Carpet Cleaner Buying Guide
Embedded dirt can’t get you down when you’ve got a carpet cleaner around. See how well the top cleaners navigate on nylon plush carpets below.
Home Carpet Cleaning: Grubby to Great
Got dirty carpets? There’s certainly no lack of cleaning options, including buying a carpet-cleaning machine, renting one, or hiring a pro. While nothing beat the ease and performance of a pro, some of the machines we tested came pretty close for less money.
More Power, Deeper Clean
Machines that were better at lifting embedded dirt have larger, more powerful motors. Almost all of the full-sized models did a better job at removing dirt. Bissell and Hoover, the two largest manufacturers of carpet cleaners, say you must use their cleaning solutions in their machines or you could void the warranty or cause electrical shock or fire by damaging the machine.
How to Choose
Embedded dirt requires deep cleaning. Check your carpet’s warranty or manufacturer’s website for suggestions on how often you should clean. Otherwise you could damage the carpet or void its warranty. Some companies, for example, don’t allow a pro to reapply stain treatments.
Focus on Features
Separate tanks for hot water and cleaning solution make refilling quicker because you usually need to refill water more often. Smaller tanks mean more frequent refills. Carry and push the machine before buying, especially if you’ll be carrying it up and down stairs. Look for models with attachments if you’d like to clean upholstery or stairs
Consumers Guide To Carpet Cleaning
I am a member of the Carpet and Fabricare Institute (CFI), and owner of Above & Beyond Carpet Care. My company is a certified firm by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, also known as the IICRC. I have earned the highest IICRC cleaning certification as “Certified Master Cleaner”. We are also certified in stone, masonry & ceramic tile cleaning, upholstery & fabric cleaning, carpet repair & reinstallation, odor control, flood restoration and mold remediation. I’ve been in the carpet cleaning business for over 23 years. And in that time, I’ve learned that carpet cleaning is the subject of much confusion. In fact, people have so many misconceptions about carpet cleaning that I decided to offer this consumer’s guide to carpet cleaning so when you select a carpet cleaning company, you can make an informed intelligent decision.
YOU SHOULD WAIT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BEFORE CLEANING YOUR CARPET.
Not true. Dirt is an abrasive – like sandpaper. Every time you step on the carpet, you grind dirt into your carpet fibers. This cuts your carpet, just as if you had used a knife, causing it to wear out faster. A dirty carpet will not last nearly as long as a clean carpet. And while vacuuming helps — by itself, it’s simply not enough. The longer you wait to have your carpet cleaned, the more damage you do to your carpet and the faster it wears out
HE ONLY REASON TO CLEAN CARPET IS TO REMOVE THE DIRT.
Not true. As you probably know, outdoor air contains pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust — and hundreds of other chemicals. When you and your family members come into your home, you carry those pollens, bacteria and chemicals in your hair and on your skin, clothing and shoes. Not surprisingly, all those chemicals, pollens and bacteria wind up — you guessed it — in your carpet. If you have allergies, asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problems — one major source of your problem could be the pollens, fungus, and chemicals in your carpet.
ONE METHOD OF CARPET CLEANING IS JUST AS GOOD AS ANOTHER.
Not true. You can choose from two primary methods: Dry cleaning or hot water extraction. First, I’ll explain dry cleaning. Many people believe that dry cleaning your carpet is like dry cleaning your clothing. This is not true. All carpet cleaning methods use water in one from or another. Here are the three methods of dry cleaning carpet.
HAVING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT IS ALL A COMPANY NEEDS TO CLEAN YOUR CARPETS PROPERLY.
Not true. Many companies own hot-water cleaners — but a large number of employees don’t know how to use them. You probably know someone who bought the newest computer on the market — but didn’t learn how to use it for a year or more. The same is true with carpet cleaning machines. The company may own good equipment, but the employees may not know how to use it correctly. This is why it’s important that you choose your carpet cleaner carefully.
Tips on Choosing the Best Carpet Cleaning Service
Carpeting is one of the most popular types of flooring in homes and business across the country, despite the fact that it requires a specific type of maintenance routine to keep it looking its very best. Delicate fabrics and materials require professional cleaning from time to time, which means you’ll want to hire a qualified carpet cleaning service for the task.
Less is NOT Necessarily More
It’s common to look for the most affordable option when choosing any sort of cleaning service. However attractive saving a few Euro might seem, going for the least expensive option for your carpet’s maintenance might actually do more damage than good.
Know the Process
No two cleaning services are identical, and that means that you’ll want to know how each company that you’ve shortlisted for the job goes about their business. Some companies might use stronger detergents, while others might use gentler products that are safer for your carpets and for the environment too
Do a Competitive Analysis
This tip is simple: do your research. This entails everything from talking to friends and family, checking review sites and asking for recommendations on social media. Some of the best services are found through word of mouth, so do the research and leverage your network for trustworthy recommendations
Ask About Additional Services
Ask as many questions as you possibly can before hiring a carpet cleaning company. You want to know exactly what you’re getting with no hidden surprises.
Tips for Choosing a Professional Carpet Cleaning Company for Your Office Space
Everyone wants a nice and clean office space that promotes creativity and productivity. A good working environment that keeps people calm and pleasant is ideal. As such, it makes sense that every aspect of said office space is perfectly ordered and presentable. Additionally, it’s important that the office space makes a good first impression on clients and co-workers dropping by.
Reliability
There are times that cleaning services need to be done right away. It’s wise to find a professional carpet cleaning company that offers immediate or emergency services in order to protect your company’s image. You can narrow your choices down to companies that have reliable transport means and networks, as they can deliver services much faster than those that don’t.
Accreditation
Be sure to only hire legally accredited carpet cleaning companies. They must be compliant to international and local rules and regulations. Documents like licenses should be provided to you as proof of their credibility. This will prevent you from dealing with legal problems down the road.
Skills and Experience
Professional carpet cleaning companies that have been in the business for a long time definitely have first-hand experience dealing with all kinds of carpets. So make sure you find organizations that are skilled and have been in business for a decent amount of time. They undoubtedly have lasted so long due to excellent work ethic and great customer care
Affordability
There are times that customers choose not to hire great cleaning companies just because of the high prices. But “expensive” does not always necessarily mean “best.” There are still companies that offer awesome services at a reasonable price.
Things to Consider When Choosing A Carpet Cleaner
Pricing is Key
In the business world, many people have heard the old saying “you get what you pay for.” This phrase is important in many aspects of the business world, but it may not be true when it comes to choosing a cleaning company for the carpets. In fact, many people have found that some of the less expensive companies did better work. Professional carpet cleaning is worth the cost and many customers generally love the outcome when they hire a professional. The end result of crystal, clean floors is what they are really looking for.
The Type Of Cleaning
Many carpet cleaners offer a very specific way of cleaning the carpets. There are two types that are usually offered: dry carpet cleaning and steam cleaning. The type chosen will change the cost of the job. Dry cleaning is sometimes called low moisture and it involves chemicals with very little water. This type of cleaning is much faster than steam cleaning and is chosen by those who need clean carpets in a flash! This method does not clean as deep as steam cleaning, but it is suggested for those who don’t keep really dirty floors.
Knowing The Needs
When it comes to getting carpets all clean, knowing the needs of the floors and customer is key. By knowing the type of carpet, what kind of stains it has had, and the age of the carpet, customers can help the cleaner figure out what the floors need to be cleaned properly.
Check Insurance, Licensing, and Bonding
Any company that comes into a home to clean it must be bonded by the state. They must also have insurance and licenses. This paperwork means that the staff has had background checks and if anything happens to the furniture or property, the company is prepared to cover any of the damages
Choosing The Type of Cleaning Fluids
With all of the chemicals that can harm the home, pets, and children, it is important that the customer knows what type of cleaning fluids they want used on the carpets. Choosing a carpet cleaner that offers greener options can always sway an opinion on whom to choose. Some of the common cleaners can be much cheaper, so if allergies are not a problem, many customers just choose those. There are eco-friendly cleaners that companies may offer and not all of them are more expensive. It is important to check those out when trying to find the right cleaning company.