How to Prepare for Carpet Cleaning

Brushes, rubber gloves, and cleaning supplies to clean a home for the holidays

Do you know what to do when you’re planning to have a professional carpet cleaner at your house? Even the most careful homeowners can experience the unthinkable: carpet stains. They come in many varieties, from dirt and dust to ink and dye, from food and wine to pet stains and even blood.

Because of the virtually unavoidable nature of these little incidents, you will likely need to have your carpet cleaned by a team of professionals every now and then. When you do, you will need to know how to prepare for carpet cleaning.

In this article, we are going to outline exactly what to do when you’re planning to have a professional carpet cleaner come do the necessary work of restoring your carpet’s immaculate appearance. Carpet cleaning services may vary from one to the next, but you will always want to follow these guidelines to ensure that your home is ready for their cleaning technician.

With that said, let’s dive into the steps that you should take before your cleaning process can get underway in your home.

A Guide on How to Prepare for Carpet Cleaning

So, you’ve set the date. The professional carpet cleaners are on their way (figuratively speaking) to your home to turn those dirty floors once again into clean carpet.

Before they arrive, you will want to follow a series of straightforward steps that will ensure you get the most out of their time and work. If these things are not done by the time the carpet cleaning equipment comes in the front door, they’re simply not going to achieve optimal results.

Keeping that in mind, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how to prepare for carpet cleaning.

1. Prepare the floor.

Vacuum the carpet —

You absolutely must vacuum the carpet before a carpet cleaning company arrives at your home (they can do it for you, but it’s an extra charge). Every carpet wears a coat of dust at the top of the carpet fiber; you need to remove this so that the cleaners can really dig in and remove the dirt that soils the deeper layers.

Move furniture —

Carpet cleaners will not be able to navigate around your furniture, and many companies will charge an extra fee to move anything beyond a light dining chair. Because of this, make sure the carpeted areas are completely free of the biggest furniture pieces (as these won’t be moved by technicians) and disassemble beds as well, for the best results.

Clean up the kids’ rooms —

When was the last time you looked in your children’s rooms, like really looked? You may be surprised (or not) to discover that the carpet is completely covered in toys, dirty clothes, dishes, and any number of other items; make sure all of this is cleaned up prior to the carpet cleaning company’s arrival, or you may end up paying extra for this, too.

Brushes, rubber gloves, and cleaning supplies to clean a home for the holidays

2. Store your belongings.

Breakable items —

Even though your cleaning company will have the required insurance, you still need to secure all breakables before they arrive. This guarantees that you won’t worry about the loss of priceless breakable items as the cleaning process unfolds.

Empty drawers and shelves —

If there will be any furniture remaining in the rooms to be cleaned, it’s a good practice to clear out all drawers and shelves. Carpet cleaning technicians will be as careful as possible, but it’s always smart to make sure nothing is around that might cause a scene.

Store away valuables —

In the same vein as breakable items, it’s best that all your items of value are safely and securely stored away. The front door will be open the entire time of your cleaning, so it’s best not to tempt fate.

3. Create a good working environment.

Secure pets in a safe space —

Pets are great, and your cleaning company technicians would probably love them. Unfortunately, pets don’t feel the same way, so it’s best to keep them completely removed from the stress of the situation (as well as fleeing out the open front door).

Make sure the power and water are turned on —

If you’re moving (in or out) of the house that’s being cleaned, you will want to ensure that the power and water remain on during the entirety of the cleaning process. Not only does it create a better environment for the workers, but it helps with the drying process afterwards as well.

Brushes, rubber gloves, and cleaning supplies to clean a home for the holidays

Final Thoughts on Carpet Cleaning Preparation

If you have any major problem areas or traffic areas, please let your carpet cleaning company know about these. You can tell them when they arrive, of course, but it’s even better if you inform them beforehand; this way, they will know exactly which tools, equipment, and supplies to bring with them.

Another note: many people might suppose that smaller items like plant stands, floor lamps, or other less bulky pieces of furniture won’t get in the way. Even so, it’s always better to clear out the entire area that will be cleaned in order for the carpet cleaners to make the most of their visit.

That’s pretty much everything. If you follow the steps in our guidelines for how to prepare for a carpet cleaning, you will be completely ready to go as soon as the carpet techs arrive.

Now that you know how to prep for a carpet cleaning, get in touch with us today at Whitehall Carpet Cleaners for the highest standard in excellence. Our experienced technicians will provide you with the best quality and value for carpet cleaning, 100% guaranteed.