At The Carpet Cleaning Company, we believe that a well-informed client is a confident client. That’s why we’ve put together this FAQ section—to provide clear, honest answers to the most common questions about our carpet cleaning services. Whether you’re curious about our cleaning methods, what to expect during your appointment, or how to care for your carpets afterwards, you’ll find all the essential information right here. Our goal is to ensure you feel fully informed and comfortable every step of the way.
How often should residential carpets be cleaned?
Residential carpets should be professionally cleaned every 12 months on average. However, several factors can influence this:
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Homes with children or pets: Every 6–9 months to remove stains, allergens, and odours.
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High-traffic areas: Every 6–12 months, depending on usage.
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Allergy sufferers: Every 3–6 months to reduce dust mites and allergens.
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Lightly used rooms: Every 12–18 months may be sufficient.
Regular vacuuming is important, but professional cleaning extends carpet life and improves indoor air quality.
How long will it take you to clean my carpets?
The time it takes to clean the carpets in your house can vary depending on several factors, such as the size of your house, the number of rooms that need to be cleaned, the level of soiling, and the cleaning method used.
It typically takes between 30 minutes to 1 hour to clean one room, depending on the size and level of soiling. So, for example, if you have 2 bedrooms, living room, and a stairs & landing that need to be cleaned, it could take between 2 to 4 hours to complete the job.
Along with our quotations we provide you with an estimate of how much time the job will require.
Will my carpets take long to dry?
Please note the average drying time for carpets & upholstery is 3-4 hours.
However, drying times will vary according to the type of fibre, atmospheric conditions and the ambient temperature, amongst other factors.
It could be as little as 2 hours, but a thick, dense pile wool carpet may take up to 12 hours to dry.
What method of cleaning do you use to clean carpets & upholstery?
Carpet Cleaning: We use hot water extraction or encapsulation for carpet cleaning
Upholstery Cleaning: We use hot water extraction, low moisture cleaning or dry cleaning method – visit here for further details
Will my carpets shrink?
Although it is rare for carpets to shrink once cleaned, it is possible. However, only carpets with a jute backing, will shrink.
Shrinkage is either caused by the use of an inadequate machine or bad technique. An inadequate machine is not strong enough to extract enough water from the carpet during cleaning and bad technique is the operative overwriting the carpet during extraction.
This can lead to too much water penetrating the pile and reaching the Jute backing. The jute absorbs the excess water and begins to expand and in turn requires more space. This places unnecessary pressure on the structure of the carpet and leads to shrinkage.
At The Carpet Cleaning Company we use top of the range extraction machines and our operatives have been sent on industry standard courses to avoid these scenarios from occurring.
I have heard that carpets get dirty quicker once they have been cleaned?
This often happens when there is cleaning chemical residue left within the carpet after it has been cleaned.
A DIY carpet cleaning machine is a good example how this often happens. Cleaning chemicals and water mixed into one tank with the machine running over the carpet to remove the dirt. The downside to this is a residue of the cleaning solution will dry within the carpet fibres, this will attract dirt and thus carpets will look dirty quicker.
A professional carpet cleaner will first apply there cleaning agent, brush that into the fibres then fully flush it out with just water or specific rinse agents, no residue remaining means carpets stay cleaner for longer.
Will I have to clear the furniture out of the room?
Not at all, we want to make this process as easy as possible for you.
We would ask that you move small or breakable objects but we’re happy to move larger pieces of furniture as we clean or work around non movable items.
Some items of furniture may require feet protectors under their feet once cleaned, which we supply for no additional charge.
How often should residential upholstery be cleaned?
To maintain hygiene, appearance, and longevity, here’s how often you should clean your furniture:
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General households: Every 12–18 months
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Homes with children or pets: Every 6–12 months
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Allergy sufferers: Every 6–9 months to reduce allergens
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Visible stains or odours: As needed, ideally immediately
How often should residential leather furniture be cleaned?
To maintain hygiene, appearance, and longevity, here’s how often you should clean your furniture:
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Light use households: Clean and condition every 6–12 months
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High use or sunny rooms: Every 3–6 months to prevent cracking and fading
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Spills or marks: Spot clean immediately with appropriate leather-safe products
Regular spot treatment can help extend the time between professional cleans. Conditioning leather also helps preserve softness and colour.
Do you require parking right outside my home?
It’s not essential however where possible it is always preferred. If permit parking or paid parking are the only options, the cost of the latter will be added to the bill.
How often should commercial carpets be cleaned?
Commercial carpets should be professionally cleaned every 3 to 6 months, depending on foot traffic and industry type. Here’s a general guide:
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Offices (medium traffic): Every 6 months
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Retail stores & showrooms: Every 3–4 months
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Restaurants & hospitality venues: Every 1–3 months
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Schools & nurseries: Every 3–6 months
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Care homes & healthcare facilities: Every 2–4 months for hygiene
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Theatres & public venues: Every 3–6 months, or more during busy seasons
High-traffic areas like entrances and hallways may require more frequent spot cleaning in between full cleans.
Routine cleaning not only improves appearance but also extends carpet life and promotes a healthier environment.
What areas do you cover?
We proudly provide professional carpet and upholstery cleaning across a wide range of locations. Our team covers:
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London (Central, North, South and East)
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Greater London
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North Kent
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Essex
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South Hertfordshire
Whether you’re in a busy city centre or a quieter suburb, we’ll come to you.
From single flats to multi-site commercial properties, we offer flexible service across all areas we serve.
Not sure if we cover your location? Get in touch—we’re always happy to help.
How to Maintain Your Carpet After Cleaning
How to Maintain Your Upholstery After Cleaning
How to Maintain Your Leather After Cleaning
