It’s a popular topic in any industry. Sometimes it’s vague, and other times it’s extremely specific. A person might opt for grocery bags made of recycled paper or plastic, or reuse bottles to reduce their waste footprint. Others might start a compost pile in their back yard. More extreme cases might install solar panels, or power their Volkswagen Beetle with reclaimed biodiesel fuel. The basic idea of going green is using items and solutions that have a reduced impact on the environment or personal health. So, what does that mean for your carpet?
Green Cleaning
When it comes to carpet cleaning, going green offers two levels of possibility. Let’s discuss them both.
DIY – Also known as “home grown”, all-natural or homemade. DIY cleaning solutions focus on combining common household products to make an effective solvent. As a rule, they do not involve heavy chemicals or specialized techniques. They often include plant-based materials in their makeup, so they pose no risk of harm. However, their effectiveness on stains is often lower than other options and take more work to produce the same result.
Examples include mixing vinegar and water, household ammonia and dish soap, or a combination of vinegar, borax and salt. Many of such combinations are less invasive so they can be used as a general-purpose cleaner.
Commercial – These include products you can buy at the store that indicate they are “organic”, or “contain no harsh chemicals”, or the like, attempting to limit their impact on the environment. They typically contain plant-based solvents. These products can be name-brand, and many of them make claims that they are better for allergy sufferers, pets or children. They typically result in the same level of cleaning as store-bought, chemical-based products.
Examples include Biokleen, Simple Green, and Method cleaners. Many of these come in concentrated form, requiring a certain amount added to water. This allows for stronger or weaker solutions depending on the task at hand, but also adds risk of not mixing them properly’ resulting in poor cleaning or possible damage.
Where We Come In
First off, rest assured that Preferred Carpet Care keeps up to date with all the different cleaning solutions out there, and their level of health risk. We take pride in our service and take extra precautions to avoid risks to you and ourselves. Not only that, but we have the expertise to know that not all carpets are created equal, nor are all stains. Therefore, we have different cleaning products for different circumstances, and different techniques for different stains. We use biodegradable products, and keep our certifications through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC) up to date.
Nevertheless, feel free to ask us what products we will use on your carpet, and if you have any worries about chemicals or health, please bring them up. We want to consider all your circumstances to make sure we do the best job possible. Please contact us online or over the phone with any questions or concerns. We’ll help you keep your carpet as green as it should be.