Carpet Cleaning Methods - Pros And Cons

Carpet Cleaning Methods - Pros And Cons


There are several carpet cleaning methods being used by various professional carpet cleaning companies and households today. Each kind of cleaning has its own peculiar benefits and drawbacks. This article will assist you to choose one of them, as we tabulate the most popular methods, and outline their perceived benefits and drawbacks. Santa Clarita Valley Carpet Cleaning

Basically, carpet cleaning methods may be placed in one of two categories: wet cleaning, or dry cleaning. Wet cleaning includes hot water extraction and also cleaning with an absorbent pad. Dry carpet cleaning involves the use of chemical powders or foams applied by special machines with counter rotating brushes, pads or cylinders.

Wet Cleaning

(a) Domestic hot water Extraction Or Deep Business

The carpet is first pre-conditioned having a chemical reagent in order to saponify or liquefy soils and oil based substances which might be present. Water at a temperature near its boiling point along with a pressure of 50 to 500 psig will be injected into the carpet and after a suitable dwell time (usually Ten to fifteen minutes), the resulting option would be extracted with a vacuum of 5 to 14 inches HG.

PROS

 Gets out soiling from deep-down in the carpet.
 Allows the use of high temperatures, pressures and chemical concentrates.
 Permits extended dwell times for reaction of cleaning solvents.
 Chemical reactivity facilitated by agitation with grooming tool or extraction wand.
 This will be the method most widely recommended by carpet manufacturers and industry cleaning experts and professionals.

CONS

 Relatively long drying time. This can be reduced with the use of powerful equipment by competent technicians
 Expensive equipment usually needed for maximum efficiency
 Relatively high-cost factors

(b) Cleaning Having an Absorbent Pad

This technique which is commonly known as bonnet cleaning, is often times used for routine light maintenance, but it's also used for regular carpet cleaning. The carpet is first vacuumed, along with chemical solution is sprayed unto it with a hand pump or electric sprayer. The answer is allowed to stay on the carpet for a suitable dwell or reaction time. The absorbent pad or bonnet, which seems like a towel, is positioned on the drive block of the rotary floor machine and spun over the carpet surface at 100 to 300 rpm. This action serves to impregnate the rug fibers with the chemical solution after which pick it up with the soils afterwards. Santa Clarita Valley Carpet Cleaning

PROS

 Fast. Simple. Inexpensive.
 Excellent results with lightly soiled carpets.

CONS

 Only cleans the very best one-third of the carpet fibers. Incompetent at reaching deeper down.
 Leaves dirt and chemicals to accumulate at the bottom of the carpet fibers near to the backing.

Dry Cleaning

(a) Cleaning Having an Absorbent Compound

A powder that is mixed with special solvents and soaps, is spread over the carpet and worked into the fibers with a special machine fitted with counter rotating brushes. The powder absorbs the soils and is also allowed to set on carpeting for 10 to 15 minutes after which vacuumed up.

PROS

 Very simple system. No special technical training required.
 Very fast drying. About 20 minutes required before the carpet could be back in service.

CONS

 Powder could be trapped in plush pile carpets and left to build up over time.
 Usually causes excessive dust inside the interior environment.
 Unable to wash deep down into the carpet

(b) Dry Foam or Rotary Shampoo Method

A foaming surfactant is applied to the carpet to engender solution or suspension of soils, which is then whipped into a foam and worked to the carpet fibers with the rotating brushes of your special machine. After having a short dwell time, the foam is extracted having a vacuum.

PROS

 Fast. Simple to apply. Inexpensive.
 Excellent agitation using these rotating brushes.
 Small level of moisture allows fast drying of carpet.

CONS

 Unable to achieve thorough soil extraction underneath the surface of the carpet.
 High temperatures usually not achieved.
 Excessive wetting possible with equipment malfunction.
 Brushes may cause damage to carpet fibers, particularly when new.

You will be wise to review these advantages and disadvantages before deciding which method you desire to be used to clean your carpet.

Victor Nugent is Owner and President of AJS Rug cleaning, Inc. with over A decade experience in the Carpet Cleaning business.