Hot-water extraction
A carpet-cleaning method that injects heated water and cleaning solution into the carpet under pressure and immediately vacuums it back out, lifting soil out of the fibers rather than working it in.
Also known as: steam cleaning, HWE
Hot-water extraction is the professional cleaning method recognized in IICRC S100 (the industry consensus standard for cleaning textile floor coverings). Heated water is combined with a cleaning solution matched to the fiber type, injected into the carpet under pressure, and vacuumed back out on the same pass. The extraction takes suspended soil, loosened residue, and dust with it.
Specific water temperature, pressure, and dwell time vary by fiber type. Wool, olefin, nylon, polyester, and blended carpets each tolerate different conditions, and a professional adjusts to the carpet rather than to a single fixed number. Carpet manufacturer warranty documents typically reference IICRC S100 methods and specify how often professional cleaning must occur to keep the warranty valid.
Hot-water extraction is often called "steam cleaning" in everyday language. The two terms describe the same method — actual steam is not injected into the carpet; the heated water simply reaches temperatures where it does the work efficiently while remaining safe for the carpet.