How Do Professional Carpet Cleaners Clean Carpets?

🧽 The Basics of Professional Carpet Cleaning

Professional carpet cleaning goes way beyond vacuuming. It involves specialized equipment, powerful cleaning agents, and methods designed to remove deep-seated dirt, stains, and allergens from carpet fibers.

🧰 Equipment and Products Used

• Commercial-grade hot water extractors
• Pre-spray and traffic lane cleaners
• Rotary scrubbers or CRB machines (counter-rotating brushes)
• Spotting solutions for specific stains
• Deodorizers or enzymes (if needed)

🧼 Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Pre-Inspection

Before starting, a technician walks through the home with you to identify problem areas, stains, or wear patterns that need special attention.

2. Vacuuming

A thorough vacuum is done first to remove dry soil, which helps prevent mudding up the fibers when water is applied.

3. Pre-Spray Treatment

A cleaning solution is sprayed over the carpet to break down oils, grease, and stuck-on dirt—especially in high-traffic zones.

4. Agitation

This step involves scrubbing the pre-spray into the carpet using a CRB machine or floor buffer. It lifts up dirt and loosens embedded soil.

5. Hot Water Extraction

Often called steam cleaning, this method uses hot water and suction to rinse the carpet and remove the soil, leaving the fibers clean and refreshed.

6. Spot Treatment

Stubborn spots and stains are treated separately using specific solutions that target the type of stain (e.g., ink, coffee, pet urine).

7. Grooming and Drying

The carpet is groomed with a carpet rake to stand the fibers up and speed up drying. High-velocity fans may also be used to accelerate drying.