Misconception #1: You should wait as long as possible before cleaning your carpet.
No. Dirt is an abrasive, like sandpaper. Every time you step on your carpet, you grind dirt into the carpet fibers. This cuts your carpet, just as if you has used a knife. This cutting causes your carpet to wear out faster. A dirty carpet will not last as long as a clean carpet. And while vacuuming helps, by itself, it's simply not enough. The longer you wait to have your carpets cleaned, the more damage you do to your carpet and the faster it wears out.

Misconception #2: The only reason to clean your carpets is to remove the dirt.
No. As you probably know, outdoor air contains pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust and hundreds of other chemicals. When you come into your home, you carry those pollens, bacteria and chemicals in your hair and on your skin, clothing and shoes. Not surprisingly, all those chemicals and toxins wind up in your carpet. If you have allergies, asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problems one major source of your problem could be the pollens, fungus, smoke and chemicals in your carpet.

Misconception #3: One method of carpet cleaning is as good as another.
No. The dry cleaning methods which are bonnet cleaning, dry foam, and dry compound do not rinse your carpet in any way. Instead, they leave a dirty residue. You might say they clean your carpet only halfway. The most effective method is hot water extraction. Click on Which Method Cleans Best link for further details about hot water extraction.

Misconception #4: Having the right equipment is all a company needs to clean your carpets properly.
Not true. Many companies own hot-water cleaners, but very few companies teach their employees how to use them properly. This is why it is important that you choose your carpet cleaner carefully. The best companies are those that have been certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, known as the IICRC. Before you choose a carpet cleaner, ask to see written proof of the company's certification and also the certification of the technician who is going to do the job! If they don't have them-don't use them!

Misconception #5: The company that offers the lowest price is the company you should hire.
No. Many problems can arise from the lowest bid companies that quotes the cheapest price. The two most common problems are:
The price may not be for the services you want performed. The company may be equipped to remove only the dirt from your carpet. But you may want bacteria, fungus, pollens, dust-mites and tobacco residues removed as well.

The price you see advertised may not be the price you pay. Many homeowners have learned that the low price they saw advertised lasted only until the carpet cleaner got into their home. Then, they were pressured into paying a lot more for a variety of add-ons. (Some carpet cleaners even break the law using "bait and switch tactics".

Misconception #6: Any honest carpet cleaning company should be able to give you an exact price quote over the phone.

Honest, reputable carpet cleaning companies almost never price carpet cleaning by the room. Instead, carpet cleaning is usually priced by the square foot. So, if you'd like an exact cost of the cleaning, you need to know that exact number of square feet you want cleaned. At Lamunyon Cleaning & Restoration, we use a measuring wheel to calculate the exact size of the carpet area.