All Carpet Cleaners Are The Same!! Are They?

Some people think that all carpet cleaners are the same. In fact, some rationalize that they could be carpet cleaners, too, just rent a machine from the grocery store and go to work. So, are all carpet cleaners really the same? The answer at least from a professional's point of view is categorically, NO!
First of all, there are a variety of methods for cleaning carpet and each has its own merits and applications. The pros and cons of differing methods of carpet cleaning is outside the scope of this discussion. However, methods can be broadly divided into two main categories, very low moisture or dry, (VLM) and hot water extraction or wet, (HWE). Hot water extraction or "steam cleaning", as it is sometimes referred, is about 85% of the market when surveying the industry as a whole. Only hot water extraction meets the standards set by the industry for restorative cleaning. HWE can be further divided into portable extractors and truck mounts. Even truck mounted systems vary in capacity but more about that later. As you can see just in the area of method and equipment alone there is a wide range of possibilities.
Many savvy homeowners have seized on the fact that truck mounted systems are "the way to go" and all others need not apply. On the surface, this is a good idea but is not a guarantee to hiring the ideal carpet cleaner. Just because a cleaner has a van and the van has a carpet cleaning machine doesn’t mean he can out-clean all comers. As mentioned earlier, truck mounts vary in “capacity” and deliver different results in cleaning. Most truck mounted machines are powered by auxiliary engines from lawn mower size to automobile size. The smaller units can’t compete with the large automobile engines in their ability to produce very hot water (235°F) in a continuous flow. They also lag behind the big boys in vacuum and the ability to extract the dirt and waste water, leaving behind a wetter and somewhat dirtier carpet.

So, if you decide to hire a cleaner and want restorative cleaning make sure to look for a cleaner offering hot water extraction with a truck mounted machine that can produce (235-240°F) water in a continuous stream with lots of vacuum.

Stay tuned for “Certified Cleaner vs. the wand jockey”