A busy home means a lot of foot traffic, which can make your beautiful carpet look dull and dirty.
When it comes to keeping your floors clean and hygienic, occasional professional carpet cleaning can make all the difference. Before choosing the best carpet cleaning methods for your home, read on to learn more about the five most common methods for cleaning your flooring to choose the one that's right for you.
1. Hot Water Extraction (Steam Cleaning)
This method is one of the most well-known ways to clean carpets. High-pressure hot water is used to agitate the carpet fibers, dissolving dirt and grime that can penetrate deep into the floors. This method also involves applying a cleaning agent to stains or soiled areas. Then, a brush agitates the carpet and the stains are rinsed. Once the cleaning agent is applied to the carpet, it is washed using special carpet cleaning equipment. The carpet is thoroughly rinsed and left to dry, ideally in a ventilated or air-conditioned room. This process usually takes about two hours on average, but it also takes at least four hours (sometimes more) for the carpet to be completely dry.
2. Shampooing
Shampooing your carpets used to be the most popular way to keep them clean. Many homeowners rent a carpet shampooer occasionally. This process is still effective for removing severe stains and other problems, but also has drawbacks. The shampooing process uses a thick, wet foam to clean your carpets. The problem lies in the shampoo ingredients, which can be quite sticky and take a long time to dry. No rinsing is done after shampooing the carpets, so you might end up with sticky, wet floors.
3. Encapsulation Carpet Cleaning Methods
One of the most popular methods of carpet cleaning is foam encapsulation. This process uses a synthetic detergent that eventually crystallizes into powder. Once the detergent has turned into powder, it encapsulates all loose dirt particles which are then vacuumed up. This process has become very popular over the years, mainly because it is fast and requires no drying time. Encapsulation carpet cleaning techniques have surpassed shampooing and steam cleaning to become the preferred method for many homeowners. Since the amount of water required is significantly reduced, the drying time is practically unmatched. The encapsulation method is also commonly called "chemical dry cleaning" of carpets. It is an effective way to remove stubborn stains, but some people claim it is not the best way to deep clean carpets.
4. Commercial Carpet Cleaning by Bonnet Method
You have probably never heard of the bonnet method, but that is because this carpet cleaning process is generally used in businesses like hotels. This method involves cleaning the top of the carpet fibers with a heavy-duty machine. The cleaner uses a spinning pad that is soaked in a carpet cleaning solution. The pad is designed to apply the cleaner while it absorbs and picks up dirt from the surface. The bonnet method offers a quick solution for cleaning large areas, which explains why it is so popular for use in hotels and commercial buildings. The process does not require much moisture, which means the carpet dries very quickly. You will not get a deep clean if you choose the bonnet method, so it is best to use it only if you need to clean a large area in a short time. The cleaning agent also tends to leave residues, making it not recommended for most households.
5. Dry Carpet Cleaning Method
This method is another popular choice that has become more popular in recent years. With a combination of effective cleaning and fast drying time, dry carpet cleaning is a good option for many homeowners. Dry carpet cleaning technology appeared in the 80s and since then, many powders and other cleaning products have been invented. A special cleaning product or powder is applied to the bottom part of the carpet using a motorized counter-rotating brush attached to a machine. This rotating brush helps to loosen carpet fibers while the cleaning compound settles deep into the carpet and reaches the bottom. This results in a deep clean that extends to the floor. Today, most cleaning products are made of biodegradable and safe ingredients that act like a sponge to absorb dissolved dirt. Once the process is complete, the remaining cleaning compound is removed. This carpet cleaning method is safe for all types of carpets and can be used by businesses and individuals thanks to its simple and fast method, with no drying time. Some carpet cleaning companies may use a different formula than those used by others, as well as various cleaning tools and machines. The bottom line is that dry carpet cleaning is an effective and safe option that can be done quickly.
