Is it better to shampoo or steam clean a carpet?

I have two dogs and worry about stains and odor. My carpet needs to be cleaned often. I want to do it myself-not hire someone.Is it better to shampoo or steam clean a carpet?
I would definately only steam clean it, when you shampoo carpet, the shampoo builds up a residue that ends up attracting MORE dirt than before you started!


The key to steam cleaning carpet is to get a machine that FULLY extracts the excess water and make sure water in machine is not TOO hot, as it will shrink some carpet fibers and make your carpet look matted.


Odor should come out with a steam cleaning, otherwise you can always use a odor enzyme spray and add it to the water.Is it better to shampoo or steam clean a carpet?
I would steam clean if I were you because of your two dogs.
steam cleaning is better...shampooing will leave a residue in the carpet...you can buy spot cleaners for a steam machine to use on stains that will not leave soap in the carpet ...soap attracts dirt faster
Someone once told me that if you use soap on carpet, it never comes clean afterward. Once it is dried, the soap residue remains sticky (although you won't feel it sticky), so dirt actually sticks to it even though you will vacuum regularly. When I clean my carpet, I boil water and put that into the machine but use NO soap. It always comes out looking great and I know that it is clean and there is no residue left behind.
if u have a dollar general near by then go get a bottle of mean-green. i know the place is cheap to buy rom but this stuff is great to do alot of cleaning with read the directions on the bottle ( gallon size) for carpet care . believe me it does work.
it is better shampoo because steaming takes to long