A professional carpet cleaning can make a drastic difference in the appearance of the interior of your home for much less than the cost of installing new carpet. Having the carpets replaced is one of the first steps in staging a house for resale. But if you can’t afford to do that, then a professional cleaning is the next best thing to make your carpets look as good as new. . The price for cleaning the carpet in any of the rooms in your home depends largely on the surface area of the carpet. It can also depend on which method you choose to use. The two methods currently used by professionals are encapsulation and hot water extraction.
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Encapsulation is the process of dry cleaning carpets. It is a chemical process that crystalizes the dirt particles in the carpet. The dirt crystals are then vacuumed up, leaving the carpet clean and dry. Without need to let the carpet dry, there is no chance of a mold or mildew problem and the carpet is immediately usable upon completion of the process.
Hot water extraction is more commonly known as steam cleaning. With steam cleaning, you are essentially cleaning the carpet with extremely hot water that is pressurized and forces out the dirt that is hidden deep within the carpet fibers. Wet cleaning carpets requires drying time to avoid the build the growth of mold and mildew.
The cost of cleaning a carpet is fairly uniform nationwide, and averages 30 cents per square foot. The cost can be different depending on the process being used. Steam cleaning a 650 square foot carpet costs about $150. Chemical dry cleaning of the same area of carpet will run about $200.
Machines for cleaning you carpet yourself can be rented at any home improvement store as well as most grocery stores and big box retail chain stores. Rental of these machines is about $30 for an entire day, but the real cost is in the chemicals. There are cleaning solutions, deodorizing solutions, and solutions designed specifically for cleaning up after dogs and cats.
The best way to get a professional estimate for cleaning your home’s carpeting is through an in home visit. This way, the company’s sales representative can assess the condition of your carpet and explain what they believe needs to be done to get your carpet looking as good as new.
One of the most troublesome problems carpet cleaners face is the removal of stains and odors caused by pet urine. Pet urine causes a unique set of problems as it penetrated the carpet and the padding to the floor underneath. When urine evaporates, it leaves behind crystals that are difficult to remove. When this has happened, the carpet and padding will have to be pulled back and the floor beneath has to be cleaned and deodorized. The floor is treated with a chemical that breaks down the urine crystals in 24 to 36 hours.
People regularly make use of weekend days to clean their own carpets. This is the most economically viable option, but can get more expensive than necessary if too many chemicals are purchased. It is best to spend some time with the machine’s instructions before getting started so you can be sure you have enough of the right kind of chemicals for the kind of cleaning your carpet needs. If you have pets, you carpets might need extra care. Significant pet urine stain and odor problems can linger after a self-cleaning. In this instance, it is usually best to have a carpet cleaning professional inspect your home and give you an accurate cost estimate.
