One of the most used items at home is the carpet. Imagine the daily foot traffic it receives as homeowners and visitors walk around the house. With then walking around, dirt also comes with it, and from different sources – it could be from the muddy shoes of your son coming home from soccer practice, the sweaty foot from your other kid who just came home from playing outdoors, dust particles from the outside, dead skin cells shed every hour by each person living in your home, and a whole lot more. Having young kids and pets is also another story. Think about the dirt from urine and poops, or the countless number of water and juice spills, bread crumbs, ice cream dripping, and a whole lot more.
Did you know that your carpet is dirtier than your toilet seats at home? You will be shocked to know that your carpet has around 200,000 bacteria per square inch on average. So that’s about 4,000 dirtier than your toilet seats. Our toilets get regularly cleaned and disinfected (if not, you should), while in contrast, the majority of people are contented with just vacuuming, which only limitedly eliminates the dirt on the surface. And it is definitely not enough. This is why you need a pro to do the job for you. A professional carpet cleaner should be called as those microscopic bacteria and allergens are deep down the fibers of your carpets, requiring a special type of cleaning that you will get from professional help.
Why should you get your carpets cleaned?
As mentioned above, vacuuming is never enough. And we hope that we have painted a grim picture of the bacteria, viruses, and dirt that your carpet harbors.
- For health reasons – if you want to eliminate health risks in your house, one of the effective ways is to have a clean carpet. Your carpet being 4,000x dirtier than a toilet seat is no joke. Regular vacuuming is of course a must to get rid of those surface dust and stains, but you have to go deeper into the carpet’s surface to ensure that everything is cleaned. By doing so, you are protecting everyone in the house, especially children, from allergies triggered indoors and asthma (tiny dust mites are known triggers). You will also be able to prevent the household from being exposed to dangerous mold spores (from moist/dirty carpets). A routine professional cleanup will help you in the health department.
- Better air quality – having a good air purifier at home is a good investment, but if you have a dirty carpet, it defeats the purpose. In addition. Dirty carpets especially those that are damp will result in poor indoor air quality. It will smell. Vacuuming won’t help with the stench, as you need to remove the dirt and moisture deep beneath your carpet fibers.
- It is part of taking care of things – you should treat everything in your house as an investment. You paid good money with it, so you should get your money’s worth. Most carpets could last for as long as 15 years, but their lifespan is dependent on how you take care of them. Proper maintenance is the key, and you need a professional carpet cleaner to prolong the lifespan of your carpet.
- Carpet warranty – did you know that many carpet companies require you to professionally steam clean or use hot water extraction on your carpet annually till every 18 months so that the warranty that comes with the item is valid? So even if you religiously vacuum your carpet, if you fail to follow the guideline and have no proof of the carpet is professionally cleaned, then you are not protecting your investment – the warranty is void. The usual coverage of warranties are wear warranty (they could replace areas with excessive fiber loss as long as it’s within the set warranty), stain warranty (carpets are of course not stain proof but some companies offer this and you have to read the fine print on the coverage); and texture warranty ( this warranty covers the texture retention of the carpet)
- Improve house comfort – nothing is more comfortable than having a clean carpet, and obviously, a clean house. Clean carpet smells fresh and this would make you feel great almost instantly. Not just that, the feel of walking on a clean carpet is wonderful. Although you can perform regular vacuuming, you still have to hire a professional if you want to maintain that feel. Rest assured that it would be worth the investment.
So why do you need a professional carpet cleaner?
- Save yourself time, effort, and the headache – carpet cleaning is tedious and requires a lot of effort. If it’s also your first time, you will most likely spend a lot of time watching how-to videos, then falling in line in your local store to purchase the needed chemicals. If you don’t have the machine, you will either look for rental ones or go on another trip to the store to buy one. Add this to actual cleaning time, which will depend on the size of the carpet and how many rooms have carpet.
- In-depth knowledge, skills, and experience – carpets are not identical, and we are not talking about the designs. Some are wool, some are synthetic and some require special treatment. With the different carpet fabrics available in the market, a typical homeowner will most likely not be aware of how to efficiently navigate through the proper cleaning techniques that your carpet requires. Professional carpet cleaners will assess your carpet and know what method to use. It takes experience and technical knowledge to get the best possible outcome.
- Hiring professionals will help you avoid the usual DIY pitfalls – cleaning a carpet is a big task and if you do not have in-depth knowledge, DIY pitfalls will sure happen.
Some of which are:
- Using too much water (this promotes mold growth and can even cause shrinkage or tearing; some professional cleaners use low-moisture equipment and techniques to avoid this)
- Over shampooing (some homeowners will probably think that the more shampoo, the better, especially on spots with stains, but there is a correct amount to follow. Leaving the shampoo will result in more dirt being attracted quickly and stained carpets from chemicals used (some carpets will react to chemicals used and could undergo a color change, non-pros won’t know the correct chemical to use).
- Damaged furniture (if you have wood furniture, it could absorb the moisture, professionals either remove everything onsite or use coasters)
These pitfalls are of course counterproductive, not only is it money down the drain, the time and effort that comes with it are wasted. This will only result in frustrations that you’ll probably end up calling professional carpet cleaners to redo your botched job.
- Latest equipment and materials – professional cleaners have the latest equipment and best cleaning materials to do the job efficiently and effectively. Did you know that even if your carpet looks clean, it can still hold a pound of dirt per square yard? Depending on the assessment, your carpet cleaners may even use heavy-duty steam cleaning equipment, and most likely it is not readily available in your home. It will also require a lot of storage space, as most cleaning equipment is heavy and bulky.In terms of materials or cleaning agents, your safety will also not be compromised, as they know the right product to use that is not harmful to both your carpet and the family.
- Enjoy a longer lifespan of carpets – professional carpet cleaners help extend the longevity of your carpet. Removing the debris build-up and foreign objects in your carpet will help lessen its damaging effect. In case of stains, professionals know how to remove them properly without resorting to hard brushing or harsh but ineffective cleansers that could make stains worse due to improper use. Fabric protection could also be offered by pros, this will help protect your carpet’s fibers from the usual wear and tear, and even from spills and stains. As with anything, proper maintenance and preventive measures extend the life of your carpet.
- Restore your carpet to its original form – dirt and stains make carpet looks older. A properly done carpet cleaning will help restore your carpet to its original beauty. This is a good option instead of spending big bucks on buying new carpets.
If you are convinced that hiring a professional home cleaner is the best route, here are some quick questions to ask your carpet cleaners:
- Ask how long have they been in the business and their expertise
- Find out if they have insurance in case of damage to your homes
- Ask if all charges are included in the quote (avoid hidden charges). Price varies between $100-$300 for carpet cleaning and will depend on the number of carpeted areas of your room.
- Ask how long will the job take and in case chemicals will leave an odor, how long will it last.
In the US, carpets comprise 48% of the flooring market. It remains a popular house feature and adds aesthetics and more personality to the room. However, having a carpet is not “work-free” it comes with regular maintenance, which is vacuuming and occasional spot treatment if needed. However, it doesn’t end there; part of its maintenance is a carpet cleaning that should be done by a professional carpet cleaner. The savings that you might get from DIY carpet cleaning is not worth it and could probably be not much at all especially if your carpet is in a larger area or multiple rooms.
Save yourself time and effort, and ensure that your household is safe with your carpets being thoroughly cleaned. In addition, protect your investment and extend the lifespan of your carpet.
If you need a professional carpet cleaner, click here.
