When you go to a home improvement store, grocery store or any old regular hardware store what is the first thing you see sitting next to the cash registers? It may come to you as a shock but the truth is you see carpet shampooers. As hard as this may be to believe some rental stores actually think that the equipment and supplies they sell will clean your carpets without damage. However, the truth is that there are many ways to clean carpet but only one way that insures your individualized carpets needs are being met and that is by hiring a professional carpet cleaner.

When carpet cleaning is needed there are many things that go into deciding what method is the best to use on your carpet. A professional will evaluate the carpet based on criteria such as; the condition of the carpet, the level of staining and dirt within the carpet, how big the area that needs to be cleaned, time constraints and how quickly the carpet needs to be dried and back in working order for the homeowner.

When looking at the method of carpet cleaning needed for you flooring remember also that different methods involve a greater skill set than others. This is an important piece of information when hiring an individual or company to come out and clean your carpets. Shampooing and bonnet cleaning require extra care and should only be done by a professional with proven results. This is why it is so important to determine the method in which your carpets need to be cleaned and finding a professional, with references, to do it.

Reduced moisture carpet cleaning cost are prevalent throughout the business. As with any cleaning service needed within your home there are pros and cons. Below are some of methods that involve low moisture methods of carpet cleaning along with conditions in which they are used and the benefits and drawbacks involved with each of them.

The driest method of carpet cleaning is the absorbent dry compound method. This involves absolutely no moisture. Dry cleaning solvents and detergents are sprinkled on the carpet. After about thirty minutes the cleaning agents will start to dissolve the oils within the carpet fibers which will free the soil allowing it to be vacuumed up along with the excess detergents and solvents. This method comes in handy with school and business carpeting where dry time is limited. Results vary with this method however the benefit of no water use allows dry time to be nil.

Foam is also a technique that involves very little moisture as well. Over-wetting is unlikely to happen with this method. Foam is produced and distributed onto the carpet through a machine that combines the solution and air. The equipment brushes it into the carpet and then is extracted out along with the built up dirt and grime. The only issue that arises from this method is that occasionally the machine produces such little moisture that some of the foam may not come out. This causes issues with cleaning later on down the road.

Bonnet cleaning is done with an absorbent pad attached to a rotating machine. The detergent solution is sprayed onto the carpet or the rotating pad is saturated with the solution and then moved throughout the floor. The oils, dirt and filth are removed by adhering to the pad. The carpet cleaning is finished by thoroughly vacuuming.

Another method used is shampoo and extraction. This method can cause the big issues so needs to be done by a professional specifically trained in the technique. The shampoo solution is released into the carpet and the rotary brush on the equipment moves it deep into the carpet to remove stains and then is extracted with high powered suction equipment. This method leaves the carpet deodorized, clean and bright.

Hot water extraction is the most common cleaning method for carpet used today. This involves pre-spraying the carpet which loosens the soil with how water and solution the extracting it through a high powered piece of suction equipment. This method involves releasing water into the carpet which can also lead to problems. Make sure that thorough drying happens with this process so that you can avoid carpet shrinkage or delaminating carpet. Both problems are only resolved with the purchase new carpet which we all know is out of the budget for most people.

Routine Carpet Cleaning Do's and Don'ts

In cleaning your carpet, there are things that you need to consider, especially if you plan on doing on your own. There are a lot of carpet cleaning services that are being offered by different companies that can save you the time and the hassle. However, if you want to do it yourself or if you don't have the budget, you should bear the following do's and don'ts in carpet cleaning.

The do's in cleaning your carpet:

1. Plan out the day when you're going to clean your carpet

Cleaning the carpet in your house can be a cumbersome job and may take some time to get done. There are a lot of things that need to be done, like moving the furniture, getting the right cleaning solution, etc. It would be best to schedule it on dates when you have a long weekend or during spring cleaning, as long as the times work for you. Proper planning also allows you to be more efficient in cleaning.

2. Vacuum your carpet regularly or before cleaning it with a carpet cleaner solution

Vacuuming your carpet prior to cleaning it with a cleaner is a great way to hasten the cleaning process. There are a lot of stuffs that can be hard to clean with a cleaning solution alone, like dirt, hair, pieces of paper or other small things. Also by vacuuming regularly, you'll be able to keep your carpet clean for a longer period of time.

3. Move your furniture when cleaning your carpet

If you want to thoroughly clean your carpet, make sure that you also clean the spots where your furniture is placed. Move your furniture to reach the areas underneath. By doing so, you can make sure that you are cleaning thoroughly and can prolong its use.

The don'ts in cleaning your carpet:

1. Don't just use any solution to clean your carpet

There are specific types of cleaning solutions for different types of carpets. Don't apply anything that you want, without knowing what type of solution is best. Using a cleaning solution that is incompatible with your carpet may ruin its fibers and will result to damage. So make sure to ask which type of solution is best when you go out to buy a cleaning solution.

2. Don't pull out loose carpet ends

There are times when there are fibers sticking right out of your carpet and ruin the design. If you do encounter this kind of problem, never attempt to pull it out by hand. If you pull it out, this can cause your carpet to have a gaping hole in that area. To remedy this, you can simply trim the loose fiber. This can put the carpet back into shape without risking getting your carpet damaged.