Stanley Steemer and Chem-Dry, side by side
Stanley Steemer’s method is hot water extraction; Chem-Dry’s is its own Hot Carbonating Extraction, which by its account takes about 80% less water. The drying times come from the companies themselves: 8 to 24 hours from Stanley Steemer, 1 to 2 hours from Chem-Dry. This site isn’t affiliated with either company.
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The two, side by side
Both companies sell carpet cleaning, and their methods set them apart: hot water extraction for Stanley Steemer, a carbonated solution and less water for Chem-Dry.
| Compare | Stanley Steemer | Chem-Dry |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Hot water extraction ("steam cleaning") | Hot Carbonating Extraction |
| Water | Hot water pumped in, then extracted | By Chem-Dry’s count, about 80% less than steam cleaning |
| Drying time it states | 8 to 24 hours, with humidity, temperature and airflow | Typically 1 to 2 hours |
| Price figure | $125–$143 per room for companies of its kind (HomeGuide) | $120–$420, $280 on average for carbonated cleaning (HomeAdvisor) |
How Stanley Steemer cleans
Stanley Steemer’s equipment pumps hot water into the carpet, which releases the soil, and then extracts water and soil together; the company calls this hot water extraction and notes that people often call it steam cleaning. It asks customers to leave the protective blocks under furniture legs until everything is dry.
How Chem-Dry cleans
In Chem-Dry’s Hot Carbonating Extraction, carbonation lifts the soil to the surface and the soil is extracted from there. By Chem-Dry’s count the process uses about one-fifth as much water as traditional steam cleaning, so the carpet dries much sooner, and that is the brand’s main pitch.
Reading the drying-time claims
The two numbers are each company’s own statement, not a test anyone ran side by side. Both shift with the carpet’s thickness, the airflow and how soiled the carpet was in a given home, and running fans and air conditioning shortens either one. The methods guide covers why less water dries faster, and what it trades away.
If your carpet is under warranty
Before choosing, read what the warranty asks for: Shaw’s warranties require proof of periodic hot water extraction, whether a professional service or a do-it-yourself system does the work, on equipment with the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval certification. Have either company, or any local one, put in writing that its process satisfies your carpet’s warranty.
Comparing their quotes with a Camarillo company
Run every quote, national brand or local company, through the same checklist:
- Identical rooms, square footage and stair count on every quote
- The method written on the quote
- Whether pre-vacuuming and spot treatment are included
- Pet urine treatment as its own line
- How long they expect your carpet to take to dry
- The total with every fee: California requires an advertised price to include all mandatory fees other than government taxes and fees
National figures, not quotes: the cleaning company sets the price for your home before any work.
Sources
The cleaning prices on this page are national figures, read in October 2026 in the price guides listed below; none is a quote, and no Camarillo average turned up in the price guides checked. Facts about Camarillo come from the local pages listed.
- Stanley Steemer, carpet cleaning
- Stanley Steemer, frequently asked questions
- Chem-Dry, how long carpet takes to dry
- Chem-Dry, Hot Carbonating Extraction vs. steam cleaning
- HomeGuide, carpet cleaning prices (its 2026 prices page)
- HomeAdvisor, carpet cleaning cost (updated June 17, 2026)
- Shaw Floors, carpet cleaning and warranty care
- California Civil Code section 1770, unfair practices (subdivision (a)(29), advertised prices and mandatory fees)