MISCONCEPTION #1
One method of carpet cleaning is as good as another.
Not true. Of the two primary methods---Dry Cleaning and Hot Water Extraction (Steam Cleaning) ---Hot Water Extraction is the recommended method to clean carpets, says Shaw Industries, the world's largest manufacturer of carpeting along with many others; any other method voids the warranty. For clarification I will, however, briefly explain Dry Cleaning before covering Hot Water Extraction....
Dry Cleaning:
Dry Cleaning can be one of three methods (By The Way, there is always some moisture involved in "dry" cleaning, whether you're talking carpet or upholstery. And FYI, "Dry" Cleaning of clothes---using dry-cleaning solvents---takes much longer to dry than "wet" cleaning):
Method#1: Dry foam. A machine (normally a "Von Schrader" machine) has a tank attached to its handle containing a solution of water and shampoo which is sprayed on the carpet. As the machine is pulled back over the now rising foam on the carpet a roller brush agitates the foam, then the foam is sucked back into the machine's holding tank. Sounds good enough until you learn that this machine does not rinse the carpet at all, so it leaves a lot of soapy residue in the carpet fibers, which later attracts more soil. This system is not very effective because of this. Think of shampooing your hair and then drying it with a towel without rinsing!
Method#2: The Dry-Chem method: Carpet is sprayed with a solution similar to the dry foam method except that an absorbent "bonnet" is spun over the carpet with a machine in order to pick up excess moisture and cleaning solution. When the bonnet becomes saturated with gunk, it is flipped over to the other side. The cleaner may go through several of these and reuse them after rinsing them out. While this is generally better than the Von Schrader method, it only cleans the top fibers well---not the sides and base of the carpet's fibers, and doesn't rinse the carpet either.
Method#3: The Dry Compound method. Also called Host and Capture, an absorbent mixture that looks like wet sawdust (could be white in color) is spread over the carpet. A special machine with roller brushes then works the mixture into the carpet. The theory is that this chemical will absorb the dirt and then quickly dry out, to be vacuumed up later---dirt and all. But here again, the method does not rinse the carpet and leaves lots of sawdust-like residue embedded deep in the carpet fibers. The popularity of this method is that it dries fast, which it does*---at the expense of not cleaning well and leaving residue. Most of the time your house will smell like a chemical factory for several days thereafter.
*(If you haven't already, click on the "Our Equipment" button on the left to see the best hot water extraction machines for residential cleaning---carpets dry in as little as 1 (one!) hour! All the benefits of hot water extraction without the long dry times!)
Hot Water Extraction (aka, "Steam Cleaning"):
In this process, a hot solution (130-240 deg. F.) of water mixed with an emulsifier (cleaning solution) is sprayed onto the carpet just ahead of a vacuum 'port' or slot. The idea is that the solution will be agitated into the carpet by some means before being picked up by the vacuum port. The more agitation the better, in order to help the emulsifier detach the dirt and oils from the carpet fibers (to be vacuumed out with the liquid solution).
The emulsifiers (cleaning solutions) made for hot water extraction are designed to not foam up which would not be good; foam would make it harder to get the soil and oils to detach from the carpet fibers and would make it even harder to vacuum it back out of the carpet. For one thing, foam is mostly air---not a good cleaning agent.
These are reasons that carpet shampoos are not recommended. As a matter of fact, most cleaners will pack up and leave if they encounter a carpet that was last cleaned with a shampoo (and not rinsed). Reason is that since much of the shampoo will undoubtedly remain in the carpet, it will foam up again when exposed to agitation with the hot water and emulsifiers. This foam not only drastically reduces the suction power of the vacuum system---no matter if you're talking powerful truck-mounted vacuums or portable ones---but will severely damage the expensive vacuum motor itself.
(Personally, I have a special filter on my own van mounted equipment to avoid this, however, the suction power degradation would remain. If I do encounter a foaming carpet I will spread an anti-foaming agent onto the carpet and then perform two extractions instead of one, in order to remove all the chemicals from the carpet. I'm not going to just leave you with a screwed-up carpet!)
Hot water extraction is by far the best, most thorough cleaning that you can have done for your carpets (& upholstery, in most cases). The hot water, along with the agitation and emulsifier, breaks down all types of soil, bacteria, pollens, mites, and oils and sends it all out into a waste recovery tank located on the van. The high temperature of the solution aids in killing bacteria and drying the carpet, as well.
MISCONCEPTION #2
"Steam Cleaning" is the best method
Well, it is if you call it by the proper technical term: "Hot Water Extraction"---which, as you know by now, definitely is the best method for cleaning carpet. "Steam cleaning" is actually a marketing phrase; there is really no such thing as steam cleaning (at least as it applies to carpet and upholstery cleaning). However, since the public believes that hot water extraction is "steam cleaning", who's to argue? As far as I can tell this 'misnomer' got started long ago when a customer noticed steam rising from a scrub wand and then the term was born; the effectiveness of this new carpet cleaning method soon had every customer demanding "steam cleaning". (Imagine trying to take a much-needed shower with only hot steam coming out of the shower head and you get the idea).
MISCONCEPTION #3
Having the best equipment is all that a company needs to clean your carpets and upholstery properly.
Not true, of course. Many companies invest in the best equipment but can't keep cleaning technicians working for them long enough to learn how to use the equipment properly. Also, most companies pay their technicians by commission, so the result is that your carpets are left over wet and not thoroughly cleaned because the technician has sped through your job in order to get to the next one. Don't be afraid to ask if the technicians are paid by commission or by the hour. Also, commission-paid technicians are more likely to pressure you into buying additional services or products that you didn't know about before they arrived to clean.
Did you know there are actually carpet and upholstery cleaning certification courses? These courses are not mandatory but come highly recommended. And there is a non-profit organization called the "IICRC" (short for "Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification"---very wordy, that title) that watches over and licenses the schools that teach these courses. Be sure that a company's technicians are "IICRC" certified before hiring them. This won't guarantee that it's a good company or that they'll do a good job but it's a start and definitely a 'block to check', so don't forget this step. (But this is listed in a handy "questions to ask" list under the "Good Advice" tab on the left.)
MISCONCEPTION #4
The only reason to have your carpets & upholstery cleaned is to remove dirt in order to make them look better.
While this is a great reason to have your carpets and upholstery cleaned, it is definitely not the only reason: Outdoor air contains car exhaust, pollens, soot/air pollution, bacteria, fungus, cigarette smoke, and a hundred other contaminants that we bring indoors on our clothes and shoes. Not surprisingly, some of this ends up in your carpets and upholstery each and every time someone steps into the house or opens a door or window. Maybe not much each time, but the important point here is that it is cumulative; once contaminants get into carpet or upholstery, there they stay until removed.
Frequent dry vacuuming, however, with a good vacuum cleaner featuring a HEPA filter mitigates this build-up between hot water extraction cleanings. It is important to vacuum upholstery as well, but be gentle with delicate fabrics. Frequent vacuuming is important for the life of your carpet and fabrics as well: carpet fibers are actually cut by foot traffic that grinds soil grains and carpet fibers against each other. Upholstery fibers are worn similarly, except not by feet---by getting on and off furniture and changing position while seated (including arm rests).
If you looked at common house dust and dirt through a low-power microscope, you'd notice that much of it is granular and so is very sharp on its edges; as it gets ground against the carpet or upholstery fibers, it cuts them and cuts them readily. This is the primary reason for high traffic areas becoming matted and slightly discolored from the rest of your carpet: there are less fibers to hold each other up and the fibers that are standing are scratched up and so don't reflect light the way they used to.
Fortunately, frequent vacuuming, along with regular hot water extraction (at least once a year and more often on traffic lanes), stops most of the damage before it occurs. But vacuuming is actually the most important maintenance that you can do for your carpets and upholstery. Up to 95% of the dirt on carpets and upholstery is dry, particulate soil that can be fairly easily removed by vacuuming.
MISCONCEPTION #5
The company that offers the lowest price is the company you should hire.
Only if you've qualified the company first. This is a service industry that has giant differences in quality and types of service, depending on who you call. Having your carpets and/or upholstery cleaned is not like buying hard merchandise like a television or car---where you already know exactly what you're getting for your money. So, it's up to you to qualify the cleaner first---by phone or in person. This is done by getting good answers to the list of questions (offered for your protection) under the "Good Advice" tab on the left of the screen. Any reputable company should be happy to answer these questions. Besides, by asking intelligent questions, you have identified yourself as someone who cannot be taken advantage of.
**Beware of carpet cleaning coupons---see "Bait and Switch" under the "Beware" tab on the left.**
MISCONCEPTION #6
Any honest carpet cleaning company should be able to give you a price quote over the phone.
It used to drive me nuts when I was trying to get a quote over the phone to have my own carpets cleaned, but after getting into this business I now realize why most don't: It's normally too difficult to give any half-accurate quote given the many variables for each home. I tell people who want an exact quote that I wouldn't want to unknowingly overcharge them by giving them a sight-unseen quote.
Honest, reputable companies usually price carpet cleaning by the square foot, with other considerations such as moving or not moving furniture and stain/odor removal (if necessary) figured separately. The 'level' of cleaning may make a price difference as well; does the carpet need to be cleaned or resurrected?
Some old veterans of the cleaning industry can 'eyeball' an area to figure square footage, while simultaneously figuring other variables. This method isn't as exact as actually measuring, but with years of experience, I can see how this could be done. The point is, they are actually in your home giving the work a once-over, so you aren't in for any surprises when the cleaning is done and the bill is due. As a matter of fact, you should be offered a written price quote after the inspection--for you to approve with your initials or signature, so that neither party is in for a disappointment. It's just good business.
