Choose The Right Carpet Cleaning Method: Shampooing vs. Steam Cleaning

Maintaining clean carpets leaves your home smelling fresh and looking beautiful. Professional cleaning companies rely mostly on shampooing or hot water extraction a.k.a. steam carpet cleaning. Here are some pros and cons to help you choose the most appropriate method for you.

Shampoo Carpet Cleaning

This method requires special machine that features a solution tank and cleaning attachment with a nylon brush. The brush spins in a circular motion, releasing carpet cleaning solution into the textile, creating foam and scrubbing the carpet. Vacuuming is required before and after the cleaning.

• Pros: The circular scrubbing motion of the shampooing machine works well when cleaning heavily soiled carpets. Any loose dirt, embeded into the carpet fibers, will be removed. The method is appropriate for area rugs and small rooms. Shampoo carpet cleaners can be rented from most hardware stores.
• Cons: Shampooing can damage the textile fibers if the circular motion is too intense for your carpets. It can also leave a soap residue that attracts dirt. Of course, it requires drying time, which may be prolonged during wet or cold weather.

Steam Carpet Cleaning

Hot water extraction machines are more complex than shampooers. They use powerful vacuum and pump system that is attached to truck or portable electric unit. The system releases hot water and cleaning detergent into the carpet and then a wastewater hose sucks the cleaning solution out of the carpet.

• Pros: Steam cleaning works well for wall-to-wall carpeting, because it's easy for the machine to maneuver around the carpets edges and the furniture. Because of the vacuum pump system, the method performs a deep clean by removing dirt, stuck deep inside the carpeting.
• Cons: The method involves using both cleaning and rinsing solutions. Although the hot water extraction machine is powerful, it doesn't always extract all detergents from the carpet. If that happens, the textile may resoil fairly quickly. Truck mounted machines aren't usually available for rent, which means it will be difficult to do steam cleaning by yourself.

If you are like me and don't have enough free time to DIY, hiring a professional carpet cleaning company in Atlanta will actually solve all issues and cons of both methods. The competent cleaners have experience to choose the most appropriate method for your specific needs, carpet materials and types of stains. With their special equipment and cleaning solutions they can ensure thorough carpet cleaning with no damages to the textile. Thus, having your carpets cleaned by professionals on a regular basis will protect them and extend their life span.