Is your carpet looking dirty and dingy after another Chicago winter? Or has the Windy City blown debris and grime with every entrance and exit through the front door? Taking into account bacteria just on its own, your carpet can contain 200,000 of these germs per square inch.

Instead of trying to prevent necessary foot traffic in the house, consider regular cleanings. Steam carpet cleaning services can help keep your carpet looking fresh and clean. And the good news is that steam carpet cleaning benefits include killing 99.9% of germs and bacteria.

Why Bother With Carpet Steam Cleaning Services?

A common misconception is that vacuuming alone keeps carpets clean and free of dirt and debris. Vacuuming will indeed pick up visible pieces and particles on your carpet. Often, a vacuum will only clean the top part of the carpet fibers and not reach the bottom of the floor. Vacuuming also does not clean any stains.

Trapped dirt, dust, and pollen can lower the air quality inside your home. Having a steam carpet cleaning machine used on your carpet at least once per year can help reduce these negative effects. Steam cleaning can help your personal health and the health of your carpet, extending the life of your floor covering and helping make it look new again.

Bugs

Insects love to take refuge in our carpeted areas. Many of these bugs are so small you do not even know they exist. Cleaning your carpet on a regular basis makes the carpet not quite so inviting for these critters.

Mold

Spilled food and drinks create a breeding ground for all kinds of mold, as they tend to wick down deep into carpet fibers and pads. Not only does mold lead to stains and odors, but mold spores are another common cause of indoor allergies. 

Skin Flakes

Over a 24-hour period, a human loses over a million skin cells. Multiply that by the number of people living in your home and you end up with a lot of dead skin on your floors. This flaked skin also becomes food for dust mites.

Pollen

As we approach spring in the Chicago area, all the beautiful flowering trees will bloom. The unfortunate side effect is a lot of pollen. Even if you do not keep windows open in your home, pollen still finds its way in on your clothing and shoes.

Dog Poop

Even if you do not own a dog, the likelihood of microscopic dog droppings is high. If you take the kids to the park or just walk around the city, particles u have the ability to find their way into your home.

Kitty Litter

Indoor cats are so calming and cute. But an indoor kitty means the presence of a litter box. Every time your feline friend exits its box, litter is tracked along with it.

Germs

Germs are everywhere, and we cannot completely avoid them. Most of these germs are harmless. Some can cause health issues, including sickness or allergic reactions. No one wants E. coli, salmonella, or staphylococcus hanging out o their carpet fibers.

How Does Steam Carpet Cleaning Work?

A steam carpet cleaning machine heats water past its boiling point, which forces it out as pressurized steam through an attachment, such as a brush or nozzle. The vapor loosens dirt in carpet fibers and kills dust mites, bacteria, and harmful bacteria.

Benefits of Steam Carpet Cleaning Services

The obvious benefit of professional carpet cleaning is getting your carpet to look bright and new again. But there are many other advantages aside from just clean carpet.

Removes Pollutants

The steam and hot temperatures will kill viruses, bacteria, and other germs on contact. Unlike other cleaning methods, steam carpet cleaning leaves behind no pollutants of its own.

Helps Prevent Mold

Mold and mildew can cause illnesses and trigger allergies. The hot temperatures will kill the mold. After carpet cleaning, you can use fans and dehumidifiers to decrease the amount of moisture left behind. Carpet typically dries in a short amount of time with steam cleaning.

Extends Carpet Lifespan

Carpet has come a long way over the years and does not typically wear out with just normal use. Instead, soil and foot traffic takes a toll and diminishes the original beauty.

Cleaning your carpet before it becomes excessively soiled is key, as dirt and grime wear down the carpet fibers, shortening their life. Have your carpet cleaned once per year, and stay ahead of the game.

Depending on how often you vacuum, how light or dark your carpet is, and the general comings and goings of your household, professional cleanings might need to happen more or less often.

Minimizes “Traffic Lane Effect”

Have you noticed certain areas of your carpet wearing faster than others? Where there is more foot traffic, wear in fibers is more obvious, causing what is termed the “traffic lane effect.” You will often notice these areas in hallways or in front of sofas. The result is carpet with a more dark, flat appearance.

Professional carpet cleaning helps remove the dirt that is ground into these areas. Carpet ends up looking more fluffy and fresh, giving it the springy feel of new carpet.

Clears Dust Mites

Vacuuming can leave behind some dust mites because they can survive deep in carpet fibers. Hot steam is able to penetrate areas where dust mites are likely to lurk, killing them immediately upon contact.

Saves Money

If selling or renting your home is in your future, you will want to leave your carpets as clean and as new in appearance as possible. Cleaning the carpet is much more affordable than replacing the carpet. Regular steam cleaning will make your house seem cleaner and more attractive to prospective renters and buyers.

Steam cleaning keeps you from the need to buy expensive chemicals to clean your carpet. These chemicals often damage carpet, which then costs money to replace. Choosing steam cleaning is the safer and more reliable choice.

Eliminates Pet Odors

If you own a pet, you have likely dealt with accidents at one time or another. They urinate, defecate, vomit, track in various debris from outdoors. The buildup of all or any of this can lead to lingering odors and stains.

Steam carpet cleaning benefits include the elimination of such odors and stains. Any parasites, including fleas, (and their larvae and eggs) are killed in the process as well.

Refreshes Entire Home

Though the goal is to clean the carpet, steam carpet cleaning has an effect on the look and feel of the entire home. When you first walk back in after the carpets are cleaned, you will feel like you are walking into a fresh, clean home. The cleaning process will clean and deodorize the entire interior.

Dries Fast

Carpet dries fairly quickly after the steam cleaning process. It will dry in a matter of a few hours. Keeping the space well ventilated and dehumidified is a good idea to reduce the possibility of mold and mildew growth.

Eco-Friendly and Safe

Steam cleaning is an eco-friendly alternative to keeping homes clean without chemicals. Steam cleaning uses just water for the most part, which means fewer chemicals are used compared to other traditional cleaning methods.

Carpet steam cleaning is safe for the entire family. But another fantastic benefit is that it is environmentally friendly. Compared to other carpet cleaning options, steam cleaning greatly reduces the number of chemicals that are rinsed down the drain and recycled back into our water supply. The amount of chemicals washed down the drain and recycled back into our water supply are greatly reduced. Steam cleaning is a better choice for both you and the environment. 

How to Find a Carpet Cleaning Business

Years of Experience

When looking for professional carpet cleaning in the Chicago area, pay attention to companies that have been in business for a long period of time. With a lot of experience under their belts, chances are they are good at what they do and will know how to handle any tough stains or aggravating odors. If they are a newer company, check to see their references.

Pricing is Key

Professional carpet cleaning pricing varies based on the location and size of the job. Some companies charge per square foot, while others might have a flat rate per room. Either way, always ask about the cost, and do not shy away from asking for a free quote.

Almost everyone who opts to shell out money for carpet cleaning services is satisfied with the outcome. Paying a professional to do the work removes the worry and stress involved with doing it yourself, and the end result leaves you with crystal-clean floors.

Customer Care

A professional carpet cleaning company should take the time to seek out the needs and desires of its customers. They should ask you questions, such as the type of carpet in your home, what kind of stains are present, and the age of the carpet.

They might also ask about the presence of pets and children, as well as any allergies that might exist in your household. Finding out this information not only helps the cleaner know how to properly clean the carpet but is also more likely to leave you a more satisfied customer.

Check Insurance, Licensing, and Bonding

Any company that comes into a home to clean must be bonded by the state of Illinois. They must also have insurance and licenses. This way, if anything happens to your furniture or property, the company is prepared to cover the cost of any damages. It means the staff has completed background checks as well.

Solid Guarantee

A company that provides a guarantee for their work is the best to trust and hire. It shows a commitment to its customers and is a sign of reliability. A guarantee is a promise that the work will be of superior quality. If the customer is not satisfied with the end result, the company will either do what needs to be done to make it right or they will refund your money.

Read All the Reviews

Reviews of companies are a great way to get a read on a company. Reading the real-life experiences of other customers gives you a feel for what to expect if you hire their services yourself. Pay attention to both positive and negative reviews. If a company has more negative ratings, move on to one with more glowing statements.

Ask for Recommendations

Hearing about companies via word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a good one. Better yet, if you see beautiful, clean-looking carpet in the home of a family member or friend, chances are they chose a fabulous company to do the work. You can look for recommendations from your contacts on social media or ask around your place of work.

Beyond Your Home

There are plenty of businesses in the Chicago area with carpeted floors. Perhaps you are a small business owner yourself, noticing the accumulated dinginess tracked in from walking the city streets. Commercial carpet cleaning is the answer to any business’s carpet cleaning needs.

Fresh, clean carpet in a business setting is a wonderful way to make a great first impression on new clients visiting your establishment. Having a clean work environment can also boost employee morale. It just feels better coming to work in a fresh environment.

Revive Your Carpet

To keep your carpet looking as new and fresh as the day of installation, have it professionally cleaned at least once per year. Take care of stains and accumulated dust and debris before the buildup is out of hand.

Professional steam carpet cleaning services take the guesswork out of keeping your carpet and your home or business sanitized and deodorized. Contact us for a quote and to schedule your cleaning today!