Deep-cleaning your carpets with hot-water extraction should be an annual plan. Though you’ll see steam during this process, it’s not the same as steam cleaning, which heats the water into steam and applies that to the carpeting. Instead, hot water is pumped through the carpet fibers, pulling the dirt out with it, then removed.

This has a number of benefits. For one, the hot water can pick up more dirt in the carpet itself. Second, because the machines remove much of the water during the cleaning process, the carpet will be dry much faster than in other processes. Generally, hot water extraction is also considered to be more effective in removing stains and deep dirt than steam cleaning.

Professional cleaners will usually vacuum first to collect any loose debris and then apply a cleaning solution intended to break up soil and other contaminants. The second step should be brushing and then agitation to lift the carpet fibers and agitate them with proper equipment.  They’ll then rinse the carpet with 200 degrees hot water including a specialty carpet solution that will balance the PH of the carpet and condition the fibers and long lasting. To finalize they will use extractors immediately to remove all the water.

A good standard to follow with your carpets is to deep clean them once per year with hot water extraction. Like other parts of your home, carpeting requires regular maintenance to stay pristine and healthy for your family. A year of dirt, pollen, moisture, and dust, even in a regular home, can build up in the fibers. Carpet, especially some thicker varieties, can harbor moisture for a long time that is not removed by vacuum cleaning. A regular hot water extraction cleaning will help keep it clean for your home.

Vacuuming should be done regularly, at least once per week. That’s both to help remove the dirt and contaminants for cleanliness and also for the long-term maintenance of the fibers. Abrasive materials, like sand and rock, can wear down the fibers over time.

Some carpet manufacturers may also require you to follow a regular cleaning schedule to maintain the warranty. If your carpeting is newer or recently renovated, check the manufacturer’s guidelines for recommendations on cleaning.

Do you have pets? While our pets greatly enrich our lives, they usually come with a lot of dander, dirt, and potentially accidents on the carpet such as vomit or waste. Those can damage or stain carpet over time. If you have pets, it may be a good idea to schedule a hot water extraction cleaning more often, such as every six months instead of annually.

How about kids? Children, especially young ones, are notoriously messy (though often lovably so). More people, especially active little people, may also mean more dirt tracked inside onto carpets. Children also often play on the floor, close to those messes in the carpet. More regular cleanings will help them stay safe, healthy, and clean while maintaining the appearance and value of your home.

Do you regularly host guests? While some of us are more comfortable going barefoot in friends’ homes, guests often wear shoes inside homes. That may mean more contaminants being tracked into your carpet, which could mean you’d benefit from more regular cleanings.

Finally, if anyone in your home has allergies, it may be a good idea to clean the carpets thoroughly more often. While regular vacuuming can help control pollen in a home, too, pollen can build up in carpet fibers and potentially lead to worse allergies in a home. A hot water extraction cleaning can help get rid of those pollen particles, making everyone more comfortable in your home.

Whatever the circumstances, consider professionally cleaning your carpets with hot water extraction methods at least annually. It’s a safe, thorough process that will leave your home fresher and better looking for the long term.