Commercial Carpet Cleaning – Low Moisture Cleaning vs. Hot Water Extraction

Routinely subjected to heavy foot traffic and coffee and soda spills, office carpets can easily develop signs of wear – patches of discoloration and stains that exhibit an aura of invincibility and stubbornness, simply refusing to go away.

And it’s not just the cosmetic issue with them, as office carpets get dirty—and are left dirty—  they become a natural habitat for microbes, mites and insects. This makes the environment unhealthy for your office staff, leaving them lethargic and sick. No, it’s not always about Monday blues!

So, what should you do in case your office carpet starts showing signs of wear?

Get it professionally cleaned. Even the Carpet and Rug Institute acknowledges the importance of getting your carpet professionally cleaned, and recommends you should do so every 12 or 18 months.  

When you approach a commercial carpet cleaning service, you are introduced to plethora of options, each offering advantages of their own. As such, you might find yourself asking which carpet cleaning method to go with…

The Most Popular Carpet Cleaning Method

Low moisture cleaning and hot water extraction are the two most popular and common carpet cleaning methods employed for commercial carpets. Therefore, we would be limiting our discussion to the two.

What is low moisture cleaning?

Low moisture carpet cleaning is a carpet cleaning method known for its water conservation technology and quick drying time. It comprises of several steps.  

In the first step, the carpet is vacuumed with the help of an industrial vacuuming system. This agitates the fibers and loosen any entrapped debris. In the next step a mild strength cleaner and disinfectant is lightly misted onto the carpet and the agents can work for few minutes. The cleaner-disinfectant mixture breaks down stains so that they can be easily removed.

Once the operator is assured that all stains have been broken down, the carpet surface is then cleaned with the help of an orbital machine. In the last step, carpet fibers are raked up with the help of a carpet rake, to restore the feel and look of a carpet.

Advantages: As previously stated, water conservation and quick drying time are the primary advantages that low moisture carpet cleaning has to offer. In addition to these, it is also one of the most environmental friendly way to clean commercial carpets.      

What is hot water extraction?

Hot water extraction is a type of carpet cleaning method that uses high pressured hot water, mixed with a cleaning solution (present in very little amount), to deeply clean the carpet.

The high temperature and pressure of water agitate the carpet fibers and effectively washes away the surface and sedimentary dust particles. Two different types of machines are used to shoot the water onto the carpet, depending on the application. A truck mount extractor is used where greater power is required and a portable extractor is used to reach places, otherwise inaccessible with a truck mount extractor.  

Advantage: Hot water extraction method serves as the most effective carpet cleaning method, allowing easy removal of even the stubborn of stains. Since it uses very little to no chemical, it also helps to prolong the life of a carpet.

As can be seen, both carpet cleaning methods are effective and offer advantages of their own. As such, the selection should be made based on which option best serves your needs and budget.

A BONUS read: How to pick a commercial carpet cleaning company?