What do you think about your carpets? If you’re thinking about them, you are probably not thinking good thoughts. You shouldn’t be thinking about what your carpets look like, unless they are not looking so hot. In that case, think about getting a professional carpet cleaner. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Vacuum and shampoo your carpets frequently: at least once every 5 – 7 days. The majority of dirt and debris that is visible on your carpets is still loose and can be easily removed with a quick run of the vacuum cleaner. The longer you leave it on the floor, the harder it will be to remove.

You should call several carpet cleaning companies before deciding on one. Since many companies offer dramatically different rates, it is a good idea to make sure that you are getting the best deal. If a company is offering a rate that is drastically lower than all of the rest, you should see this as a red flag.

When hiring a carpet cleaning company, get an in home estimate. It is easy for a company to give you an estimate over the phone, but that estimate will not take into account the current condition of your carpets or the true square footage of carpeted areas. Things like stairs can also cost more, and that is often forgotten in a phone estimate. Avoid surprises by asking the company to come to your home before providing a price.

Choose your carpet very carefully. The color and texture of the carpet should play an important part in your decision but you should also find out more about the cleaning process. If possible, choose a quality stain resistant carpet to get rid of stains easily instead of choosing a high-maintenance carpet.

Cheapest is not always best. There is a good chance you will be unhappy with the results. That company could either do poor quality work or they could end up tacking on additional fees that you will not know about until they are done. The price should only be considered secondarily over the work they will do.

When you take a carpet cleaner into people’s homes, make sure that you know what surfaces will work well with your machine. Rugs made of hand loomed wool, that are braided, that are natural-fiber Oriental wool or silk, jute or sisal will not work. Neither will laminate or hardwood floorings — so keep your machine off them.

If you have a spill on your carpets you should be sure to remove all of the debris or liquid before you begin to clean the area. If you do not, it will likely only make matters worse. Be sure to soak up any liquids and scrape away mud or dirt to get the best results.

Get a few estimates. Don’t hire the first carpet cleaner you find in the phone book. Take your time to hire someone who meets all of your requirements. That way, you will pay what you are comfortable paying. Not only that, but you will be more confident about the person you hire.

When you are looking into a carpet cleaning company stop and learn if they offer any kind of satisfaction guarantee. Look for a company that offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. This should make it possible for you to ask them to come back and touch up any places that you are unhappy with or even allow you a refund.

Consider using a carpet cleaning company that uses a two step process. Carpet cleansers that are left behind in your carpet can attract dirt in the future, leading to your carpets becoming dirty again, faster. Companies that use a two step process offer an extra rinse that removes these extra cleansers. This helps to maintain the cleaning you have paid for and keeps your carpets looking, and smelling, fresh.

Don’t pick a cleaning company based solely on advertisements. Get referrals from friends and relations for good carpet cleaning companies. This will give you a better chance of hiring one that does a good job. Recommendations are a reliable way to obtain quality service.

Try to do your steam cleaning during the spring, fall or winter. When you perform a professional cleaning the summer, it will take longer for your carpet to dry due to the excessive moisture in the air. This will help to reduce mold and mildew while preventing damage to your carpet.

Ask any company you think you might hire what makes them better than all of the other options available to you. They should be able to provide you with a confident answer backed up by a strong reference list. Double check their references before hiring any specific company you like.

Now that you have some tips for hiring a professional carpet cleaner, you should feel more relaxed about it. Simply call up a few contenders, and remember the tips you got here. You are going to very soon have carpets that you can be proud of, and then forget about!

Carpet Cleaning: Tips And Tricks You Can Use was originally published on Spring