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There are numerous legitimate ways to clean carpet. Different methods work best in different situations.
Extraction - That is, shooting water into the carpet and extracting the water out of the soil.Pre-spray - You don't want to go over the surface so fast that the cleaning chemical does not have time to break down the soil. For best results, pre-spray carpet with a proper solution and agitate it with a carpet rake before extracting.
Shampoo - Scrub heavily the carpet with a foaming carpet shampoo. The foam suspends the water andprevents over soaking the carpet thus allowing the solution to break down the heavy soils. Light soil - For light soil, first pre-spray then agitate slightly, then extract with plain water. This rinses the soil and cleaner out of the carpet.Medium soil - It's the same process as above but use a stronger pre-spray (stronger dilution is necessary). Let it sit longer and use a more aggressive agitation with a stiff bristle and brush or rotary machine. Heavy soil - This requires a combination shampoo/extraction. Use a good shampoo and repeat the process several times to give time to breakdown the heaviest soil. For extraction, use plain hot water and a small amount of deodorizer. Use the extractorfor the rinse cycle, not as the cleaner. Rinsing keeps the carpet from re-soiling quickly.
When to get a professional?
Remember these are just general guidelines. Consider calling a pro if you have some tough stains or if the carpet has not been cleaned for years. Also consult a professional if you have questions.
(The above is an excerpt of an article in Clean Report, Spring/Summer 1996 issue, a cleaning center help bulletin and catalog. To call for their products/catalog, dial 800-451-2402.
Better Ways to Clean Your Carpet
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