I have a confession to make, and it may dramatically improve your quality of life. I hate to tell you this because I don't want to sound pompous or arrogant, but if you are like most consumers, you've been completely misinformed (and in some cases even lied to) about carpet cleaning.

Most people talk to the salesperson that sold them their carpeting. You would think that would a great place to start, right? Unfortunately, many (not all, but a lot) simply don't know much about the product they sell. I've actually had clients tell me, "the guy at Home Depot said never to use water to clean my carpet."

Do you get information from family and friends? Many times the same myths about carpet cleaning have been handed down through families for years. While they mean well, they're just not qualified to give you expert advice.

Finally, there's the carpet cleaner himself. And this where things become a bit awkward. After all, I'm a carpet cleaner, too. Why would anything I say be more believable than anyone else?

I want you to ask me (or anyone, for that matter) to prove what they say is true.

And that is what this article is all about. It will help you cut through all of the hype, the misinformation and the downright lies.

Your family deserves the finest quality of life possible. Clean, fresh, healthy carpet will dramatically improve your home's indoor living environment.

You want to find a company that educates and informs its clients. A company that has taken the time and trouble to offer a free publication such as the "The Consumers Guide to Carpet Cleaning." This free report should reveal information that not one-in-a-hundred people will ever know about carpet cleaning.

Next, the rest of your carpeting should be examined. Every home has well-worn traffic lanes throughout the house. Depending on the type of carpet and other factors, he can determine if these matted-down areas can be restored. But, if you wait too long, traffic lanes will become permanent.

Try before you buy... an almost unheard of concept.

I actually think you should be able to give a service company a test drive.

They should not hesitate to offer you a FREE room of carpet cleaning (example - up to 125 SF). There should be no obligation, no strings, no hassles... and no grumpy acquiescence.

Many carpet cleaning companies would think this is ridiculous. Only a company that has lost it's mind would do something so absurd... that whoever would do this is determined to go broke.

I think that it's just smart business.

I mean, think about it for a minute. Where have you been getting your information from? That is exactly the question I want you to ask! And you should also be able to schedule a free in-home evaluation of your carpet. The purpose of this free visit would be to look at your specific areas of concern.

Almost everyone has a spot or two that's been around for awhile (sometimes years). A true professional can tell you whether it's a spot or a stain... and also tell you what the difference is.