Chem-Dry Vs. Steam Cleaning Furniture

Types

• The most popular methods for deep cleaning carpeting or upholstery are using a steam cleaner or Chem-Dry system. To steam clean furniture, you can rent machinery yourself or hire a professional steam cleaning company. The furniture is vacuumed to remove surface dirt, and then a detergent is applied to the fabric using hot water and a machine applicator. The water is then extracted through the machine, removing the dirt with it. To Chem-Dry clean furniture, you must hire a company that specializes in the Chem-Dry method of cleaning. It will apply a chemical solvent to the furniture and then use a machine to work the solvent deep into the fabric. The machine uses heat and a chemical solvent to break apart dirt before it is vacuumed away from the surface.

Function

• Chem-Dry cleaning and steam cleaning share the same function, to deep clean your furniture. Although general maintenance and vacuuming removes surface dirt, it cannot remove ground-in and oil-based dirt from the fabric of the furniture. A deep cleaning, using either chemical solvents or hot water, can loosen deep dirt for a clean, fresh piece of furniture.

Time Frame

• A Chem-Dry cleaning is generally faster to complete than a steam cleaning. With steam cleaning, you must wait anywhere from one to two days for the furniture to completely dry before use. A Chem-Dry application is typically dry within 30 minutes so that the furniture may be used faster.

Benefits

• Both types of deep cleaning thoroughly refresh a piece of furniture. Chem-Dry cleaning has the benefit of a shorter time frame during cleaning, so that the process is shorter than steam cleaning. Steam cleaning may be less expensive than Chem-Dry cleaning, especially if you rent the machine yourself rather than hiring a professional.

Considerations

• Steam cleaning may leave moisture within the furniture, which can breed mold. Ensure that the company you have hired or the machine you have rented can remove as much moisture as possible to prevent mold growth. Certain types of fabric on furniture, such as silk, may need special detergents with steam cleaning or different types of solvent during a Chem-Dry cleaning. A professional carpet and upholstery cleaner will determine the correct formula to use for the type of furniture you want to be cleaned.