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FAQs

• Introduction

  Carpet cleaning service providers utilize professional-grade equipment to deep clean and remove dirt, stains, and odors from carpeting. The companies provide service to residential and commercial customers. Depending on the specifics of each job, carpet cleaning technicians may perform services with equipment, such as heavy-duty hot water extractors and shampooers, also referred to as wet vacs, to scrub out stubborn debris and extract dirty water. Carpet cleaners are hired regularly for commercial cleaning jobs, and they also assist with disaster cleanup following fires and floods.

  
  

  In addition to wet cleaning, carpet cleaning technicians offer dry foam shampooing services, which a special vacuum is used with a cleaning solution that’s 10% liquid and 90% air. In environments where sanitizing is of high importance, steam cleaning may be recommended. It’s a process that uses hot steam to eradicate dirt, germs, and bacteria.
  
  

• Do you tip carpet cleaners?

  While not mandatory, it is customary to tip carpet cleaning technicians. The standard tip range for carpet cleaners is between $5 and $20, and customers can choose to tip higher or lower based on services received. It isn't customary or required to tip the owner of a carpet cleaning business, even if they perform the services.
  

• How do carpet cleaners work?

  There are several types of carpet cleaners used for commercial and residential jobs. Deep cleaning machines combine moisture, shampoo, and suction to clean carpet fibers and pull out dirty water. Steam cleaners utilize hot steam to penetrate carpeting. Carpet scrubbers feature rotating brushes that scrub stains with carpet shampoo. Both steam cleaning and carpet scrubbing are followed up with suction.
  

• How much do carpet cleaners make?

  On average, carpet cleaning technicians in the United States make a base of $15.30 per hour. However, the pay rate may vary with technicians depending on factors such as geographical location, overtime or emergency after-hours services, and experience or length of time on the job.
  

• Do carpet cleaners move furniture?

  Most carpet cleaning technicians are trained to safely move furniture during cleaning procedures. Depending on company policies, certain items that a carpet cleaner might not move include pianos, beds, and other heavy items. Carpet cleaning technicians advise customers to move electronics and other items before service.

• Who rents carpet cleaners?

  Home improvement and hardware stores offer carpet cleaning machine rentals, and customers may also rent professional machines directly from carpet cleaning service providers. Stores that carry carpet cleaners include Home Depot, Walmart, and Lowes Home Improvement. Customers are required to purchase cleaning solutions when renting carpet cleaners.
  

• Can carpet cleaners remove bleach stains?

  Bleach contains chemicals that remove color, leaving a white stain. While carpet cleaning machines cannot remove bleach stains with standard steam cleaning or suction, a carpet cleaning technician may reverse the stain with techniques such as vinegar application or coloring in the bleached areas.
  

• Do carpet cleaners vacuum?

  Carpet cleaning technicians rarely use standard upright vacuums for stain removal and cleaning. However, wet vac machines are often used to suction cleaning solutions and excess moisture in carpeting due to flooding, and most types of professional carpet cleaning equipment have a suction/vacuum feature.
  

• Do carpet cleaners clean under beds?

  Carpet cleaning services request that beds and other heavy items be moved out of the way prior to cleaning. If a carpet cleaning technician's equipment can fit easily under a bed, they may clean the area per customer request. Customers should also move any items they have stored under the bed before service.

• Can carpet cleaners clean area rugs?

  Certain carpet cleaning companies offer area rug cleaning. Carpet cleaning machines can remove dirt from area rugs, and technicians are trained to clean various carpets and rugs. Sometimes, rug materials may be too delicate for commercial carpet cleaners, so alternatives, such as spot cleaning or dry cleaning, must be utilized.

• Can carpet cleaners remove paint stains?

  Water- and oil-based paint stains cannot be removed with commercial carpet cleaning machines and must be treated with detergent or solvents. Following treatment, a carpet cleaning technician can use a wet vac or dry scrubber to remove any remaining paint. In general, dried paint in large quantities is difficult to remove.
  

• How much do carpet cleaners charge per square foot?

  Per 2021 statistics, carpet cleaning services on average charge $0.25 per square foot of carpet, which averages to approximately $25 to $70 per room, depending on overall size. Carpet cleaning for a three-bedroom home is approximately $175, while larger whole-house cleaning jobs can cost up to $600 or more.
  

• Do steam cleaners clean carpets?

  Steam cleaners are designed to efficiently clean carpets with a combination of hot steam and suction. Steam cleaning procedures are requested when sanitizing is a top priority, as the process effectively eliminates allergens, bacteria, and viruses. Steam cleaning also works well to remove ground-in dirt and tough stains when paired with spot cleaning. 
  

• Do carpet cleaners clean the pad?

  Carpet cleaning technicians can clean carpet padding with spot cleaning and dry extraction machines, but a general rule of thumb is that padding should not remain wet for extended periods of time. It is typically recommended to remove carpet pads that are soaked through from flooding, as the pad material becomes brittle once dry.
  

• Do carpet cleaners stretch carpet?

  Carpet stretching must be performed with a tool called a carpet stretcher, which can be used before or after a professional steam or suction cleaning. Depending on the carpet's condition, technicians may request that carpets are cleaned before stretching to prevent wrinkling or flexing.
  

• Can professional carpet cleaners remove pet urine/feces smell?

  Professional carpet cleaning technicians use various tools and chemicals to remove pet urine and feces stains and odors. Techniques may include a UV light to detect all affected areas, enzyme-based cleaning solution application, spot cleaning, and deodorizing. Steam cleaning is not recommended because it can cause urine stains to set.
  

• Can professional carpet cleaners remove old stains?

  Carpet cleaning machines, such as steam cleaners, wet vacs, and dry shampoo scrubbers, are commonly used to break up old, ground-in stains, removing them by suctioning out the dirty water. Depending on the age and extent of carpet stains, a technician may first need to spot treat the carpet.