10 Questions to Ask a Carpet Cleaning Company

When you are looking for a professional carpet cleaning service, there are some important questions you need to ask.  By asking these or all of these questions, you can feel confident with your choice and fully understand what you are paying for.  Plus, you can spot those red flags for companies who don't really know what they are doing.

The most important questions

We don’t like to say you ‘must’ ask these questions but really, you should!  These are the key questions you’ll want answering for any kind of service, just given a carpet cleaning slant.

1.   Do you give a free estimate?

Any good carpet cleaning company will offer a free quote for the work you need doing.  This will often involve coming to the house but occasionally not.  It should involve either a written or emailed quote that gives you details of what they will be doing and what it will cost.  There shouldn’t be a cost for this.

2.   What kind of carpet cleaning methods do you use?

With this question, you don’t really want to know the ins and outs of carpet cleaning but that they have more than one cleaning method available.  That’s because different cleaning methods work best on different types of carpets.  You want to know that the cleaning company has the different methods available to cope with the carpet you have - even if you aren’t sure which ones these are.

3.   Do you have the right insurance?

The most important type of insurance in this situation is liability insurance.  This means if they cause damage in any way, their insurance will cover the damage.  With carpet cleaners, let’s say something goes wrong with the cleaning process and the carpet is damaged - rare but it could happen.  Their insurance will replace the carpet and cover any other costs.

4.   How long do carpets take to dry?

We all know it takes a bit of time for a carpet to completely dry after a cleaning process but you want to know from the carpet cleaning company how long this is.  They may also have tips to shorten the time such as opening windows, depending on the time of year.  But they should be able to give you a clear idea of how long the carpet will be ‘feet off’.

5.   What kind of guarantee do you offer?

Of these most important questions, the guarantee is often the most difficult because there are so many variations carpet cleaning companies use.  The key things to look for is that if something is missed or doesn’t look right within a certain time frame, they’ll come back and take a look.  It will usually exclude fresh spills for obvious reasons!

If they are applying any kind of stain guard or protection, also find out what the guarantee or expected time frame it should last will be.  Then you know what to expect.

Other questions you may want to ask

If you only ask these five questions, you’ll have a good idea if the carpet company is reputable and knows their stuff.  But there are a few questions you can ask that as well will help you get a fuller picture of their service but also their knowledge.  They aren’t trick questions, but they do catch out anyone who doesn’t know their stuff.

6.   Are there more benefits to carpet cleaning than just dirt removal?

The answer should always be yes because getting rid of common dirt and dust is just part of the reason you clean carpets.  Clearing away almost invisible allergens such as pollen is another top reason, especially if someone in the house has allergies.

Another reason to clean carpets is to extend their lifespan.  A carpet that receives regular cleaning should always last longer than one that doesn’t.  It will also avoid those unpleasant smells that happen when a deep-seated stain gets hold and bacteria or mould grows.

7.   Does the carpet cleaning method matter?

You’ve already checked to see what kind of cleaning methods they are using but now let’s extract a little knowledge.  By asking if the carpet cleaning method works, you’ll get to see how much they understand about different types of carpet.  Some systems are great for any type of carpet whereas others are a no-go for some of the finer, more unusual carpet materials.

8.   Are any products you use child or pet friendly?

If you have kids or pets, it is worth checking that the products being used are safe for them. Sometimes, the company may recommend keeping pets off the carpet for 24hours while it dries or avoids letting the kids sit on it.  But they should let you know ahead of committing the cleaning if there are any special requirements.

9.   Do you charge to move furniture?

There’s no right or wrong answer here but either way, you get to know what you need to do to prepare for the cleaning service.  Some companies will charge, some won’t.  Some will move a few basics, but you’ll need to move breakable or delicate items. Whatever the case, they should let you know what this is before you book.

10. Is there an aftercare service for this?

Again, there’s no right or wrong answer.  Some types of cleaning may come with follow-ups or additional services a period after the main cleaning.  Others are a one and done type of job.  It is a good idea to have a clear picture of what this is as you are booking.

Understanding your service

There’s nothing wrong with asking questions of a carpet cleaning service to better understand what you are paying for.  Here at A Cleaning Service, we always love to chat about carpet cleaning and ensure our customers have a clear picture of what we do.  We provide a free quote and are always available to give more information about cleaning processes, insurance or any other concerns you might have.

That way, you have all the information to make a confident, informed decision and end up with clean and long-lasting carpets throughout your home.

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