A professional carpet cleaner does cost more than cleaning your carpets by yourself, but when you understand all that goes into a professional house call, the price may make more sense to you. While you can clean your own carpets with rental equipment, it helps to understand the process that a professional carpet cleaner follows.

A professional carpet cleaner will come to your home with powerful machinery loaded up in the back of the van. The high pressure and the hot temperatures break up pieces of dirt, grit and grime from the carpet fibers. These machines create extremely hot water that is forced deep into the carpet through powerful pressure. The strong suction from the hoses means that the water, as well as dirt particles, is being pulled right back up and into a holding tank. This hot water sanitizes the carpet and works to eliminate odor better. Rental machines that are handheld cannot deliver the power or temperatures that a professional setup can.

Another thing to consider with professional carpet cleaning is the stain removal service. Using powerful commercial grade spot remover, a professional carpet cleaner will be able to treat a spot using the latest methods and equipment. Most professionals also include an application of some kind of stain-resistant product to the carpet. This stain-resistant protection coats the carpet fibers and repels stains.

When it comes time to find professional carpet cleaning, there are certain questions you should ask before you book an appointment. Always ask friends and family members for references. If someone you trust was pleased, that goes a long way. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints lodged against the company.Ask for details about the company’s professional carpet cleaning methods, especially about stain removal and carpet protections and treatments. Also, ask about furniture moving details. Some professional carpet cleaning companies will make arrangements to move furniture for you as part of the package deal, while others expect any furniture to be moved before arrival.