Using a professional carpet cleaning service provides homeowners with benefits that DIY carpet cleaning cannot.  For example, if you use a professional carpet cleaning service, the equipment used to clean your carpets will be stronger than the rental equipment.  A professional service should vacuum with a cleaner that is far stronger to any vacuum designed for residential use.  The professional carpet cleaning service will then use a cleaning machine that can provide a deeper clean than a rental unit.

Another advantage of professional carpet cleaning is that the professionals know exactly which detergents to use.  Different types of carpet fibers require different types of detergents.  Using the wrong type of detergent can damage the carpet fibers and result in color distortion.  A professional carpet cleaning service will also know exactly how much detergent to use and how to remove all of that detergent from the carpet.  Detergent left in the carpet after cleaning will attract dirt like a magnet. This is why so many people complain that the DIY rental unit didn’t actually clean their carpet.  Dirt is drawn to the detergent and the carpets look dirty again within weeks of the original cleaning.

A carpet cleaning professional will also ensure that your carpets are not over saturated during the cleaning process.  If too much water is applied to the carpet during cleaning, it could penetrate to the carpet backing and pad underneath the carpet.  If these areas get too wet during the cleaning process, mold or mildew could grow in your carpet.

These are just a few of the advantages to hiring a professional carpet cleaning service.  For a directory of professional carpet cleaning services in your area, visit http://www.carpetcleaning.org/listing/.

Carpet cleaning is one of those services where you hope to find a company that you can rely on for years to come.  Unfortunately, finding the best carpet cleaning company in your area can be a challenge.  With so many offers for discounted service, it can be hard to know which company is the best carpet cleaning company.  When searching for the best carpet cleaning company in your area, here are a few quick tips that can help you to narrow your search.

1. You get what you pay for. The best carpet cleaning company is not likely to be the one that offers to clean your whole home for a low rate.  A quality carpet cleaning service cannot survive by offering to $9.95/room rates.  A low rate may indicate subpar service or hidden fees.  The best carpet cleaning company in your area doesn’t need gimmicks to get your business.
2. Ask around. As with any home improvement or maintenance project it pays to ask around.  Talk to your neighbors, co-workers or family members.  Check references and online directories for reviews.  It will be easy to spot the best carpet cleaning company, when you have some quality references to follow.
3. Know your needs. Spend some time researching what types of service you want from a carpet cleaning company. Do you want to have your carpets pre-treated? Do you have pet stains that need attention? Do you want stain prevention or deodorizer applied to your carpets?  Know what services you expect and ask if each is provided by the company you are considering.  Be sure to check if those services are included in the base price or are provided at an additional cost.
4. Price quotes should be done in person. While it would be great if carpet cleaning companies could give you a quote over the phone, they really can’t.  The best carpet cleaning companies will want to come to your home to see your carpet before giving you a final price.  Square footage and the condition of your carpet do matter when quoting a rate.
5. Certifications matter. You may not know this, but your carpet warranty probably requires that a certified professional clean your carpets at least once every 18 months.  The best carpet cleaning professionals are certified by the Institute for Inspection, Certification and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

Finding the best carpet cleaning company in your area, and establishing a relationship with them, is important.  To begin your search, visit the online directory at http://www.carpetcleaning.org/listing/.

One of the most common questions we get about carpet cleaning in Atlanta, GA is if you can effectively clean your own carpets or if a professional service is necessary.  What we recommend is that DIY cleaning be used only for spot cleaning.  While rental units can do a fair job of cleaning your carpets, the equipment that a professional will use does a much better job.  The strength of the equipment used by professional carpet cleaning companies in Atlanta, GA will remove much more dirt and grime from you carpets than a DIY unit.

So, how often should you clean your carpets?  We recommend that you clean your carpets at least once every 18 months.  However, homes with children and/or pets can benefit from more frequent carpet cleaning.  This is where the combination of DIY rental units and a professional carpet cleaner come together.  Most high traffic areas in the home can benefit from carpet cleaning once every 6 months.  If you choose to have a professional carpet cleaning company in Atlanta, GA come to your home once every year or 18 months, the interim cleaning can be done by a DIY unit.

If you are looking for a reliable, affordable carpet cleaning company in Atlanta, GA, we recommend that you start by searching the directory at www.carpetcleaning.org to find a list of professionals in your area.  Read the reviews and use them as a starting point for selecting the companies you want to interview.  Call the companies on your list to confirm their prices, included services and to verify that they are insured, bonded and certified.  After comparing the companies on your list, you should have a good idea as to which service is best for you.

• Your Chicago carpet cleaning service wants you to know that dirt is your number one enemy. Contrary to popular belief, wear and tear is not the reason why carpets lose their good looks.  Your carpet will attract dirt, allergens, pet hair, lint and oils.  These all act like sandpaper to harm carpet fibers and the look of your carpet.
• Your Chicago carpet cleaning service wants you to know that vacuuming regularly will extend the life of your carpets. Removing as much of the dirt that destroys carpets as possible is the key to extending their life.  Vacuuming at least weekly will go a long way toward protecting your carpets.
• Your Chicago carpet cleaning service wants you to know that doormats matter. Putting a doormat at each entrance to your home will remove a large percentage of the dirt that enters your home.  Removing shoes will also make a dramatic difference in the amount of dirt tracked onto your carpets.
• Your Chicago carpet cleaning service wants you to know that re-arranging your furniture will extend the life of your carpets. Moving furniture is an easy way to change traffic patterns, and spread the wear and tear among more areas of the carpet.
• Your Chicago carpet cleaning service wants you to know that rental or home cleaning machines are great for spot cleaning. However, for deep cleaning, it is necessary to hire a professional.  A professional carpet cleaning service will be able to achieve a deeper clean, that lengthens the life of your carpet.
• Your Chicago carpet cleaning service wants you to know that frequent professional cleaning is essential. While your manufacturer’s warranty recommends cleaning every 18 months, we know that cleaning every 6-12 months is even better.  This is especially important for rooms that get heavy foot traffic and for families with children and/or pets.

First, it is important to know why cleaning carpets is so important.  If you don’t regularly clean your carpets, they can act as a breeding ground for bacteria, germs and allergens.  A certain amount of dirt and grime are going to settle into even the cleanest of carpets, but without proper care, you carpets will quickly become dirty beyond repair.

Another practical reason for cleaning carpets is the cost savings associated with prevention.  With weekly vacuuming, and a yearly steam cleaning, your carpets will last for years longer than if you did nothing to clean them.  With the cost of new carpet rising each year, a little cleaning prevention will save you a lot of money in the long run.

Ok, so, you want to save money and be healthy. That’s pretty reasonable.  So, what do you need to know about cleaning carpets?  One of the first things you need to know is what type of carpet you have.  Carpets are made from a variety of materials including silk, wool and synthetics.  Knowing what materials your carpet is made from will help you to determine what type of detergents and cleaning methods to use.  Using the wrong cleaning method or detergents can damage your carpet.

If you are planning on cleaning carpets yourself, once you know which materials your carpet is made from, you will need to select the proper detergents and cleaning machines.  Hot water extraction is most often used for residential carpet cleaning, but you will want to confirm that this is best for your carpets.  When you are cleaning your carpets, be sure not to over saturate the carpet.  Too much water can lead to damp carpets and the growth of mold and mildew.  It is best to open windows and run fans after cleaning carpets to speed the drying process.  Don’t forget that when you move the furniture back to its original position after cleaning, some sort of protector should be placed underneath the legs to prevent the transfer of color to the still damp carpet.

Home Carpet Cleaning Tip #1

Vacuum thoroughly and frequently. One of the best ways to keep your carpets looking good and lasting longer is with frequent vacuuming.  You should vacuum no less than once each week. Areas that are used daily should be vacuumed more frequently.  Run the vacuum slowly to pick up the most dirt and go over the carpet multiple times, from different directions.

Home Carpet Cleaning Tip #2

Fight odors while vacuuming. Adding baking soda to your vacuum bag will help you fight odors each time you vacuum.  With frequent vacuuming, and the use of baking soda in the bag, you can have odor free carpets with only minimal effort.

Home Carpet Cleaning Tip #3

Don’t let spills sit on your carpet. The best way to ensure that a spill doesn’t become a spot that settles into a stain is to get after it immediately.  Blot the area of the spill to remove the most amount of fluid without spreading the spill or damaging the carpet fibers.  If you use a spot cleaner, work from the outside in to prevent spreading.

Home Carpet Cleaning Tip #4

Don’t over saturate your carpet when cleaning. While fighting spills and stains, homeowners often over saturate the carpet.  If this happens, place a clean white towel on the area, place a heavy object on the towel and leave it overnight to soak up as much moisture as possible.  An oversaturated carpet can lead to the growth of mold or mildew.

Home Carpet Cleaning Tip #5

Keep dirt at the door. One of the best ways to prolong the life of your carpet is to install doormats at each door.  Doormats will catch a large percentage of the dirt brought in on shoes.  In addition to this cost saving tip, we recommend that you remove shoes at the door.  Wearing only socks, or designated indoor shoes, will also help to keep your carpets cleaner.

If you follow these five simple home carpet cleaning tips, your carpets will keep their good looks longer.  Following these tips can also extend the length of time between professional carpet cleaning visits.

1. Vacuum frequently. Vacuuming at least once a week is essential.  For those with pets and/or children, vacuuming should be done as often as possible, as much as three times each week.
2. Get to that spot before it becomes a stain. Carpet cleaning is most effective right after a spill.  If possible, quickly remove the spot before it damages the carpet and becomes a stain.  Don’t wait until tomorrow, because by then the spot may be a permanent stain.
3. Blot, don’t rub. When trying to lift a stain, the key is to blot the stain, not to rub.  Rubbing the stain will only serve to push it deeper into the carpet and harm the carpet fibers, making carpet cleaning more difficult.
4. Thorough stain removal is essential. If after DIY carpet cleaning, your stains seem to reappear, it could be because you haven’t thoroughly removed the spot or the detergents.  As part of the cleaning process, place a think cloth on the stain and weight it down with a heavy object.  Leave the cloth on the stain over night to remove the most amount of liquid.
5. Don’t use heat on your carpet. After carpet cleaning, do not use an iron or hair dryer to dry the area, this will only serve to seal the stain to your carpet.
6. Use mild cleaning detergents. Carpet cleaning is most effective with mild detergents that are easy to remove from the carpet.  Use stronger detergents only on stubborn stains.
7. Detergents left in the carpet will attract dirt. If detergent residue remains after carpet cleaning, it will attract dirt like a magnet and your carpets will appear dirty soon after cleaning.
8. Prevent dirt getting to your carpets. Prevention makes a huge dent in your carpet cleaning needs.  Entrance mats at each door will help to clean dirt off shoes.  Going barefoot, or with indoor shoes, helps to keep carpets clean.
9. Regular steam cleaning is essential. Professional steam cleaning should be performed at least once every 18 months.  Carpet in high traffic areas will benefit from more frequent professional carpet cleaning.
10. Establish a relationship with your local carpet cleaning company. Finding a carpet cleaning company that is reliable, affordable and effective will help your carpets look their best. When you find that company, use them regularly so they become familiar your carpets and can advise you on their maintenance.