Carpet needs regular cleaning, whether you hire a pro or DIY
Commercials, mail inserts and “limited-time, act now!” promotions from carpet-cleaning companies can leave many of us feeling leery that we’re being lured into an unnecessary service. We vacuum regularly, mop up spills immediately and have doormats to catch mud. Isn’t that enough? Not really.
Although vacuuming and performing spot treatments help with maintenance, properly cleaning wall-to-wall carpet at least once a year is essential to preserving its color and texture, maintaining the manufacturer’s warranty and extending the carpet’s life. Dirt and grime act almost like sandpaper and can break down and fray carpet fibers. Deep cleaning removes embedded dirt, pet dander, dust, allergens and more. And in some cases, manufacturers won’t honor their warranties unless you can prove you’ve had your carpets cleaned with a hot water extractor every 12 to 18 months.
But that doesn’t mean you have to hire a professional. You can also DIY the job, either by buying a home cleaner or renting a larger machine from a store. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of all three options.
Hiring a professional
Sharon Garcia, co-owner of Next Level Cleaning Services, a commercial carpet-cleaning business in the Los Angeles area, says professional cleaners can assess carpet fibers and types of stains to determine the best cleaning solution and methods to use. In addition, they can pretreat stains, and many use fans to speed up the drying process, the length of which is a common complaint among consumers.
Professional cleaners also use heavy-duty equipment specifically designed to not only dispense cleaning agents, but also to extract as much dirt-filled solution as possible. The suction is key. “If all the soapy residue is not extracted, you can expect your carpet to be sticky or stiff and resoil rapidly,” says Richard Turner, director of technical services and programs at the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), which certifies carpet-cleaning products, equipment and service providers through its Seal of Approval program.
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Hiring a pro is the most expensive option here. Cleaning providers vary in the way they calculate job costs, but in general, prices range from $115 to $240, based on square footage and carpet material. Expect to pay extra for additional services such as spot-treating, odor removal, cleaning stairs and retreatment for stain resistance. Depending on your location, demand and the company, you may paying between $0.20 and $0.40 per square foot. However, many companies set a minimum price for smaller spaces or simply charge by room.
If you decide to hire a professional, look for one that is CRI certified, to ensure your carpet is being cleaned with the best equipment and products. It also helps maintain your warranty, because many carpet manufacturers’ residential warranties include recommendations to use products with that Seal of Approval. CRI offers a list of approved professionals searchable by Zip code on its website.
When hiring a cleaning company, be sure to ask what is included and what costs extra. One of the most important questions is: Do you vacuum before deep-cleaning the carpet? The answer to this critical step should be yes, Turner says. Vacuuming removes loose dirt and dust from the surface of the carpet, allowing the extractor to pull out soil embedded deep in the fibers before cleaning. Then ask whether the company will pretreat stains, move furniture and reapply stain proofing.
Renting a cleaner
Renting a professional-grade carpet cleaner is an option if you feel confident enough to do it yourself. According to Turner, the ubiquitous Rug Doctor machine and cleaning solution is CRI certified. Rental prices vary by location; when I checked, Walmart charged $29.99 for 24 hours and $39.99 for 48 hours. At Home Depot, the cost was $39 per day.
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Garcia says that rental machines can be bulky and that it takes some muscle to effectively move them. Still, if you carefully follow the directions; avoid saturating the carpet, which can damage the padding underneath, by limiting yourself to no more than two passes over heavily soiled areas; and are careful to extract as much of the water as possible, you can expect good results.
Owning your own machine
A full-size home machine can clean high-traffic areas, help fluff the pile and remove embedded dust and dirt. Upright cleaners, which look like vacuums, have rotating brushes and two tanks: one for clean water, one for dirty water. You add cleaning solution to the clean tank, then the machine dispenses the cleaner into the carpet fibers and sucks it up into the dirty-water tank. After repeated cleaning strokes, you can also opt for a rinse-only pass, using just clean water. Your final passes are extraction only, to get as much water out as possible and to help the carpet dry. Some newer models have a heat mode to hasten drying time.
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With a husband, four children and four dogs constantly tracking mud and debris into her Skiatook, Okla., home, Lindsey Chastain is vigilant about carpet cleaning. “I can’t afford to have professionals come all the time,” she says. Instead, Chastain bought a $150 machine and cleans her living room weekly. The cost: about $5 per month in cleaning solution. Carpet cleaners range from about $120 to $300. The lightest models clock in around 12 pounds; most weigh around 20 pounds. A full tank of cleaning solution adds six to 15 pounds. The home version of a commercial cleaner, by contrast, weighs a hefty 40-plus pounds empty, costs upward of $500 and won’t fulfill your warranty requirements.
“Home machines often don’t put down enough soap or don’t pick up enough water, so I suggest two passes with the trigger pulled for soap,” she says. “Then slowly go back and forth over each section until no more water is sucked up.” Cleaning a 400-square-foot room takes about an hour, Chastain says, and she likes to tackle the chore in the late evening to let the carpet dry overnight.
And even if you don’t want to invest in a full-size machine, experts say it’s worth having a portable spot cleaner in your tool kit, so you can attack spills or dirt before they become stains. “If not dealt with immediately, certain products leave a permanent stain that even the pros can’t remove,” Garcia says.
No portable spot cleaner? Bookmark CRI’s Spot Solver page for tips on how to remove spills from items such as chicken soup and nail polish.
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