Effective Carpet Cleaning Methods
Regular carpet cleaning is essential. When dirt isn’t removed from the carpet periodically, it will stain the carpet and will take much longer to clean. The carpet may be permanently ruined at that point. Fortunately, there are several methods for cleaning carpet.

Vacuuming
Remember, that your carpet should ideally be vacuumed once a week and all of the furniture should be removed so that all parts of the carpet can be vacuumed evenly. The vacuum should also come with extensions so that it is easier to reach areas that are out of the way, such as cracks and corners located in far reaches of the home. This is one of the most common methods for cleaning carpet.

Hot Water Extraction
When your carpet in Charleston becomes stained, it will eventually need hot water extraction. This is a carpet cleaning method that uses hot water and a cleaning chemical to lift dirt and mud from the carpet. It will also remove urine, coffee stains and beverages that are normally not removed with a regular vacuuming. It is sometimes referred to as steam cleaning, but hot water extraction does not actually use steam. The added chemicals that are used for hot water extraction will remove odors and allergens.

Dry Extraction
There is some debate over whether dry extraction methods or hot water extraction are more effective. The only problem with hot water extraction is that it must be done when it is warm, so the carpet will dry quickly. If it is done in cold weather, the moisture will remain in the carpet and will cause mold. Another option is to use dry extraction, which uses absorbent powders to loosen soil and hold it so that it can be vacuumed. The dry extraction methods are used in combination with a vacuum, since the absorbent powder simply holds the soil, but does not remove it on its own.

The dry extraction method is not able to remove the most heavily soiled carpets and will also sometimes leave residue behind.

Bonnet Method
Another option is the bonnet method, which is similar to hard floor spray buffing, but focuses on carpets. It uses a rotary brush that drives wet or dry pads into the carpet. The carpet is often sprayed with a cleaning solution before the bonnet is used. When the bonnet stops taking up dirt, it will either need to be flipped over or will need to be dried before attempting to clean the carpet further.

Dry Foam Shampoo
Another method of dry carpet cleaning is the dry foam shampoo method. This method is not truly dry, since it contains some liquid. However, it is mostly dry. It relies on a foam generator that tosses shampoo into the foam, which is then applied to the carpet with a brush system.