Methods for Cleaning Carpets

There are several methods of carpet cleaning in use today to meet the needs of different types of customers. Generally, the deep clean methods work the best but have longer drying times. The cleaning methods that only affect to top portion of the carpet are useful for more frequent, shallower cleaning as they are faster to dry. The most common methods are described below.

Hot water extraction or ‘steam cleaning’ is the most common and arguably the most effective method to clean your carpets. This method ‘deep cleans’ your carpet and improves not only the look and smell but can also extend the life of your carpet. It involves the use of a detergent solution that is forced into the carpet by a pump then the solution is sucked out of the carpet with a high powered vacuum. Pressurized hot water is also used to help break down greasy dirt and soil. A good extraction machine will match the delivery of hot water with the vacuum thus minimizing the residual water left on the carpet. This can significantly improve the drying times e.g. 2-4 hours. This is the method most commonly used by professional carpet cleaners and drives the need for good carpet cleaning vans.

Bonnet cleaning (sometimes called absorbent pad cleaning) uses a detergent that is sprayed on the carpet. A  floor buffing machine is then used with synthetic or natural pads that attach to the buffers. The bonnets use friction to pull dirt from the top part of the carpet fibers. When the bonnet gets dirty you simply flip it over or use another. This is not a deep cleaning solution but can be effective for more frequent cleanings. It also has the advantage of being dry shortly after cleaning.

Dry Foam or rotary brush cleaning uses a foaming shampoo that dries to a light powder. It is applied using a floor buffer that generates foam as it spins. The resulting powder is then vacuumed up. This method can leave a sticky residue if the foaming shampoo is not used in the proper amount.

Dry carpet cleaning is a process similar to hot water extraction but uses much less water. Chemdry is the company that has perfected this method . They use a proprietary cleaning solution that uses carbonated water to ‘bubble’ the dirt out of the carpet fibers for removal. They use much less water than steam extraction which  means your carpets will be dry soon after the cleaning is complete. Some people think this method is superior to the steam extraction method due to the lower water usage.  Less water meaning faster drying and less opportunity for mold and other problems that may result if too much water is left on the carpet.