Dual cleaning mode carpet extractor

Method for cleaning carpeted surfaces comprising:

• providing a carpet extractor comprising, in combination:
• a chassis movably supported on the carpeted surface;
• means for propelling the chassis at first and second working speeds, with the first working speed being slower than the second working speed;
• first means for selecting one of the first and second working speeds;
• a carpeted surface agitator carried by the chassis;
• a clean solution tank for containing clean solution carded by the chassis, with the clean solution being capable of being dispensed to the carpeted surface at high and low solution flow rates, with the high solution flow rate being greater than the low solution flow rate;
• second means for selecting one of the high and low solution flow rates;
• a dirty solution tank carried by the chassis;
• and means for picking up solution off the carpet surface for collection in the dirty solution tank, with the carpet extractor being operable in both a restorative cleaning mode or a maintenance cleaning mode depending upon the selection of the high and low solution flow rates and the first and second working speeds;
• selecting the dispensing of clean solution to the carpeted surface at either of the high and low solution flow rates, with the clean solution being dispensed at the selected flow rate;
• agitating the carpeted surface including the dispensed clean solution with the carpeted surface agitator;
• picking up the solution off the carpeted surface with the solution picking up means after the carpeted surface has been agitated with the carpeted surface agitator;
• and
• selecting either the first and second working speeds, with the chassis being propelled at the selected working speed, with the carpeted surface being restorative or maintenance cleaned depending upon the selection of the high and low solution flow rates and the first and second working speeds to clean the carpeted surface.