There are many methods available today for carpet cleaning.  Deciding on the right method can be confusing.  Some methods dry more quickly, while others help carpets stay cleaner longer.  All cleaning methods have some advantages and all cleaning methods have certain drawbacks.

"Hot Water Extraction," often referred to as "Steam Cleaning" is the method most widely recommended by carpet manufacturers.  It is the method that most closely resembles how we wash our clothing or other textiles.  The main drawback to this method is that it requires well trained technicians and proper equipment to avoid overwetting or other problems.  However, under the right circumstances, no other method can match this process for soil removal, spot removal, sanitizing, deodorizing and extended performance.

Proper "Steam Cleaning"  normally includes the following:

1. Pre-vacuuming - to remove loose, dry soil prior to wetting the carpet

2. Pre-treating - to break the bond between soil and carpet fibers.

3. Spotting - to aid spot removal by utilizing appropriate solutions.

4. Stain or restoration treatments -to chemically alter stains and render them invisible (like bleach does for textiles), usually at an additional cost.

5. Rinsing and extraction - to flush out soil, spots and soap residues while neutralizing ph to minimize re-soiling and speed the drying process.

6. Fiber protective treatment - to extend carpet life and enhance beauty and performance by inhibiting re-soiling and staining.

7. Grooming - to speed drying and provide an aesthetically pleasing finish.

Other Carpet Cleaning Methods

1. "Shampooing" is a method that has been around longer than any other modern carpet cleaning method.  It has lost much of it's popularity, however, because of its tendancy to promote rapid resoiling due to the large amounts of soap residues left in the carpet fibers. 

2.  Another popular carpet cleaning processes is “Spin Bonnet cleaning”, or "Absorbent Pad cleaning" where the carpet is pretreated with a cleaning solution then “wiped” clean with an absorbent pad attached to a buffer. Chem-Dry is a familiar brand name that often utilizes this process because of its quick drying time.  

3. "Absorbent Compound" is another low moisture process that utilizes a compound that is worked into the carpet fibers and then vacuumed out after absorbing soil. Particulate build-up makes this process problematic over time. 

4.  One of the newest methods is called "Encapsulation" cleaning.  Often preferred for commercial carpeting, this quick drying method utilizes polymers in the cleaning solution to "encapsulate" soil upon drying which is then vacuumed up.

Which method is right for you depends on your needs and objectives.