Professional cleaning looks very different today than it did in the 1970s. What used to depend more heavily on simpler equipment and more surface-focused methods has evolved into a more specialized process built around deeper cleaning, better material care, and more advanced restoration work. That shift matters because customers are no longer looking for carpet or upholstery that only looks cleaner for a short time. They expect a more complete level of care for the surfaces and materials throughout their homes.
That broader view of service sits at the center of J&S Steamway’s 50-year story. Founded in 1976 by Bob Reynolds, the business grew from a respected carpet, rug, and upholstery cleaning company into a wider floor and fabric care provider. In 2014, ownership transitioned to Troy Roberts and Paul Farrell, continuing that long-standing focus on quality work and customer service.
What professional cleaning looked like decades ago
In earlier decades, carpet cleaning often leaned on methods such as shampooing and bonnet cleaning. Those approaches could improve appearance on the surface, but they did not always remove as much embedded soil from deep in the carpet fibers. Professional cleaning was also narrower in scope. For many homeowners, it was largely about freshening up carpet rather than thinking in terms of indoor air quality, specialty textiles, moisture control, fabric protection, or full restoration processes.
The work itself was also more constrained by the equipment available at the time. Compared with current systems, older machines offered fewer options for specialized treatment, less powerful extraction, and less precision when dealing with hidden moisture or different material types. That does not mean the work lacked skill. It means the industry had not yet reached the level of specialization customers now take for granted.
Why cleaning methods changed
One of the biggest shifts in the industry came with the wider adoption of hot water extraction. In this process, hot cleaning solution is sprayed into the carpet and then removed with vacuum extraction, helping flush out soil and contaminants more effectively than older surface-focused methods. Industry sources note that hot water extraction became the preferred method for many major carpet manufacturers, and Shaw Floors currently recommends professional hot water extraction on a regular basis as part of carpet care.
That change reflects a bigger truth: customers want more than a cosmetic improvement. They want methods that support deeper cleaning, longer material life, and more dependable results. As standards in the industry matured, so did expectations around technician training, equipment quality, and the ability to match the right method to the right material. The IICRC describes itself as the organization that sets the global standard for the industries involved in cleaning, restoration, and inspection, and notes that it provides recognized standards, training, and certification for professionals in those fields.
How customer expectations evolved
Homeowners today expect a much broader range of care than they did decades ago. Carpet is still central, but it is only part of the picture. Customers now look for help with area rugs, oriental rugs, upholstery, tile and grout, pet stains and odors, mattress cleaning, fabric protection, anti-allergen treatments, and water damage restoration. They also expect better communication, safer products, and technicians who understand how to care for different surfaces properly.
That shift changed what it means to be a trusted cleaning company. Experience still matters, but experience alone is not enough. The work now requires a stronger mix of training, updated methods, surface-specific care, and the ability to solve problems that go beyond standard maintenance cleaning.
How J&S Steamway reflects that progress today
J&S Steamway’s current services show how much the business has evolved with the industry. In addition to carpet cleaning, the company provides area rug cleaning, oriental rug cleaning, upholstery cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, flood and water damage restoration, fabric protection, mattress cleaning, pet stain and odor removal, anti-allergen carpet cleaning, and green cleaning options. That service mix reflects a company that has grown well beyond basic carpet care into a more complete system for cleaning and restoration.
That progress also shows up in how the work is performed. J&S Steamway highlights certifications through Clean Trust, IICRC-certified technicians, annual industry education, eco-friendly steam extraction, hand spot-cleaning, and a final walkthrough process. On the restoration side, the work includes industrial truck-mounted extractors, moisture mapping, thermal imaging, structural drying, dehumidification, disinfection, and odor control. Those are not small upgrades over the methods most customers would associate with older cleaning. They reflect a more advanced, more technical, and more responsive level of service.
From basic cleaning to complete floor and fabric care
The strongest way to understand the last 50 years is through a simple before-and-after contrast.
Then: professional cleaning was often more limited in scope, more dependent on surface-level methods, and less specialized across different materials and conditions.
Now: professional cleaning covers a wider range of surfaces, relies on stronger extraction and restoration tools, and demands more specialized knowledge about textiles, moisture, indoor environments, and long-term material care. J&S Steamway’s current services and processes reflect that broader standard.
That is the real meaning behind “then and now.” It is not only about old equipment versus new equipment. It is about the shift from a more limited cleaning model toward deeper extraction, broader service capability, better restoration processes, and more complete care for the home.
What has stayed the same
For all the changes in equipment, methods, and service scope, the core expectation behind the work has remained steady. Customers still want a company they can trust in their homes. They still want honest communication, dependable service, and results backed by real care and professional standards.
That continuity is part of what makes a 50-year milestone meaningful. The technology behind professional cleaning has changed dramatically, but the purpose has not. Better tools and better methods only matter if they are used in service of the same goal: helping customers care for their homes with confidence. In that sense, the story of professional cleaning over the last 50 years is not just a story of newer machines. It is a story of higher standards.