If you are comparing the types of carpet cleaning methods, the names get confusing fast. Steam cleaning, hot water extraction, low-moisture, bonnet, encapsulation: some of these are the same thing, and some are very different. This guide explains how each method works, what it does well, and where it falls short, in plain terms. Below you will find where our own process, used by Brooke’s Chem-Dry in Lawrence, fits among them.
Types of Carpet Cleaning Methods at a Glance
There are four main methods you will run into, plus the one we use. Each of them solves the same problem, getting soil out of carpet, in a different way.
- Hot water extraction (steam cleaning): hot water and solution go into the carpet, then get pulled back out.
- Low-moisture cleaning: a broad group of methods that use little water, including encapsulation and absorbent compounds.
- Bonnet cleaning: a spinning pad that absorbs soil from the top of the carpet.
- Shampoo cleaning: foam is worked into the carpet, then removed.
- Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE): the Chem-Dry process, which uses carbonation and extraction.
Hot Water Extraction (Steam Cleaning)
Hot water extraction is what most people picture when they hear “steam cleaning.” The machine sprays hot water mixed with a cleaning solution into the carpet, then a strong vacuum pulls the water, and the soil in it, back out. The name “steam” is a habit. The process uses hot water.
What it does well
It is a well-known method that works on many kinds of carpet, and the rinsing action reaches below the surface of the pile.
The tradeoff
Water is the tradeoff. The more water goes in, the more has to come back out, and whatever is left stays in the carpet until it evaporates. Steam cleaning can leave carpet damp for up to 12 to 24 hours, so you plan around the room being out of use.
Low-Moisture Carpet Cleaning
Low-moisture is a label for a family of methods that use much less water than hot water extraction. Because there is less water to dry, the carpet is back in use sooner. The methods inside this group work differently from each other, so “low-moisture” on a quote tells you about the water, not about how the soil is actually removed. Ask the company what the process is.
Encapsulation
Encapsulation is one low-moisture method. A cleaning product is applied and worked in, it surrounds the soil as it dries, and the dried particles are vacuumed up afterward. It is a quick method and suits light, regular maintenance. Heavily soiled carpet may need a method that rinses.
Absorbent compound cleaning
This method spreads a lightly dampened absorbent powder over the carpet, brushes it in, and vacuums it up once it has taken in soil. It uses very little water. The cleaning power is limited to what the compound can take up, so it is best suited to light soil.
Bonnet Cleaning
A bonnet machine is a rotary floor machine with an absorbent pad on the bottom. The pad spins across the carpet, picks up soil from the top of the pile, and gets rinsed or swapped as it fills. Bonnet cleaning is common in commercial settings because it is fast and the carpet dries quickly. It cleans the surface of the pile rather than the base of it, so it is often used as a maintenance method between deeper cleanings.
Shampoo Cleaning
Shampooing is an older method. A foaming detergent is worked into the carpet with a brush or machine, and the foam, with the soil it picked up, is removed. The main concern is what stays behind. Detergent left in carpet can attract dirt, which is why carpet cleaned this way can look dirty again quickly if the product is not fully removed.
Hot Carbonating Extraction: The Chem-Dry Process
Brooke’s Chem-Dry uses Hot Carbonating Extraction, or HCE. Our core cleaner, The Natural®, uses carbonation to help lift dirt out of the carpet fibers, and extraction pulls it away. Instead of relying on a large volume of water or soapy detergents, the process works on dirt particles at the microscopic level.
- About 80% less water than steam cleaning. There is less water to dry.
- Dry in about 1 to 2 hours. Steam cleaning can take up to 12 to 24 hours.
- No dirt-attracting residue. The Natural® does not rely on soapy detergents or harsh chemicals.
- Non-living allergens. The process removes non-living allergens from carpet.
You can read more in our article on hot carbonated carpet cleaning or on the page comparing Chem-Dry and steam cleaning.
How to Choose Among the Types of Carpet Cleaning Methods
No method is right for every carpet. These questions narrow it down.
What is the carpet made of?
Different fibers react differently to water and cleaning products. Check for a manufacturer’s cleaning recommendation, and tell the cleaner what the carpet is. Area rugs can be even more particular, which is why we have a separate page for rug cleaning in Lawrence, KS.
How much soil is in it?
Light soil can be handled by a maintenance method such as bonnet cleaning or encapsulation. Carpet that has gone a long time between cleanings, or has soil worked deep into the pile, needs a method that actually removes soil from the fibers.
How soon do you need the room?
This is where methods differ most. Methods that use a lot of water leave carpet damp longer. If you need the room back the same day, ask each company how long its method takes to dry.
What else needs cleaning?
Furniture fabric is cleaned differently from carpet. Upholstery has fabric codes that tell a cleaner what is appropriate, and our page on upholstery cleaning in Lawrence, KS explains how we approach it.
Why the Method Matters Less Than the Result
It is easy to get caught up in the names. What you actually want is a carpet that is clean, dry soon, and does not collect dirt faster afterward. Judge any method by those three results: how much soil came out, how long the carpet stayed wet, and whether anything was left in the carpet that attracts dirt. If you are also weighing price, our guide to carpet cleaning cost in Lawrence, KS explains what drives it, and our list of benefits of professional carpet cleaning covers why it is worth doing at all.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carpet Cleaning Methods
What is the most common type of carpet cleaning method?
Hot water extraction, often called steam cleaning, is the method most people have heard of. It puts hot water and a cleaning solution into the carpet and pulls the water back out with a powerful vacuum.
Which carpet cleaning method uses the least water?
Bonnet cleaning and absorbent compound cleaning use very little water, and encapsulation uses a small amount. Hot Carbonating Extraction, the process Brooke’s Chem-Dry uses, uses about 80% less water than steam cleaning.
How long does carpet take to dry after each method?
It depends on how much water goes in. Carpet is dry in about 1 to 2 hours after Hot Carbonating Extraction, while steam cleaning can leave carpet damp for up to 12 to 24 hours. Methods that use very little water dry quickly too.
How do I know which method is right for my carpet?
Start with the carpet fiber and how much soil is in it, then think about how soon you need to use the room. If your carpet came with a manufacturer’s cleaning recommendation, follow it. A professional can look at the carpet and explain which method fits.
Which carpet cleaning method does Brooke’s Chem-Dry use in Lawrence?
Brooke’s Chem-Dry uses Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE). The Natural® uses carbonation to help lift dirt out of the carpet fibers, and extraction removes it. Call (785) 760-8000 for a free estimate.
Talk to Brooke’s Chem-Dry About Your Carpet
Brooke’s Chem-Dry is family-owned and has served Lawrence and Douglas County since 2005. To find out which approach fits your carpet, see our page on carpet cleaning in Lawrence, KS, or call (785) 760-8000 for a free estimate. You can also return to the Brooke’s Chem-Dry Lawrence homepage.
