Your carpet is a precious commodity. When it comes to cleaning it properly, sometimes one wrong move can mean a world of damage for your rug. That’s why it’s so important to be informed about all the different methods for keeping a clean and healthy carpet through the years. Whether you’re well versed in carpet cleaning methods or you’re a relative rookie, you can figure out the best way to keep your carpet clean by doing a small amount of research. It also helps to know how each method works to keep carpets going strong year after year. If you’re stumped, here are a few ways to figure out which carpet cleaning method is right for you.

Shampoo

For a deep carpet clean, shampooing used to be the go-to method in the 70s and onward. Carpet shampooing is exactly what it sounds like. A large amount of cleaning product or “shampoo” is massaged onto the top of your rug and left to soak before being soaked up and dried. Since the carpet can stay put in the home through the entire procedure, the shampooing method involves little work on the carpet owner’s part. However, it’s also one of the less thorough ways of cleaning your carpet since the ‘shampoo’ won’t penetrate too far beneath the surface. It’s also a bit of a mess to clean up.

Dry Clean

Dry cleaning is a more popular modern method for carpet cleaning. Without using any water or messy cleaner, carpets are allowed to stay dry through the whole procedure while heat is used to loosen and extract dirt and grime from the carpet’s fibers. While this is a good method for larger carpets that can’t easily leave the home, a powder is applied that can be hard to fully extract and can lead to a buildup of its own if left for too long.

Foam Clean

Using hot carbonating carpet cleaning, foam cleaning allows cleaner to get deep beneath the surface of a rug to help with spot treatments and more intermediate cleaning jobs. This is a great method for homeowners who want a bit of extra help with dirt management in between larger cleanings. The foam acts as a targeted cleaner for smaller stains and spots on a rug’s surface. While foam cleaning is a great way to spruce up a carpet, it’s not recommended as a way to thoroughly clean your rug in the long run.

Extraction

Hot water extraction uses the power of steam and state-of-the-art equipment to easily and gently extract dirt, debris, and bacteria from your rug’s deepest nooks and crannies. While extraction can be pricey, it’s certainly worth investing in at least a few times a year to achieve that pristine, grime-free polish for a particularly cherished home carpet. Even if you’re not looking to spend a ton of money on rug maintenance, investing in a few cleaning sessions a year can help you keep on top of mold, dirt, pollen, and air pollutants resulting from an overly dirty rug in the home.