Frequently Asked Questions

Chem-Dry’s cleaning process is better and healthier than other methods for your carpet and upholstery cleaning. Chem-Dry’s unique hot carbonating extraction carpet cleaning method uses the power of carbonation to extract more dirt and grime from your carpets, giving them a deeper and longer lasting clean. Our carbonated cleaning solution only requires us to use a fraction of the moisture other methods such as steam cleaning require. This allows your carpets to dry faster, typically in 1-2 hours rather than 1-2 days, and helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew under your carpet.  Chem-Dry’s signature cleaning solution, The Natural®, is a cleaning mixture that—through the power of carbonation—lifts dirt to the surface where it is whisked away. The Natural is non-toxic and ideal for homes with kids and pets, and has received the Green Certification.

Most new carpets come with a factory-applied protectant but this wears off over time. Reapplying a protectant on your carpets can help resist stains and soiling, so your carpets will stay cleaner longer. Another reason protectant is a smart investment is that it slows the aging and wearing process and can extend the life of your carpets.

Pet odors can linger on for months if not treated properly. As urine dries in the carpet and padding, what’s left are millions of concentrated urine crystals that become even more pungent. Many companies just mask this odor. Chem-Dry uses a patented system, P.U.R.T.®  (Pet Urine Removal Treatment) to explode the urine crystals and break down the enzymes which gets rid of the pet urine odor forever.

Many carpet cleaners including steam cleaners use soaps and detergents in their process. This often leaves behind a sticky residue on your carpets that attracts dirt, leads to carpets re-soiling quickly after being cleaned and often requires more frequent professional cleanings. At Chem-Dry, we use an all-natural, biodegradable carpet and upholstery cleaning solution that doesn’t contain any soaps, detergents or harsh chemicals, so it won’t leave behind any sticky or filmy residues to attract dirt.

Drying time depends on humidity levels, airflow to the room(s) cleaned, and the type of carpet. In general, turning on your air conditioning or fans will help accelerate dry times. After a Chem-Dry professional cleaning, it typically takes 1-2 hours for the carpet to dry. Sometimes carpets can take longer to dry for various reasons.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) suggests that homeowners clean their carpets every 6-12 months.  If you have kids, pets or if someone in your home has asthmas or allergies, it’s advisable to do it even more frequently. Regular cleaning will not only improve your home’s appearance, but it will eliminate germs and allergens, improve your home’s indoor air quality and extend the life of your carpeting.

This is not necessary. Chem-Dry’s professionally trained technicians will vacuum your carpets with our commercial, HEPA-filtered vacuum when they arrive as a standard part of our service.

Chem-Dry uses an all-natural, Green-Certified cleaning product called The Natural as our primary cleaner. The Natural, doesn’t contain any soaps or phosphates and is safe, non-toxic and hypo-allergenic.  By contrast, most steam cleaners use soaps, detergents and harsh chemicals in their process.

Chem-Dry uses up to 80% less water than typical steam cleaning because its carbonated cleaner, The Natural, relies on millions of microscopic bubbles to release dirt and grime from the fibers of your carpet and raise it to the surface where it can easily be swept away. This low water, low pressure approach is healthier for your carpets, allows your carpets to dry in only 1-2 hours and is also more environmentally friendly.

Yes. Typical steam cleaning uses a process of dumping large amounts of soapy water into your carpets and then trying to suck it all back out. Because the heavy amount of water results in an extended drying time, usually 1-2 days, this method can actually cause carpets to rot or grow mold.

We charge by the square foot so the price is determined by the size of the room. One price fits all pricing encourages some cleaning companies to cut corners on large rooms. Charging by the size of the room allows us to devote the amount of time necessary to provide a thorough cleaning regardless of the room size.

Traditional steam cleaning saturates your carpet with an excessive amount of water filled with soaps and detergents, leaving you with wet carpets for 1-2 days. The soapy residue left behind attracts dirt and causes your carpets to get dirty much faster.

Chem-Dry’s process is different. We employ millions of microscopic bubbles to explode dirt from deep in your carpet fibers, which is why we only need to use a fraction of the water that typical steam cleaning uses. After the carbonation releases and lifts the dirt, our high powered equipment extracts the dirt and moisture from the carpet.

You can see a full comparison of Chem-Dry vs steam cleaning by visiting this page.

Chem-Dry does occasionally offer coupons, specials and promo codes. You can find our current coupons on our Special Offers page. You should also sign up for our e-club to get the latest carpet cleaning coupons and be notified of promotions as they are happening right in your inbox.

All of the ingredients in Chem-Dry’s primary cleaner, The Natural, are on the F.D.A.’s G.R.A.S. (Generally Recognized as Safe) list and are safe for your carpets, your home and your family. The Natural does not contain any soaps or harsh chemicals.

No, Chem-Dry is not a steam cleaner. Chem-Dry uses carbonation to lift up dirt and grime from your carpets so we do not need to use the gallons of water that typical steam cleaners use.

We use our proprietary hot carbonating extraction cleaning method, featuring our core cleaner The Natural, when cleaning upholstery as well. The carbonated cleaning bubbles release dirt, soil, airborne allergens and spots from the upholstery fibers. Then, we use our extraction equipment to remove the cleaning solution, dirt, soil and airborne contaminants from your furniture, leaving it with a deeper, healthier clean than other alternatives.

Manufacturers recommend professional upholstery cleanings every 24-48 months. As with carpets, the presence of kids, pets, allergies and asthma in the home necessitates more frequent cleanings to improve air quality and the overall healthfulness of the home.

In homes that have carpet, up to 80% of the dust and dirt brought into the home can end up in your furniture and upholstered fabrics.

Upholstery cleaning can be complicated. The wrong cleaning method can damage your upholstered fabrics. Chem-Dry of Georgia technicians are trained to identify fiber content and choose the safest, most effective method for cleaning a variety of fabrics, including delicate and specialty fabrics.

In most cases, the furniture dries within just a couple of hours, but in some cases it may take overnight to fully dry depending on the fabric and soil condition.