Some people will always insist on doing their own carpet cleaning to save a few dollars. Okay, it may be more than a few dollars if you have a lot of carpet to clean. Though the small rental machines will never get that rug as clean as a professional truck-mount unit, it is cheaper. With that in mind, here are some guidelines to help you do the best you can.
1. Get a hot water extraction unit.
Sometimes called steam-cleaners, in reality, these machines are hot-water extraction units. Those which use dry absorbent compounds generally don't work as well, and machines which "shampoo" the carpet can leave residues that attract dirt, meaning you'll need another cleaning before long. A sticky carpet is another possibility with the latter, if not used correctly.
2. Vacuum the carpet first.
Professional cleaners my or may not vacuum before cleaning, because it isn't as crucial with the big machines they use. With the small rental units it's important because it reduces the number of "passes" you must make with the cleaning wand. Too many passes can lead to over-wetting of the area, since these machines are not nearly as powerful when it comes to sucking out the moisture they lay down.
Why is over-wetting a problem? To start with, it can cause carpet backing to delaminate, damage which can't be fixed. The growth of mold and fungus is another problem resulting from moist carpeting or padding. Another possible result is unpleasant odors. Finally, deep stains can "wick" back up to the surface of carpet if it is too moist for too long.
3. The hotter the better.
Check to see if the water is as hot as you can make it before starting the cleaning process. It cleans better, and is more likely to kill some of the dust mites and other things living in the carpet and pad. Hotter water will also speed the drying time.
4. Don't overdo it.
Limit your cleaning to about two passes of the cleaning wand. This is to prevent over-wetting, and if you can't get an area clean with two passes, you probably need to a professional cleaning in any case (these smaller rental machines just don't have as much power).
5. Get it dry fast.
Perhaps one of the more important home carpet cleaning tips for do-it-yourselfers is to dry that carpet quickly. This prevents the problems associated with over-wetting. Try to clean your carpet on a day which isn't too humid for starters. Then place fans in the cleaned rooms when you are done. Move them occasionally to help all areas dry faster. Finally, if you can, open a window or tow to let the humid air out and get more airflow in general.
Cleaning carpet yourself is not really a great substitute for a professional service, but to save some money it may make sense to do it every other time. Just learn how to operate the machine properly. And remember that the machines you rent are never as powerful as the professional ones.
