Carpets can be counted amongst the most expensive decorations of a home and are often the first things to get noticed when people step into your house.
It is crucial to keep them dirt free and hygienic at all times, to maintain an aesthetic ambiance in the house.
Here is some of the most significant carpet cleaning methods of 2014.
1.
Hot Water Extraction Method / Steam Cleaning Method: This process involves spraying of hot water detergent solution at high pressure at a carpet and then quickly vacuuming it of all dirt and soil particles.
Equipment used for spraying is normally portable, or truck mounted.
These vacuuming machines may come equipped with rotary or other unsettling devices, to push the solution into the carpet, which loosen dirt and soil.
Note: Steam cleaning is a misleading term because actual steam is never used to clean the carpet.
Heat generated from actual steam is more likely to damage the carpet than help it.
This process requires professional aid and should not be tried at home.
Always remember that truck mounted equipments draw power from the vehicle's engine, rather than your domestic electric supply, for best cleaning.
If a rotating or unsettling brush is used for carpet cleaning, there is a chance of significant damage to the carpet, if the equipment is used incorrectly.
2.
Shampoo / Detergent Method: A shampoo (read detergent) solution is unleashed on a carpet through cavities in a rotating brush.
This revolving action of the brush on carpet, helps in foaming, thereby pushing it deeper into the carpet.
After drying out, a vacuum machine is used to pull out dry shampoo residue, which has encapsulated all the dirt and grime.
There are some setbacks of this technique:

• Sometimes, chemical solutions are mixed in the detergent for reducing after-cleaning odor, brightening its color or for speed drying it.
  
• If vacuuming is done in an incorrect fashion, it can lead to some extensive damages.
  
• If the carpet is not cleaned thoroughly, residue left behind, might act as a dirt magnet, leading to a speedy re-soiling process.
  

3.
Amalgamation of Hot Water Extraction and Shampoo Method: This process, as the name suggests, is a combination of the first two methods.
It should only be used to clean extremely dirty carpets or rugs with heavy oil accumulation.
Two main steps of this process are:

• Shampooing using rotary brush equipment, to loosen dirt and soil accumulated in the carpet.
  
• Hot Water Extraction of Carpet, using water, instead of soap to recover the carpet.
  For thorough cleaning, both water and detergent may be used, but it will significantly raise the cost of cleaning, as it is labor intensive.
  

4.
Spin Bonnet Cleaning Method: This route is similar to the Shampoo / Detergent Method.
In this process, a spongy (read absorbent) pad called 'bonnet' is fixed to the bottom of the rotary brush machine.
Detergent solution is then leashed onto the carpet through a spray can, while a rotary 'bonnet' is used to absorb and extract all the loose dirt and soil from the carpet.
After one side of this 'bonnet' gets profusely soiled, it can be reversed and used.
Once both sides get soiled, it can be replaced with a new 'bonnet'.
Note: Some 'bonnets' have scrubbing strips on both sides for best cleaning.
Soiled bonnets can be re-used after cleaning.
This method is usually used for cleaning carpets in large households or official buildings.
5.
In-Plant Cleaning Method: This method is ideal for cleaning pricey and valuable carpets.
In this process, the carpets are passed through a dusting machine, which is proven to be very effective for regular vacuuming.
After being vacuumed, the carpets are washed and hung in a hygienic and air controlled environment.
This process is however the costliest, among all methods listed above.
Note: Dropping and picking up the carpet yourself from the cleaning service can significantly reduce the cost of this process.