Carpet Cleaner Buyer's Guide

SO WHAT REALLY IS THE BEST CLEANING METHOD?

DRY FOAM: The carpet cleaner applies shampoo to your carpet allows it to dry, and then, without rinsing sucks the dried shampoo into a vacuum. Can you imagine applying shampoo to your hair, allowing it to dry and then removing the shampoo from your head with a vacuum? This method leaves a dirty residue in your carpet, which is one reason that dry foam is not too effective.

However, in recent years new technologies in cleaning science have resurrected this cleaning method. It is referred to as encapsulation. The difference here is that instead of a sticky soil attracting residue, the remaining detergents and soils are encapsulated in a brittle polymer bubble. When you vacuum after the carpet is dry, this brittle polymer residue easily breaks off the carpet fiber removing the remaining soil and detergent residue with it.

This is a fast drying method. This method is commonly used in commercial settings where appearance management and low downtime are high priorities. It can be used in the home as well in most cases.

ABSORBANT PAD (BONNET CLEANING): This method is similar to dry foam except the company sets a highly absorbent large cotton bonnet pad on your carpet and with a floor polishing buffing machine on top ‘buffs’ the carpet. The rotating motion causes the bonnet to absorb dirt from your carpet. This is commonly referred to as bonnet cleaning. This is also a VLM or very low moisture cleaning method as well.

For some time many carpet cleaners (myself included) bashed this method of cleaning. However, it is recognized by the carpets mills and the IICRC as an acceptable cleaning method. That is because in a controlled, independent laboratory test the efficacy of this method has been proven.

Again, because this is a VLM (very low moisture) method of cleaning, it is fast drying.

DRY ABSORBENT POWDER: The dry compound method spreads a moist absorbent powder through the carpet. The powder is allowed to dry and then sucked into a vacuum. This method leaves dry sponge particles at the base of the carpet yarn. This method is great for sweeping warehouse floors but for carpets, it is not very effective.

HOT WATER EXTRACTION: This is a fancy way of saying that a hot water cleaning solution under high pressure is forced into your carpet and then sucked out of your carpet.

Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer recommends the hot water extraction method, which research indicates provides the best capability for cleaning. It is the only method that rinses your carpet of dirt, harmful bacteria, fungus, chemicals, pollens, and tobacco residue and dust mites. It is also the primary method we use at Santos Carpet Cleaning for restorative cleaning.

Some people believe that hot water damages your carpet, but this isn’t true. By washing and then rinsing your carpets with hot water, your carpet is cleaned completely in the same way that the person who showers and then rinses off the dirt and the soap will be much cleaner than the person who takes a sponge bath.

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