Nothing can make a home come together like a plush carpet. Whether you choose to decorate with full sized rugs or wall to wall carpeting, knowing the best carpet cleaners can help keep these materials looking clean and new.

There are a few different ways to clean your carpets, either at home on your own, or through the help of a professional service. Businesses which specialize in these tasks may come into your home to shampoo spots and remove stains or odors, but they can also take rugs from the home, have them cleaned and return them to you.

Self-Cleaning

The reason for self-cleaning rather than sending your rug out to a professional service could be financial. In many cases, shampooing on your own can save you some money especially if you are renting the shampooer. You can also buy these machines, and there are various models on the market, each with their own pros and cons.

To determine the best carpet cleaners many home and business owners turn to the reviews and ratings of other customers. This can give you an idea of how well one machine worked over another, and whether or not you should try it for yourself.

The most popular models on the market today can cost between $100 and $400, and feature shampoo, steaming, and polishing options for those who wish to use them from floor to carpet. Models are often broken down into categories of performance, convenience, and individual features and accessories to determine which is the best.

Calling A Professional

If you're concerned that the best carpet cleaners are used by professionals rather than DIY's then you can also find a listing of ratings and reviews for the top services in your area. In some cases, you may need to call a professional rather than tackle a stain on your own. This is especially true for rugs which need to be dry cleaned.

A search online can give you an idea of local businesses offering the services you require, rates they charge, equipment used, and what other customers are saying about them.

Products Used

Aside from the actual machine or service being used to remove stains and odors, you may also be concerned with the actual product being used. Some chemicals are harsh, have strong odors, and are bad for the environment.

If you are shampooing on your own with the use of a machine you have rented or purchased, you can find the best carpet cleaners for the job from your local grocery store or home improvement shop. Call ahead to speak to a representative who can walk you through possible options for eco-friendly and pet safe products before buying. If you can't find any locally, there is also the possibility of making your own at home using baking soda, white vinegar, or dish soap. Do not pour anything into your shampooer until you have checked the instructions or spoken with the manufacturer about use. Otherwise you could damage the machine, and be left spot cleaning on your hands and knees.