Chem-Dry vs. Steam Cleaning
Carpets serve as natural air filters in your home, trapping dust, non-living allergens*, and more from the air and keeping them from your lungs. Over time, though, those particles can accumulate, and eventually, they can be released back into your home in greater concentrations. Many homeowners may not be aware of the issue and suffer the negative health effects without realizing there are simple solutions available.
Some people opt to hire a professional carpet steam cleaner to handle the job, while others may choose to buy or rent a steam cleaner, often finding themselves frustrated before ultimately calling in an expert. While it is indeed possible to steam clean carpets on your own, this approach presents similar challenges as hiring a professional, along with the added difficulty of managing an unwieldy machine. Fortunately, a better professional solution is available.
Not all carpet cleaning services are equal
When searching for a quality carpet cleaner, keep in mind that not all carpet cleaning services are created equal. There are several key factors that separate a high quality carpet cleaning process that delivers a healthier cleaning for your carpets and home from one that drenches your carpets with gallons of water and harsh cleaners. These factors explain why our unique Hot Carbonating Extraction system at Chem-Dry offers a deeper, faster drying, healthier carpet cleaning experience than typical steam cleaning services.
When you steam clean carpet, you saturate it with an excessive amount of water filled with soaps and detergents. This results in carpets that remain wet for 1-2 days, which creates a breeding ground for mold, mildew and bacteria. Plus, the soapy detergent left behind by carpet steam cleaners attracts dirt and causes your carpets to get dirty much faster.
At Almaden Chem-Dry our process is different. Instead of soaking your carpets with water like a carpet steam cleaner, our process employs millions of microscopic bubbles to explode dirt from deep in your carpet fibers, so therefore we only need to use a fraction of the water that a typical steam carpet cleaner uses—almost 80% less in fact. We also use a gentle yet effective carpet cleaner instead of a cleaner with soapy detergents. After the carbonation releases and lifts the dirt, our high-powered equipment extracts the dirt and moisture from the carpet. While the drying time relies on several factors, such as humidity, airflow, and the carpet itself, the carpet will typically be dry within just an hour or two and ready for you to enjoy.
So while carpet steam cleaners use excessive amounts of water that often soaks through to the carpet backing and creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew, our low-moisture process doesn’t carry the same risk and offers a gentler and more convenient carpet cleaning solution. Plus, your carpets dry in just a few hours, not 1-2 days like with typical steam carpet cleaning, and your carpet stays cleaner longer.
With Almaden Chem-Dry, carpet cleaning doesn’t need to be a hassle…
See the Difference for Yourself
The best way to decide whether to hire a carpet steam cleaner or to use the Chem-Dry gentle and effective process is to look at the two methods side by side. Take a look below to see a sampling of the benefits Chem-Dry carpet cleaning offers over steam cleaning.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Chem-Dry vs. Steam Cleaning
Chem-Dry Hot Carbonating Extraction |
Typical Steam Cleaning |
| Carbonating, active cleaning solution | Flat, inactive cleaning solution |
| No harsh chemicals | Harsh chemicals and detergents |
| No soapy detergents left behind | Sticky detergent encourages resoiling |
| Low water quantity | High water quantity |
| Low pressure application | High pressure application |
| Short drying time, 1-2 hours | Long drying time, 1-2 days |