Another newbie here, and we have started a business and we steam clean.  We use a rotary machine rx-20 and it works very well.  I am interested in this bonnet and pad system from your experienced cleaners.  How does this differ from steam cleaning?  Why would you use this system over steam and why?  Would you use steam then bonnet cleaning one after another?  If you do you must charge accordingly, how does the customes feel about that?   Any further information on this would be appreciated as I want to provide the cleanest and best looking carpet for my customer when I am finished.  Very nice board going on here, good to see good advice and some personality with flare in here.

jobdonewell

Here is a link that will provide some pretty good answers to your questions. Hope this helps

http://www.chemspec-canada.com/home.asp?PageID=488&sMenuID=521 - http://www.chemspec-canada.com/home.asp?PageID=488&sMenu ID=521

There are lots of interesting articles that will prvide some education

Follow Jim's advise in the above post.

Bonnet/pad cleaning are a lot different from HWE depending on your HWE system, if you have a truckmount than your customer will not be too happy with the bonnet/pad system

Most bonnet cleaning is used in the commercial field and is an interium maintenance procedure that will require extraction from time to time.

Having said that some of the new encapsulation detergents are getting some good results with the bonnet/pad system, some of the claims I hear are hard to believe, and I would need to experiment a lot more to say that the encap system will ever replace HWE in the residential market.

Professional carpet cleaners should have all the different methods available as there are times when a dry system is better than HWE or vise/versus, experience is the key and that will come with time.

Make sure you attend as many schools as you can.