False. Dirt is an abrasive--like sandpaper. Every time you step on your carpet, you grind dirt into the carpet fibers. This cuts your carpet, just as if you had used a knife. This cutting causes your carpet to wear out faster. A dirty carpet will not last as long as a clean carpet. And while vacuuming helps--by itself, it simply isn't enough. The longer you wait to have your carpet cleaned, the more damage you do to your carpet and the faster it wears out.

MYTH: The only reason to clean carpets is to remove the dirt.

False. As you probably know, outdoor air contains pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust--and hundreds of other chemicals. When you come into your home, you carry those pollens, bacteria and chemicals in your hair and on your skin, clothing and shoes. Not surprisingly, all those chemicals and toxins wind up in your carpet.

If you have allergies, asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problems--one major source of your problem could be the pollens, fungus, smoke and chemicals in your carpet.

MYTH: One method of carpet cleaning is as good as another.

False. The dry cleaning methods--which are dry foam, dry chemicals, and dry compound--do not rinse your carpet in any way. Instead, they leave a dirty residue. You might say they clean your carpet only halfway.

The most effective cleaning method is hot water extraction. Hot water extraction means that a hot water cleaning solution is forced into your carpet under high pressure, then sucked out of your carpet with a strong vacuum. This ensures the most thorough, deepest clean possible.

MYTH: Hot water damages your carpet.

False. Years ago many people believed this was true because their carpets were damaged by technicians who didn’t know how to properly clean using hot water. But today, we know that this is a false statement. By cleaning and then rinsing your carpet with clean, hot water, your carpets are thoroughly cleaned. If a clear water rinse is not used after detergent has been applied to your carpet, it will remain and then attract dirt, which will lead to rapid re-soiling.

MYTH: The company that offers the lowest price is the company I should hire.

False. To some degree, all of us are attracted by low price because we want to work within a budget. But some carpet cleaners use price as the bait for their false and misleading advertising. They offer a cheap price--usually between $3.95 and $9.95 per room--and then, once they're in your home or office, they pressure you into buying "add-ons". It's like if you were buying a car and found out that the dealer was charging you extra for the tires and steering wheel.

Professional carpet cleaning is not as cheap as some unethical carpet cleaners would like you to believe. The price you see advertised may not be the price you pay. Many homeowners have learned that the low price they saw advertised lasted only until the carpet cleaner got into their home.