Whether you know it or not, the cleaning equipment your professional carpet cleaner uses can have a significant impact on the cost, effectiveness and convenience of your carpet cleaning experience.

Truck-mounted systems, where the cleaning equipment is permanently installed in a van and hoses and attachments are brought into the home, are used most frequently by carpet cleaning companies. But, portable systems, where the entire cleaning unit is brought into the house to perform carpet cleaning work, are still used frequently, too.

To determine which primary carpet cleaning equipment or process truly is better for your unique needs and preferences, consider the following pros and cons of each method:

Carpet drying time
Truck-mounted carpet cleaning equipment tends to provide more thorough cleanings and quicker drying time when compared with portable equipment. Truck-mounted equipment is usually larger and more powerful than portable devices, which leads to more effective suction of moisture from the carpet after a cleaning.

Carpet cleaners who use portable cleaning systems may employ portable fans to speed up drying times, but this can take longer than methods used with truck-mounted equipment.

Convenience
The convenience aspect of carpet-cleaning equipment tends to affect professionals more than homeowners. However, sometimes personal preference and a variety of different circumstances determine which method is more convenient than the other.

In cases where there is high traffic in the home and a lot of area to cover, sliding hoses and other equipment from outside is usually quicker and causes fewer interruptions for the carpet cleaners.

However, bringing that equipment in from outside means more outside air will come in the home during the carpet cleaning, which can result in an uncomfortable indoor temperature.

Spillage risk
Despite the slight inconvenience of running hoses into the home with truck-mounted equipment, it poses a much smaller risk of spilling used water or cleaning byproduct in the home during a cleaning. Truck-mounted equipment has a much greater capacity to hold wastewater and cleaning chemicals, and more effectively separates these liquids from the home.

Alternatively, portable equipment requires more frequent emptying of used water or cleaning byproduct and the equipment is inside the home throughout the entire cleaning process – which can possibly increase the chance of an accidental spill. Portable equipment also must be emptied after a shorter period of time, which may limit productivity.

Cost
Since truck-mounted carpet cleaning equipment is much more expensive than portable equipment, it usually costs more to use in your home. The greater efficacy of the equipment and the quicker process tends to drive up the price, because it brings greater convenience to the homeowner. Portable carpet cleaning equipment is cheaper by contrast.

Overall, it's important to note that the equipment itself isn't necessarily the most important factor to consider. “Every system has its own advantages and disadvantages,” says David Mouradian, owner of Melrose Oriental Rug, a highly rated Boston carpet cleaner. “What’s more important is the person who is running the equipment.”

He adds that the training, experience and qualifications of the carpet cleaner you hire to do the job tend to make the most significant difference in the effectiveness of the carpet cleaning, not the equipment.