Debunking the Myths Part 3.

Craig and I have been in the carpet cleaning industry for over 10 years and during that time, we have heard a lot of myths about the carpet cleaning industry.  We thought we would take this opportunity to do debunk some of the most common myths that we hear.  Each month we will debunk another myth.  This month we will be looking at:

Myth #3:  One method of carpet cleaning is as good as another. 

NO.  The dry cleaning methods – which are dry foam, dry chemicals and dry compounds – do not rinse your carpet in any way.  Instead, they leave a dirty residue.  You might say they clean your carpets only halfway.  The most effective cleaning method is hot water extraction.

Hot water extraction means a hot water cleaning solution, under high pressure, is forced into your carpet and then sucked out of your carpet.  Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, recommends hot water extraction as the primary method for cleaning carpets, along with an IICRC approved firm (More about that next month). 

Carpet cleaners use one of two types of hot water extraction.  If they use a large unit that operates from a van or truck outside your home, it’s called truck mounted extraction.  If they use a small unit that can be brought inside, it’s called portable extractions.  Shaw’s first choice it he truck-mounted unit.  And it recommends the small portable unit only in areas where the tuck-mounted unit won’t reach.

The truck-mounted extraction cleans much better because it heats the water to a higher temperature, which breaks up the dirt, bacteria, chemicals and colleens in the carpet.  Then the machine uses high suction to draw the dirt and chemical out of your carpet.  This is the method our company uses. 

So please don’t be fooled by lower prices from companies who offer dry carpet cleaning.  The price might be lower but even the experts in carpet agree that it is not the best for your carpets.