How to Choose the Best Carpet Cleaning Company

9 Factors to Consider for Professional Carpet Cleaners

How to Choose a Carpet Cleaning Company

Selecting a carpet cleaning company can be overwhelming. There are so many service providers to choose from. But having clean carpets is important for your health and home. So it’s crucial to find a reliable and experienced professional carpet cleaner. Here’s a guide on how to choose the best carpet cleaning company for your needs.

1. Look for Certified and Licensed Cleaners

Only consider companies certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). This group sets standards for cleaners. To get certified, companies must show they know what they are doing and can run a business well.

You also want to double-check that potential cleaners have all the licenses required by the local state and city. For example, in NSW they need a license from NSW Fair Trading.

Licensed companies have met regulations for insurance coverage, training procedures, using approved equipment, and other operational aspects. Check the company’s website or ask to see physical copies of their IICRC certification and licenses. Reputable cleaners will have no problem showing proof. Take time to verify that both certification and licensing are current and valid.

2. Make Sure Workers are Well Trained

A trustworthy carpet cleaning company trains their workers a lot. Ask what training workers get before cleaning carpets on their own. At a minimum, they should be certified by the IICRC in carpet and upholstery cleaning. Ongoing training sessions and workshops are good too.

3. Confirm the Company Has Insurance

Even careful cleaners can have accidents. So companies must have insurance to protect themselves and you. Standard policies include liability insurance, workers’ compensation, and coverage for their vans and trucks. Ask carpet cleaning technicians for proof of insurance and call to confirm it’s real. Good companies will not mind showing you.

4. Check if the Company Belongs to Associations

Groups like the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) and IICRC offer carpet cleaning companies valuable ongoing training, conferences, standards, and more. It’s not required for a company to become a member. But you want cleaners who are involved and trying to improve. Ask if companies participate in any professional organisations.

5. Read Reviews and Ask for References

Check online reviews to see what other people say about a professional company. Look for those with lots of good reviews and not too many complaints. That suggests quality service and happy customers.

References from past customers are helpful too. Reputable companies will give you names and numbers to call. Ask references if they were satisfied with the work.

6. Make Sure They Guarantee Their Work

Even experts make mistakes, like missing a stain or damaging furniture. The best cleaners offer guarantees. That means they’ll come back and re-clean any problems for free. Look for guarantees that give you at least 2 weeks after cleaning to find issues.

7. Learn About Their Carpet Cleaning Methods

Choose Experienced Carpet Cleaning Experts

Ask carpet care experts to explain their cleaning methods and equipment. Good companies describe hot water extraction, stain removal, and pre-treating heavily soiled areas. For upholstery, they’ll talk about handheld vacuums and scrubbers.

Some helpful questions to ask include:

Hot Water Extraction (Steam Cleaning)

  • Do they use truck-mounted or portable steam extraction machines? Truck-mounted are more powerful.
  • What are the PSI (pounds per square inch) and temperature of their cleaning wand? Higher PSI and heat are better for lifting stains.
  • Do they use a two-step pre-treatment process first?

Dry Cleaning Methods

  • Do they use absorbent compounds like HOST or Capture that attach to dirt and then get vacuumed up?
  • Do they use a rotary shampoo scrubber to agitate carpets before vacuuming up dry residue?

Sanitising Treatments

  • Do they apply antimicrobials or UV light to kill germs and bacteria post-cleaning?

Specialised Equipment

  • Do they use hand tools like the Rug Badger for cleaning delicate oriental rugs?
  • Do they have a Hydramaster that flushes and extracts using only pure water for gentle cleaning?

When evaluating carpet cleaning companies, getting details on their specific methods beyond just “steam cleaning” gives you better insight into their quality and approach. High-tech equipment and specialty tools are good signs of a more thorough cleaning.

Bonus if they use green products certified as safe by groups like Green Seal or EPA’s Safer Choice program. That shows they avoid harmful chemicals.

8. Compare Services Offered

Carpet cleaning companies offer different services. Before choosing a company, think about what you need. Do you only need carpet cleaning services? Or do you also have rugs, upholstery, mattresses or air ducts to clean? Consider a full-service cleaner that offers lots of services.

9. Get Free Price Quotes

Prices vary a lot between cleaning companies. That’s why it’s important to get free in-home quotes. Try to get at least three and compare. Good cleaners will visit your home and give you a written estimate. It will list exactly what they’ll do and what it will cost. Watch out for extra fees and lowball quotes that leave out important steps.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

Avoid carpet cleaners who:

  • Cannot provide proof of licensing, certification, and insurance
  • Have mostly negative ratings
  • Use old equipment or dirty vehicles
  • Offer prices that seem too good to be true
  • Pressure you to pay upfront for services
  • Do not thoroughly inspect your carpets beforehand
  • Do not offer guarantees or warranties on their cleaning work

These are signs of substandard service or even potential scams. Only hire carpet cleaning professionals who check all the right boxes.

Find a Carpet Cleaner You Can Trust

Choosing a good professional technician takes work. Hopefully, this guide has helped explain what to look for as you do research and talk to companies. Focus on cleaners who are certified, insured, trained, and use top equipment. Take time to make the right choice since your carpets are expensive. Once you find a great company, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your carpets are in good hands.