Carpet Cleaning

Quick Summary

Regular carpet cleaning can help improve the health and happiness of families. While homeowners have the option of DIY carpet cleaning, professional services help alleviate the burden of this routine maintenance task.

Carpet Cleaning Services

Carpet cleaning is an essential part of routine home maintenance and helps ensure carpets look and perform their best.

Carpet and area rug cleaning services are available to help ease the burden of cleaning from homeowners. Professional carpet cleaners use commercial-grade cleaning solutions and equipment to remove dirt, stains and odors from carpets and rugs, and keep them in prime condition.

Homeowners should conduct carpet care in the following scenarios:

  • Every 6-12 months as part of regular maintenance
  • After water damage or large stains
  • Whenever there are signs of wear on carpets or rugs

You may require emergency services after fire damage or water damage occurs, or after you discover mold. Fortunately, many carpet cleaning companies are willing to address emergency cleaning needs on short notice.

Many carpet and floor cleaning companies also offer upholstery cleaning, allowing homeowners to clean couches and other pieces of furniture at the same time as their carpets.

Benefits of Carpet Cleaning Services

There are several key benefits to routine carpet cleaning, which help keep families happy and healthy. Professional carpet cleaning can maintain a healthy home and improve the overall appearance of your home while extending the life of carpets and rugs.

Prevent Health Problems

Without regular carpet cleaning, indoor air quality can decline, and your family can experience preventable health issues.

Carpets tend to build up harmful microbes over time, including: 

  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
  • Mold spores
  • Dust mites
  • Pet dander
  • Other allergens

Vacuuming removes some contaminants from the surface of carpets, but it doesn’t reach microscopic particles that get embedded deep in the fibers. Over time, these contaminants build up in carpets and can endanger vulnerable family members, including pets, children, seniors and people with preexisting health concerns.

The best carpet cleaning services will deep clean your carpets to remove contaminants, keeping your family healthy.

Improve Your Home’s Appearance

Commercial carpet cleaning can dramatically improve your home’s appearance, removing stains, dirt and grime that builds up through natural use. High traffic areas of the house often become discolored and dull, and even the most premium carpet fibers will wear down over time.

Carpet cleaning gives new life to the carpets, removing dirt, plumping up carpet fibers and minimizing signs of wear.

Professional carpet cleaning targets visible staining, including pet stains and spills, and uses deodorizers to eliminate pet odor and other unpleasant smells. Homeowners often forget how bright and vibrant their carpets once looked until they hire a professional cleaner for deep cleaning.

Extend the Life of Carpets and Rugs

Carpets can last for decades but only if they are adequately cared for. Annual carpet cleaning extends the life of carpets and rugs, reversing wear and removing damaging contaminants before they permanently set. If left too long, dirt and other substances will work their way into carpet fibers and become impossible to extract.

Manufacturer’s warranties cover many carpet and rugs but only if they are correctly maintained. 

Homeowners should confirm the details of their carpet and rug warranties and plan for routine cleaning. In many cases, the warranty will specify how often the carpet must be cleaned and what type of professional carpet cleaning is required.

Carpet Cleaning Process

There are many types of carpet cleaning solutions available to homeowners, but they all follow a similar process. After removing furniture and personal belongings, the carpet is saturated with chemical cleaners and water. Then, the chemicals and water are reabsorbed with an industrial vacuum, and the area is left to dry.

Traditional water extraction cleaning, steam cleaning and dry cleaning are three types of carpet cleaning that each have their pros and cons.

Traditional Carpet Cleaning

Traditional, hot water extraction carpet cleaning injects hot water and powerful chemicals into carpets to remove caked-on dirt, contaminants and stains from deep within carpets. It is a proven carpet cleaning system that is also cost-effective and straight-forward. However, it is not the only option available.

Steam Cleaning

Steam cleaning relies on extremely hot water to sanitize carpets. Technicians apply heated water and chemicals to lift dirt and other microbes from the carpet. Steam cleaning is often preferred in hypoallergenic environments where indoor air quality can’t be compromised, even for a short period.

Dry Cleaning

Dry carpet cleaning is another cleaning option, typically used in offices, care homes and other environments that require fast drying time. Dry cleaning uses minimal amounts of water and can be walked on shortly after cleaning. However, dry cleaning is considered not as effective as other cleaning methods.

DIY Carpet Cleaning Solutions

Homeowners are also welcome to try DIY carpet cleaning solutions by renting a carpet cleaning machine or steam cleaner from a local hardware store. Homeowners will also have to purchase compatible cleaning products and deodorizers if required.

Although DIY cleaning can be budget-friendly, this solution tends to be time-consuming and doesn’t always generate the same results as hired carpet cleaning services. Carpet cleaning rentals often don’t do a thorough job and usually requires additional stain removal or odor removal services.

Some common mistakes of DIY carpet cleaning include:

  • Over-shampooing
  • Over-wetting
  • Accidentally dying carpets with furniture

An additional concern with DIY carpet cleaning is that older rental machines tend to be less efficient and leave residue behind.

Cost of Carpet Cleaning Services

Carpet cleaning pricing varies depending on the size of the area and the type of cleaning services performed. The average cost of professional carpet cleaning is $35 to $55 per room or $300 to $600 for an entire house. Standard services may cost as little as $25 per room or as much as $70 per room.

Homeowners should expect to pay approximately 25 cents per square foot of carpet for spray or steam cleaning. Stairs may be charged separately, while furniture cleaning can cost upwards of $50 per item.

Common add-on services that carry additional costs include:

As a result of so many variables, carpet cleaning costs range quite significantly. Fortunately, carpet cleaning is a competitive market and homeowners can ask for quotes from several cleaners before deciding which company to hire.

Author:
Water Damage Advisor

The Water Damage Advisor content team is made up of multiple contributors, writers, and editors. We are your resource hub for anything related to water damage, mold and restoration needs that you may be challenged with facing.

10 References
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  2. Apartment Therapy. (2019). Here’s How Often You Should CleanYour Carpets (and How to Do It). https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-carpets-36675379 
  3. AmeriClean. What is the Best Season to Have Your Carpets Cleaned? https://goamericlean.com/articles/best-season-to-have-your-carpets-cleaned/
  4. Carpet & Rug World. 10 Benefits of Professional Carpet Cleaning. https://www.carpetandrugworld.com/benefits-of-professional-carpet-cleaning
  5. Dig This Design. (2019). 6 Benefits of Hiring Professional Carpet Cleaning Services. https://digthisdesign.net/diy-tips/6-benefits-of-hiring-a-professional-carpet-cleaning-services/
  6. Housekeeper.com. (2015). Why is Carpet Cleaning So Important? https://housekeeper.com/why-is-carpet-cleaning-so-important
  7. Home Advisor. Carpet Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid. https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/carpet-cleaning-mistakes-to-avoid
  8. Angie’s List. (2013). 4 Carpet Cleaning Methods: Pros and Cons. https://www.angieslist.com/articles/4-carpet-cleaning-methods-pros-and-cons.htm
  9. Fresh Home Guide. (2020). Carpet Cleaning Techniques & Methods – Pros And Cons. https://freshhomeguide.com/carpet-cleaning-techniques-methods/ 
  10. HomeGuide. (2020). How Much Does Professional Carpet Cleaning Cost? https://homeguide.com/costs/carpet-cleaning-prices
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