It is not uncommon to use carpet cleaners to clean upholstery as well as carpets. In fact, a number of carpet cleaning machines are used for detailing car interiors. But an important factor to consider when buying commercial carpet extractors and other cleaning equipment is the amount of water used for cleaning. Too much water results in long drying times for carpets and upholstery. In turn, this increases the risk of mold or mildew growth, reduces productivity, and can actually damage the material. As such, investing in industrial carpet extractors that use less water is essential.
How Much Moisture?
Cleaning upholstery offers slightly different challenges to ordinary carpet cleaning. When using carpet shampooers on places with medium to low traffic, there is often ample time for the carpet to dry. If the area is naturally warm, dry and well-aerated, the carpets will dry out relatively quickly. But upholstery poses a different problem. Because sofas and car interiors are much thicker than carpet, the moisture tends to sink deeper into the material. This poses a difficulty when it comes to drying. It is not uncommon for freshly-cleaned upholstery to start emitting a stale or even sour odor in time.
What makes this scenario worse is the fact that the clogged moisture also provides a hotbed for germs, mold and bacteria to grow. If there is inadequate aeration, it becomes that much easier for harmful germs to take root and grow inside the upholstery. When using conventional carpet cleaners for auto detailing, this is often a problem as drying out a vehicle can be a difficult due to restricted airflow. The best way to clean upholstery without having to worry about dampness is to use machines that use less water.
Further Applications
Carpet cleaners that use less water are beneficial in commercial and industrial settings as well. These machines use relatively little water to remove deep-seated grime and dirt. It may appear that reduced water usage means less cleaning power. This simply isn’t true. In fact, low-flow carpet cleaning machines are more powerful than conventional systems due to high pressure levels, powerful extraction capabilities, and high steam temperatures (in heated units).
To add to user convenience, top suppliers offer multiple commercial carpet extractors with different drying times. For instance, there are carpet cleaners that can leave an auto interior clean and dry in as little as 6 hours. For those who deal with auto detailing on a professional level and need to complete cleaning jobs quickly and effectively, there are carpet cleaning units that have drying times of about 2 hours.
In the end, even rigorous use of carpet shampooers won’t do much good if the carpet or upholstery can’t dry out properly. In these cases, it’s best to opt for industrial carpet extractors that use low water flow.
