Carpet cleaning: Should you hire a professional or do it yourself?

If you’re looking to spruce up your home in 2019, don’t forget the carpets – getting rid of stains and grime on the floor can make a huge difference to how clean your house looks.

But cleaning carpets is more of a challenge than just picking up polish and a duster, as you would with the rest of the house.

You’ll need a carpet cleaning machine for starters – but do you buy one, hire one, or employ a professional carpet cleaner to do the job for you?

The pros and cons of hiring a professional carpet cleaner:

Paul Pearce, technical director of the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA), says today’s carpets can be made of blends of fibres or individual fibres, some will absorb cleaning solutions and some won’t, and some will even break down with particular products.

“A comprehensive knowledge is therefore vital to carry out the best clean for your carpet to make it last and wear well,” he says.

Here’s why Pearce believes employing a professional cleaner is the best way to spruce up carpets…

You get what you pay for

While professional carpet cleaning comes at a cost – it’s certainly cheaper to hire a machine and do it yourself – DIY carpet cleaning comes with a risk.

Cost should never be a concern when looking for a professional carpet cleaner, it should be, ‘Do they have the knowledge and equipment to safely and effectively clean my soft furnishings?’

They have rigorous training

NCCA professional carpet cleaners go through a rigorous training program and pass a test before they’re considered for membership. Once approved, they’re monitored for a year and have to carry out further training such as spot and stain removal techniques before they can become full members.

Different carpets need different cleaning techniques

Not all carpets can be cleaned the same way, and a professional carpet cleaner will be able to determine the correct process. Some carpets, for example, can’t be cleaned using water-based methods, so specialist knowledge is vital.

Professionals carry a variety of cleaners

NCCA members will usually carry at least three different cleaning systems and combinations to enable them to clean virtually any floor covering.

You get specialist stain cleaning

Soils or stains need specialist cleaning solutions and techniques to remove them safely from the carpet, and professional carpet cleaners are trained in doing so.

There’s minimal moisture

A professionally-trained carpet cleaner will minimise the amount of moisture needed to clean a carpet, which not only safeguards the carpet but allows for quick, comfortable access and use.

They’re fully insured

NCCA professional carpet cleaners are fully insured for the unlikely possibility that there’s a problem with the cleaning.

If you believe there is noting quite like the look of professionally clean carpets – contact the Carpet Doctor based in Dublin today

Reference: The Irish Examiner