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Posted on February 29, 2024

Before you invest in professional carpet cleaning, it’s important to understand the different methods used for cleaning dirty carpets. Of course, your carpet cleaning professional at Mint will know exactly which method is best for your home, but it’s still great knowledge to have.

In this guide, we’ll explore a range of carpet cleaning methods used by the pros, as well as the pros and cons of each.

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5 Carpet Cleaning Methods Explained

Most professionals turn to the traditional steam cleaning method, but did you know that there are actually 5 common carpet cleaning methods used by professional technicians? These include:

  • Steam Carpet Cleaning
  • Carpet Shampooing
  • Dry Carpet Cleaning
  • Encapsulation Carpet Cleaning
  • Bonnet Carpet Cleaning

Steam Carpet Cleaning (Hot Water Extraction)

Carpet steam cleaning home

Steam cleaning, also known as hot water extraction, is considered the best option for cleaning carpets. That’s why professionals, including Mint technicians, turn to steam cleaning above all other methods. But what makes steam cleaning so special?

First of all, it doesn’t damage carpet fibers and it doesn’t leave behind a residue. But more importantly, steam cleaning is ideal for removing caked-in dirt and stains, and it leaves carpets looking brand new.

With steam cleaning, carpets are pre-sprayed with eco-friendly detergents to loosen built-in dirt and long-standing stains. Once the pre-spray has been set, carpets are injected with hot water, followed by extraction from high-power suction equipment.

Noisiness is the only real downside of steam cleaning. The equipment can be quite loud and interruptive, so don’t plan on getting much done during a steam cleaning session. Luckily, this method is quick and effective, and Mint professional cleaners can finish in about an hour.

Carpet Shampooing

Carpet shampooing is an old-school carpet cleaning method that’s been around for decades. While it’s not as effective as steam cleaning, it’s still used by some professionals, especially for commercial buildings with lots of foot traffic.

With this method, carpets are soaked with a foam-like chemical that is brushed into the carpets using a rotary machine. After the foam has dried, the pros remove it using a wet vacuum.

This equipment is tough on carpets, so it’s not suitable for delicate carpets and rugs. Aside from its rough nature, this method isn’t ideal for a few reasons. Shampooing tends to leave behind a sticky residue, and it’s not nearly as effective at cleaning as steam cleaning.

Dry Carpet Cleaning

Dry carpet cleaning is a newer technique used by carpet cleaning companies. It’s not as effective as steam cleaning, but the upside is that carpets take essentially no time to dry.

With dry cleaning, carpets are covered in a dry detergent compound that works to open carpet fibers. Once this compound has set, an industrial vacuum removes the mixture along with dirt, debris, and stains.

This is called “dry” cleaning because only a small amount of water is used. For this reason, drying time is only about 20 minutes, but don’t expect to get the same brand-new look for your carpets that you would with steam cleaning.

Encapsulation Carpet Cleaning

The encapsulation cleaning method is very similar to dry cleaning, but there’s one big difference. With this method, an encapsulation chemical is used, which is a foam that crystallises before it’s extracted by a vacuum.

The only real advantages of this method are low moisture and quick drying. Aside from that, you can’t expect much in terms of results; it’s not nearly as effective as other methods, particularly steam cleaning.

Bonnet Carpet Cleaning

Bonnet cleaning is basically the same as the encapsulation method, but bonnet cleaning focuses only on the carpet surface. This method is great for routine maintenance, but not so great for deep cleaning.

Need Your Carpets Cleaned? Contact Mint Today!

There’s no denying that steam cleaning is the best method for giving your carpets that brand-new look. For more information on our steam cleaning methods, get in touch with us today to get a free quote on your next carpet cleaning project!