When it comes to carpet cleaning, there are so many choices that you may have asked yourself what would be best for your flooring. This article is part one of a five-part series on different carpet-cleaning methods and the results one can expect.

 

About Hot Water Extraction (aka Steam Cleaning)

This first article is about hot water extraction, often falsely referred to as “steam cleaning.” The method only creates steam due to hot water being produced by the carpet-cleaning machine’s heat exchanger or diesel- or propanefired burner. That is to say, the steam is just a product of the hot water being produced!
Hot water extraction is frequently recommended in the carpet-cleaning industry for its ability to remove heavy soil and maintain cosmetic appearance. This method is also required by some carpet manufacturers to clean their brand of carpet. If hot water extraction is not used, it could possibly void the manufacturer’s warranty. Be sure to ask what type of warranty you get when purchasing carpet or any type of flooring.

 

What You Need for Successful Hot Water Extraction

Hot water extraction can definitely clean your carpet well! It works by injecting a cleaning solution into and on the carpet to remove the soil or stain. But first you must have the following four things:

  • 1. Heat is very important in order to remove the soil or stain from the carpet.
  • 2. Agitation is key in manipulating the carpet for “Ground In soil” contamination and stain removal. Also reduces technician fatigue if automated.
  • 3. Vacuum is considered the “clean-up crew” that removes the soil to the carpet-cleaning waste tank (contaminated water). Without vacuum, the soil would remain in the carpet and there would not be a cleaning process. Vacuum is more important than you may think—it makes the biggest difference from a soil-removal perspective. But when you combine heat, agitation and vacuum, it forms a cleaning process that works really well!
  • 4. The technician cleaning your carpet is the “brains” of the operation. Without a qualified technician, none of this would happen! The technician makes the decisions on how to use the equipment properly in removing stains and soil from the carpet without too much saturation, which can cause re-soiling issues. So the outcome is essentially determined by the technician.

 

How it Works

Once the technician sets up the equipment and machine, the machine will then begin to build heat between 180 and 230 degrees. The technician determines what temperature to clean. The heated cleaning solution is transferred from the heat exchange system via the solution line. It is then sprayed onto the surface of the carpet from the carpet-cleaning tool (either a wand or dual rotary system), where the heated solution begins to emulsify the soil and remove the stain. This process is repeated along with several “dry passes” to remove moisture from the carpet. The result is a clean, dry carpet. Some additional products could be used for other staining or odor issues. The technician determines what products to use and how much of them need to be used to achieve desired results.

You will probably find more companies that use hot water extraction than any other method of carpet cleaning. It’s “tried and true” and has been around for years! The carpet-cleaning industry as a whole has improved the hot water extraction method for years now. Many companies, including Aqualux, have spent time and money on the most up-to-date equipment and technology available today. Overall, hot water extraction seems to have become the “norm” and is highly requested by consumers.