It always strikes me as strange that there would be any debate about “going green.”  The bottom line is that we all live within the environment.  Some people talk about the environment as though it is this thing that is out there somewhere that you are either for or against.  If the environment was to become uninhabitable, guess what?  We depend on the environment for our lives.  Who wants to breathe polluted air and drink dirty water?

One of the best thing that you can do for the environment is to take care of the things that you already have.  Buying more and more things when it is not really necessary just puts more junk into the landfills.  The longer your carpet lasts, the better it is for the environment.  So when you have your carpet cleaned regularly, you are prolonging its life and making a very positive green lifestyle statement.

When dirt and sand get into your carpet it acts kind of like sandpaper.  It scratches against the fibers and damages them.  That’s bad enough, but the problem gets worse day by day until you have the carpet professionally cleaned and that soil gets lifted out of your carpet.

Another thing that hits very close to home when you talk about green living and carpet cleaning is the use of chemicals.  We have no way of knowing what the impact of harsh chemicals will be when we breathe them and when they are absorbed into our skin and that of our pets and children.  When you have your carpet cleaned, or even if you clean it yourself, you should know what chemicals are in the solutions that are being used.

Much has been learned about how harmful certain chemicals can be over the years, and we are still learning.  Keeping toxic cleaning supplies in a locked cabinet is a common safety practice, but many people don’t stop think about the chemicals that they are using when they clean their carpets.

Atlanta Carpet Cleaning is always up-to-date on all of the latest green carpet cleaning methods because we care about the health and well being of our customers.  We know that harsh chemicals can be dangerous, and they also may be damaging to your carpet in the long run.  We use only non-toxic, eco-friendly cleansing solutions that get your carpet fresh and clean while leaving behind no chemical residue.  For carpet cleaning the done the right way by a local, family owned and operated business, call Atlanta Carpet Cleaning at (404) 509-8591.

1.) Carpets are Expensive

When you make a big investment in something, you invariably want to keep it clean and looking good. This is why you see the car washes full each weekend, and why people have their expensive suits dry cleaned. When you look around your house and you do the math, you will find that your carpet is one of the larger investments that you have made. You would never think about not cleaning any other part of your home, and your carpet is exposed to myriad soiling agents, like pet stains and hair, assorted spills, and daily doses of whatever happens to be on the bottom of your shoes. Your carpet cost you a lot of money and it is very expensive to replace, so the relatively small price that you pay to keep it clean is money well spent.

2.) Carpets Need Maintenance

Like any other valuable possession, your carpet needs regular maintenance. If you are committed to a regular carpet cleaning schedule, your carpet will never become so soiled and stained that it gets “past the point of no return.” Plus, when one of our certified carpet maintenance technicians examines your carpet, he or she may see a rip, a tear, or a loose seam that can be easily repaired if it is addressed immediately. However, these types of things can lead to permanent damage if they are ignored, and yes, you will have saved a few dollars on carpet cleaning and simple maintenance. However, if you fail to take proper care of your carpet, you will find yourself spending thousands instead.

3.) Doing It Yourself Can Cause More Harm Than Good

As professional carpet cleaners we are often called upon to clean up and/or repair damage after someone has tried to clean their own carpets. What happens is that too much soapy water gets into the carpet, and the amateur equipment that people buy or rent does not provide strong enough suction to get it all out. A soapy residue remains in the carpet, and it acts as a magnet for all sorts of dirt, and at times, the backing and padding will become saturated and create a whole host of additional problems.

Problems also arise with the types of cleaning solutions that do-it-yourselfers use. Half the time they are not concentrated enough to get the carpet clean at all, and the rest of time they are too harsh and they can damage the carpet’s sensitive fibers. Professional carpet cleaners use environmentally safe solutions that are at once strong enough to cleanse the carpet thoroughly, but gentle enough to do no harm. Our licensed, insured, and bonded carpet cleaning technicians have worked with all types of carpets, and there are many different fibers out there and varied types of stains and quantities of soil build-up. The layman has no way of knowing which solution and cleansing technique is called for in a given situation, and they often wind up doing more harm than good.

4.) Having Your Carpets Professionally Cleaned Extends Their Life & Allows for Gentler Options

Having your carpets regularly cleaned by a professional carpet cleaning technician is simply going to save you far more money than it costs you in the long run, plus, it improves the quality of your day-to-day life. Your carpet absorbs a lot of wear and tear on a daily basis, but it was designed to do so. It will last a long time as long as you stick with an intelligent carpet maintenance schedule, and our seasoned technicians can prolong the life of your carpet through the utilization of powerful but gentle, state-of-the-art carpet cleaning solutions and truck mounted equipment.

Paying for carpet cleaning is a part of life, but the good news is that when you call Atlanta Carpet Cleaners, it costs you a little to save a lot down the road. We will give you an accurate estimate and leave your carpet looking spotless and smelling better than new. Don’t allow your carpet to get old before its time. Call the pros at Atlanta Carpet Cleaners, and after we are through, you’ll understand why we have been the carpet cleaners Atlanta has relied on for the last 25 years and counting.

According to the EPA, recommended carpet cleaning frequency varies depending on the type of building involved, how many people are typically inside, whether or not they smoke or have pets, what the outdoor conditions are, and what the building is being used for. The chart below spells out the EPA’s recommendations for carpet cleaning frequency.

The EPA states that extraction cleaning methods are the most effective for removing soil from carpets, and Atlanta Carpet Cleaning specializes in the expert implementation of extraction cleaning methodologies. Take a look at the EPA guidelines for carpet cleaning frequency, and if your time has come, give us a call at (404) 509-8591 and we will be glad to get you on a regular carpet cleaning schedule.

Source: EPA

There are several reasons why qualified professionals almost always do a much better job than the layman.  For one thing, they have been trained and understand the rudiments of the trade.  Secondly, they have experience, and there is no substitute for having “been there and done that” as we all know.  But the third factor is perhaps the most important one: they have the right tools and the appropriate supplies and equipment.  With that in mind, let’s take a look at four common carpet cleaning methods, two that are employed by do-it-yourselfers, and two that are utilized by professional carpet cleaners.

The first one we’ll examine is simple do-it-yourself carpet shampooing.  On the surface, it is less expensive to rent a carpet shampooing machine and go it alone, but there are a few pitfalls involved, and you might wind doing more harm than good in the long run.  It may seem simple enough, but if you have no experience with the equipment and it is not of professional quality in the first place, problems can and do occur.

One of the most common difficulties that arise with these cheap carpet shampooing  machines is over-shampooing.  Over-shampooing can take place when too much shampoo is used, or if the carpet is not rinsed thoroughly enough.  Soap stays stuck in the carpet, and it attracts dirt and grime and leaves your carpet worse than when you started.  This can happen because the user of the machine was not experienced with it and used too much solution and/or didn’t rinse the carpet long enough or thoroughly enough.  But it could also be a matter of the equipment not being of sufficient quality, or it could have been an older unit that had fallen into disrepair.  Either way, your carpet is still not clean, you have been set back more than a few bucks, and you have wasted a good bit of valuable time.

Over-wetting is also common.  This happens when you use too much water and it seeps through the carpet and into the backing and pad, which can discolor the carpet, create unpleasant odors, and cause mold and mildew.  Over-wetting can also cause carpet shrinkage, and it is not uncommon for a carpet to rip or tear as it shrinks.

And finally, you run the risk of furniture getting wet.  The dyes in the fabric often run and leave your carpet with a not-too-nice tie-dye effect.  And even if you are fortunate enough to avoid any carpet damage, the detergent in the do-it-yourself shampoo is of very poor quality and does not compare to the commercial grades that are used by professionals, so your carpet is not going to come very clean.

Some people like to use inexpensive do-it-yourself dry cleaning powders.  They sprinkle powder on their badly soiled and stained carpet and wait a few minutes so that the powder can suck all of that dirt and grime out.  Then, all they have to do is vacuum and, voilà, their carpet will look and smell as good as new!  Not.  Wishful thinking is what they call that.  And those foam sprays are no better.  But you know that already.  We’ve all tried them, and we all know that they mask the smell a little, for a while, and that’s it.  If it seems too easy…it almost definitely is.

Professional carpet cleaning methods are designed to circumvent the problems inherent in the methods above, while refining the appeal and usefulness of the basic ideas. The state-of-the art extraction method is a way of shampooing the carpet, as it were, without the pitfalls.  Carpet technicians use commercial grade solutions that are very powerful on dirt and stains, but mild on the fabric fibers.  Professionals like Atlanta Carpet Cleaners use nothing but high tech truck-mounted equipment, and the intense cleansing pressure and commercial-grade suction levels get all of the dirt and grime out of your carpet, but they also take all of the solution along too, so you are left with nothing but squeaky clean, undamaged carpet fibers.

Dry cleaning a carpet is not a bad thing at all; you just aren’t going to be able to do it with a five dollar container of powder and a five year old household vacuum cleaner.  Commercial dry extraction methods are not completely dry in the literal sense, but they utilize a very controlled amount of moisture.  A machine is used that distributes the cleansing solution sparingly while brushes agitate it into the carpet, loosening the dirt while the machine simultaneously sucks it up.  It leaves behind a relatively dry, totally clean carpet that can be immediately vacuumed and used as normal.

So there is a look at four different approaches to cleaning your carpet.  When you consider the facts, the correct course of action seems readily apparent.  Your carpet is an integral part of your home, and it is subjected to a lot of living on a daily basis.  If you had to go out and buy new carpeting tomorrow, it would certainly be a significant expense, and it is not the type of thing that you really want to have to replace if you can help it.  A little bit of professional maintenance goes a long way, not only to get your carpet looking and smelling good again, but to make sure that you are doing what you can to preserve it.

Atlanta Carpet Cleaners are the carpet cleaning company Atlanta has relied on for over twenty years, so when it is time to give your carpet the once over, don’t take a chance and try to do it yourself.  Protect your investment and let a trained and certified professional analyze your carpet and select the method that is perfect for your unique situation.  If you need some carpet repair or upholstery cleaning, we can take care of that as well and save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars down the road.  There is one name to remember for quality carpet cleaning in Atlanta at prices that anyone can afford, and that name is Atlanta Carpet Cleaners.