carpet cleaning cost Archives - 2024 Carpet Buying Guide For Homeowners

How Much Does Carpet Cleaning Cost? When to have your Carpets Cleaned? Looking for a Reputable Carpet Cleaning Company?

A popular homeowner question is “How much will it cost to have my carpets cleaned?”

Has it been several years since your last professional carpet cleaning? Then your carpets are likely quite dirty, and may require some special attention.

The price you’ll pay for carpet cleaning depends on the age and condition of your carpet. The amount of time and effort it will take to do the job right is also a factor.

Carpet Cleaning Rule #1

The dirtier your carpet is… the more it’s going to cost to have it cleaned properly.

Imagine not cleaning your stove top for a week, or a month or a year! How much more difficult would it be?

If your stove top was just dirty from last night’s meal then it might take just a few quick swipes with a damp cloth or sponge to get the surface clean.

But if you had not cleaned it for a week or more, then can you imagine how long it could take to clean it and how much more difficult it would be?

The same goes for your carpet. If you haven’t your carpet cleaned in years, no matter who you call it’s going to take some extra time and effort to do the job properly.

Carpet Cleaning Rule #2

Don’t expect miracle results from low-cost or discount carpet cleaning services.

If your carpets are in serious need of a thorough deep-cleaning, don’t go searching for a Carpet Cleaner Coupon that says “Two Rooms Cleaned for $49.99!” You won’t be happy with the results from a light surface cleaning.

Carpet Cleaners that advertise super cheap prices are notorious for luring you in with an amazing low price special and once they arrive, they surprise you with an estimate so high it will knock you off your feet! You don’t need this type of aggravation! But be prepared to pay a reasonable and fair price to have your carpets properly cleaned.

Basic Carpet Cleaning Cost

The typical cost to clean your carpet ranges from 15 cents to 45 cents per square foot.

Dirty carpets take longer to clean and you must understand that. This means if you have your carpets professionally cleaned at least every 18 months like you are supposed to, then the cost to have your carpet cleaned should be on the low end of the scale.

That’s because it will not take very long to clean your carpets. But if you seldom have your carpets cleaned, then expect the price you are asked to pay to be on the higher end of the scale.

If you haven’t had your carpets professionally cleaned in 6 years, don’t be surprised when the estimate is twice or three times as much as you expect.

The fact is, all carpet cleaners must charge a reasonable price for their services or they won’t be able to stay in business. If it will take twice as long to thoroughly clean your dirty carpet then expect the job to be priced accordingly.

Check out my Carpet Cleaning Service Directory

Cost to Clean One Room Example:

A common bedroom size is 10’ X 14’ or 140 square feet.

18 cents per square foot the cost for cleaning would be about $25.00 (Carpet doesn’t appear dirty)
28 cents per square foot the cost for cleaning would be about $40.00 (Carpet looks fairly dirty)
36 cents per square foot the cost for cleaning would be about $50.00 (Carpet is very dirty!)

Some Carpet Cleaning companies prefer to charge by the room or by the job.

It still ends up being pretty close to the same price as it would be if calculated by the square foot, so if you know about how many square feet you need to have cleaned it will be easy for you to calculate an approximate cost.

Cost to Clean Whole House Example:

Most 3-bedroom ranch style homes are about 1000 square feet.

18 cents per square foot – Total cost about $180.00 (Carpet doesn’t appear dirty)
28 cents per square foot – Total cost about $280.00 (Carpet looks fairly dirty)
36 cents per square foot – Total cost about $360.00 (Carpet is very dirty!)

Please remember: It’s NOT a scam for a professional carpet cleaner to charge you accordingly-based on how dirty your carpet is.

Proper Carpet Care and Maintenance

It’s up to you to make sure your carpet is maintained and cared for according to the carpet manufacturer’s guidelines. Failure to do so will void your carpet warranty and cause your carpet to wear out prematurely.

Regular vacuuming and professional cleanings at least every 18 months is required and will allow your carpet to last as long as possible.

Carpet Cleaning Rule #3

Have your carpets cleaned before they start to look dirty.

Abrasion is what causes carpet to look ugly and worn out. If you wait too long between cleanings, your carpet can become permanently damaged.

Dirt and grime can easily cause abrasive wear that cannot be undone. Once you reach this point there is nothing any carpet cleaner can do to restore the “like-new” appearance your carpet once had.

Sure you can have your carpets cleaned, but you won’t be happy with the way your carpet looks when it’s done.

Carpet Cleaning Rule #4

Make arrangements to have your carpets cleaned regularly

There are plenty of “poor quality” carpet cleaning companies that you need to avoid. So instead of clipping out a carpet cleaning coupon and rolling the dice hoping you get good service, visit Alan’s Best Carpet Cleaner Directory and see who I recommend near you.

All the companies on my list are IICRC certified and personally hand-selected by me. They must pass my test before I will recommend them to you. Make an appointment and ask them about their Carpet Maintenance Plans.

What is a Carpet Cleaning Maintenance Plan?

It’s a special deal where you purchase your future carpet cleanings in advance to get a discounted price.

Perhaps they offer four cleanings for the price of three or three cleanings for the price of two. Either way, it is in your best long-term interest to invest in a carpet maintenance plan. This will ensure your carpets are cleaned on a regular and ongoing basis.

I think purchasing a Carpet Cleaning Maintenance Plan is a very smart move for homeowners who want to keep their new carpet warranty in force, and you also have the option of setting the date of cleaning when it is convenient for you. Benefits? You will

Save money in the long run,
Satisfy your warranty requirements,
Make your carpet last years longer,
Have a healthier place to live and breathe.

Carpet Cleaning Extra Fees and Charges?

Spills, Spots and Stains…

Some carpet stains need special treatment and require extra time, treatment and effort.

You should expect pre-treatment of most household spots and stains to be included as part of the basic price. In some cases, especially with pet accidents or biological spills and stains, there may be an extra charge.

It’s impossible to predict how much extra it might be without knowing the type of stain, size and disposition of the affected area.

Carpet Damage, Restoration and Repairs

Professional Carpet Cleaners may be able to repair or restore your damaged carpet.

Carpet is often damaged from floods, accidents, burns or pets. Carpet can be repaired or restored by a competent Carpet Cleaning Technician.

In some cases, depending on the type of carpet fiber you have, carpet dyeing may restore color to a faded or bleached out area. You might even be able to change the color of the entire carpet.

Burns can be cut out and replaced with leftover carpet or by using the same carpet taken from a “less critical” area (like a closet).

Some carpets may need to be re-stretched if the carpet has lost it stretch and is developing wrinkles. The cost for these extra services will depend on your situation. What causes carpet wrinkles?

If the cost is too high or if the carpet is not repairable you will have to decide if it’s time to start thinking about buying new carpet.

Q. Should I Clean Or Replace my Carpet?

Q. How often should I Clean my Carpet?

You must follow your carpet manufacturer’s carpet cleaning and maintenance guidelines to the letter if you want to keep your new carpet warranty in force.

You should hire a professional to clean your carpets at least once every 18 months, or as required, whether you think your carpet is dirty or not.

Always Keep All Your Original Carpet Cleaning Sales Receipts!

You may be asked to show proof of professional carpet cleanings as required by your new carpet warranty.

Read your carpet warranty and follow the carpet maintenance suggestions to the letter.

This is how you can make sure your carpet lasts as long as possible! Spot clean as necessary and use approved carpet cleaning products.

A Typical New-Carpet Warranty Requires You To…

Make sure you know which warranty applies to your particular carpet.

Warranty limits are usually posted on the backs of samples in the store at the time of purchase.

Know which warranty applies to your specific carpet and obtain a copy.

Keep proof of purchase in the form of a bill, invoice, or statement showing the price you paid for the carpet, excluding pad and labor.
Make sure your carpet is installed according to the guidelines set forth in the Carpet and Rug Institute‘s Installation Standard CRI-105
Read How to find a qualified carpet installer.
Maintain your carpet according to the manufacturer’s warranty recommendations.
Always keep every receipt as proof of recommended periodic cleaning by a Certified Carpet Cleaning Company.
Have your carpet professionally cleaned at least once every 18 months.

Why Hire a Certified Carpet Cleaner?

Not all carpet cleaning service companies are created equal.

Some are definitely more reputable than others and homeowners need to be careful who they hire.

Carpet cleaning costs can vary greatly and hiring the company with the lowest price may not be the smartest way to go.

Watch out for carpet cleaning companies that have low-cost specials that sound too good to be true.

Learn more: Carpet Cleaning Costs Carpet Stain Warranties

You don’t want to hire a inexperienced carpet cleaner that will do more damage than good.

Excessive soaking of the carpet and padding can ruin any carpet and cause mold and mildew to form if the carpet takes too long to dry.

A bad carpet cleaning job can easily void your carpet warranty and ruin even the most expensive carpets!

Should I Buy New Carpet or Have My Old Carpet Cleaned?

Carpet Cleaning Certification

It would be wise to hire a carpet cleaning company that has trained and certified carpet techs. The two organizations I trust most are; The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), and The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI).

Why is Vacuuming so Important?

Proper maintenance is the key to keeping your carpet looking like-new longer!

Most carpets don’t wear out, they ugly-out! This is the common description for a carpet pile that loses it’s shine.

Once your carpet fibers lose their shine, they start to look dull. Then, your new carpet start to look worn out.

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to make your ugly looking, dull carpet look like new again.

Dirt and grime is one of the key reasons that carpet fibers lose their shine. The dirt and grime that grind into the carpet pile is the cause of the loss of carpet shine.

Proper maintenance is the key to keeping your carpet looking like new longer!

How Often Should I Vacuum My Carpet?

How many people live in your home?

That’s how many times you should vacuum each week, especially in high-traffic areas! How many people live in your home? Four? Then you should vacuum your new carpet about four times a week!

Some folks need to vacuum everyday!
More people and pets means more vacuuming for your new carpet.
Want your carpet to keep looking like new longer? Then you should vacuum more often.

More vacuuming may be necessary if you:

Have more than 1 active child under the age of 10.
Have active indoor dogs, cats, ferrets or Sasquatch.
Entertain or have huge parties.
Live on a farm or a dusty rural area.
Have active teens with lots of friends coming and going.
Live in a windy or sandy area or near the ocean.
Have allergies, COPD, asthma or other respiratory issues.
Live in a moist or humid climate like Florida.

Having any of these 8 factors mean you should be vacuuming practically everyday. But vacuuming everyday won’t help if you don’t have a good quality vacuum or if your vacuum is not operating at it’s peak efficiency.

The Main Cause of Carpet Wear

The effects of abrasion is most obvious on stairs, down the hallways or other high traffic lanes.

Carpet fibers can only tolerate a certain amount of abrasion before they show the effects.

While diligent vacuuming won’t undo damage caused by active kids, it will help reduce the damaging effects by removing the majority of gritty abrasive sand-like dirt and debris.

If your vacuum doesn’t do a good enough job, the grit that penetrates the nap of your carpet will quickly begin grinding away at the fibers.

Abrasion is Carpet Enemy #1

Abrasion leads to dulling of the color and matting and crushing of the pile, which in turn makes your carpet look worn out faster.

Once your carpet starts to lose it’s shine and look dingy, nothing can be done to make it regain it’s original shiny and like-new appearance.

Small children and active teens can significantly increase the daily wear and tear on your carpets. Running, jumping, dancing, playing with hula-hoops and other common busy activities are very damaging to the carpet pile.

Rigorous activities help grind in and force dirt and grit particles deep into the nap, often too deep for older or less-powerful vacuums to remove.

This is why having a good quality vacuum with a beater bar and enough suction power is so important.

To File a Valid Carpet Warranty Claim:

You must notify your carpet retailer in writing; describe your concerns and if possible provide photos or other documentation; include a copy of your sales invoice and copies of receipts for required periodic professional cleanings.

Your carpet retailer will usually initially investigate your claim and attempt to satisfy your concerns.

If that is not sufficient, they may need to notify the original installer or the carpet manufacturer as they deem necessary to satisfy your complaint and try to determine who may responsible for your complaints and hopefully provide a satisfactory resolution to your concerns.

Have you read your manufacturer’s new carpet warranty? It’s an eye opening experience! Every manufacturer has their carpet warranty worded a little bit different so be sure to read the full warranty for the carpet you are considering… before you buy. About Carpet Stain Warranties

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