DIY Versus Professional Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning
With the holidays behind us, it’s time to clean up or just have a fresh new feel to your home to start the new year. One way to do that is to get your carpets or upholstery deep cleaned. After deciding to get your carpet and upholstery cleaned, the next step is to decide to clean them yourself or to get them professionally cleaned. There are pros and cons to both, but there are five main factors to consider when making your decision.
Equipment Quality
No matter what you choose, equipment is needed to properly deep clean your carpets or furniture. The DIY equipment options often look like vacuums with different compartments. One compartment holds the cleaner while the other holds the dirty water. While this makes it more simple for anyone to use, its compact mechanics can make its power less effective than the truck rigs that professional carpet cleaners have. Professional carpet and upholstery cleaners have top-of-the-line equipment attached to trucks that are powerful enough to get to the deepest part of your carpets and upholstery.
Clean Quality
How clean your carpets and furniture can get depends on a couple of factors: the quality of the equipment, the quality of the soaps, and the technique. There are options for DIY cleaners that are great to choose from, so be sure to look at the reviews. Different cleaners are made for different situations, like if you have pets or lived-in stains. DIY cleaners are similar to vacuums in that the dirt and soaps are sucked out of your carpets and upholstery. The best DIY technique is done by going over each section twice, or back and forth.
Professional carpets cleaners use premium cleaners to cover any situation and clean almost every stain. With the best equipment and best cleaners, that leaves the technique. There are two methods that professional carpet cleaners take: steam cleaning and encapsulation. Steam cleaning is similar to the same that DIY methods take, but encapsulation doesn’t use as much water. The cleaner encapsulates the dirt and stains to be vacuumed up after. Years of experience guide each professional, no matter which method, with getting you the best cleaning technique.
Time
Cleaning takes time, and unfortunately, that time isn’t always available to you. When you clean your carpets, you have to move the furniture, prepare your cleaning solution and vacuum, spot clean the darkest stains, and go over the carpets with your cleaner. Depending on the room, cleaning one room can take up to an hour. Afterwards, the room will need to dry, taking several hours or even a day. Upholstery needs to be moved to be able to get anywhere on the piece of furniture while you clean and spot cleaned before using the machine. Be sure you have a good chunk of time to clean your carpets and upholstery yourself.
Professional carpet cleaners can take care of it all. Even the drying time is reduced by cleaners that use the encapsulation method, like we do. The time the cleaning takes depends on the size and number of rooms, but the professionals have it down to a science that takes significantly less time. You also won’t have to lift a finger, getting that time to yourself. Just sit back and relax, and professionals take care of it.
Cost
One of the last things to consider when deciding to get professional carpet and upholstery cleaning or doing it yourself is the cost. Renting a carpet cleaner costs less than professional carpet cleaning, depending on the size and number of rooms or pieces of furniture. Be sure to request a quote from us to get more information.
Cleaning up your carpets and upholstery not only refreshes your home, it can help make your home healthier. If you would like your home’s carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned, we are happy to help. Check out our unique process to learn more about us, or request a quote for your carpet or upholstery cleaning.