WHICH METHOD CLEANS BEST?

Dry foam: The carpet cleaner applies shampoo to your carpet, allows it to dry, and then, without rinsing, sucks the dried shampoo into a vacuum. Can you imagine applying shampoo to your hair, allowing it to dry and then removing the shampoo from your head with a vacuum? This method leaves a dirty residue in your carpet, which is one reason dry foam is not too effective.

Absorbent pad (bonnet cleaning): This method is similar to dry foam, except that the company sets a large cotton bonnet on your carpet. The rotating motion causes the bonnet to absorb dirt from your carpet. Bonnet cleaning is like trying to use a large cotton towel or mop to rub the dirt out of your carpet. It is not very effective.

Dry, absorbent powder: The dry compound method spreads a moist, absorbent powder through the carpet. The powder is allowed to dry and then is sucked into a vacuum. This method leaves dry sponge particles at the base of the carpet yarn. And because the carpet is not rinsed, this method is not very effective.

Hot water extraction: This is a fancy way of saying that a hot water cleaning solution under high pressure is forced into your carpet and then sucked out of your carpet.

In a recent Technical Bulletin, Shaw Industries, the worlds largest carpet manufacturer, "recommends the hot water extraction system, which research indicates provides the best capability for cleaning."

You can choose from two different types: Truck-mount extraction,
which is done with a large machine mounted in a truck or van. Or
portable extraction, which is done with a small, hand-held unit.

On which type to choose, Shaw's Technical Bulletin states: "[cleaning] can be done from a truck mounted unit outside the facility with only the hose and wand brought inside, or where a truck mounted unit cannot reach , a portable, self-contained system can be brought into the facility."

As you can see, Shaw recommends the truck mounted unit first. And this isn't surprising. You see; the truck mounted unit cleans much better because it heats the water to a higher temperature--and shoots the cleaning solution into the carpet at higher pressures. This breaks up the dirt, bacteria, chemicals and pollens in the carpet. Then the machine uses high suction to draw the dirt and chemicals out of your carpet. This is the method our company uses.

No question, the most effective way to clean carpeting is with a hot-water unit mounted in a truck. It's the most powerful cleaning machine on the market and the only machine that cleans your carpet of dirt, harmful bacteria, fungus, chemicals, pollens and tobacco residue.

Some people believe that hot water damages your carpet, but this isn't true. By washing and then rinsing your carpet with hot water, we clean your carpet completely -- in the same way that the person who showers and then rinses off the dirt and soap, will be much cleaner than the person who takes only a sponge bath.