There are several methods used by professional carpet cleaners in Melbourne, including steam cleaning, dry cleaning, and encapsulation. Steam cleaning is highly effective for deep cleaning as it uses hot water extraction to remove embedded dirt and stains. Dry cleaning, on the other hand, is a quicker option that uses less water, making it ideal for delicate carpets and fast drying. Encapsulation is a newer technique where cleaning agents are applied to trap dirt, which is then easily vacuumed away.