
The non-foaming detergent is applied to the carpet with a pump-up or electric sprayer. Agitation is accomplished with a counter-rotating cylindrical brush machine. The carpet yarns are lifted up evenly and soils are suspended for removal.
Once the carpet is dry, soil extraction is accomplished when the remaining dry detergent residues, along with attached suspended soils, are vacuumed from the carpet during routine maintenance. High-efficiency filtering systems or bags must be used to prevent redistribution of extracted soils and dry detergent residues into the air.
Editor’s Note: This is a sidebar accompanying the "Carpet Cleaning Methods" feature in the November issue of ICS.