Questions to ask a carpet cleaner before you hire

Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

Which questions matter most?

The ones about money and the ones about water. Ask how the price is calculated and what it leaves out before anyone comes to the house, and, for any wet carpet, ask what kind of water it was and how the company will check that the floor underneath has dried. The rest of this list helps you compare two companies on the same terms. Take the answers down in writing.

What should you ask about the price?

  • "Do you price by the square foot or by the room, and how big is a room?" The Carpet and Rug Institute, the carpet makers' trade association, says pricing should be based on the area cleaned, and warns against per-room quotes because rooms vary. Measure first so you can check the answer.
  • "Is there a minimum charge?" Minimums are common: Angi puts them at $75 to $125 and HomeGuide at $100 to $150 or more.
  • "What is not included?" Ask about stairs, hallways, spot treatment, odor treatment, protector and moving furniture one by one. The institute's standard says a protectant is typically an extra charge.
  • "Can you give me a price now?" The institute suggests getting an estimate you are comfortable with on the phone. Its standard notes that some cleaners want to inspect first; if so, ask for the price in writing before work begins.
  • "Will the price change if the carpet is dirtier than expected?" Pricing can depend on how the carpet was kept up, the standard says, so ask now rather than on the day.

What should you ask about the method and products?

  • "Which method will you use on my carpet?" The institute says hot water extraction is the most common professional method in homes. If a company proposes something else, ask why it suits your carpet.
  • "Will you vacuum first?" The institute says the answer should be yes, and that vacuuming before deep cleaning makes a difference to the result. Some companies let you do it yourself to save money.
  • "What cleaning solution will you use, and will you rinse it out?" The institute warns that layering spot products without rinsing between them can set a stain permanently. If you prefer certified products, the EPA's Safer Choice program has product categories for carpet cleaners, spot removers and upholstery cleaners, with a fragrance-free filter.
  • "Is the product fragranced?" The American Lung Association lists rug and upholstery cleaners among products that can release volatile organic compounds, and advises choosing products with reduced VOCs and fragrances. The EPA says its Safer Choice label restricts VOC content, and it offers a fragrance-free version of the label.

What should you ask about credentials?

  • "Are your technicians certified, and by whom?" The institute suggests asking whether technicians are certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. Note the names and check them on the IICRC's locator, which also lists companies that used its logo without being certified firms.
  • "Are you registered with the Attorney General?" Whether a cleaning-only business must register is not settled in the state's guidance, as what Pennsylvania requires explains. If a company will also remove or replace carpet, ask for its PA registration number; the rules guide explains why that kind of work matters.
  • "How long have you been in business, and can I speak to past customers?" The institute suggests the first question; the second lets you check the work for yourself.

What should you ask about your carpet?

Some of these the company should ask you. The institute's standard lists the questions a certified cleaner should put to you: who made your carpet and what type it is, when it was last cleaned and by whom, whether there are odors, pets or stains, what you have already tried on a stain, and the size of the house.

  • "Will your method keep my warranty intact?" The institute says not following the maker's maintenance guidelines may void a warranty. The Federal Trade Commission says federal law does not let a manufacturer require specific parts or services to keep coverage unless they are free or the FTC has granted a waiver. Bring your warranty's maintenance terms to the conversation.
  • "How do you treat pet urine?" The institute says heat sets urine stains and smells, and advises extraction with a wet vacuum and a cool-water rinse instead of steam.
  • "Have you cleaned wool before?" The institute recommends a suction-only vacuum on wool carpet.

What should you ask about the visit itself?

  • "Do you move furniture, and what does it cost?" The institute's standard says most cleaners do not move beds or heavy furniture, and suggests moving anything valuable or fragile yourself.
  • "Will you put pads under the furniture?" The standard lists placing protection under furniture so it does not touch wet carpet.
  • "How long will it take to dry, and what should I do meanwhile?" The institute says wet-cleaned carpet should be dry within 12 hours. Ask what the company does if it is not.

What happens on the day covers the visit in order.

What should you ask about paperwork?

  • "Will I get a written estimate and receipt?" Ask for the total, the areas and every extra on paper.
  • "Where are my cancellation forms?" Pennsylvania law gives a three-business-day right to cancel many sales of $25 or more made in connection with a contact or call at your home, and requires the seller to give you two copies of a Notice of Cancellation. The three days do not begin until you have them.

What extra questions apply to wet carpet?

  • "What kind of water was it?" NC State Extension sorts water into clean, gray and black, and says carpet padding soaked with gray or black water should be removed and disposed of without exception. It says gray-water carpet may be cleaned by a professional using a biocide and hot water extraction, but not by bonnet, dry foam, shampoo or absorbent-compound methods.
  • "Will you lift the carpet and check the subfloor?" The EPA's water damage table says the subfloor under the carpet must also be cleaned and dried.
  • "How will you know it is dry?" Ask what readings the company takes and what it does if the carpet is still wet after two days.

For more on spotting a bad offer, see carpet cleaning scams to avoid.

Sources

  1. Hire a Carpet Cleaning Professional, The Carpet and Rug Institute
  2. CRI 205 Residential Carpet Standard: Professional Cleaning Services, The Carpet and Rug Institute
  3. Frequently Asked Questions, The Carpet and Rug Institute
  4. Cleaning and Maintenance, The Carpet and Rug Institute
  5. CRI 205 Residential Carpet Standard: Cleaning Spots and Spills, The Carpet and Rug Institute
  6. IICRC Global Locator, Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification
  7. Learn About the Safer Choice Label, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  8. Search Products that Meet the Safer Choice Standard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  9. Cleaning Supplies and Household Chemicals, American Lung Association
  10. Warranties, Federal Trade Commission
  11. Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (Act of Dec. 17, 1968, P.L. 1224, No. 387), Pennsylvania General Assembly
  12. Water-Damaged Carpets and Rugs, NC State Extension
  13. Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings Guide: Chapter 4, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  14. How Much Does Carpet Cleaning Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
  15. How Much Does Carpet Cleaning Cost? (2026 Prices), HomeGuide

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