By AJS Carpet Cleaning, Inc

10/19/2010 "Do-it-yourself" carpet cleaning is great for routine carpet maintenance in the home, and that is why many people will swear by their little stand alone steamers which they use regularly to freshen and brighten their carpet. Sooner or later however, they realize that it is necessary to follow the recommendation of the manufacturer, and have the carpet cleaned at least once every 18 months in order to meet warranty guidelines. It may also have become evident that those little household machines are not powerful enough to handle a heavy build up of soils and stains.

For most people, carpeting is a major investment, and therefore regular periodic cleaning by a professional carpet cleaning company is essential for extending its life and preserving its appearance.

You should decide which method of carpet cleaning will suit you best. Professionals will often use many different techniques, including dry cleaning, steam cleaning, foaming or carbonation. My recommendation for deep cleaning is always the hot water extraction or steam cleaning method. Find out which method the company will use, and see if it conforms to the requirements of your manufacturers warranty.

So how do you find the best carpet shampooer for the money you are prepared to invest, or can afford to spend for your carpet cleaning?

Here are some guidelines to help you choose:

Ask friends and family or business associates to recommend a company whose services have proven to be satisfactory. If you are browsing online, check out the company's reviews.

Check out the company's history and performance on Better Business Bureau. See what sort of record they have with local business organizations like the Chamber of Commerce. See if they have been certified by the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) or the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certifications (IICRC).

Make sure the company is licensed, insured and bonded, and that they do background checks on their employees. After all, they may be going into the innermost sanctums of your home.

Ask what kind of guarantee they will be offering on their services.

Be cautious with offers that appear too good to be true. It often is. A creditable company will price its services based on the area cleaned, so be wary of those that offer a price per room instead of a price per square foot. There may well be hidden costs. As you surely know, rooms come in various sizes. Or a "bait and switch" operator may be at work there. Normally, there should be no extra charge for vacuuming, grooming, pre-conditioning, moving light furniture or removal of regular spots and stains.

Remember, the cheapest is not usually the best, and may prove to be much more costly in the long run.

Perhaps the best way to guarantee that your carpet is being cleaned by a competent certified professional, at a fair price, is to use one that is certified as a Seal of Approval (SOA) Service Provider by the Carpet and Rug Institute. A list of those in your area may be found by visiting their website.