Myths, legends and misconceptions about carpet cleaning.  “Steam cleaning soaks the pad.”  “Dry cleaning smears the dirt around.”  Years ago these two statements were true, but not today!

Being a consumer your cleaning choices are unlimited.  You can rent a shampooer, buy a portable steam cleaner from your local department store or you can hire a professional.  The professional will be bias towards his or her own method of cleaning.  I am going to provide you with information on the most popular styles or carpet cleaning procedures.  3R Carpet Care offers both dry cleaning and steam cleaning.

First I’ll explain dry cleaning.  Many people believe that dry cleaning your carpet is like dry cleaning your clothes.  This is not true.  All carpet cleaning methods use water in one form or another.  Here are two types of dry cleaning.

The dry compound method (Host or Capture) spreads an absorbent mixture that looks like wet sawdust all over your carpet.  Then the machine brushes over the carpet, which in theory causes dirt to absorb into the mixture.  When the mixture dries, a vacuum is used to extract the material out of the carpet.

The dry chem. method sprays either a carbonated or citrus solution onto the carpet.  Then a large cotton bonnet pad is put on the carpet.  Using a machine, the bonnet spins from side to side, absorbing the dirt.  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.

Dry cleaning is a good surface cleaning only.

Now steam cleaning.
Shaw Industries the largest carpet manufacturer recommends steam cleaning (a fancy way of saying “hot water extraction”) and you can choose from two types.  Portable extraction, which is done with a small machine you can rent or buy from your local store.  Or truck mount extraction, which means the large cleaning machine, is mounted in a truck or van. 

The truck mount machine, using rotary jet extraction, cleans the best because the water is heated by the machine to a higher temperature and shoots the cleaning solution into the carpet at a higher pressure.  Then using strong suction the machine will extract the water, dirt and solution out of the carpet, leaving it clean and practically dry.  Some people believe that hot water damages your carpet, but this is not true.

Years ago cleaners were using inferior cleaning agents and equipment.  The carpet would be left with a heavy residue.  This would cause the carpet to re-soil rapidly and would also break down the secondary backing of the carpet, causing it to wear out faster.  But with today’s technology, the cleaning agents are safer, the equipment is more sophisticated and the technicians are more educated.

No question the most effective way to clean the carpet is with a truck mounted machine.  Methods that use cold or warm water, remove dirt, but are not as effective as the Truck Mounted Equipment.