What to Check Before You Hire a Carpet Cleaner

The right carpet cleaning company is the one that can answer five questions before it touches your carpet. What is the fibre, which method suits it, what will the total cost be, how long will it take to dry, and what happens if the result is not right. If a company cannot answer these on the phone, keep looking.

A low price or a high star rating on its own does not tell you much. Method, inspection and a written quote do. The checklist below lets you compare two or three companies in about ten minutes.

The Short Checklist

Ask Which Cleaning Method They Use and Why

Hot water extraction is the method most carpet manufacturers recommend for deep cleaning. A machine applies hot water and a cleaning solution to the pile, then pulls it back out with strong suction. It is often called steam cleaning.

Truck mounted systems keep the engine outside and run hoses to the carpet. They generally have stronger suction and heating than portable machines, which helps remove more soil and water.

Low moisture methods, such as encapsulation and bonnet cleaning, use little water. They suit light soil and regular maintenance, and they let a room return to use quickly. On heavily soiled carpet they generally do not clean as deep as extraction. A surface refresh improves appearance. Extraction removes embedded soil.

No single method is best for every carpet. The right one depends on the fibre, the soil and how soon you need the room back. Ask “Which method will you use on my carpet, and why?” A clear answer is a good sign. For a closer comparison, read steam cleaning vs carpet extraction.

Ask How They Check Your Carpet First

Fibre decides almost everything. Nylon and polyester handle hot water well. Wool, silk and some natural fibres need gentler products, lower heat and careful drying, or they can shrink, bleed or discolour.

A careful company asks or checks:

• What the carpet is made of and roughly how old it is
• Where the traffic lanes, stains and pet areas are
• Whether the dyes are stable, using a colourfastness test in a hidden spot
• Whether the carpet has had a protector or earlier treatment

Then it vacuums, treats the spots, cleans and rinses so no soap stays in the pile. Leftover residue is a common reason carpet looks clean for a week and then darkens again.

A good company also tells you what cleaning cannot fix, such as worn through pile, some old dye stains and bleach marks. Honest expectations are a better sign than a promise that every stain will disappear.

Compare the Quote, Not Only the Price

Low advertised prices that grow once the technician arrives are a frequent complaint. Ask for the full price for your job, in writing, before the visit.

Ask these questions:

• Is the price per room, per square foot or a flat rate?
• What counts as a room, and are stairs, hallways and closets extra?
• Is spot and stain treatment included, or priced separately?
• Is there a minimum charge?
• Is the quote before or after tax?

Be careful with large payments upfront. Pay once the work is finished and you have looked at each room.

A company that publishes its prices is easier to compare. A very low price is not always a bad sign, but it often means a surface clean, skipped spot treatment, extras added later or too much water.

Understand What Certification and Insurance Prove

IICRC stands for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. It publishes the ANSI/IICRC S100 standard for professional cleaning of textile floor coverings, and it certifies technicians and firms. A certificate shows that a person completed training and a test. It does not guarantee a good job, so weigh it alongside method, price and reviews.

Ask for the certificate or ID number of the person who will come to your home, and check it with IICRC. Ask whether the company carries liability insurance and whether it can send proof. Insurance matters if something is damaged during the job.

Some cleaning solutions and extraction machines carry the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval, a testing program for cleaning products and equipment. It is a useful extra, not a requirement.

Be careful with a bare claim of “certified” or “eco friendly” with nothing behind it. Ask for the product name. A reputable company can tell you what it uses and share the safety data sheet.

Read Reviews for Patterns

Read the three and four star reviews first. They are often the most specific. Look for:

• Detail about the method, the fibre, drying and how the technician behaved
• Results that still held weeks later, not only on the day
• How the owner answers complaints. Calm, specific replies are a good sign
• Reviews on more than one platform, such as Google and Yelp

Be careful when many five star reviews use the same words or arrive in the same week. Check that the business name, address and phone number match across the website and listings. Some businesses trade under several names.

Match the review to your situation too. A review about a vacant apartment says little about a wool rug or a home with two dogs.

Ask How Long It Will Take to Dry

Drying time depends on the method, the carpet, how much water is used and the humidity in your home. Ask for an estimate for your carpet, and ask what the company does to limit moisture, such as strong extraction and a final dry pass. If the company advises fans or open windows, use them.

If the carpet is still damp after a day, or smells musty, call the company straight away. Read how long carpet takes to dry after cleaning for what is normal.

Ask What Happens If Something Goes Wrong

Ask for the guarantee in writing. It should say how long it lasts, what it covers, such as spots that return or carpet that stays wet, and who to call.

Take photos of the carpet before the work starts. If something looks wrong afterwards, photograph it and contact the company the same day.

Warning Signs to Walk Away From

• A price per room with no questions about size, fibre or stains
• Door to door offers with a discount that only lasts today
• Pressure to pay in full upfront, or cash only with no invoice
• No clear business name, address or phone number, or several business names for the same number
• A promise that every stain, odour or pet mark will come out
• No answer on method, drying time or what the price includes
• No clear answer on who will come to your home, company staff or a subcontractor

Choosing a Company for Rugs

Many rugs are better cleaned in a shop than at home, especially wool, silk, handmade and antique pieces. In a workshop the cleaner can remove dust, wash, rinse and dry under controlled conditions.

Ask whether pickup and delivery is offered, how the rug is dusted before washing, how it is dried and how long you will wait. See rug cleaning and in shop vs on site rug cleaning.

What to Tell the Company Before You Get a Quote

The more you share, the closer the quote will be to the final price. Have these ready:

• The size in square feet, or the number of rooms, plus stairs and hallways
• The fibre and age of the carpet, if you know them
• Stains, with how old they are and what caused them
• Pets, smoke or other odours, and what you think the source is
• Allergies or sensitivities in the home
• Parking and access, because truck mounted machines run from the vehicle

Offices and Rental Properties

Offices need a plan built around traffic and after hours access. See office carpet maintenance. If a landlord or lease asks for proof of professional cleaning, ask for an itemized receipt with the date and address.

How Nettoyage Impérial answers these questions

• We have been cleaning in Montreal since 1995.
• Fitted carpets are cleaned on site with truck mounted hot water extraction. Rugs are cleaned in our shop.
• Before we start, we look at the fibre, the traffic lanes and any stains, and we tell you what cleaning can and cannot do.
• Our prices are published. Carpet cleaning is $189 for up to four carpets of up to 200 sq ft each. In shop rug cleaning is $2 per sq ft with a $149 minimum, and 50% off the second rug.

Compare us with two other companies using this checklist. If we are the right fit, you can book carpet cleaning in Montreal or request rug cleaning.