There are four factors affecting the performance of cleaning, no matter what method is being used. These are Temperature, Agitation, Chemical, and Time (TACT). Each method has a different blend of the four.
Hot Water Extraction or 'Steam' Cleaning:
Portable or truck-mounted equipment is used to spray heated detergent solution into the carpet pile at a high pressure and immediately extracted along with the suspended soil particles.
This method relies mostly on heat, with chemical and time also playing a role. It is most recommended by manufacturers largely because there is little agitation involved, minimizing potential damage to the carpet fiber.
Other factors that affect the results of this method include operator skill, solution temperature, spray pressure, vacuum power, prespray: spraying solution applied before extracting.
Low-moisture (Dry) Cleaning (Oscillating Pad or Bonnet):
Low moisture cleaning employs an absorbent pad ('bonnet') attached to the bottom of a rotary machine. Detergent solution is sprayed onto the carpet and the rotary pad is used to agitate and remove the soil suspended in the solution from the carpet. Once one side of the pad gets soiled, the sides can be reversed. When both sides get soiled, the pad can be replaced and later cleaned. Chemical, time, and agitation are the factors most affecting the performance of this method.
The difference between the oscillating pad (which is very rare in Toronto) and the bonnet system is that while the bonnet only spins, the oscillating pad also goes up and down, adding to the agitation and going more deeply into the carpet. Oscillating pad therefore provides more thorough cleaning than regular bonnet cleaning, which is more of a surface cleaning.
This method is used in the regular maintainance of commercial buildings.
Shampoo:
In this method, detergent solution is released onto the carpet through openings in a rotary brush, whose rotary action converts the solution into foam and works it into the carpet. The foam is then vacuumed while sudsy, as the dirt is suspended in the foam.
Shampoo gets its level of effectiveness through the use of chemical and agitation.
Combination of Hot Water Extraction and Shampoo:
As the name implies, this method uses the Hot Water Extraction method and Shampoo. This method is specially effective for cleaning highly soiled carpets, with heavy oil/soil build-up.
The process has two steps:
•Shampoo using rotary brush to loosen soil
•Hot Water Extraction using water rather than detergent solution to remove
shampoo
Some units may combine both steps. It is usually expensive because of added labor costs.
TIP: For residential cleaning, Hot Water Extraction on it's own is usually powerful enough to clean most carpets and rugs.
Dry Powder (Absorbent Dry Compound):
A dry compound containing detergent/solvent is sprinkled onto the carpet and worked into the pile using machines. The soil particles get encapsulated in the absorbent dry compound and are removed by vacuuming. Since this method does not use any "wet" process, there is no danger of overwetting.
Encapsulation (Dry Foam):
In this method, detergent solution is released onto the carpet through openings in a rotary brush, whose rotary action converts the solution into foam and works it into the carpet. Once dry, vacuuming removes the residue containing loose, encapsulated soil. At times, chemicals may be added to the detergent solution to reduce odors, retard soiling, brighten colors and/or speed drying. The product we use reduces resoiling.
This method also uses chemical and agitation, and the main difference between encapsulation and shampoo is that the cleaning agents used are meant to be vacuumed when dry.
In-Plant Cleaning:
This type of cleaning is ideal for specialised cleaning of loose or valuable rugs. The rugs are sent through a duster which extracts soil more effectively than routine vacuuming. They are then washed and hung to dry in a controlled air environment.
The Firm may also offer special service for repair of valuable rugs, using special equipment.
TIP: In-plant cleaning is more expensive but you can save money by at least delivering and picking up the rugs yourself! And before you entrust your precious oriental rug to a carpet cleaner, check out the firm's credentials and reference!
Methods of Carpet Cleaning
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