Commercial Carpet Cleaning Tips & Tricks You Need to Know

By: Diana Rodriguez-Zaba
Updated on: February 12, 2024

Are you looking for professional advice on how to clean your commercial carpets?

As Chicago’s leading commercial carpet cleaning company, we’ve got a few tricks and tips to share with you.  

Read on. 

Muscle Up Your Carpet Cleaning Routines

carpet cleaning techniques

Commercial carpets need three basic types of care:

Weekly vacuuming, regular steam cleaning and occasional spot treatment.

Our tips and tricks let you put real pro muscle into these commercial carpet care routines so that you can ensure healthier, fresher interiors

1. Vacuum Maintenance & Techniques

Plug it in, turn it on, and start pushing. You see results right away. What you don’t see steals years of life and good looks from your carpet. Your vacuum can’t do it all by itself. It needs your help.

• Always start fresh

Running the vacuum with a half-full bag doesn’t save supply money. It just makes the equipment work harder. That puts a dent in mechanical life, and it leaves dirt in the carpet too.

• Make it fit the carpet

Adjust the vacuum height to its maximum setting, and then turn on full power. Lower the cleaner head one adjustment at a time until it hugs the carpet and tries to move itself forward.

• Take your time

Racing the vacuum across carpet greatly reduces its suction power. Slowing down is actually more efficient because a relaxed one-time pass over carpets picks up more dirt than rushing the effort. Clean high-traffic areas with a double pass using the same leisurely technique.

2. Steam Clean Outside the Manual

We understand your DIY approach to steam cleaning carpets. All you have to do is rent a machine and read the manual, but there’s a little more to it. We’re happy to share our professional advice.

• It isn’t a vacuum cleaner

You have to run the regular vacuum before steam cleaning the carpet. Otherwise, the process turns dirt into micro-mud and pushes it through fibers and padding. Pre-treat high-traffic areas with a mild solution of detergent and hot water. Spray it on, and let it set for 10 minutes.

• Count your passes

The water involved in steam cleaning is meant to remove dirt, not soak the carpet. Give an area one pass with detergent and water. Follow that with one pass of neutralizing rinse. Finish with no more than three drying passes, and then wait 12 hours before opening the area to foot traffic.

3. Spot Removing Requires a Gentle Touch

Time is the difference between most spots and stains. Once a coffee spill hits your carpet, the liquid begins to oxidize into fibers. You have to act fast, but always go gently with spot cleaning.

Know your spots

Some spills come up with a little soda water while others respond to diluted vinegar. Bookmark several online resources to serve as quick guides when you have to deal with something out of the ordinary.

• Try to work with less

Whether you’re working with a homemade solution or something from the hardware store, don’t saturate the spot. Soaking a spill spreads residue through fibers, so just use a quick spritz.

• Resist rubbing it in

Scrubbing a spill pushes it deep into the carpet beyond your DIY reach. Gently blot an area from the outside toward the center with an absorbent cloth. Change out your blotter as it picks up the spill, and repeat with as many fresh cloths as necessary.

3 Extra Carpet Cleaning Tips from Our Pros

Now that you understand the basics of DIY commercial carpet cleaning, you’re ready for extra pro tricks. These recommendations make sure your hard work pays off with beautiful carpets.

chicago commercial carpet cleaning

1. Pre-Vac Before Cleaning

Always vacuum carpets before you steam clean them. This first pass paves the way for more effective deep cleaning

2. Go Easy With the Pre-Spray

A good pre-spray treatment can make it easier to clean a commercial carpet. However, too much creates a sticky residue that makes the job harder.

3. Beware of Reappearing Stains

It happens more often than you think. Be on the lookout for stubborn stains that try to sneak back into recently cleaned areas.

How to Clean Commercial Carpet Tiles

Carpet tiles are durable and stain-resistant, so they’re an excellent choice for flooring in commercial settings. Be sure to deep clean them according to fiber type.

  • Nylon and polyester tiles should be steam cleaned once a year.
  • Wool fiber tiles need to be professionally cleaned with dry extraction techniques.
  • Individual tiles can be pulled up and spot cleaned in cool water and mild detergent.
  • Make sure cleaned tiles are completely dry on both sides before reinstalling.

How to Clean Glue Down Carpet

Cleaning commercial glue down carpeting (CGD) can be challenging because its backing adheres to a concrete or wood subfloor:

Too much moisture in the cleaning process affects these surfaces and can result in mold or rot.

  • Check with the carpet manufacturer for recommended cleaning techniques.
  • If you can’t find information about your CGD carpet, ask a commercial cleaning contractor for help.
  • Most stained CGD carpets can be spot cleaned, but they need annual dry cleaning.
  • It’s best to let trained technicians professionally clean carpet that’s glued down.

The Advantages of Professional Carpet Cleaning

When professionals clean commercial carpets, they get the job done quickly and efficiently. These are just a few examples of the powerful equipment that cleaning technicians use every day.

truck mounted carpet cleaning

• Truck-Mounted Extraction Systems

This effective carpet cleaning system handles big jobs with truck-mounted water heaters and extraction equipment.

• Portable Hot Water Extractors

Smaller units do the same job as truck-mounted equipment, but they’re designed for areas that can’t be reached with larger systems.

• Air Movers and Carpet Dryers

Carpet drying equipment generates high-velocity airflow across floors and quickly puts freshly cleaned commercial carpets back in action.

We Keep Chicago, IL Commercial Carpets Clean

Now that you’re on on track to giving your flooring the care it deserves, complement your efforts with our commercial carpet cleaning. You can count on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba to add years of extra life and performance to your flooring investment.

We offer a complete line of commercial cleaning services for every type of business, facility and venue, so just give us a call today.

Contact us for a free estimate: 773-647-1985

What’s the best way to clean commercial carpets?

If you do it yourself, make sure you know your carpet type. Rent quality equipment, and use cleaning products that won’t harm fibers and backing.

How do commercial carpet cleaners work?

Professional cleaning contractors inspect your carpets and schedule cleaning that doesn’t interfere with business hours. Certified technicians deliver expert carpet care with industry-proven equipment and products.

How much does it cost to clean commercial carpets?

The cost of commercial carpet cleaning depends on the type and number of carpets in your building. The best carpet cleaning professionals offer free estimates.