Having Your Carpets Professionally Cleaned For The First Time
Carpet cleaning is important to extend the life of the carpets, keep your home in a general state of cleanliness, and remove allergens from the area. But if you are about to have your carpets professionally cleaned for the first time, you may be a little unfamiliar with the process. Here are a few key steps to take to ensure the process goes smoothly and you get good results.
1. Get an estimate.
Every carpet cleaning company structures their fees a bit differently. Some companies charge per room. Others charge by the square foot. Still others may charge a flat rate for any home below a certain square footage and then tack on additional charges if the home is larger than that. The best way to know what you'll be expected to pay is to call and ask for an estimate. Depending on the company, they may give you an estimate over the phone, or they may come out and give an estimate in person. If the first estimate seems a little high, contact multiple carpet cleaning companies to get an idea of their estimates, and then choose the option that is most affordable to you.
2. Move the furniture beforehand.
Some carpet cleaning companies will move furniture for you, but there may be an extra fee for this. Additionally, you would have to arrange for the service beforehand so that they know how much time to plan on spending at your home. If you can manage to do so, just move the furniture yourself. If you have a home that is mostly carpeted, you may need to have half the carpets cleaned one day and half the carpets cleaned another day so that you can have a spot to place furniture while each space is being cleaned.
3. Allow for drying time.
Carpet cleaning companies use high-powered equipment that sucks a lot of water back out of the carpet. As such, it won't be anywhere near as wet as if you were to clean it yourself. Still, it will take about a day to dry, so you need to plan for this. Stay off the wet carpet as much as possible. If you have pets, block the area off with a gate; the moist carpet can stick to their paws and pull hair and dander off of them.
If you get an estimate, prepare by moving furniture, and account for drying time, you're well on your way toward a nice, clean carpet. Contact a carpet cleaning service for more information.