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Does Professional Carpet Cleaning Shrink Your Carpet?

By Sarah Aguirre, About.com

Question: Does Professional Carpet Cleaning Shrink Your Carpet?

It's everyone's worse nightmare. You hire someone to clean your carpet and when they're done it's shrunk into a smaller pile. I've dreamed that dream before, and the carpet technician in my dream didn't understand why I was upset. In reality though, this isn't usually a concern in our modern day. Find out why.

Answer: When carpets were made of lots of natural fibers, shrinking was a major concern. Still, most professionals new how to handle all types of carpets. Today most carpets are made of synthetic materials, reducing the risk of shrinking to almost nothing. It's always a good idea to know your carpet type and the manufacturer's instructions for it.

One thing that could cause minimal shrinkage would be an overly wet carpet after your technician is finished cleaning. Reputable companies and technicians don't allow this to happen. Even so, it's a good idea to check your carpet's wetness before the tech leaves your home. Express concerns if you have them. And be sure to hire a reputable company to clean your carpets. Bottom Line:For most carpets, the risk of shrinking is almost nothing. Hiring a reputable company makes all the difference in your satisfaction, though.

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