Part of an original article by http://totherescuebirmingham.com/
You can choose from two primary methods: Dry cleaning or Hot water extraction (Steam Cleaning).
First I’ll explain dry cleaning. Many people believe that dry cleaning your carpet is like dry cleaning you clothing. It’s not the same. All carpet cleaning methods use some water one form or another.
Here are four methods of dry cleaning carpet
1 ) Dry foam method. When a carpet cleaner uses dry foam, he applies shampoo to your carpet, allows it to dry, and then 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 can leave a residue in your carpet, which is one reason dry foam is not very effective.
2 ) Dry-Chem method is similar to dry foam. The major difference is that when a dry-chemical is used, the company sets a large cotton bonnet on your carpet. Using a machine, the bonnet spins form side to side, absorbing the dirt in the carpet. After the bonnet is saturated with dirt another cotton bonnet is applied. Bonnet cleaning is like trying to use a large towel to rub the dirt out of your carpet. Like dry foam, its not very effective for deep down restorative cleaning.
3 ) Dry-compound method spreads an absorbent mixture that looks like wet sawdust all over your carpeting. Then the machine brushes the mixture into the carpet, which in theory causes dirt to absorb in the mixture. When the mixture has dried, a vacuum cleaner sucks the material out of the carpeting. Because the carpet is not rinsed in any way, this method is not very effective.
4) Encapsulation when done correctly the carpet is pre vacuumed. Studies show 79% of soil is dry and can be removed with effective vacuuming. Next a cleaning solution that is blended with a crystallizer breaks down, suspends, then as it dries crystallizes and encapsulates the oily soils and cleaning solutions. During the next vacuuming the encapsulated soils are vacuumed away. This method is very effective for interim maintenance and can effectively delay the need for restorative cleaning but not eliminate it. (This is the process that QJS uses for our regular commercial maintenance jobs)
The second carpet cleaning method is called hot water extraction (or Steam Cleaning).
This is a fancy way of saying that a hot water cleaning solution under high pressure is forced into the carpet and then extracted (sucked) immediately back out of the carpet. This method is also referred to as steam cleaning even though steam is not used.
Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, recommends hot water extraction, and you can choose from two different types, Portable extraction. which is done with a small machine, or truck mount extraction which means the large cleaning machine is mounted in a truck or van.
Not surprisingly. the truck mount extraction cleans much better because it heats the water to a higher temperature and shoots the cleaning solution into the carpet at higher pressure which breaks up the dirt, bacteria and pollens. Then the machine uses higher suction to draw the dirt out of the carpet. (This is the method that QJS uses)
Truck Mounted Hot Water Extraction
No question, the most effective way to clean carpeting is with a hot-water unit mounted in a truck. It’s the most powerful cleaning machine on the market and the only machine that thoroughly cleans your carpet and rids it of dirt, harmful bacteria, fungus. chemicals, pollen and tobacco residue.
Some people believe that hot water damages your carpet, but this isn’t true. By washing and then rinsing your carpet with hot water we clean your carpet completely in the same way that the person who showers and then rinses off the dirt and soap will be much cleaner than the person who takes only a sponge bath.