Comparing Carpet Cleaning Methods

You've installed a beautiful carpet in your family room. Now how do you keep it looking like new? The answer is daily vacuuming, accompanied by routine professional cleaning. The carpet industry recommends that home carpets be cleaned by a professional at least once every 18 to 24 months.

Professional carpet cleaners usually follow one of two methods: steam cleaning or chemical cleaning. While chemical cleaning was once the industry standard, steam cleaning has gained much popularity over the years.

Chemical cleaning involves applying a foaming cleanser to your carpet, and then suctioning away the foam. Sometimes the foam is allowed to dry before vacuuming. Professionals that use this method will argue that the dirt sticks to the foam and is then sucked away, leaving your carpets very clean.

The problem with chemical cleaning is that the foaming cleanser leaves behind a sticky residue, which will actually cause more dirt to stick to your carpet. This causes your carpet to look dirty sooner. Eventually, after several chemical cleaning treatments, your carpet will become permanently soiled and even the best cleaning process will not be able to salvage it.

Over the years, consumers have begun to voice concerns about the chemicals used in the process, and the chemical residue left behind. These consumers wonder about any health effects associated with allowing their families to play on carpet that contains chemical residue.

Most professionals will agree that steam cleaning is the best way to get your carpet clean and to help it stay that way in between cleanings. Carpet steam cleaner machines can be either truck-mounted or portable. A professional using a truck-mounted system will bring only the water and vacuum hoses into your home. These hoses are connected to the truck parked outside, and all water reservoirs are in the truck. A portable carpet steam cleaner is small enough for the professional to bring into the house. This machine usually resembles a large vacuum.

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