Short answer
A carpet cleaning business. The main decision is hot water extraction — commonly called steam cleaning — versus a low-moisture method: extraction cleans deeper and takes longer to dry, low-moisture is faster and gentler on some fibres. The failure people notice most is carpet that re-soils quickly, which is detergent residue left behind by inadequate rinsing.
What to do before anyone arrives
- Find out what the carpet is. Wool and some synthetics need different chemistry and temperature, and a wool carpet cleaned wrong can shrink or brown.
- Vacuum thoroughly first. Most of what is in a carpet is dry soil, and removing it dramatically improves the result.
- Point out stains individually and say what caused them. Pet urine, in particular, needs a different treatment and cannot be dealt with by a general pass.
- Move what you can and clear the floor.
What to ask when you book
- Which method are you using and why for this carpet?
- How are you rinsing, and what about residue?
- How long until it is dry and walkable?
- Are stain treatments and deodorising included or extra?
- Do you carry insurance?
What changes the price
No dollar figures here: this directory holds no price data and an invented range is worse than none. What follows is what makes one of these jobs cost more than the same job next door, which is the part you can actually use when comparing quotes.
- Area and number of rooms.
- Method.
- Stain treatment, pet treatment and deodorising.
- Furniture moving.
- Stairs, which are priced separately by most operators.
What you can do yourself
Is this licensed work?
Not a licensed trade. Technician certification through industry bodies exists and is a reasonable thing to ask about.
There is no national register. Search the licence number with the regulator for the state the work is happening in.
- NSWNSW Fair Tradingbuilders, electricians, plumbers and specialist trades
- VICBuilding and Plumbing Commission, and Energy Safe Victoria for electricalbuilding practitioners and plumbers; electricians are Energy Safe Victoria
- QLDQueensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)building and most trade contractor licences
- WABuilding and Energybuilders, electricians, plumbers and gas fitters
- SAConsumer and Business Servicesbuilding work contractors and supervisors
- TASConsumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS)building and occupational licences
- ACTAccess Canberraconstruction occupations licensing
- NTNT Government building practitioner registrationbuilding practitioners and electrical workers
Licensing thresholds and certificate requirements differ by state and change with amending regulation, so this page describes the mechanism rather than quoting a figure. The regulator’s own page is the current answer.
Common questions
- Who should I hire for a carpet to clean
- A carpet cleaning business. The main decision is hot water extraction — commonly called steam cleaning — versus a low-moisture method: extraction cleans deeper and takes longer to dry, low-moisture is faster and gentler on some fibres. The failure people notice most is carpet that re-soils quickly, which is detergent residue left behind by inadequate rinsing.
- Why did my carpet get dirty again so fast after cleaning?
- Detergent residue. Surfactant left in the fibre is sticky and attracts soil, so an inadequately rinsed carpet looks great for a week and then looks worse than before. It is the most common complaint in this trade and it is the reason to ask about the rinse rather than the shampoo.
- Can carpet cleaning remove pet urine smell?
- Surface cleaning generally cannot, because urine soaks through into the underlay and sometimes the subfloor, and the smell returns with humidity. Proper treatment means finding the affected areas, treating down to the underlay and sometimes replacing it. Anyone promising to remove established pet odour with a standard clean is selling you a week.
Find a Cleaner near you
3,843 cleaners in this directory, ranked on published evidence rather than on advertising.
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General information about who does what, not advice about your specific job. Licensing, consumer law and council rules differ by state and change; the regulator for your state is the current source. More guides to hiring a tradesperson.