Chem-Dry vs. Steam Cleaning
Why Professional Carpet Cleaning Matters
Carpets naturally act as filters in your home, trapping dust, non-living allergens*, and other particles to help maintain cleaner indoor air. Over time, however, these trapped particles can build up and eventually be released back into your living space, potentially affecting your comfort and health—often without homeowners realizing it.
While some people attempt to clean carpets themselves with rented or purchased steam cleaners, this approach can be frustrating and time-consuming. Even professional steam cleaning services can leave excess moisture and may not address deep-seated dirt and allergens effectively. There’s a better solution: a professional, low-moisture carpet cleaning method that removes dirt and allergens efficiently while minimizing drying time and risk to your carpets.
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 and mildew. Plus, the soapy detergents left behind by carpet steam cleaners can attract dirt and cause your carpets to get dirty much faster.
At Chem-Dry of Santa Cruz County, 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, 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 our gentle yet effective carpet cleaner instead of a cleaner with heavy soaps and 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 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 because there is no soapy detergents left behind.
With Chem-Dry of Santa Cruz County, 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’s 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 over | Soapy detergent encourages resoiling |
| Low water quantity | High water quantity |
| Short drying time, 1-2 hours | Long drying time, 1-2 days |