The Basics of Hot Water Extraction Carpet Cleaning
All Kleen Carpet Cleaning uses the hot water extraction method to clean carpets. It is recommended as the professional cleaning of choice by most carpet manufacturers to keep your carpets looking their best.
So what exactly is hot water extraction cleaning?
A truck mounted cleaning machine heats water to a sanitizing temperature. The cleaning technician uses the cleaning tool to inject hot water and cleaning solution into the carpet while almost simultaneously extracting the solution and water back out of the carpet. This allows for sanitized and quick drying carpet. The hot temperatures of the water create steam leading some people to call it steam cleaning, but it is the hot water doing the sanitizing.
How is hot water extraction different from steam cleaning?
Steam is a result of super hot water so it is hotter. Since steam is much hotter, it can end up setting stains into the carpet instead of removing them. Steam also does not give a thorough rinse of cleaning solvents like hot water does.
Why is hiring a pro better than renting a machine?
- Higher Powered Machinery: The truck mounted systems of a reputable professional carpet cleaning company have much more powerful suction than home systems or rentable systems. The only way to truly get to the deepest spot in your carpet is with a high powered truck mounted system.
- Faster Drying: A high powered truck mounted system sucks water back out of the carpet at a higher speed and suction rate. With home carpet cleaners and rented carpet cleaners the carpet will stay wet longer and makes it easier to over-wet the carpet. It is detrimental to leave the carpet wet for long periods of time or use too much water as it could cause smelly, bubbling, or molding carpet.
- Operator Error: The best way to avoid user error and over-wetting of the carpet is to have a trained and trustworthy professional cleaning technician clean the carpets. It is not uncommon for a home owner to rent or purchase a carpet cleaner only to need to call in a professional carpet cleaner because their floors are in worse shape than before they attempted to clean their carpet on their own.
Hot water extraction is the best method of deep carpet cleaning. Ideally you should hire a trained professional to clean your carpets with hot water extraction once a year and more often for super high traffic areas and homes with allergy sufferers or people with special health needs.