type of soap-free reagent to use in your particular situation.

Victor Nugent is Owner and President of AJS Carpet Cleaning, Inc. with over 11 years experience in the Carpet Cleaning business. For more information call 801 368-0705 or visit our website at AJS Carpet Cleaning, Inc or AJS Carpet Cleaning Provo

Victor Nugent is Owner and President of AJS Carpet Cleaning, Inc. with over 11 years experience in the Carpet Cleaning business. For more information call 801 368-0705 or visit our website at http://www.ablejan.com or http://www.carpetcleaningprovo.info/

Author Bio: Victor Nugent is Owner and President of AJS Carpet Cleaning, Inc. with over 11 years experience in the Carpet Cleaning business. For more information call 801 368-0705 or visit our website at AJS Carpet Cleaning, Inc or AJS Carpet Cleaning Provo

Category: Home Management
Keywords: carpet cleaning,soap free cleaning,carpet, cleaning professional,carpet cleaning companies