Different Methods for Cleaning Your Carpets

Cleaning carpet isn’t normally a job that would require an outside service. But there are situations when running the vacuum simply won’t cut it. Some stains and odors require a professional touch. Here are some of the different methods for cleaning your carpets and when you should use them.

Carpet Shampooing

In previous generations, people would periodically shampoo their carpets to get them clean. This is a good temporary solution, but it leaves a residue and becomes sticky after drying. This method is also temporary, as the carpets can very easily become dirty again.

Encapsulation

One of the new methods of carpet cleaning, encapsulation uses a special detergent that crystallizes when it dries, soaking up the dirt and grime as it does so. This makes it easy to then brush or vacuum the carpet to complete the cleaning process. This method has taken over for carpet shampooing for the most part because of its decreased reliance on water. This method not only takes significantly less water but also dries much more quickly, allowing the use of the rooms sooner than other cleaning methods.

Hot Water Extraction

Sometimes called steam-cleaning, hot water extraction uses pressurized hot water to break up and dissolve dirt from carpets. This typically involves using a cleaning agent on the carpet to loosen up the grime. The biggest downside of this method is how long it can take to dry. It’s recommended to let as much time as possible pass before resuming normal use of the area. You’ll usually have to hire a company to complete the work, so choosing the right company is essential.

Bonnet Cleaning

Bonnet cleaning is good for surface-level cleaning. Bonnet cleaning uses a motorized machine to clean carpet in high-traffic areas where there isn’t always time to let things dry. Because this is only surface-level cleaning, dirt and grime usually return within short order, making this process something that businesses and hotels use to quickly clean before guests arrive.

Dry Carpet Cleaning

The last of the different methods for cleaning your carpets is called dry carpet cleaning. This is a relatively new method of carpet cleaning, but many manufacturers recommend it due to how easy it is to complete and to the lack of drying time required. This method requires you to scrub a cleaning compound or powder into the base of your carpet using a motorized rotating brush machine. This method is highly effective at removing set-in stains.