Zerorez vs Stanley Steemer in Denver? What I'd Compare

Short answer: Zerorez and Stanley Steemer both do hot water extraction in Denver. The differences that matter are what they do on pet stains, how long the carpet stays wet, what the price covers, and what happens if a stain is still there afterward. I'm Mark, owner of Colorado Choice Carpet Cleaning. I've cleaned carpet across the Denver Metro for over 23 years, and I just finished a job at a house on South Corona Street in Denver to get out pet stains Zerorez had left behind.

The job that started this post: Zerorez left the pet stains, I got them out for $219

The homeowner had Zerorez clean her carpet before she put the house on the market. That was about 30 days ago. The house sold, but the pet stains never came out, and she didn't call Zerorez back to try again. She called me.

• The problem: tough pet stains still in the carpet after a professional cleaning.
• The setup: a really big yard. I ran about 350 feet of hose from the truck to reach the carpet, and we were still producing 230° heat at the end of it.
• The treatment: Saiger's enzyme on the stains, left to sit for 35 minutes, then truck-mounted hot water extraction.
• The result: the stains came out. She was ecstatic, and she told me she'll never use Zerorez again.
• The price: $219.

I'm not telling you this to say Zerorez can't clean carpet. I'm telling you because the step that made the difference on this job was the one that's easy to rush: giving the enzyme real time on the pet stains before rinsing.

Zerorez vs Stanley Steemer vs Colorado Choice: what each one lists

Here's what each company says on its own website (checked October 2026), next to how I run my jobs. Check their pages yourself before you book, because offers change.

	Zerorez (Denver page)	Stanley Steemer (carpet cleaning page)	Colorado Choice
Method	Hot water extraction with its patented Zr Water; says it uses no soaps, detergents or harsh chemicals	Proprietary hot water extraction; truck-mounted system, CRI Seal of Approval Platinum	Truck-mounted hot water extraction, 200–230°F; enzyme pre-treatment on pet spots
Dry time	"Faster dry times than other carpet cleaning companies" (no hours given)	FAQ says 8–24 hours, depending on humidity, temperature and airflow	2–4 hours
Price shown	Promo: 3 rooms + free hallway for $105; "service minimums & other restrictions may apply"	No prices on the page; online quote or call	$119 for the first 3 areas (hallway counts as an area), $35 each additional area
Pet stains	Lists pet stain and odor removal; method and price not described	Lists a carpet deodorizer; pet urine removal is listed for off-site rug cleaning	$45 per room enzyme pet treatment
Guarantee	Lists a "30-Day Gotta-Love-It Guarantee"; terms are on a separate page	None stated on the carpet cleaning page	30-day pet stain and odor guarantee on every spot treated with the $45 pet treatment

What I'd compare before booking either one

1. Ask what they do on pet stains, and for how long. On the Corona Street job, the enzyme sat 35 minutes before I rinsed. Ask how long theirs sits.
2. Ask what the advertised price includes. Is a hallway an area? Is pet treatment extra? Is there a minimum?
3. Ask how long until you can walk on it. Mine is 2–4 hours.
4. Ask what happens if a stain is still there. If you're inside a company's guarantee window, call them first. That's what guarantees are for.
5. Ask whether they'll do the hard setup. Long hose runs, upper floors, tough parking. On Corona Street it was about 350 feet, and the heat held at 230°.

Another Denver job where a big company walked away

Wash Park, third floor, dog urine, $139

A Wash Park customer had dog urine on a nylon-polyester carpet in a third-floor apartment. The largest carpet cleaning franchise in the Denver Metro showed up, saw that parking meant pulling to the side and walking hose to the third floor, and left. She called me early that morning and we came the same morning. Enzyme pre-treatment with proper dwell time, then our Prochem Apex GTX truckmount at 200–230°F. The urine odor was gone. $139. Read the Wash Park job.

What I charge in Denver

• $119 for the first 3 areas (a hallway counts as an area)
• $35 for each additional area
• Closets, bathrooms and landings free
• Pet treatment: $45 per room, with my 30-day pet stain and odor guarantee on every spot it treats
• Stairs: $4 per stair
• Couch $139, sectional $179
• Most furniture moving included

Call before noon and I can usually get a truck there the same day. Pay by card, check or cash. For more Denver prices from real jobs, see how much carpet cleaning costs in Denver.

How I know Denver

I've worked Denver homes and apartments for over 23 years, from South Corona Street and Wash Park to downtown high-rises and Green Valley Ranch. I'm IICRC-certified and BBB-accredited, I own the company and run the work, we have hundreds of 5-star Google reviews, and I follow the IICRC S100 standard for carpet cleaning. If you're weighing a franchise against a local owner, I wrote about that in local carpet cleaner vs franchise in Denver. If you're asking whether Zerorez is worth the price, read what I would compare. For pet jobs, see my stain and odor removal page.

Zerorez vs Stanley Steemer FAQ

Which is better in Denver, Zerorez or Stanley Steemer?

Both list hot water extraction. Zerorez says it uses its Zr Water with no soaps; Stanley Steemer says its truck-mounted system is CRI Platinum-certified. I'd decide on what they do for your pet stains, the real price for your rooms, the dry time and the guarantee. If you want a local owner who comes out himself, call Colorado Choice Carpet Cleaning at (720) 730-8055.

What if Zerorez didn't get my pet stains out?

If you're still inside their guarantee window, call them first. If you'd rather have someone else look at it, I'll treat the stains with an enzyme, give it time to work, and extract with hot water. That's what got the stains out on South Corona Street for $219.

How long does carpet take to dry after cleaning?

With my truckmount, 2–4 hours. Stanley Steemer's FAQ says 8–24 hours depending on conditions. Zerorez's Denver page says "faster dry times" without giving hours.

Pet stains still there after another company cleaned? Call Mark at (720) 730-8055. Same-day service when you call before noon.