Best Carpet-Cleaning Methods: Pros and Cons of Different Ways to Clean Carpet

Your home’s carpets see a lot of foot traffic, and those feet can track in all sorts of messes. Add children, pets, and the occasional houseguest, and your carpet can quickly look (and feel) a little worse for the wear. Frequent vacuuming is a great way to keep your flooring looking and smelling its best, but vacuuming alone isn’t enough to keep it spotless. 

When regular vacuuming doesn’t cut the dirt and grime, you may need to consider alternate methods to make your flooring look like new again. Below, we have the five best ways to clean carpet, and while you can readily DIY many of these options, you can also hire a carpet cleaning pro near you to assess the damage. 

1. Carpet Shampooing 

Shampooing is a very popular type of carpet cleaning. This process is done using a machine, aptly named a carpet shampooer, that holds a tank of a cleaning solution and water mixture and another tank to hold the dirty water once removed from the carpet. The two work together to go over small sections of your carpet, using a rolling brush to apply the mixture and then suck the dirty moisture back into the machine.

Professional carpet shampooing costs an average of $240 when you hire a pro. If you have time and want to save money, you can DIY carpet shampooing for your home. You can rent a carpet shampooer at many home improvement stores, or you can choose to purchase one to keep.  

Pros of Carpet Shampooing 

Just like washing your hair, shampooing carpet creates a lather that separates dirt molecules from the fibers, allowing the dirt to be sucked back up into the machine. The agitators on the base of the machine also work to strip embedded pet hairs from the tightly wound fibers. 

Cons of Carpet Shampooing

Unlike washing your hair, there’s no real rinse cycle. Imagine how you would feel leaving the shower with a bit of shampoo left in your tresses. After some time, your carpet can start to look dingy due to a buildup of shampoo molecules that haven’t been properly removed. 

Also, while the carpet shampooer’s vacuuming function can work to remove excess moisture from your carpet, it will never get all of it. This means water may soak down into your foam padding, creating issues with moisture, icky smells, and mold down the line.

2. Steam Cleaning

Steam cleaning is another best way to clean carpet. This works by applying superheated water using a high-pressure applicator, working together to help break down stuck-on dirt, bacteria, and debris. The hot water can also cause your carpet fibers to fill back out, giving your flooring a softer, cushier feel after cleaning. You can expect to spend around $300 to have your carpets steam cleaned. 

Pros of Steam Cleaning

Steam cleaning is believed to remove over 90% of all of the dirt and bacteria from your flooring. It can also help to neutralize allergens like dust and pollen for allergy sufferers. Additionally, this method only uses water and no chemicals, making it a more eco-friendly option. 

Cons of Steam Cleaning

Like other methods involving water, removing all moisture from your carpet after cleaning can be challenging. This means you might be stuck with areas that need hours of downtime to dry or flooring that develops mold or mildew issues from retained moisture. And because this process only uses water, it may not be as effective at removing stubborn stains as other carpet cleaning methods.

3. Encapsulation

Encapsulation became a popular carpet cleaning method after its introduction in the 1970s. This process works by applying a liquid or foam detergent to your carpet that crystalizes into a vacuumable powder as it dries. 

During the drying process, dirt is lifted from the carpet fibers and encapsulated into the powder. It’s then brushed up and vacuumed for removal. Carpet cleaning professionals can sometimes charge by the square foot for encapsulation, with costs starting as low as $.20 per unit.

Pros of Encapsulation

Encapsulation is quick to dry and is considered more environmentally friendly than many other options. There aren’t many chemicals left behind after you’ve vacuumed up the powder, and it doesn’t rely on a whole lot of other resources like water or electricity. 

Cons of Encapsulation

While it does have some benefits over other methods like shampooing, it is not as effective at dealing with heavy-duty carpet messes like odors and stains that are located deep within the carpet fibers since it only offers a surface cleaning.

4. Bonnet Cleaning

When considering different types of carpet cleaning, bonnet cleaning relies on a heavy-duty machine with a motorized spinning pad covered in cleaning solution. Due to its efficiency, this method is typically found in high-traffic commercial buildings like office structures or hotels. Bonnet cleaning absorbs dirt and debris directly from the upper levels of carpets and rugs, and prices can start as low as $25 per room. 

Pros of Bonnet Cleaning

This is a quick way to clean lightly soiled carpets in an area where you don’t have time to wait for shampoo or encapsulation methods to dry. And because this carpet cleaning method doesn’t go below the surface, it is one of the most inexpensive options on the market. 

Cons of Bonnet Cleaning

Because bonneting only offers a surface clean, it won’t get any deep-down stubborn dirt. The lack of deep cleaning also means that any dirt left behind—and there will be dirt left behind—will quickly show up on your carpet’s surfaces.

5. Dry Carpet Cleaning

Just like the name suggests, there is no water or liquid cleaner involved in a dry cleaning. Instead, carpets are cleaned using a powder compound that is applied using a machine with a motorized brush that distributes the powder deep down into the carpet fiber. 

These services normally cost around $220. The specially designed compound then works like a sponge and absorbs dirt, odors, and debris before it is sucked back up by a vacuum-like function. 

Pros of Dry Carpet Cleaning

Because no water is used, virtually no downtime is needed with this type of cleaning method. This type of cleaning is also safe for all types of carpets, while some other methods can only be used on certain materials.

Cons of Dry Carpet Cleaning

The technology behind the compounds is newer to the market, so there isn’t enough known about them. Some carpet cleaning professionals doubt the effectiveness of these methods. And like carpet shampooing, where chemicals aren’t being washed away, dry carpet cleaning can leave chemical residues on your flooring, which can be a health hazard for small children or pets.

How Much Does Professional Carpet Cleaning Cost?

Hiring a professional carpet cleaner costs an average of $180, ranging between $125 and $240 for most homeowners. Some cost factors contributing to your overall price include the square footage, the material, and your location. There are also various add-ons that carpet cleaning companies offer, like hole patching and odor removal, which will add to your overall cost.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Doing your own carpet cleaning may seem like it’ll cost you less, but it might not be worth it if you don’t already own the equipment. You can rent a steam cleaner for around $100 per day—or a bit more for a truck-mounted carpet cleaner to use in larger rooms—while the stain remover you’ll buy will be roughly another $15 to $25.

You’ll also have to do the work itself, which can take time and may cause damage if not done correctly. Ultimately, if you’re working in a small area and have a steam cleaner on hand, then cleaning a carpet yourself might be a good option. If not, it’s best to hire a local carpet cleaner.