How Much Does Carpet Cleaning Cost in Australia?

Complete Pricing Guide to Professionally Cleaned Carpet

Having clean carpets is not just about aesthetics. It’s an investment in your health and home. But how much should you expect to pay for professional carpet cleaning services? Here’s a helpful guide on the average carpet cleaning cost in Australia.

The average cost to hire professional carpet cleaners in Australia ranges from $30 – $50 per room, $45 – $65 per hour, or $0.25 – $0.40 per square metre. This can vary based on the size of your home, type of carpeting, level of soiling, and cleaning method used.

A few quick benefits of regularly cleaned carpeting:

• Improves indoor air quality by removing dust, dirt, and allergens
• Extends the life of your carpets by preventing premature wear
• Enhances the appearance of your home

Average Cost of Carpet Cleaning

On average, you can expect to pay between $30 and $50 per room for basic professional service. The national average cost falls around $40 per room.

These average prices generally include:

• Pre-vacuuming to lift surface dirt and debris
• Hot water extraction
• Basic spot removal
• Deodoriser application

Here’s a quick look at typical price ranges:

Factors that Affect the Cost

There’s a lot more to consider beyond square footage when it comes to the cost of professional cleaning services. Keep reading to learn what impacts pricing and how to get the best value.

Size of Carpet

Larger homes with more rooms and square footage will be more expensive to clean. Here are some average prices for different home sizes:

• 1 bedroom unit or apartment – $80 – $120
• 2-3 bedroom home – $150 – $250
• 4-5 bedroom home – $250 – $400
• Stairs – $20 – $40 per flight
• Hallways – $15 – $25 per linear metre

Type of Carpet Fibres

Carpets made from natural fibres like wool are more expensive to wash and dry than synthetic carpets. Prices can range from:

• Synthetic (polyester, nylon, olefin) – $30 – $50 per room
• Natural (wool, silk) – $40 – $70 per room

Different fibre types also require specific cleansers or solutions. The wrong chemicals can permanently damage certain carpets.

Condition of Carpet

Heavily soiled or stained carpets can be time and labour-intensive. They also need special pre-treatments and take longer to complete. Expect to pay more for carpets in poor condition.

Some typical extra charges include:

• Light stain removal – $5 – $15 per stain
• Heavy stain treatment – $15 – $30 per stain
• Pet urine deodoriser – $10 – $20 per room
• Flood/water damage – $50+ per room

Cleaning Methods

There are several methods to clean carpets, each with pros and cons. Some are more intensive (and expensive) than others.

• Hot Water Extraction uses truck-mounted steam cleaning units to deep clean carpets. It flushes out dirt from the base of carpet fibres. This is the most effective method but also the most expensive, averaging $40 – $70 per room.
• Dry Cleaning uses minimal moisture absorbed by cleansing compounds. It’s faster, costs $30 – $50 per room, but is less thorough than steam extraction.
• Bonnet Cleaning scrubs carpets with an absorbent pad. It only cleans the surface, so costs just $20 – $40 per room.
• Shampooing uses detergents to lift dirt to the surface, needing less equipment than steam cleaners. It costs around $30 – $50 per room.

Average Cost of Cleaning Carpets in Australia

Below are the average prices for professional carpet cleaners in major Australian cities:

Types of Methods to Clean Carpets

Hot Water Extraction (HWE)

This method (also called steam cleaning) uses truck-mounted units to shoot hot water into your carpets at high pressure. The water and cleansing solutions dissolve dirt and difficult stains, which are then extracted by powerful vacuums. This deep cleans carpeting by flushing out the grime trapped deep in the fibres.

Dry Carpet Cleaning

Dry carpet cleaners use a low volume of moisture absorbed by cleaning compounds and special materials. Pads are brushed over carpets to lift dirt to the surface. The pads absorb the grime which is then removed. This is a faster method but not as deeply cleaned as steam extraction.

Shampoo Carpet Cleaning

This method uses detergents in the form of a foam or liquid to lift dirt and oils to the surface of carpets. A brush distributes the shampoo then a vacuum extracts the dirty residue. It requires less equipment than using steam but is less thorough.

Encapsulation

This uses crystal cleaning agents that encapsulate dirt particles into a dry residue. These residues are vacuumed away after drying. It uses less moisture than HWE so carpets dry faster.

Bonnet Cleaning

This uses an absorbent pad or bonnet to scrub carpeted floors. The bonnet absorbs dirt and then rinsed. The cycle is repeated until the carpets are cleaned. It only cleans surface dirt.

Rug Cleaning

Rugs are cleaned using a similar process to carpets. But cheaper machine rental rates make DIY options more viable. Rugs may also need specialist cleaning solutions based on material.

Upholstery Cleaning

Upholstery can be steam cleaned at an additional cost, with prices starting at around $50 per couch. The cost will vary depending on size and fabric. Delicate fabrics may require specialist dry cleaners.

Additional Services

Extra services like sanitising, deodorising and stain removal can cost:

• Sanitiser/disinfectant – $10-$30 per room
• Deodoriser – $10-$25 per room
• Stain pre-treatment – $5-$20 per stain
• Pet odour elimination – $15-$30 per room

DIY Cleaned Carpets

You can rent carpet cleaning machines from hardware stores or supermarkets starting from $20 per day. With some elbow grease, you can clean carpeted floors yourself for the cost of supplies.

Expect to spend:

• Rug doctor hire – $20 – $50 per day
• Cleaning solutions – $10 – $30
• Pretreatments – $5 – $20

Purchasing your own dedicated carpet cleaner ranges drastically based on brand and performance:

No matter which machine you use for DIY carpet cleaning, allow carpets a full 24 hours minimum to dry to avoid mould or moisture damage issues.

Professional vs DIY Carpet Cleaning

Benefits of professional cleaners:

• More powerful equipment gives deeper clean
• Experts properly treat spoils and marks and high-traffic areas
• Professionals have the right solutions and equipment for your carpets
• It saves you time and effort

Benefits of DIY:

• More affordable option for lightly soiled carpets
• Convenient for quick or spot cleaning between professional cleans
• You can clean whenever needed

DIY works best for maintenance work on lightly soiled carpets. Heavily soiled carpeting will require professional equipment and skills.

How to Choose a Carpet Cleaning Company

If you decide to hire professional cleaners, keep these tips in mind:

• Check reviews – Online reviews offer transparent insight into companies’ service quality, responsiveness, pricing and other factors.
• Ask about process – What methods, solutions, and equipment do they use? Are protective measures used to safeguard home furnishings and baseboards? What about fabric protection?
• Compare rates – Get quotes from 2-3 well-reviewed companies in your local area. Beware of prices that seem too good to be true.
• Confirm insurance – Legitimate carpet cleaning companies carry liability insurance and worker’s comp. This protects your home should any unlikely damage occur.

How to Save Money

• Clean in low season times to get cheaper rates
• Move furniture yourself to reduce fees
• Bundle carpet cleaning with other services like tiles and upholstery
• Take advantage of new customer discounts and coupons

FAQs

How often should you get carpets professionally cleaned?

Ideally, a deep clean every 12 – 18 months prevents excessive buildup of dirt, dust, allergens and smudges over time. High foot traffic areas may need cleaning yearly.

What’s the cost to clean a rug or an upholstered couch on average?

Professional rug cleaning costs $40 – $100 per 9×12’ area rug, depending on fibre delicacy and soiling level. Paying for a professionally cleaned upholstery sofa or chair ranges from $65 – $100 per piece.

Does carpet cleaning remove all stains?

Most light spots can be removed with standard methods. but severe staining may require intensive pretreatment. Marks left by ink or permanent markers may never be fully removed.

Is carpet steaming better than dry cleaning?

Using steam is more thorough and penetrates deeper into carpets. Dry cleaning uses less moisture so carpets dry faster. Often, a combination of both methods provides a good balance of a deep cleanse and quick dry.

What’s the best way to maintain my carpets between professional cleans?

To maintain carpets between professional cleans, vacuum high-traffic areas frequently, at least twice per week. Spot clean spills and spots immediately. And consider DIY intermittent cleaning 1-2 times per year.

Conclusion

Regular professional carpet cleaning provides huge benefits when it comes to safeguarding health and maintaining appearance. It also extends a carpet’s lifespan and protects your investment.

The costs can range widely based on size, soil level, fibre type and method used. You can expect to pay, on average, $30-$50 per room or $0.25-$0.40 per square metre. While an investment, standard carpet cleaning from certified experts is well worth it. Their industrial equipment, skills and efficiency deliver longer-lasting results than attempting to DIY it.