How often should I have my carpet cleaned? Should I apply carpet protector? How long does it take the carpeting to dry? How much does it cost? Which method cleans best? How often should I have my carpet cleaned? It depends greatly on your particular situation. Those with children, pets, or large families will need more frequent cleanings. Some carpet manufacturers in fact require carpet cleaning every 12-18 months to keep the warranty in effect. Commercial cleaning often needs to be setup on a regular maintenance program in order to properly maintain it. Should I apply carpet protector? Carpet protector is an excellent choice for families with children or pets and is often part of a warranty requirement. It makes regular cleaning easier and helps to prevent stains. Carpet protector does wear off with vacuuming and normal foot traffic and does need to be re-applied periodically. How long does it take the carpeting to dry? Carpeting will normally be dry in 4-6 hours but may take up to 24 hours depending on humidity condition, etc. How much does it cost? Our minimum charge is $150.00 We follow these steps: Dry vacuuming, presorting, pre-treatment with soil conditioner, truck mounted hot water extraction cleaning, application of protector if requested, grooming of carpet fiber (setting the pile), and the setting up of air-movers. The cost of these services for cleaning is $.35 per square foot, $3.00 per step, and $.15 per square foot for the application of Scotch guard carpet protector. Specialized spotting and deodorization for pet odor are additional. Estimates can usually be done over the telephone and confirmed by the technician when he arrives at your home. Which method cleans best? Dry Foam: The carpet cleaner applies shampoo to your carpet, allows it to dry, and then, without rinsing, sucks the dried shampoo into a vacuum. Can you imagine applying shampoo to your hair, allowing it to dry and then removing the shampoo from your head with a vacuum? This method leaves dirty residue in your carpet, which is one reason dry foam is not too effective. Bonnet cleaning (so-called dry cleaning): This method is similar to dry foam except that the company sets a large cotton bonnet on your carpet and with a floor polishing buffer machine on top 'buffs' the carpet. The rotating motion causes the bonnet to absorb dirt from your carpet. This method is also called bonnet cleaning. Bonnet cleaning is like trying to use a large wet towel or mop to rub the dirt out of your carpet. It's not very effective. Dry, absorbent powder: The dry-compound method spreads a moist, absorbent powder through the carpet. The powder is allowed to dry and then sucked into a vacuum. This method leaves dry sponge particles at the base of the carpet yarn. And because the carpet is not rinsed, this method is not very effective. Hot water extraction: This is a fancy way of saying that hot water cleaning solution under high pressure is forced into your carpet and then sucked out of your carpet. In a recent Technical Bulletin, Shaw Industries, the world's largest carpet manufacturer, "recommends the hot water extraction system, which research indicates provides the best capability for cleaning". You can choose from two different types: Truck-mount extraction, which is done with a large machine, mounted in a truck or van. Or portable extraction, which is done with a small, hand-held unit. On which type to choose, Shaw's Technical Bulletin states: "(cleaning) can be done from a truck mounted unit outside the facility with only the hose and wand brought inside, or where a truck mounted unit cannot reach (such as a high rise), by a portable, self-contained system brought into the facility." As you can see, Shaw recommends the truck-mounted unit first. And this isn't surprising. You see, the truck-mounted unit cleans much better because it heats the water to a higher temperature, and shoots the cleaning solution into the carpet at higher pressures. This breaks up the dirt, bacteria, chemicals and pollens in the carpet. Then the machine produces huge vacuum volume to draw the dirt out of your carpet. This is the method Lamunyon Cleaning and Restoration uses. Some people believe that hot water damages your carpet, but this isn't true. By washing and then rinsing your carpet with hot water, we clean your carpet completely-in the same way a person who showers and then rinses off the dirt and soap will be much cleaner than the person who takes only a sponge bath.