There are multiple cleaning methods in use today and people don't really know what the differences are. The methods are listed below from the worst to the best types of cleaners:

Green Cleaning - This really gets my goat! Green cleaning hasn't caught up to the current standards of cleaning yet. It does NOT work. NEVER use a green cleaner in your home. There is significant evidence that green cleaning is causing the uprise of illnesses in our hospitals and schools. Have you heard of MRSA (pronounced: MERSA)? Do we really want to open ourselves up to the possibility that the conditions could be replicated in our own homes? I don't think so.

Dry Cleaning - Companies like Chem-Dry sell their services based on their ability to give you dry carpet quicker. People like this option because it gets them back to their lives a lot faster. There are a couple disadvantages to this type of clean:

1. Most dry-cleaning companies won't vacuum the carpet. They depend on you to do that but they won't tell you that in most cases.

2. Their cleaning method simply uses an absorbent cotton pad that brushes across the carpet. This only pushes the dirt on the top of the carpet to the baseboards and does not get into the deep down recesses of the carpet.

Encapsulation Cleaning - This is a dry cleaning method that uses a chemical that actually "encapsulates" the dirt into little balls that just get vacuumed up the next day after the cleaning. In certain circumstances this is a good option but only in the following circumstance:

This should only be used on commercial-grade, glue-down carpets. Also it should only be used as a "maintenance" cleaning procedure. It is ineffective on heavily-soiled carpets.

Steam Cleaning - This is by far the best, most thorough cleaning method available today. It cleans deep down. It kills germs and bacteria (with appropriate cleaners). It uses extreme heat to increase the cleanliness of your carpets. It can even leave your carpet drier than a Dry-Cleaner.

When choosing a carpet cleaner, ask which method they use and why. If the cleaner can't tell you why their type of clean is the best for your current situation, they likely aren't the best option for you. Look for a steam cleaner for the best results, and the best chances for dislodging tough stains. Steam cleaners are great for both heavy and maintenance cleaning jobs.