Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.
When you select a carpet cleaner, you'll choose from a wide variety of cleaning methods and prices.
Shaw Industries, the world's largest carpet manufacturer, recommends hot water extraction from a truck mounted unit, and using a portable unit only in areas where the truck-mounted unit won't reach.
Here's why: A truck mounted unit cleans much better than a portable unit for three reasons:
1) It heats the water to a higher temperature. For every 18 degree increase in temperature above 188 degrees F, you double the waters cleaning ability. So, if the water temperature is 136 degrees F, it will clean twice as well as water that is only 118 degrees F. 154 degree water will clean four times as well as 118 degree water. And so on, until the temperature reaches 254 degrees.
2) It shoots the cleaning solution into your carpet at higher pressures, which breaks up the dirt, bacteria, chemicals and pollens. 300 to 400 pounds per square inch is the optimum pressure for truck mount hot water extraction.
3) The machine uses stronger suction to draw the dirt, chemicals, bacteria, pollens and tobacco smoke residue out of your carpet.
Not surprisingly, having your carpet thoroughly cleaned with truck mount hot water extraction cost more than renting a shampooer at the corner grocery store.
If you bought the cheapest carpeting you could find, then renting
a small shampooer might be all you need. No question, it will get
out some of the dirt -- but the key word here is
"some." It will not get out many of the pollens,
chemicals, bacteria and tobacco smoke residues.
On the other hand, if you bought high quality carpeting -- if you want it to look good and give you years of dependable service -- then you need to take extra good care of it. This means you need to have it cleaned by a skilled, qualified technician at least every six months to one year, depending on the amount of soiling and foot traffic it receives. And you need to have it cleaned thoroughly and disinfected, as only a truck-mount hot water extractor can do.