Whether you feel it is important or not, the person that comes to your home and cleans your carpet can be drastically different from one company to the next.

What I want to do is clear up a some controversy about carpet cleaning companies. You have three types of carpet cleaning companies.

1. Companies that use employees 2. Companies that use contractors 3. Companies that are owner/operator

Which is the best? If I had to rank them in order, here's how they would list.

1. owner/operator 2. contractors 3. employees

Maybe this order isn't what you have heard in the past, but it is the truth in most cases. An owner/operator will almost always yield the best results because you are getting your carpet cleaned by the owner of the company. He/she really cares about their work more than a contractor or an employee would.

You also have the most leverage with an owner/operator because he/she has the power to discount any service for you to whatever price they deem necessary to get your business. You don't have to worry about calling the office to talk to someone who can further discount your service.

A contractor can be a very good choice when it comes to carpet cleaning. They usually are more experienced than an employee, have their own tools and equipment that they are very familiar with and can also discount your services within reason, depending on what company they are contracting from.

I would choose an employee only if the first two options were not available. Employees are not as educated on the principles of carpet cleaning, spot removal, knowledge of cleaning agents, etc... If they are getting paid by the hour, they will be in no hurry to finish your home, so be prepared not to have anything scheduled for 3 hours or so. They are also not flexible to discounts, they are told what the price is and they stick to it. Request their most experienced technician if you go this route. 5 or more years experience is preferable.

Of course with any business, ethics always plays a role. If the person coming to your home is not ethical, it doesn't matter who you choose or what service it is. They are either honest or they're not.

There are many great carpet cleaning companies to choose from, but there are also some that are not so great or ethical. Get educated when choosing carpet cleaning for your home, after all, carpet is a big investment, treat it with care and you can extend your carpet life an additional 5 to 7 years.