In a nutshell, it makes the most sense to have your carpet professionally cleaned. It doesn't really cost a lot of money, yet it will give you the peace of mind in knowing that your carpet is very clean. If you've been looking to clean your carpet or have it cleaned, professional is without a doubt the way to go. Doing it yourself If you have made the decision to rent a steam cleaning machine and do the job yourself, you should check on several systems before you make a selection. Most of the units available for rent don't clean well enough and may end up damaging your carpet. Therefore, you should always consider the following: - Several rental companies offer cleaning equipment that is similar to what the professionals use. Acrylic carpeting is very similar to wool, and sometimes referred to as man made wool. It is resistant to moisture, fading, mildew, crushing, and staining, although it isn't recommended for high traffic areas. Nylon carpeting is also popular, as it is recommended for high traffic areas. Nylon is one of the most expensive types of synthetic fibers, although it is still cheaper than wool. The ability of wool to stretch up to 40% of its original length and the fact that it can be bent back and forth more than 180,000 times without breaking makes it very resilient. Wool is the most expensive material for carpet, although it is also the best you can buy. Silk The fiber of silk is produced by the larva of various insects known as silk worms. Rating of 4 are considered outstanding and recommended for heavy traffic areas of your home. Ratings of 2.5 to 4 would provide normal durability for your home. Carpets that rate 2.5 or lower should only be used with light traffic areas, such as bedrooms. Choosing carpet based on the type of traffic it will receive can help you save a lot of money down the road, although you should buy carpet suited to your needs and requirements. Carpet is the most practical, fashionable, and versatile choice of flooring out there, as it also accounts for more than half of all flooring purchases that are made each and every year. The fact is, carpet has outsold every other type of flooring for more than 60 years. Carpet offers you several advantages that other flooring options can't compete with.