All carpet cleaning chemicals use detergents to remove dirt.  Detergents are sticky so they can attract dirt and they are most attracted to greasy, oily dirt; surrounding it to separate it from the carpet fiber.  This chemical action is aided by heat, agitation and dwell time.

 

Even when using a fiber rinse as part of extraction cleaning, some detergent residue will be left on the carpet and many rinses themselves are sticky!  This residue adds up over repeated cleanings and any new soil coming into contact with the carpet, such as dirt from shoes in normal foot traffic, will be attracted to the sticky detergent residue left on the carpet.  This is referred to as "rapid re-soiling", the result of cleaned carpet getting dirty faster than carpet with no residue.  Vacuuming removes loose soil, but will not remove dirt attached to sticky residue.

 

Encapsulating cleaning chemicals have crystalline polymers in addition to detergents.  After the detergents have attracted and surrounded the greasy dirt, the polymers "encapsulate" both the detergent and soil.  As this encapsulated soil dries, it crystallizes into a dry (not sticky) residue.  For years, this technology has been used in low moisture cleaning methods where the residue is purposely left in the carpet and is vacuumed away.  Many carpet cleaners consider the term "encapsulation" to be synonymous with the low moisture cleaning method. But encapsulation is actually a chemical process triggered by the proper formulation of polymers, having application in any type of carpet cleaning detergent and as a result can be used in hot water extraction cleaning as well.

 

Encapsulation has another significant advantage in all cleaning methods.  Leaving crystallizing polymer residue in the carpet prevents spots from wicking back.  The polymer encapsulates the wicking spot, creating a crystalline residue as it dries.  We use a product made by Scot Laboratories who have been researching and developing encapsulation technology for many years.  The encapsulating products are formulated with the proper balance of carpet cleaning detergents that get carpets clean in the first place, and crystalline polymers that effectively encapsulate and crystallize embedded spots, greasy soils and detergent residues. Scot laboratories has successfully used crystallinity for many years and they now also have the industry’s first encapsulation hot water extraction cleaner and that means that even when extracting with stronger dilutions for heavy soiled areas there is no risk of leaving any residue.

 

Because of the nature of our cleaning processes as well as our cleaning solutions I have no problem recommending our Dry Foam Extraction or our Dry Steam Cleaning methods and I don't hesitate in telling you that these methods are absolutely the BEST methods of cleaning your carpets.  I know when you see the results on your carpets that you will be absolutely thrilled with the results.