Monday, June 02, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

CARPET CLEANING: Dirty business

With kids, pets, spills and foot traffic, rugs endure a number of hazards

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ANTON AND CRAIG L. MORAN/REVIEW-JOURNAL Bryan Kleinman uses a Chemspec 860 Carpet Cleaning machine at his home. Photo by Craig L. Moran.

Unless you're Martha Stewart or Heloise or some other domestic maven, you probably find the topic of carpet cleaning about as exciting as, well, actually cleaning carpet.

But spill a little marinara sauce or red wine on that wall-to-wall beige shag and things are guaranteed to get exciting.

The excitement and tedious factors aside, most of us just don't know what to do or how to do it when faced with a situation that requires more than ordinary vacuuming.

Luckily, there are options available for cleaning a carpet, from the do-it-yourself solution to hiring a professional.

The Carpet and Rug Institute, the industry's national trade association, recommends deep cleaning at least once a year.

The method depends on the carpet fiber so manufacturer's guidelines should be followed before deciding on a steam or chemical cleaning, said Bryan Kleinman, owner of Clark County Carpet Cleaning, but water works for most types.

Small steam cleaners can be rented from local grocery stores for about $20 and they do an adequate job on dirt and some stains, Kleinman said.

But the homeowner who does this should be prepared for some potentially hard work. Furniture must be moved aside and the machine has to be pushed around the house.

"It's very, very labor intensive," Kleinman explained. "A lot of people start then call us before they finish it. They say they'll never do it again."

Chris Schrader, owner of Premier Carpet Cleaning, said he likes the deep cleaners, such as Bissell, that homeowners can purchase and use themselves. Those machines retail for $30 to $300. They're similar to vacuum cleaners but use a combination of hot water and suction to lift dirt and stains out of the carpet.

When it comes to difficult stains, though, nothing beats a professional cleaning, Kleinman and Schrader said.

Of course, that means you have to figure out who to hire.

Kleinman advises asking friends and family who they use. If that doesn't produce anything, call around for several quotes and check out the company's reputation through the Better Business Bureau. The Carpet & Rug Institute recommends asking a company for references, checking a company's background with the Better Business Bureau and securing a written contract.

Don't automatically use a company just because they appear cheap, he added.

"Some guys say they'll do it for $10 a room but if they could afford to do it for that little, how could they stay in business?" Kleinman asked.

Most quality carpet cleaners charge between $20 and $30 per room, Schrader said.

Finally, Scotchgard can help extend the life of carpet by protecting it from soil and spills, Kleinman said, so, if the carpet isn't already treated, it might be a worthy investment.