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Carpet cleaning may not be the most exciting activity, but it’s certainly an important one. When you factor in the stain-repellent properties of your carpet, its ability to subdue noise, and the amount of time you spend walking on it every day, a dirty carpet is essentially akin to having a stranger move into your home for as much as 180 days out of the year. In reality, though, that stranger is probably closer to 350 days. Carpet is a major focal point in most homes. It’s usually the first thing you see when entering through the front door and one of the last things you see before leaving again. As such, it’s no surprise that many people feel obligated to clean their carpets themselves. However, this doesn’t necessarily make it something that should always be done yourself. In fact, there are several compelling reasons why hiring a professional cleaner might be a better option.
Professional Carpet Cleaning is the Only Way to Go
When you hire a professional carpet cleaner, you’re essentially getting the same service you would receive if you were having your carpets professionally cleaned every year. The process is rigorous, thorough, and often includes extracting the dirt that has become embedded deep within the fibres of your carpet. This is something that you will never be able to do at home, no matter how hard you try. Part of the reason why professional cleaners can remove so much dirt is because they use special equipment. Heavy-duty vacuums, rotary steam cleaners, and machines that are meant for deep-cleaning are just a few examples of the tools that a pro will use. In fact, 95% of all residential cleaning companies use these same tools. In addition to the cleaner itself, most carpet cleaning companies also make use of special solutions. These are created with a combination of water and detergent, and they’re designed to remove stains, allergens, and bacteria. Some also include chemicals that help remove odours and fight against future stains. In short, it’s impossible to clean your carpets to the same standard with a mop and bucket as you can with a pro.
You Can’t Be Sure of the Quality of Your Dirt
One of the most common misconceptions about cleaning carpets at home is that they’re dirtier than people commonly realise. This is especially true if you have small children or pets. However, unless you have a machine that is specifically designed for extracting dirt from deep within your carpets, it can be very difficult to remove it. Many homeowners purchase what they believe to be commercial-grade carpet cleaners that are actually designed for tile and other hard surfaces. These devices are too weak to really clean carpets effectively, so they often don’t pull enough dirt out of the fibres. Carpet cleaners made for cleaning deep down can be quite pricey, but they’re far more effective at removing dirt than their cheaper counterparts. If you do manage to extract some of the dirt that has built up in your carpets, it’s often not enough to stop them from smelling. This is because deep-cleaning machines don’t just clean the top layer of your carpets; they remove the dirt deep within the fibres, leaving them smelling fresh and clean.
Professional Equipment Equals Better Results
As we’ve already discussed, many homeowners use commercial-grade cleaning equipment for their carpets. However, the machines that professionals use are much more powerful, which means they’re much more efficient at removing dirt. Some commercial-grade models aren’t even designed for cleaning carpets, which makes them far less effective than a rotary or deep-cleaning machine. Carpet cleaning machines are designed to work in tandem with the cleaning solutions that the professionals use, so it’s important to remember that these don’t come standard with the purchase of a machine. If you purchase a commercial-grade carpet cleaner, but you’re using water and a scrub brush to clean your carpets, you might as well be using nothing at all.
It’s Not a Simple Job, Even for Pro Cleaners
Unlike other cleaning jobs, it’s very difficult to determine how long it will take to clean your carpets. This is because you can’t know how dirty they are unless you go deep into the fibres with a specialised vacuum and cleaning solution. The same goes for how many square feet of carpet you have, which makes it more difficult to determine how much it will cost to hire a professional cleaner. If you’re cleaning your carpets yourself, you can’t possibly know how dirty they are, how much water and how much cleaning solution you’ll need. You also can’t know how long it will take or how much it will cost to have them professionally cleaned, so it’s all a guessing game. This is why it’s almost always best to hire a professional cleaner and let them do it for you.
There Are No Shortcuts When it Comes to Carpet Care
Professional carpet cleaners know exactly what the best approach is for cleaning certain types of carpets. This means that they’ll use the correct cleaning solution and the correct amount of water. They’ll also make sure that it’s applied to the right types of stains, and they’ll use the best method for extracting the dirt. It’s important to note that different types of carpets require different levels of care. For example, shag carpets should be cleaned far less often than low-pile varieties. If you’re cleaning your carpets at home and you don’t know the best way to do it, you might miss the mark entirely.
DIY Doesn’t Preserve Your Carpets or your Time
It’s often said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This also holds true when it comes to home maintenance, including carpet care. If you clean your carpets as soon as they start to look dirty, you’ll be able to extend their lifespan considerably. If you hire a professional cleaner to perform a deep clean once a year, you’ll be able to keep your carpets looking like new for much longer. However, if you clean your carpets every few months, you’ll be able to keep them clean for much longer. You can do this with a simple vacuum and some water, which isn’t very difficult, but the benefits will last for years.
Bottom line:
Carpets are an important part of any home, but they also require diligent care and cleaning. Fortunately, hiring a professional carpet cleaner can take away a lot of the stress associated with caring for your carpets by doing the job for you. From the professional equipment used to the special solutions applied, hiring a professional carpet cleaner is the only way to go if you want your carpets to remain clean and stain-free for as long as possible.