Carpet Cleaning Before You Move Out
Carpet cleaning before moving out means hot water extraction, often called steam cleaning: hot water and a cleaning solution are injected into the carpet and pulled back out with strong suction. It lifts embedded dirt that a vacuum cannot, and it is the method many landlords and leases have in mind when they ask for professionally cleaned carpets.
Describe the job and add your city. Free to request, no obligation.
Not every lease requires it, and not every carpet needs it. Check your lease and your move-in report. If the carpet was new when you moved in, or if you had pets, a clean is likely worth it. If the carpet was already worn, a clean improves the look but will not erase age.
Carpet cleaning is usually the last step in a move-out, after the rest of the unit is cleaned and the dust has stopped falling. It also needs drying time, so book it with a gap before the inspection. Treat it as an add-on to the main clean, not a replacement.
What the work includes
- Vacuuming of the carpet before extraction
- Pre-treatment of visible spots and high-traffic lanes
- Hot water extraction of the full room, including closets that are carpeted
- Edge and corner passes along baseboards
- Stairs cleaned if they are carpeted and listed in the quote
- Basic spot treatment of common stains
- A note on any stain or damage that did not lift
- Drying guidance, including when it is safe to walk on the carpet
Signs the carpet needs more than a vacuum
Grey traffic lanes in hallways and doorways
Odours from pets, spills or smoking that remain after vacuuming
Visible stains from drinks, food or tracked-in mud
The lease asks for professional carpet cleaning
The carpet looked clean at move-in and clearly does not now
How the work goes, step by step
Check the lease and report
See if the lease requires professional cleaning, and note the carpet condition at move-in.
List the carpeted areas
Count the rooms, closets and stairs, and note stains or pets in the request.
Receive a written quote
The price shows the area, the method and any extra spot treatment.
Schedule after the clean
Book carpet work after the main clean, with time to dry before the inspection.
Keep the receipt
If the lease asks for proof of professional carpet cleaning, keep the invoice with your move-out records.
What changes the price
- Square footage or room count
- Most jobs are priced by the room or by total carpeted area.
- Stains and pet damage
- Heavy stains and pet urine need pre-treatment, and some cannot be fully removed.
- Carpet type and age
- Delicate fibres and old carpets need gentler methods that may take longer.
- Stairs and closets
- Each set of stairs and each carpeted closet adds area and time.
- Furniture left in the room
- Rooms must be empty for the work, which is another reason to schedule after the movers.
What a good quote spells out
- Hot water extraction named as the method, not just a light surface clean
- The list of rooms, closets and stairs covered
- How stains and pet areas are treated, and what is not guaranteed to lift
- Expected drying time before the unit can be inspected
- Whether the price is by room or by area
Carpet Deep Extraction: questions people ask
Do tenants have to professionally clean carpets before moving out?
It depends on the lease. Some require it, and some just require the carpet to be left clean. Read your lease and local tenancy rules, and keep any receipts.
How long does carpet take to dry after extraction?
Often several hours to a day, depending on ventilation, humidity and carpet thickness. Book the work with a gap before the inspection, and keep windows or fans going if you can.
Can carpet cleaning remove all stains and odours?
Not always. Fresh stains lift more easily, and old stains or pet urine may only fade. A good quote tells you what to expect.
Should carpets be cleaned before or after the rest of the move-out clean?
After. Dust and debris from cleaning the rest of the unit would otherwise settle on damp carpet, and foot traffic is lower once the movers are done.
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