Carpet cleaning

[SuzySunshine]

How often are you supposed to have it done? We have an off-white frize (sp?) carpet that we had installed in April '07. I had the heavy traffic areas, up stairs, living room and hallway done today by professional cleaners and HOLY CRAP it was DIRTY!

We were hanging out in the basement and they came down and got me when they had half of the living room done, the difference was AMAZING! The carpet looks brand new. We'll have the rest of it done (and this redone) before we put the house on the market in the spring but I'm curious.

How often are you supposed to have your carpets professionally cleaned? It seems it would definitely increase its life...

I try to do it annually for the highest traffic area (first floor, stairs), and every 18 months or so for the bedrooms/basement. I don't know if this is the actual recommendation, but it's what works in my comfort zone.

[SuzySunshine]

Well that would be my major problem then because its been 3 years! I figured a year for high traffic was probably recommended. Oops

[Deebs]

To keep a carpet covered under warranty, it has to be cleaned once/year. We've never had ours cleaned that often. Both of my sisters just got new personal carpet cleaners and say they have come a long way. I'm thinking about investing in one myself.

[MrsK]

:hijack:

On a related note. . . I had our carpets steam cleaned a couple months ago. The other night the dog got sick and stained the carpet. Do you think I can have them come back and touch up? I really don't want to have the whole room cleaned again.

[SuzySunshine]

That is what happens when I don't read warranties.

MrsK, I'm guessing they'd charge you for it - its not really a touch-up since its a new stain.

[ladymoreta]

Another hijack... I'd love to have ours cleaned, but I'm not sure about the effort and cost. Do they move the furniture, or would I have to find somewhere to put it while they clean? About how much would a 3-bedroom house cost?

[MrsK]

I had Sears come. They did 4 rooms/areas for $99. I was surprised that the disruption was minimal. They worked around most of my furniture and moved what they had to move. Then they returned the furniture to their original spots with little foam blocks under the legs so the wood varnish wouldn't come off on the damp carpet. The carpet was clean and dry by the end of the day.

[ladymoreta]

Nice! That's definitely do-able!

[SuzySunshine]

Ours would have moved the furniture but we only did one room so we just moved it ourselves. We'll have the whole house down (1800 sf) when we list it and then guy today said that would be about $300.

[HouseofWool]

Ours would have moved the furniture but we only did one room so we just moved it ourselves. We'll have the whole house down (1800 sf) when we list it and then guy today said that would be about $300.

$300 for the whole house seems very reasonable to me.

We had a hoover steam cleaner and while it did help, I found that there was no way to get rid of all of the cleaning solution when using it. Finally I started using only water or a solution of water and vinegar.

FYI - stairs cost $$. I use an independent guy, and I think stairs are $2/ea?? When I add in the stairs up and stairs down to the basement, my total jumps big time. I usually end up spending about $250/$300 each time, and as I mentioned, I do the house in sections.

[houseelf]

I love my Hoover steam cleaner but totally agree with this:

I found that there was no way to get rid of all of the cleaning solution when using it. Finally I started using only water or a solution of water and vinegar

Sometimes I spot treat an area with a spray and then use water only to get rid of it.

We just had our former home (square footage 1960) professionally done for $99. $300 sounds high to me but I'm cheap.

[SuzySunshine]

Kelly - was all of that 1960 carpet? $99 is WAY cheap!

[houseelf]

Actually, now that I come to think of it, no. The first floor is all hardwood. It was 5 rooms and 3 half flights of steps. Sorry.