Carpet cleaning isn't as straightforward as you might think. With hundreds of carpet cleaners in Atlanta to choose from, and as many methods of carpet of cleaning in Atlanta as there are cable television stations owned by Ted Turner, it can be downright intimidating deciding who to call. Not to worry. If your carpets are dirty enough that you're worried the CDC might come knocking at your door soon, we've compiled some information to help you find the right carpet cleaner for the job.
Atlanta Carpet Cleaning Methods
Atlanta carpet cleaning services generally offer one of four different carpet cleaning methods, or variations of them, to meet your carpet cleaning needs. Not all carpet cleaning in Atlanta is equal, however, making it important to read up on them ahead of time in order to make right choice for your needs.
Shampooing—Shampooing is the oldest, and least effective method of Atlanta carpet cleaning. It consists of applying a shampoo that is worked into the carpet with some form of a rotary machine. The shampoo is then allowed to dry before it's vacuumed up, theoretically bringing the dirt along with it. While shampooing removes some dirt (i.e. is better than nothing), it often leaves a residue behind that eventually attracts more dirt over time. Foam cleaning is a little more effective, but basically utilizes the same principles, and shares the same problems.
Bonnet Cleaning—Atlanta carpet cleaners who use the bonnet method, also called "dry" or "carbonated" carpet cleaning, apply a detergent that is worked into the carpet with the carpet cleaning equivalent of a floor buffer. Not only does the bonnet work the detergent into the carpet, but it soaks it back up and removes dirt in the process. As the carpet is cleaned, the bonnet is periodically replaced with a new one to retain its effectiveness. Bonnet cleaning does a decent job, though it's more of a surface clean as opposed to a deep cleaning, and is a good option for "maintenance" cleanings since it dries quickly.
Dry Absorbent Carpet Cleaning—With dry carpet cleaning, your Atlanta carpet cleaner will apply a dry powder that, after a few minutes, is worked into the carpet pile with a rotary unit. The powder adheres to dirt, soil, and other contaminants, and then removed with a thorough vacuuming. This type of cleaning can be very effective, as long as all of the dry product is removed. Also, since it's entirely a dry process, it's great for maintenance cleaning and for use in heavy traffic areas where wet carpets or drying times aren't realistic.
Hot Water Extraction (i.e. Steam Cleaning) —Hot water extraction is what most homeowners think of when they think of Atlanta carpet cleaning, and is actually the most effective carpet cleaning method on the market. It's also the type of cleaning most often recommended by carpet manufacturers. With this method, a mixture of hot water and detergent is injected deep into the carpet pile, then forcefully removed, along with the soiling agents, by way of a powerful vacuum. Be sure to ask if a truck-mounted unit is used if you contact an Atlanta carpet cleaner about this option, since truck-mounted vacuums are more powerful and do a better job of removing moisture and dirt from your carpet than mobile ones. The downside of this method: drying time. Carpet can take up to eight hours to dry with hot water extraction, and if your contractor doesn't know what he's doing and over soaks your carpet, disagreeable odors and even mold and mildew can result.
Atlanta Carpet Cleaning Costs
Besides wondering which company and method to choose, most homeowners are curious how much they can expect a carpet cleaning in Atlanta to cost. After all, once you add in extra rooms, stain removal and protection, and add up the square footage, carpet cleaning can end up being more expensive than you initially bargained for. Turns out that carpet cleaning, on average, really isn't all that expensive. Based on data ServiceMagic collects from post-product surveys that we send out to homeowners across the ATL who use our referral services, the average carpet cleaning in Atlanta runs a reasonable $140. That should be good news to homeowners, especially since most major carpet manufacturers recommend you have your carpets cleaned professionally once or twice a year to retain that "like new" look and feel. If you're like most homeowners in Atlanta, chances are you're past due based on those recommendations, making it a smart idea to schedule an Atlanta carpet cleaning as soon as possible.
Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.
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