Carpet Shampooer vs. Carpet Steam Cleaner

So you have had your living room carpet for a few years and it is beginning to look a bit grubby and dull, particularly by the patio doors where the children, other family members and the dog keep traipsing in out without removing their shoes. It is unlikely that your dog wears shoes so we wont chastise him or her for non-removal of foot attire before entering the house, but you and I both know how muddy those paws can get!

Before running out to buy a whole new carpet or throw, try cleaning the rug first.  In general you have two options for cleaning carpet. You can either purchase or rent a carpet shampooer or a carpet steamer. The real question is which one should you choose? Both machines are designed to achieve the same goal, that is to clean your carpet, however, they do it in different ways so it can depend largely on what kind of fibers your carpet is made from.

A Carpet Steam Cleaner

A carpet steam cleaner heats water to a high temperature then forces the resulting steam deep into the carpet pile, this action breaks down the dirt and grease. Some fabrics, as with the clothes you wear, will not tolerate high temperatures. Using high temperatures on such fabrics can cause damage such as shrinkage. So it is important that you know that your carpet will tolerate high temperature cleaning before choosing a carpet steam cleaner.

Providing your carpet is able to tolerate high temperature steam cleaning,  then there are some advantages. For example, the annihilation of odor causing bacteria and other life forms that may inhabit your carpet. Another consideration when making your choice is that because of the high temperatures involved carpet steam cleaners can present a danger to the operator and persons or pets nearby.

A Carpet Shampooer

Where high temperatures cannot be used then a carpet shampooer may be the best option. These work on a washing machine type principal where a detergent and water solution is forced into the carpet pile. This mixture breaks down the dirt and grime and the resulting dirty water is sucked up into the waste tank of the machine. Due to the volume of water that is used by a carpet shampooer as compared with its carpet steam cleaner counterpart, your carpet will take longer to dry.  If carpets are damp for long periods of time, mold and fungi could start to grow, so it is a good idea to choose a nice warm day so that you can have windows and doors open to aid drying.  You may also choose to run a few box fans or oscillating fans over the area to keep air flow moving  and hastening the drying time of the carpet.

The Verdict -  For Most People A Carpet Shampooer is the Safer Choice

Because of the potential issue of high heat weakening and even damaging delicate carpet fibers, we think that “most” homeowners are safer to go with the carpet shampooer.   The only caveat would be those who are extremely sensitive to mold and mildew.   This is because shampooers use more water when cleaning and its possible that if the house is not well ventilated, the carpet could breed dangerouse mold spores.     In general, its also good to keep in mind that both types of machine are generally larger than a conventional home vacuum cleaner so if you decide to purchase then make sure you have room to store it. Alternatively. you may decide to rent a machine from your local home improvement store or rental center.

In both cases make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and heed any warnings when using either the carpet shampooer or steam cleaner yourself.