The Pros And Cons Of Different Carpet Cleaning Methods

You installed that long lasting carpet to, well, last a long time. Which is why you have it professionally cleaned at least once or twice a year. What you may not know is that your preferred method could actually be damaging your carpet or failing to clean it thoroughly enough to warrant a professional’s touch in the first place.

There are many different carpet cleaning methods out there, intended for dirt and grime elimination and Stain Removal. The type you select can have a serious impact on the health and well-being of your carpeting to the point of doing more harm than good in some cases.

Steam Cleaning

This is probably the most popular and best-known method for carpet cleaning. The technician introduces a chemical into the carpet which is used to turn the soil that is ground in the carpet into a liquid form. Hot boiling water is then used to clean the carpet at high velocity and allowed to sit for a short period of time, at which point all of the moisture is then extracted.

Pros and Cons

On the positive side, steam cleaning is ideal for getting at that hard to reach grime and bacteria through the use of hot temperatures, chemicals, and water pressure. There’s no need for any type of grooming tools which is easier on the fibers of the carpet and this method has become somewhat of an industry standard.

On the negative side, if the technician is poorly trained in this method of cleaning, the moisture can get trapped in and under the carpet, leaving it wet for long periods of time and prompting the growth of mold.

Dry Cleaning

A strong alternative to steam cleaning or any type of cleaning that relies on the use of moisture, dry cleaning requires the use of specific solvents and compounds designed to absorb the soil that can get into your carpet fibers. A special absorbent powder is used to extract the dirt and grime that has made their way into the carpet before being vacuumed up and your carpet left looking fresh and new.

Pros and Cons

There is little to no training needed to perform a dry cleaning of your carpet. It’s just sprinkling the cleaning agent, using an agitating machine to help the powder get deep into the fibers and a vacuum picks everything up after. This is also a quick method taking no more than a half hour to complete.

As to the negative aspects, the powder may not be removed fully which means it can accumulate in the carpet and fail to clean the whole carpet, especially deep down by the backing material. It could also trigger allergic reactions in those who are sensitive to dust.

Bonnet Cleaning

This method uses vacuuming first and then a chemical is sprayed on the carpet to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. After this time has passed, an absorbent pad is used to help drive the chemical into the fibers, spun along their surface at high speed which also helps to remove the soiling within.

Pros and Cons

Bonnet cleaning is good for routine maintenance and it’s relatively affordable to have performed. The only detriment to this method is that it mainly cleans the top of the fibers and can’t get much deeper.