Learn the pros and cons of various carpet cleaning methods from professionals

Professional carpet cleaners use different methods to remove tough stains and give your carpet a thorough cleaning. In this article, we will discuss the four common carpet cleaning methods, their effectiveness, suitability, and pros and cons. So read on!

Carpet Shampooing

• Carpet shampooing is one of the oldest carpet cleaning methods. As the name suggests, this method involves the use of a shampoo that has been specially made for cleaning carpets. The main ingredient of the shampoo cleaner is the surfactant Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which acts to remove dirt and debris from the carpets.  

Sometimes, an optical brightener is also added to the shampoo which makes the carpet appear brighter and shinier. It does so by converting invisible UV light into visible light which adds brightness to the carpet. 

• Shampooing is performed by using a rotary floor machine. They have a stiff spinning brush attached that removes embedded dust by spinning in circles. Carpet shampooing is effective for breaking down heavy soils and can be used as a preconditioning step for heavily soiled carpets. It is then followed by hot water extraction to remove the broken soil, grime, and dust and to suck out the residual shampoo from the carpet. 

This method is commonly used for cleaning carpets that receive very high traffic such as those in restaurants or waiting areas of offices. Carpet cleaning has the following pros and cons:

The Good:

• Relatively fast method. More square feet of the area can be cleaned using this method.
• Heavy soils and stains are broken down and removed effectively. 

The Bad:

• Shampoo cleaning is not ideal for cleaning carpets with delicate fibers (such as wool) as mechanical agitation can damage the fibers and lead to a matted appearance of the carpet. 
• The carpet shampoo machines weigh around 75-100 lbs. The weight of the machine as well as the aggressive brushes can damage the carpets. 
• If the detergents are not removed thoroughly from the carpets, it can lead to re-soiling and discoloration along with damage to the fibers. 
• Carpet shampooing has to be accompanied by a secondary cleaning method, as this method alone cannot get rid of dirt and grime effectively. 

Bonnet cleaning

• In this method, a rotary machine is used that is equipped with a brush or pad. The pad dislodges the soiling from the carpet and mixes it with the carpet cleaning foam. Bonnet cleaning is performed by first vacuuming the carpet and then spraying a chemical solution on the carpet which breaks down the soiling. The solution stays on for 30-60 minutes. 

After that, the absorbent pad is attached to the drive block of the rotary floor machine and spun over the carpet at a speed of 100 – 300 rpm. The spinning action distributes the chemical solution so it works better. Later on, the solution is sucked by extraction. 

• Bonnet cleaning has the following pros and cons:

The Good:

• Easy to do and gives fast results
• Efficient for quick touch-ups of a moderately dirty carpet. 

The Bad:

• Incorrect cleaning can lead to the development of fuzzing or swirl marks on the carpet. 
• Not suitable for heavily soiled carpets. 
• Can damage the fibers of delicate carpets. 

To learn more about different carpet cleaning methods, contact Love Your Carpets. We provide professional carpet cleaning services in Las Vegas and nearby areas. Call us at 702-898-6070 and get a free estimate of our services.