Most homes benefit from a professional carpet clean every 12 to 18 months. Homes with pets, young children or allergy sufferers usually need it every 6 to 12 months, and rented properties are normally cleaned between tenancies. Many carpet manufacturers also recommend regular professional cleaning to keep carpets looking and wearing well.
This guide explains how to work out the right schedule for your home, what builds up in carpet between cleans and the signs that it is time to book.
Table of Contents
A simple guide by household
- Adults only, light use: every 12 to 18 months.
- Children or pets: every 6 to 12 months, with quick attention to spills and accidents in between.
- Allergies or asthma in the home: every 6 to 12 months, alongside frequent vacuuming.
- Rented homes and HMOs: between tenancies, and more often in shared rooms. Our HMO bedroom case study from Rothwell shows a typical between-tenancy clean, and our end of tenancy carpet cleaning page covers rentals in more detail.
- Stairs, hallways and lounge walkways: these wear fastest, so they may need cleaning more often than bedrooms.
What builds up in a carpet between cleans
Carpet acts like a large filter for the room, which is good for the air but means a lot collects in the pile over time:
- Grit and sand carried in on shoes, which works down into the pile and wears the fibres as it is walked on.
- Dust mite allergens, pet dander and skin cells, which settle deep in the carpet where a vacuum struggles to reach.
- Oily residue from cooking, skin and footwear, which coats the fibres and makes them attract dirt faster.
- Spills and old cleaning products, which can leave sticky patches that turn grey.
Vacuuming removes loose, dry dirt, but it cannot remove the oily, sticky soiling or the allergens bound to the fibres. That is what hot water extraction is designed to rinse out.
Signs your carpet needs cleaning now
- Grey or dark traffic lanes through doorways, hallways and in front of the sofa.
- Flattened or matted pile that no longer springs back.
- A smell that returns, particularly after damp weather or when the heating comes on.
- Spots that reappear after you have cleaned them, often a sign of residue or contamination underneath.
- Allergy symptoms that feel worse at home than elsewhere.
Keeping carpets cleaner for longer
- Vacuum busy areas two or three times a week, and the whole house weekly.
- Use good doormats inside and outside each entrance, and take shoes off where you can.
- Blot spills straight away with a clean white cloth. Do not rub, as this spreads the stain and damages the pile.
- Go easy on shop-bought carpet shampoos, as leftover detergent attracts dirt. Our guide to professional vs DIY carpet cleaning explains why.
- Move furniture now and then so the same areas are not always walked on.
Booking your next clean
If you are not sure whether your carpets are due a clean, send us a couple of photos and we will tell you honestly. Text two or three photos of the carpets to 07584 291911, call us on 01933 213733 or use our free quote form. We cover Northampton, Wellingborough, Rushden & Higham Ferrers, Kettering, Corby, Bedford and Milton Keynes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cleaning carpets too often damage them?
Not when it is done properly. Problems usually come from over-wetting the carpet or leaving detergent in the fibres, which is why we rinse and extract thoroughly so carpets dry quickly and stay cleaner for longer.
Is regular vacuuming enough?
Vacuuming is important, but it only removes loose, dry dirt. Oily soiling, sticky residue and allergens bound to the fibres need a deep clean such as hot water extraction.
How soon can we use the room after a clean?
Most carpets are dry within a few hours, depending on the carpet, how soiled it was and the room’s heating and ventilation. We will tell you on the day when it is safe to walk on and put furniture back.
Should carpets be cleaned at the end of a tenancy?
It is usually expected, and many tenancy agreements require it. We clean for tenants, landlords and letting agents. See our end of tenancy carpet cleaning page for details.
