Carpet Cleaning – Carpet Cleaning Methods Pros & Cons

Dry foam
With this method, a shampoo is applied directly to your carpet. Once the shampoo is dry, the cleaning provider will then vacuum then the shampoo. There is no rinsing involved with this method.

Pros

• Inexpensive method
• Low moisture
• Dries fast

Cons

• Minimal soil is removed
• Leaves an invisible residue which attracts soil
• Rapid re-soiling may occur
• Surface cleaning only
• Could lead to embedded stains resurfacing

Dry, absorbent powder

The dry-compound method is accomplished by spreading a moist, absorbent powder over your carpet. The powder is then allowed to dry. After drying has been completed, the provider this vacuums the carpet areas.

Pros

• Inexpensive method
• Low moisture
• Dries fast

Cons

• Minimal soil is removed from carpet
• Leaves dry sponge particles within carpet
• Surface cleaning only, not deep cleaning
• Could lead to embedded stains resurfacing

Absorbent pad (bonnet cleaning)

A large cotton bonnet in the shape of a circle is placed on a special tool causing the bonnet to rotate. The rotating action causes the bonnet to absorb soil from your carpet surface fibers.

Pros

• Inexpensive method
• Low moisture method

Cons

Minimal soil is removed
• Could lead to deeply embedded stains resurfacing
• The bonnet must be frequently changed to avoid spreading soil around the carpet

Hot water extraction (steam cleaning)

This is the most popular carpet cleaning method in today’s market. With this carpet cleaning method, a mixture of hot water and carpet cleaning cleaning solution under high pressure is applied to your carpet and then extracted from your carpet.

Pros

• Maximum soil removal (deep cleaning)
• Recommended by leading carpet manufacturers
• Most common cleaning method

Cons

• Over-wetting the carpet could lead to serious carpet repair problems
• Longer drying period compared to other methods (typically a few hours)
• Cost more than any other cleaning method

The best way to ensure you achieve your carpet cleaning goal is to simply ask the provider what carpet cleaning methods do they provide. Be sure the carpet cleaning method you select will achieve your goal.