How often should carpet be cleaned, and is it worth it?
Our advice is to have carpet deep cleaned once a year in daily use, every 6 months with pets or small children and every two years in rooms that are seldom used. Decide between cleaning and replacing by condition, not age. WATERFALL's carpet cleaning is priced per room, hallway and staircase; the prices page lists the prices. WATERFALL cleans carpet at your home from $60 a room: call (747) 214-6199.
Should an old carpet be replaced?
Replace it by condition, not age: a carpet that is intact and only dirty is a cleaning job.
- Clean it: traffic lanes, a dull color, spots, a smell not yet professionally treated, pile that still springs back.
- Replace it: thin or bald patches, ripples or loose seams, padding that crumbles, a smell or stains that come back after a professional cleaning, carpet or pad that stayed wet after a flood.
Can carpet last a very long time, and can you clean an old carpet?
Yes to both: a well-made carpet in a quiet room can last a very long time, and an old carpet can be cleaned as long as the fibers and the backing are sound. A cleaning will not fix worn or crushed pile.
Is it worth cleaning a 15-year-old carpet?
Yes, when the pile and backing are sound and the problem is dirt, traffic lanes or a smell: a cleaning makes an old carpet look and smell better, though not new. It will not fix crushed or thin pile, frayed seams, a crumbling pad, a urine smell in the pad or carpet that has been wet for days. Carpet is priced per room (see prices), so set that against the cost of new carpet.
Is 20-year-old carpet unhealthy, and does cleaning help?
Age is not the test; condition is. Cleaning takes dust, dirt and the shampoo out of the carpet; for a health question, ask your doctor. The EPA says porous materials such as carpet that have grown mold may have to be thrown away, so carpet that smells musty, was flooded or whose pad stayed wet is a replacement question, not a cleaning one.
Can professional cleaning help extend the lifespan of carpet?
Yes, by removing gritty soil, which cuts the fibers as people walk. Cleaning cannot repair worn pile, but it takes out the dirt that wears the carpet.
How do I know my carpet needs cleaning?
Look for dark lanes where people walk, a dull color, a smell, a sticky feel or spots that blotting does not lift. Rub a white cloth over the carpet: if it comes away grey, the carpet is due.
When should I call in a carpet cleaner?
When a spill does not blot out, when there is a smell, after pets or a party, before you move in or out, and about once a year as a routine. Call sooner for a spill you cannot lift.
Do you need to clean a new carpet?
Usually not at once. New carpet is ready to use, and a first clean comes when it is dirty, or after construction dust. Some makers' warranties ask for regular cleaning, so read yours.
Is it true you should never have your carpet cleaned?
No. The idea comes from jobs that left soap in the carpet, which then attracted dirt, and a thorough extraction takes the cleaner out with the dirt. Properly done, cleaning is part of looking after a carpet.
Should I clean carpets before listing my home?
Yes. A clean carpet makes a room look cared for, and cleaning is cheap against the rest of the preparation. Book it after the work is done and before the photos, and allow for drying.
Will carpet cleaning help me get my security deposit back?
It depends on your lease and your landlord, and we cannot say. A clean carpet is what most landlords look for at move-out; keep your receipt and ask the landlord in writing what they require. We work with everyone, tenants, landlords and property managers, at home addresses in Los Angeles County; an invoice is available on request, and a receipt when you pay by card.
What is the best time of year to clean carpets?
Any season, on a day the carpet can dry fast: dry weather, windows open or the air conditioning running. Spring clears out the winter's tracked-in dirt and early fall gets the carpet ready before holiday guests; avoid a rainy or humid day, and book a move-out or a party clean ahead of the day itself. A rug or carpet usually takes longer to dry than a couch: the pile, the pad, the weather and the airflow decide it (drying times).
Questions and answers
What is the best time of year to clean carpets?
Whenever you can dry the carpet quickly with the windows open. A dry warm day is ideal.
Is professional carpet cleaning worth it?
Yes, when the carpet is worth keeping and the problem is dirt or a smell. It costs less than replacing it.
How often should carpets be washed?
Our advice is once a year in daily use, every 6 months with pets or small children and every two years in rooms that are seldom used. Spot-treat accidents as they happen.
How do I know if my carpet needs cleaning?
Dark traffic lanes, a dull look, a smell or sticky patches. Look at carpet under a sofa and compare.
How do I know if my carpet needs cleaning or replacing?
Clean it when the problem is dirt: dark traffic lanes, a dull color, spots or a smell, on pile that still springs back. Replace it when the carpet itself has failed: thin or bald patches, ripples or loose seams, a crumbling pad, or a smell or stain that returns after a professional cleaning.
When to call a professional carpet cleaner?
When the dirt is ground in, the carpet is large, the smell stays or a stain has set. Book on the booking page or text (747) 214-6199; carpet is priced per room.
When does professional carpet cleaning make the biggest difference?
On carpet that has darkened along traffic lanes, where vacuuming no longer helps. Extraction pulls out what is bound in the pile.
Do you need a professional carpet cleaner?
Not for a small spot, which you can blot. For whole rooms, a professional extraction machine takes out more than a rental.
Prices and booking
More guides
- Carpet care: all guides
- Carpet care in high-traffic areas — Vacuum often, put mats at the doors and blot spills at once; a protector buys time but does not replace cleaning.
- How carpet cleaning methods work — Hot-water extraction, shampoo, dry, bonnet and encapsulation differ in how much water they use and how deep they clean; we use shampoo, then extraction.
- How often to clean a rug — Vacuum weekly and deep clean about once a year for a busy rug; the right pad, rotation and quick blotting make a rug last longer.
- DIY carpet cleaning — A rented machine, baking soda or dish soap handle light jobs; too much water, soap or bleach is where home cleaning goes wrong.
Sources: The Carpet and Rug Institute (The carpet and rug industry's trade association, for how carpet is made, cared for and cleaned.); EPA indoor air quality (General guidance from the US Environmental Protection Agency on keeping the inside of a home clean and ventilated.); EPA on mold cleanup (The EPA's steps for cleaning up mold and drying a home after water damage.)