Bonnet or spin cleaning involves a rotary floor machine with a cleaning pad soaked in solution. As it moves over the carpet, the agitation causes dirt to be absorbed into the cleaning pad. The cleaning solution used with bonnet machines uses optical brighteners such as bleach which polish the cut fibers of the carpet, making the carpet appear brighter and cleaner. Unfortunately, though bonnet cleaners are able to remove some surface dirt, they also end up pushing a lot of dirt and cleaning solution further down into the carpet pile. This residue can then become a magnet for even more dirt.

The most effective type of bonnet cleaning for dirt removal is liquid encapsulation. This method involves pre-spraying the carpet, bonneting over it and then vacuuming up the resulting (dirt-encapsulated) foam that rises to the surface. Many people like bonnet cleaning because it is fairly inexpensive and easy to do. However, though it can be useful for spot cleaning, this method is not usually recommended as a means of long-term carpet care because it is not the most effective at removing dirt.

• Quick – Equipment is easy to maneuver and carpet dries quickly.

• Inexpensive – Equipment costs are low and doesn’t require highly-skilled labor to operate.

Major Cons:

• Increased Chemical Load – Bonnet cleaning adds chemicals to a carpet.

• Wear from Agitation – Over time the scrubbing pad can cause the carpet to fray and its seams to separate.

• Shorter Carpet Life –  The lifespan of a carpet that is exclusively bonnet cleaned is generally half that of a carpet that is cleaned using truck-mount.

Best Uses of Bonnet Cleaning:

• For spot cleaning and/or to maintain the look of a carpet (weekly or monthly) in between extraction cleanings.

• For extremely high-traffic areas where there is not enough time to use a truck mount (e.g. a busy hotel lobby). In these cases the convenience of bonnet-cleaning can outweigh the cost of having to replace a carpet sooner.

• For carpets that have a history of being exclusively bonnet cleaned. Switching to truck-mounted extraction after prolonged bonnet cleaning may cause staining because of the large amount of impacted dirt that will be lifted up.

• Extends carpet life.

• Very effective method of removing dirt from carpet pile.

• Labor saving.

Major Cons:

• Operating costs are higher. Equipment is expensive to buy and maintain and requires skilled labor to operate.

• If the truck is not setup right, it can add too much water to the carpet which can cause molding, mildew or other problems.

• If extraction is performed too often, it can reduce the carpet life because the water will start to separate the carpet from its backing.

Recommended Carpet Maintenance Procedures:

• First and foremost, it is essential to identify your carpet’s care history. If your carpet has a history of bonnet cleaning without truck-mounted extraction, then it is probably best to stick with bonnet cleaning. Though using a truck-mounted extractor will remove a large amount of dirt, it is also likely to leave unsightly stains. The years of pushing the dirt down will be revealed by extraction. Stick with the bonnet.

• If you bonnet monthly to maintain the look of your carpet, extraction should be done quarterly or semi-annually depending on use.

• With proper maintenance the life of a good carpet should be about 8 to 10 years. If the carpet is exclusively bonnet cleaned, you can expect this time to be cut in half.

We hope this post provides you with some helpful carpet care tips. If you have further questions regarding the proper care of carpets in your facility.