Do You Save Money Cleaning Your Own Carpets?

It's very tempting to try to clean carpets yourself. We want to find ways to save money and be self-sufficient. But the truth is that DIY carpeting cleaning is not easy, practical, or cost-effective. In short, it's a bad idea. Let's talk about why.

Cleaning Carpets And Rugs Correctly Can Be Much Harder Than You Think

Do not be deceived by the many do-it-yourself demonstration videos or advertisements littering the web that attempt to make this process look easy. Most of those present themselves with the premise of teaching you something, but their real purpose is to sell you something, such as their own "miracle" products or those of their sponsors. It might look easy on-screen, but it is anything but. Carpet cleaning is strenuous, demanding, roll-up-your-sleeves work.

Carpet And Rug Cleaning Can Be Complicated

Carpet cleaning is a much more detailed task than you may think. Carpets and rugs are made from a wide range of materials, and those specific materials dictate how you should clean them. For example, you mustn't clean a rug containing silk fibers with bleach or enzymatic cleaner. Enzymes target and break down proteins to eliminate stains, and silk is protein, while bleach turns the fibers yellow. 

Additionally, you shouldn't use heat or steam on them because they can shrink. Various materials are delicate and could be damaged by brushing or scrubbing. Not having this information before you begin cleaning can lead to costly problems. Of course, special equipment and supplies will be needed, but knowledge is your most important requirement. The how-to, what-if, what-about list is long and confusing. If you don't know what you are doing, you are wasting your time with DIY, leaving yourself vulnerable to an even longer list of uh-ohs.

Things Can Go Seriously Wrong

There are nearly as many DIY cleaning mishap videos as there are demo videos; you should take that for its glaring warning. A lot can go wrong when you don't get it right, and those errors translate to additional expenses. You might even find yourself having to replace the carpet completely. You could injure yourself or make yourself sick from the exposure to products that should have required the use of protective wear. Your family can also get sick after the fact, which is something to think about when working with water. If drying the carpet takes too long, hazardous mold and bacteria can take root. Also, damage to a rented machine can run you upwards of $500.

DIY Carpet And Rug Cleaning Will Likely NOT Produce Great Results

Another issue with DIY efforts are the results. Even when you figure everything out and do your best, you'll likely end up disappointed because it doesn't look professional. Frankly, lackluster results are inevitable because you do not have the professional-grade equipment, products, techniques, or experience to measure up. The carpet could even look worse than it did in the first place.

DIY Carpet And Rug Cleaning Is More Expensive

Once you total up the cost to rent or purchase the equipment, cleaning agents, and miscellaneous supplies, you'll realize that you are about to make a significant investment. Also, did you choose the right things and forget anything? Regarding DIY, the typical answer to that first question is no, and the second is yes. The investment will likely grow even steeper when you figure it out.

Another consideration is your time. Are you taking time off from work to accomplish this task? And if so, did you take off enough? (Rest assured, it'll probably take you longer than expected.) Plus, how much time did you spend just trying to figure out what you needed to do in the first place? And if you are renting equipment, don't forget to add in travel time and gas costs for picking up and returning that equipment.

When you finally look at what the entire endeavor costs you, you'll realize something very important: the cost of a professional cleaning service is less. DIY cleaning is one of those things that sounds like a good idea in theory but doesn't work out in quality or cost. If you need your carpets cleaned, make the smart choice and the most cost-effective one: Choose a pro.

When You Need A Professional Carpet And Rug Cleaning Service, Choose Hammond

Nobody does professional carpet and rug cleaning like the friendly, experienced experts at Hammond Cleaning & Restoration. Carpets are one of our many specialties, and our trademark, 5-step, deep-cleaning method is second to none. So, spare yourself the hassle, worry, disappointment, and added expenses, and do it right; contact us instead. You won't be disappointed, and we can't wait to show you the difference.