According to a recent online quiz of jan/san distributors, many are well-versed on low moisture carpet cleaning, while some still have some misunderstandings and need clarification.
 
"For instance, one question asked if releasing large volumes of water, but with high recovery, can still qualify as low moisture carpet cleaning," says Doug Berjer, product manager for CFR, facilitators of the quiz. "More than 50 percent of the distributors answered false; however this is an example of moisture controlled extraction; the correct answer is true."
 
According to Berjer in this example, it is not the amount of water used to clean carpets that determines low moisture carpet cleaning, "but more about how much is actually removed in the extraction process."
 
Other questions and answers included:
• True or false: Low-moisture carpet cleaning refers to carpet cleaning equipment that uses less than a gallon of water per minute. Over 65 percent answered true; however, the correct answer here is false. According to the Low-Moisture Carpet Cleaning Association, low-moisture carpet cleaning is defined as "any carpet cleaning method or procedure that allows carpets to dry within two hours."

• True or false: Low-moisture carpet cleaning is sometimes known as "dry carpet cleaning."  Half of the distributors answered true; however, dry carpet cleaning typically refers to using dry powders or the encapsulation method to clean carpets.

• When asked what it means to use carpet wands with an "atomization process," 56 percent of the distributors believed it referred to converting cleaning solution into fine particles. The rest knew it references recovering cleaning solution in such a way that moisture never rests on the carpet or backing.

"Finally, when asked if carpets come out cleaner when more water is used, virtually all (93 percent) of the distributors knew this was false," adds Berjer. "This is an old misconception that fortunately appears to be laid to rest."