Carpets can take a lot of tears. Let’s be honest, it will happen to all of us at some point. You take every precaution to protect your carpet, hoping that no accidents or carpet stains will ever ruin its beautiful look. Then, in an instant, something goes wrong with a sippy cup of Kool-Aid, a drop of blood, or your beloved pet who just couldn’t hold it any longer.
Some stains can only be removed by having your carpets professionally cleaned. Many people think that steam cleaning is the only way to deep clean carpets, but carpet cleaning chemicals are a much more effective, efficient, and safer way to clean carpets.
A fundamental understanding of pH is necessary for selecting the appropriate cleaning products for a given task. So, how does pH relate to cleaning? There are other things besides cleaning solutions that have a pH level. Everything, including dirt, soil, and other substances that tenaciously adhere to surfaces and make them dirty, has a pH level. You can choose the right cleaning solution for a surface by knowing the pH level of the dirt on it.
Typically, you want to use a cleaning solution whose pH value is different from the surface you are trying to clean. So, if you’re cleaning an acidic substance, you use an alkaline solution. If you’re cleaning an alkaline substance, you use an acidic solution.
The kind of carpet fiber you’re dealing with when cleaning carpets also matters. Different materials can tolerate various pH levels to varying degrees. Use a solution that efficiently dissolves dirt without harming the fibers. Typically, synthetic fibers can withstand solutions with a pH range of 0 to 10. In some ways, natural fibers are more delicate. Therefore, clean them with solutions that are more pH-neutral. It’s best to use carpet cleaning chemicals with a pH of between 5 and 8.
Another important fact about carpet cleaning is that even though carpets are naturally slightly acidic, old stains or cleaners that are still visible on the surface can change the carpet’s tolerances by making it alkaline. Carrying a pH meter around will allow you to check the pH of carpets before cleaning them.
Types of Cleaning Products
Based on their pH level, carpet cleaning chemicals products can be divided into three main groups. Here’s how to distinguish between neutral, alkaline, and acidic solutions.
Acidic Products
A cleaner that is acidic has a pH lower than 7, with the intensity increasing as the number gets closer to zero. In the past, people have cleaned deposits that are insoluble in water with acidic solutions. These deposits cannot be removed with water-based cleaning agents. You’ll need an acidic solution to remove mineral deposits and limescale, which are frequent occurrences in bathrooms and kitchens. These dissolve in acid because they are alkaline. Additionally, acidic solutions are useful for cleaning mold, rust stains, and toilet bowls.
Alkaline Products
A cleaner that is alkaline has a pH higher than 7, with mild alkaline solutions having a pH of 8 or 9 and becoming more potent as it gets closer to 14. You may not be aware, but most soils are acidic. Alkaline solutions are essential for getting rid of them and leaving surfaces spotless. Oils, fats, proteins, and other greasy or oily organic residues are all effectively removed by alkaline products.
Neutral Products
A neutral cleaner has a pH of 7. The majority of cleaning solutions with neutral pH levels would be categorized as maintenance cleaners. Tile and grout, stone floors, wood floors, linoleum, laminate floors, and other sealed surfaces can all be cleaned with neutral cleaners.
You can use a neutral cleaning solution to remove light soil or small particles from the carpet surface. Use acidic and alkaline carpet cleaning chemicals solutions only in specific situations, such as when cleaning carpets or metals.
How To Choose The Right PH
When the solution you require is not immediately apparent, you may be wondering how to determine what kind of carpet cleaning chemicals you require. Fortunately, there are a few quick and easy ways to figure out what pH level is required to remove certain messes and surfaces.
Match It to the Task
Depending on what you’re cleaning, different solutions are required. Use an acidic cleaner to remove soap scum from a sink in a commercial kitchen. But you’ll need to switch to an alkaline cleaner when you get to the oily and greasy countertops. What if you’re sanitizing tables or desks in a workplace? A neutral answer ought to do the trick.
Know What Fiber You’re Working With
You should take into account the type of fiber you’re dealing with when using carpet cleaning chemicals to clean a carpet. Alkaline cleaners, detergent cleaners, and acid rinses between 3 and 12 pH are typically used to clean synthetic fibers (nylon, polyester, olefin, etc.). Natural fibers (such as wool, silk, cotton, and jute) are typically cleaned in mild solutions with a pH range of 5 to 9.
Determine the Soil Type and Amount
What kind of solution is best also depends on the kind and quantity of dirt on a surface. Surfaces with light soiling can be cleaned with neutral cleaners. However, if there is a lot of soil present, you might need to switch to a more acidic or alkaline solution.
Cleaning carpets is an important part of keeping your house in good shape, and sometimes you need to use carpet cleaning chemicals to get them clean. Even though the answers you need are listed above, it’s best to call a professional to do this job. If you clean your carpets often, they will last longer and your home will look and smell better.