Abstract: The present invention entails a method and apparatus for cleaning and maintaining large areas of low to medium pile carpet, such as is found in hotels, airports, etc. The invention employs a mobile carpet cleaning machine which is propelled over the carpet to be cleaned. The principal features of the carpet cleaning machine are an elongated cylindrical brush, a vacuum system with a floating vacuum head, and a blower. In operation the cylindrical brush is set into a rotating motion and engages the underlying carpet. A cleaning solution is sprayed onto the rotating brush which in turn transfers the solution onto the underlying carpet. The vacuum head then passes over the carpet directly behind the rotating brush. The blower pulls air through the vacuum head and the vacuum head effectively picks up a combined mixture of air and solution. This mixture of air and solution is pulled upwardly from the vacuum head into the top of a recovery tank.