The debate on dry carpet cleaning vs. carpet steam cleaning (or extraction cleaning) continues to rage on among carpet cleaning professionals and consumers alike. The chorus of questions goes something like this:

• Which one provides the most thorough cleaning
• Which uses the least amount of water
• Which one dries the fastest
• Which one is safest for the environment
• Which one is safest for my home
• Which is best for commercial or residential cleaning

These are all good questions but sometimes difficult to answer due to the complex nature of the cleaning process and the ever present marketing hype that surrounds this topic. Let’s take a look at these two methods and see if we can’t help clear up some confusion.

Dry carpet cleaning is not a single process but a collection of different products and techniques for cleaning carpets with a minimum use of water. They can be grouped into two basic categories as described below.

Absorbent dry compounds are the ‘driest’ way to clean carpets. These compounds, containing detergents or solvents, are sprinkled on the carpet. After 30 minutes of dwell time (carpet cleaning talk for ‘let the chemicals do their stuff’), these compounds dissolve the oily film on carpet fibers thereby allowing them to be vacuumed out along with the compounds themselves. There is no water used so drying times are not an issue.

It produces satisfactory results but  eventually a deeper cleaning will be required. This method is popular with commercial establishments with high traffic areas that need to be cleaned and dried quickly.

Very low moisture (VLM) carpet cleaning is the other category. This method is defined as any carpet cleaning procedure that allows cleaned fibers to dry in two hours or less according to the Low Moisture Carpet Cleaning Association.

This method, in general, uses some type of absorbent material (each company seems to have their own unique product) that is combined with a small amount of water. The wetted material is then spread over the carpet and usually agitated into the carpet with a machine. The dirt and oils in the carpet are attached to this material (a process called encapsulation) which then dries on its own. It’s then vacuumed up and the carpets are dry in 1-2 hours. Some of these companies advertise heavily as ‘green’ due to the organic nature of their products.

The most common concern with both these methods is the amount of cleaning residue left on the carpet. It all sounds good in theory but customer reviews are mixed. One comment likened it to washing your hair by sprinkling on a cleaning shampoo and just combing it out.

The newer VLM products are an improvement over the older absorbent
compounds and new products seem to be appearing on a regular basis. Whether these new products are really something different or just incremental improvements to exiting products is hard to tell. Either way, the very low moisture cleaning products deserve serious consideration.

On the plus side, there is no question these methods require less operator training, have faster drying times and reduce equipment expense. A new business just starting out may find either of these methods attractive simply
because of the lower capital outlay to get started.

Steam extraction carpet cleaning has been around for years and is still the ‘king of the hill’ for deep, penetrating carpet cleaning. The combination of hot water and cleaning agents forced into the carpet under pressure then immediately vacuumed out is hard to beat.

New advances in the way truck mounts mix the chemicals with the water and deliver it to the wand tip have improved overall efficiency while reducing the amount of chemicals needed. Also, wand design and the use of glides, in addition to powerful vacuums, helps get most of the water out of the carpet. This helps eliminate the problem of excess wetting and improves drying times.

The downside for the new carpet cleaning operator is the cost. Truck mount carpet cleaning equipment is expensive and you need a carpet cleaning van to transport it to the customer premise. This is the industry standard so anything less and your going to be at a competitive disadvantage.

So let’s get back to our questions:

• Which one provides the most thorough cleaning

Steam extraction is still the best method overall for a good deep clean of your carpet. That’s why it’s the  recommended method by most of the large carpet manufacturers.

• Which uses the least amount of water

The dry absorbent compounds are the driest with the VLM methods close behind. The new VLM products are offering much better cleaning so I’d have to give them the benefit.

• Which one dries the fastest

Again, the VLM’s and dry compounds are the winners here. However,  some of the newer truck mounts with  powerful vacuums are significantly reducing drying times for steam extraction cleaning.

• Which one is safest for the environment

This is always a tough question. Both methods use chemicals although some of the new VLM companies offer organic compounds. Steam extraction cleaning requires more resources regarding water and
power but that is why it cleans the best. You’ll have to make your own trade-off here.

• Which one is safest for my home

All of these methods are safe for your home as long as the carpet cleaning technician knows what they’re  doing. Always go with a reputable company with trained staff. No carpet cleaning method will work with  an untrained worker.

• Which is best for commercial or residential cleaning

The dry compounds and VLM methods are finding popularity in the commercial market due to their fast drying times. They are also making some inroads in the residential market. However, most residences
and commercial establishments eventually need to perform a steam extraction cleaning (at least yearly) to keep their carpets looking fresh and new.

The choice for which carpet cleaning method to provide is not an easy one. Customers are more demanding that ever and the array of products and equipment keeps getting bigger. You may have to offer both to satisfy the needs of all your customers. Either way, it’s a good idea to learn about all the various methods so you can make the right decision for your business.