With time, carpets begin to collect dirt deep within the carpet fibers. This can lead to dust accumulation, mold, and mildew that can aggravate allergies, as well as causing the carpet to look and smell unpleasant. You can have your carpet steam cleaned by a professional cleaning service, or you can clean it yourself with a rental cleaner. If you have particularly high traffic areas of carpet, you may want to buy your own steam cleaner for regular cleanings.
Many professional carpeting and cleaning associations agree that steam cleaning is the best way to get filth out of a carpet. A cleaning machine blasts the carpet with a jet of hot water and then vacuums the water and dirt up. This process will loosen dirt that has been ground into the carpet and also will remove mold and mildew spores. If you use a steamer frequently, it will keep your carpets smelling fresh and in good shape. For low traffic households, using a steam cleaner once every year to two years is recommended; for high traffic households, you may need to clean as often as every three months.
If you have children and animals, you may want to consider purchasing a carpet steamer for cleaning your carpets. Steamers range in price, but it is possible to get a reasonably cheap model, especially if you buy a used one. Most use a solvent in addition to the steam, and if you are concerned about heavy chemicals on your carpeting, you may want to find a model that is compatible with biodegradable and kid-friendly cleaners.
If you steam clean less frequently, it is far more cost effective to rent a machine. Most areas have rental services, and you can usually get a day's rental at low cost. In some cases, the specialized steam cleaning soap will be included in the rental price.
To do a good job cleaning your carpets, start by removing as much furniture from the room as possible — ideally, you want to empty out the room. Then, vacuum and spot clean the carpet, removing obvious stains. After that, you can bring out the carpet steamer, following the manufacturer's directions for mixing the water and cleaning solution. It is recommended that only one pass be made while dispensing steam, because you do not want to get the carpet too wet. Allow the carpet to completely dry before replacing the furniture. It is best to steam clean in the summer when you can leave windows open for ventilation.