Carpet cleaning questions and answers for Pennsylvania homeowners
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
How much does carpet cleaning cost?
The national cost surveys price it by the room or by the square foot, with minimum charges for small jobs and extra charges for stairs, stains, odor treatment and furniture moving. None of them publishes a Pennsylvania figure, and they disagree with each other by a wide margin. The ranges, and how to compare two quotes, are in the cost guide.
How often should carpet be professionally cleaned?
The Carpet and Rug Institute, the carpet makers' trade association, recommends professional deep cleaning every 12 to 18 months and says to check your warranty for its own terms. None of the government sources consulted for these guides sets an interval. Weekly vacuuming is the routine the institute and the health bodies stress.
Which cleaning method do professionals use?
The institute's residential standard says hot water extraction is the most common professional method in homes. It comes in three forms: truck-mounted, a portable unit with hose and wand, or a walk-behind machine. Low-moisture methods such as bonnet and encapsulation cleaning are also sold.
How long does carpet take to dry?
The institute says carpet that is wet cleaned should be dry within 12 hours. Its do-it-yourself advice puts drying at 6 to 12 hours and says to call a professional if the carpet is still wet after 12. Keep air moving and never close up a room with wet carpet.
Do I have to vacuum or move furniture first?
Ask the company. The standard calls vacuuming before cleaning essential and says some companies let you do it yourself to save money. It adds that most cleaners do not move beds or heavy furniture, and suggests moving anything valuable or fragile beforehand.
Will carpet cleaning help my allergies?
Not necessarily. Answering a family's question, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says that if a pet-allergic child lives with the pet, cleaning the carpet will have little effect on the pet allergen in the home, and that relief may not come if someone is allergic to more than one thing. The American Lung Association goes further and advises replacing carpet with hard flooring for people allergic to dust mites, or HEPA vacuuming every week if the carpet stays.
Can pet urine be steam cleaned out?
The Carpet and Rug Institute says not to use a steam cleaner on urine spots, because heat sets the stain and the smell. It advises extracting the spill with a wet vacuum and rinsing with cool water, and calling a certified firm if the odor remains.
Will cleaning affect my carpet's warranty?
It can. The institute says failing to follow the maker's maintenance guidelines may void your warranty. The Federal Trade Commission says federal law does not let a manufacturer require specific parts or services to keep coverage unless it provides them free or holds an FTC waiver. Read the maintenance terms in your own warranty.
My carpet got soaked. Can it be saved?
It depends on the water and the time. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says to dry water-damaged items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold, and that porous materials such as carpet may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that after a flood you should throw away carpeting and padding you cannot clean or dry quickly. Sewage-soaked carpet is one the institute says not to try to save.
Do carpet cleaners need a license in Pennsylvania?
No state source lists one, and the Attorney General's guidance does not say whether a business that only cleans must register as a home improvement contractor. The state's rules, and the city's in Philadelphia, are set out in what Pennsylvania requires.
Can I cancel after agreeing to a cleaning at home?
Pennsylvania law gives a three-business-day right to cancel in writing for many sales of $25 or more made in connection with a contact or call at your home, in person or by phone. The seller must give you two cancellation forms, and the clock does not start until you have them.
Is a very low price per room a warning sign?
It is a reason to ask questions. The institute advises pricing by area and being careful with per-room quotes. In June 2000 New York's Attorney General settled a case over a $7.95-a-room offer where customers were told they needed more services or that their carpet was too dirty for the advertised price.
Are "green" cleaning products safer?
Not automatically. The American Lung Association says a "green" label does not necessarily mean safer, lists rug and upholstery cleaners among products that can release volatile organic compounds, and points to the EPA's Safer Choice program. Ask a company what it will use and keep the room ventilated.
Can I clean my carpet myself?
For spots and in-between cleaning, the institute says rental and home machines work, but it says they should not replace periodic professional cleaning. Follow the dilution on the label and add nothing else. The EPA warns that mixing cleaning products, or adding bleach to other chemicals, can create toxic vapors.
How do I pick a company?
Check certifications on the certifying body's own site, insist on an area-based price before the visit, match the method to the job and get the terms in writing. How to choose a carpet cleaner goes through each step, and local businesses are on the carpet cleaning directory page.
Sources
- Hire a Carpet Cleaning Professional, The Carpet and Rug Institute
- Frequently Asked Questions, The Carpet and Rug Institute
- Cleaning and Maintenance, The Carpet and Rug Institute
- CRI 205 Residential Carpet Standard: Professional Cleaning Services, The Carpet and Rug Institute
- CRI 205 Residential Carpet Standard: DIY Cleaning, The Carpet and Rug Institute
- CRI 205 Residential Carpet Standard: Residential Warranties, The Carpet and Rug Institute
- Warranties, Federal Trade Commission
- Home Environment Control, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
- Dust Mites, American Lung Association
- Cleaning Supplies and Household Chemicals, American Lung Association
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Guidelines for Cleaning Safely After a Disaster, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (Act of Dec. 17, 1968, P.L. 1224, No. 387), Pennsylvania General Assembly
- Carpet Cleaner Agrees To Modify Advertising Practices, New York State Office of the Attorney General
- Flood Cleanup to Protect Indoor Air and Your Health, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency