subject: Best Carpet Cleaning Methods [print this page] Hot Water ExtractionHot Water Extraction. Your carpets are one of the most expensive items in your home, and so need to be cleaned correctly to get the best results and longest life.
The main method used by carpet cleaners, and recommended by most major manufactures, including Shaw Industries, the worlds largest, is hot water extraction.
This method of cleaning carpets is known as Steam Cleaning, but steam is not used as it would be far too hot. The term comes from the appearance, when a very fine spray is injected into the carpet under pressure, giving the appearance of steam. A cleaning agent is added to hot water and injected into the carpet under pressure, and is then followed by a vacuum to extract the dirt particles and solution from deep in the carpet.
How long the carpets take to dry depends on conditions, such as room temperature, weather conditions and air flow. Drying times would normally be a couple of hours.
DIY machines are not as powerful as professional machines, and might leaves carpets over wet and cause shrinkage or mould.
Dry Cleaning. This method uses an absorbent particulate product that contains solvents and cleaning agents.
The powder is spread on the carpet either by hand or special spreading machine, then worked into the carpet by counter rotating cylinder brushes.
The powder releases it's chemical cleaner onto the dirt particles, and left for 15 - 20 minutes while the dirt is emulsified and suspended, then vacuumed up.
The advantage of this cleaning method is the quick drying time. The disadvantage is, some of the powder will be left in the carpet, and it's not as deep cleaning as hot water extraction.
Absorbent Pad. Also known as Bonnet Cleaning and Dry Cleaning. The system uses a rotary machine with an absorbent pad or towel. After the carpet is vacuumed the cleaning will begin with the spray of a special chemical solution onto the carpet.
The chemical is usually a water based formula with certain solvents added as an aid in the cleaning and drying process.
After the chemical is applied, it's left for a while to give it time to work. Then a slightly damp bonnet is used to buff over the carpet using overlapping strokes.
The absorbent pad will pick up suspended dirt particles and cleaning solution. The pad must be changed when it becomes saturated and no longer picks up.
