1to1house.com: information for selling houses
for top dollar... faster!

Clean carpet is an absolute must- worn carpet should be replaced

Any carpet that has been in use for longer than a few months, should be cleaned. You can do this job yourself, but if your carpet is more than a few years old, it should be cleaned professionally. Carpet is subjected to substantial abuse from foot traffic and performs exceptionally well, but it is not a maintenance-free item.

If there is any worn carpeting, replace it. Offering buyers a credit to install new carpet themselves so they can pick out their own color/style isn't recommended. This almost always ends up costing you more money than if you had replaced it.

When a prospect sees worn carpet, that puts them in a negative mood and they begin to question what else is wrong with the property.

There is very little that you need to do to prepare your home professional carpet cleaners except remove any plants, lamps, knickknacks or other items resting on furniture being moved from the rooms being cleaned.

Do-it-yourself carpet cleaning

Any carpet being cleaned should be thoroughly vacuumed before cleaning. Vacuuming the carpet pile is essential for effective soil removal. Vacuuming helps separate pile fibers, which aids in the release of soil during the suspension and cleaning phases of the carpet cleaning.

Steam cleaning is the most often used term in carpet cleaning. There are other methods, but this is the most common. Steam cleaning really doesn't use steam. It is actually a hot water extraction method.

This method does an excellent job in extracting soil from deep in the carpet pile and can be very effective in removing other contaminants. Studies have shown that hot water extraction can remove as much as 99% of the contaminants found in some neglected carpets.

The hot water extraction process uses a combination of water pressure for agitation, hot water to increase reaction time, and a wide array of chemicals mixed in with the water to make the task easier. Most units include a vacuum unit to extract soils and chemicals once the carpet has been cleaned. A wide variety of equipment is available.

It is recommended that you go back over a cleaned area again without applying additional water or cleaning agent and just vacuum the carpet to remove as much moisture as possible.

Rotary shampoo is the oldest method of mechanical carpet cleaning and it is probably one of the best. Today there are hot water extraction machines with rotary shampoo built in.

Carpet types

Wool: Wool is among the best performing carpet fibers from a cleaning perspective. Wool fibers may be cleaned using all cleaning methods, although excessive agitation and excessive heat should be avoided. Wool carpeting is easily damaged by bleaches and alkalis. Wool should be cleaned with neutral detergents (pH 5.0 - 8.0) and dried quickly to limit yellowing or browning. Cleaning wool carpet requires special care and proper knowledge.

In terms of dry soil removal, wool releases dry soil more readily than synthetic carpet fibers.

Cotton/Rayon: Cotton and rayon are each cellulose fiber and may be cleaned using all cleaning methods depending upon carpet or rug construction. Most cellulose fibers are subject to browning if prolonged drying occurs or if alkaline solutions are used. Shrinking may occur if these fibers are over wet. Avoid excessive agitation.

Silk: Silk is a natural fiber that is used for many carpet applications. Silk fibers should be cleaned using a dry cleaning process. These fibers may be damaged by high temperatures, high pH (>9), sunlight, and looses strength when wet. The cleaning of silk fibers is best left to the professional carpet cleaner.

Sisal and other plant fibers: Sisal and other plant fiber carpets have similar characteristics as cotton. A number of plant fibers are used in carpet construction including sisal, cotton, jute, coconut (coir), pineapple, ramie, hemp, and many others. These fibers may be cleaned with all cleaning methods but dry extraction and dry foam extraction are most often recommended.

These fibers are subject to browning if cleaned with a high pH (>7.5) and may release color during cleaning. If using a wet method, utilize accessories to accelerate drying. The cleaning of plant fibers is best left to the professional carpet cleaner.

You’ll notice that we refer your property as a house and not your home. When you’re selling a property it’s very important to no longer think of the structure as your home. A home is where your heart is, and since you’ve made the decision to sell your current structure, your heart is no longer in it. It’s out there waiting to snuggle into a new home.

Letting professionals
clean your carpet

Professional cleaners use similar methods to home cleaning, but they should have the knowledge, equipment and experience necessary to do a more thorough job of removing embedded soil. Room size rugs and some wall-to-wall carpets can be sent to the rug cleaning plant.

Professional cleaners can also handle spot removal, re-dyeing, rebinding and repairs. Always alert the cleaner to the location and cause, if known, of spots and stains that require attention.

When selecting a cleaning service, the main factor to consider is the operator's skill and ability. Ask reputable carpet dealers in your area whom they recommend. Satisfied customers may also suggest a cleaner to contact. Rug cleaners of long standing reputation can usually be relied upon to provide satisfactory service. They cannot provide guarantees, however, because of the range of quality and wear they face in the carpets and rugs they clean.

Professional cleaners offering truck-mounted hot water extraction, will have more power to remove soil and water than in a smaller, self contained unit (like the ones you rent). Another professional method using carbonic foams the carpet with the same bubbles as club soda, and less water. This method often leaves less moisture.