The Importance of Pre-Conditioning

"Once dry soil has been removed from the carpet, soil suspension (pre-conditioning) procedures can begin.  Soil suspension is a critical step in state-of-the-art carpet cleaning.  The goal of soil suspension is to separate soil fiber surfaces.  There are four fundamental factors to be considered under the soil suspension principle.  They include chemical action, heat or temperature, agitation, and time.  These factors are discussed in that order:
1. Chemical Action acknowledges the fact that without chemicals in the form of detergents and associated additives, best efforts result only in the physical erosion or displacement of minor amount of soil.  Chemical activity is employed by reducing surface tension, dissolving, emulsifying, suspending, and sequestering various soils.  This step, called pre-conditioning is essential.  The second phase of chemical activity occurs when the chemcials are mixed or metered into a rinse solution to suspend light soils that accumulate in non-trafficked areas along baseboards or under furniture.  Chemicals, properly formulated, mixed, and applied during pre-conditioning are essential to begin quality cleaning."

Jeff Bishop
The Science of Carpet Cleaning, 2003