Carpet cleaning methods

When getting quotes from carpet cleaning companies, it’s important to also ask about their cleaning method. Depending on how your carpet is cleaned affects how it’s priced. Some methods are more thorough and therefore have a higher estimate. Service level, including quality care and results, also plays a role in pricing. For carpet cleaning, the common cleaning methods include DIY carpet cleaning, carpet shampooing, dry carpet cleaning, encapsulation carpet cleaning, and hot water extraction.

DIY CARPET CLEANING
Outside of professional cleaning, some people opt to clean carpets on their own with rented machines. Rental carpet cleaners are often used because they’re the least expensive of these options and are convenient to get at local stores. However, there can be definite trade-offs to this method. For starters, choosing the proper cleaning method can have its own challenges because the homeowner is responsible for accurately assessing the type of carpet and how it should be treated. Also, rented machines typically aren’t routinely cleaned, so you’re bound to track in outside dirt and dander from other homes.

CARPET SHAMPOOING
Carpet shampooing uses a suds-based detergent to deep clean carpet. The soap detergent is mixed with water then scrubbed into the carpet fibers with a machine. Finally, a wet vacuum is used to remove the shampoo from the carpet. This method is a stronger clean compared to vacuuming and can be effective for spot treating. The shampoo can also act as a fragrance to cover up odors. The biggest downfall to carpet shampooing is that it can easily leave behind soapy residue that makes the carpet sticky. This ends up attracting more dust and dirt so your carpet gets dirty faster.

DRY CARPET CLEANING
Dry carpet cleaning uses dry chemical compounds to offer a low-moisture method for cleaning carpet. The compounds are spread evenly around the carpet and then worked in using a machine. The dry compound uses carbonation to lift dirt and grime from carpet. After the solvent sets into the carpet, it’s all vacuumed up. Since it’s low-moisture, the carpet dries within a half hour. This method is a good solution if you’re in a rush, but dry carpet cleaning is unable to clean deep down into the carpet fibers. This method can also leave behind powdery residue and similar to carpet shampooing, can cause dust and dirt buildup over time.