Why have carpets professionally cleaned? Anyone can clean carpet. However, there are many facets involved that should be considered. What is the purpose of having the carpet cleaned? Is it to make it look good to sell the house (go cheap)? Or is it because you and your children live here and you wish to provide a clean, safe environment, which if maintained, provides the safest and most comfortable floor covering (don’t go cheap). In making this decision, research by Shaw Carpet may help give a clearer picture. Retail cleaners (such as sold by Wal-Mart) remove approximately 8% of the soil. Rentals (such as Rug Doctor) remove approximately 12% of the soil.
Having your carpet cleaned by a professional using hot water extraction via a truckmount system removes approximately 90% of the soil in the carpet. Ever cleaned a spot only to have it return a few weeks later? This could be the result of one of two phenomena. It could be that only the surface soil was removed during cleaning, and the sub surface soil wicked back to the surface. Or, it could be that soap residue was left behind which then re-attracted soil and caused the spot to reform.
Most people don't realize the health aspects provided by having your carpets professionally cleaned. Carpet traps human and pet dander, allergens, soil, and it serves as a filter for your indoor environment. Like any filter, carpet also needs to be cleaned periodically. We have all heard the rumor that carpet causes allergies - but the opposite is true. A study done in Sweden determined that allergy attacks have increased simultaneously with hardwood floor installation. Hardwoods do not have the ability to trap and remove anything from the air. For more information, visit the Carpet and Rug Institute's website.
Having your carpet professionally cleaned is such an important part of carpet maintenance that Shaw Carpets requires the carpet to cleaned by an IICRC certified firm, or utilizing equipment that meets CRI Seal of Approval (SOA), criteria every 12 - 24 months to maintain the warranty. Mohawk recommends cleaning their carpets every 12 to 18 months.
There are also durability issues. Carpet is designed to last anywhere from 7 to up to 15 years. The CRI has done extensive research on cleaning techniques, chemicals used, and equipment and developed their Seal of Approval program with this in mind. The single best method for cleaning carpet is hot water extraction using a truckmount system. But to get the maximum usage and benefit from your carpet, it should only be cleaned using CRI SOA approved chemicals. Over 70% of the products manufactured for carpet care do not meet the CRI SOA minimum standard for cleaning carpet (that being it must clean 10% better than water).