It depends on the type of carpet, the setting and the amount of traffic it receives.
There are two main methods that we use for carpet cleaning.
Hot Water Extraction- Also known as steam cleaning. A pre-treatment is applied to the carpet to loosen and suspend the soils, it is then sprayed with very hot water and extracted with a powerful truck mounted vacuum. This is the method recommended by most carpet manufacturers and we feel that it is usually the best method for residential carpet.
Dry or Low moisture- Also called encapsulation or oscillating pad cleaning. A pre-treatment is applied to the carpet to loosen and suspend the soils, It is then brushed into the carpet with a rotating brush or pad machine. You may ask where all the soil goes? Don’t you take it with you? Well, the way it works is that the chemicals bond with the soils while it’s wet and crystallizes when it dries. The remaining dirty crystals are vacuumed up during regular maintenance. We feel it’s better suited for commercial carpet or lightly soiled residential carpet if very fast dry time is needed.
Not all carpet cleaners are the same, here are a few tips when choosing one.
They should be certified by the IICRC.
A truck mounted hot water extraction machine should be used whenever possible.
Avoid harsh chemicals. Many of today’s “Greener” alternatives are very effective if used properly.
Check online reviews and references.
Look for a company that offers a real money back guarantee.
Mike Morgos
Steam Deluxe Carpet Cleaning
770-549-9613
steamdeluxe.com