Although there is an actual steam cleaning industrial process, in the context of carpet cleaning, "steam cleaning" is often mistaken for hot water soil extraction cleaning, which is professionally known as HWE. The hot water soil extraction cleaning method uses equipment that sprays heated water and detergent on the carpet and simultaneously, the water and detergent is extracted, along with any dislodged and dissolved dirt. Many experts recommend hot water extraction as the most effective carpet cleaning method. Actual steam could damage man-made carpet fibers and change the characteristics as they are usually set using heat. Woven carpets can shrink but most carpets are not woven and are in fact tuffed on a laminate backing, velvet-piled carpets and Berber carpets may become fuzzy which is known as pile burst. Most problems can be avoided by professional experienced cleaners. Hot water extraction equipment may be a portable unit that plugs into an electrical outlet, or a truck mount carpet cleaner requiring long hoses from the truck or trailer. Truck-mounted equipment may be used where electricity is unavailable, but may be unsuited to premises distant from a driveway or road, and require hoses to pass through windows to reach the upper floors of a building. The hoses needed for truck-mount and professional portable carpet cleaning may present a trip hazard, and allow pets or children to escape through doors left ajar. Heated or air conditioned air can also be wasted when doors are left open for hoses. Truck-mounted carpet cleaning equipment minimizes the noise in the room being cleaned, but may cause noise and air pollution offensive to neighbors, and could violate anti-idling bylaws in some jurisdictions. However, truck-mounted cleaning is much faster than portable equipment , and the extra heat will dissolve more spots and stains, and more vacuum suction power will reduce drying times . A Rug Doctor rental carpet cleaning machine A common process of hot water extraction begins with preconditioning. Alkaline agents such as ammonia solution for synthetic carpets, or acidic solution (such as vinegar solution) for woollen carpets, are sprayed into the carpet, then agitated with a grooming brush or an automatic scrubbing machine. Next, a pressurized manual or automatic cleaning tool ( known as a wand ) passes over the surface to rinse out all pre-conditioner, residue, and particulates. If an alkaline detergent is used on a woollen carpet, use of a mild acetic acid solution will  restore neutral fiber pH. The acidic rinse thus neutralizes the alkaline residues, and can contribute to softening cleaned fabrics. Extraction is , by far, the most important step in the hot water extraction process. Since the hot-water extraction method uses much more water than other methods like bonnet or shampoo cleaning, proper extraction and air flow are critical to avoid drying issues such as mold growth %DIFDELCMD < & %%%  browning of wool fibres. Drying time may also be decreased by extra use of fans, de-humidifiers, and/or outdoor ventilation. Older surfaces, such as double jute-backed carpets and loose rugs with natural foundation yarns, could shrink after a wet treatment, leading to suppositions that wet-cleaning could also remove wrinkles. However, this notion is antiquated and this method could also occasionally tear seams or uproot strips. Newer carpets, such as with synthetic backing and foundation yarns, do not shrink, and they smooth easily; in such carpets, wrinkles indicate an underlying problem, such as delamination where the secondary backing becomes unstuck from the primary backing, that may need a certified carpet inspector to determine.%DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% Wet-cleaning systems naturally require drying time, which may lead to concerns about very slow drying, the risk of soiling returning during drying as the moisture evaporates bringing the soils from deeper within the pile to the surface, as well as odors, bacteria, fungi, molds, and mildews. Carpet cleaning specialists try to find a balance between rapid drying ( attributable to lower flow rate through the cleaning jets of a spray system ) and the need to remove the most soil ( attributable to higher flow rate). Pretreatments similar to those in dry-cleaning and "very low moisture" systems are employed, but require a longer dwell time of 15 to 20 minutes, because of lower amounts of carpet agitation. Ideal pretreatments should rinse easily and leave dry, powdery, or crystalline residue that can be flushed without contributing to re-soiling .
Hot water extraction, sometimes mistakenly called "steam cleaning" , uses equipment that sprays hot water and detergent into the carpet and extracts it along with any dislodged and dissolved dirt. Many experts recommend hot water extraction as the most effective carpet cleaning method. Hot water extraction equipment may be a portable electrical units, or for large jobs truck mount carpet cleaner with long hoses may be used as this may be faster and more effective than portable equipment . A Rug Doctor rental carpet cleaning machine A common process of hot water extraction begins with preconditioning. Alkaline agents such as ammonia solution for synthetic carpets, or mild acidic solutions such as dilute acetic acid for woollen carpets, are sprayed into the carpet, then agitated with a grooming brush or an automatic scrubbing machine. Next, a pressurized manual or automatic cleaning tool known as a wand passes over the surface to rinse out all pre-conditioner, residue, and particulates. If an alkaline detergent is used on a woollen carpet, a mild acetic acid solution will neutralize the alkaline residues and restore neutral fiber pH. Thorough extraction is important to avoid problems such as mold growth %DIFDELCMD < & %%% and browning of wool %DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% . Carpet cleaning specialists try to find a balance between rapid drying ( using less fluid ) and the need to remove the most soil ( using more fluid). Drying time may also be decreased by fans, de-humidifiers or simply opening windows .
R
Although there is an actual steam cleaning industrial process, in the context of carpet cleaning,
Hot water extraction, sometimes mistakenly called
R
is often mistaken for hot water soil extraction cleaning, which is professionally known as HWE. The hot water soil extraction cleaning method
,
R
heated
hot
R
on
into
R
simultaneously, the water and detergent is extracted,
extracts it
D
Actual steam could damage man-made carpet fibers and change the characteristics as they are usually set using heat. Woven carpets can shrink but most carpets are not woven and are in fact tuffed on a laminate backing, velvet-piled carpets and Berber carpets may become fuzzy which is known as pile burst. Most problems can be avoided by professional experienced cleaners.
R
unit that plugs into an electrical outlet, or a
electrical units, or for large jobs
R
requiring long hoses from the truck or trailer. Truck-mounted equipment
with long hoses
R
where electricity is unavailable, but may be unsuited to premises distant from a driveway or road, and require hoses to pass through windows to reach the upper floors of a building. The hoses needed for truck-mount and professional portable carpet cleaning may present a trip hazard, and allow pets or children to escape through doors left ajar. Heated or air conditioned air can also be wasted when doors are left open for hoses. Truck-mounted carpet cleaning equipment minimizes the noise in the room being cleaned, but may cause noise and air pollution offensive to neighbors, and could violate anti-idling bylaws in some jurisdictions. However, truck-mounted cleaning is much faster
as this may be faster and more effective
D
, and the extra heat will dissolve more spots and stains, and more vacuum suction power will reduce drying times
R
acidic solution (such as vinegar solution)
mild acidic solutions such as dilute acetic acid
D
(
D
)
D
use of
A
neutralize the alkaline residues and
D
The acidic rinse thus neutralizes the alkaline residues, and can contribute to softening cleaned fabrics.
R
Extraction is , by far, the most important step in the hot water extraction process. Since the hot-water extraction method uses much more water than other methods like bonnet or shampoo cleaning, proper extraction and air flow are critical to avoid drying issues
Thorough extraction is important to avoid problems
A
and
D
fibres. Drying time may also be decreased by extra use of fans, de-humidifiers, and/or outdoor ventilation.
D
Older surfaces, such as double jute-backed carpets and loose rugs with natural foundation yarns, could shrink after a wet treatment, leading to suppositions that wet-cleaning could also remove wrinkles. However, this notion is antiquated and this method could also occasionally tear seams or uproot strips. Newer carpets, such as with synthetic backing and foundation yarns, do not shrink, and they smooth easily; in such carpets, wrinkles indicate an underlying problem, such as delamination where the secondary backing becomes unstuck from the primary backing, that may need a certified carpet inspector to determine.
R
Wet-cleaning systems naturally require drying time, which may lead to concerns about very slow drying, the risk of soiling returning during drying as the moisture evaporates bringing the soils from deeper within the pile to the surface, as well as odors, bacteria, fungi, molds, and mildews.
.
R
attributable to lower flow rate through the cleaning jets of a spray system
using less fluid
D
attributable to higher flow rate).
R
Pretreatments similar to those in dry-cleaning and "very low moisture" systems are employed, but require a longer dwell time of 15 to 20 minutes, because of lower amounts of carpet agitation. Ideal pretreatments should rinse easily and leave dry, powdery, or crystalline residue that can be flushed without contributing to re-soiling
using more fluid). Drying time may also be decreased by fans, de-humidifiers or simply opening windows