For those managing rental properties, regular cleaning is crucial to extend the life of the carpets and maintain their quality, but shampooing carpets can become a hefty maintenance expense, especially if it’s needed multiple times a year. To save on costs, you might opt to clean the carpets in your rental house yourself, stepping up to tackle this task directly. But is DIY the most effective option?
By learning more about the advantages and disadvantages of professional and do-it-yourself carpet cleaning, you can more confidently choose the right option for your properties.
What is required to keep carpets looking fresh?
Regular carpet cleaning is a key upkeep measure—it removes stains and odors that can diminish a rental house’s appeal and restores the carpet’s appearance by pulling out dirt trapped deep within the fibers, beyond a typical vacuum’s reach. Industry experts often advocate for hot water extraction, or steam cleaning, which sprays hot water mixed with a cleaning solution onto the carpet, then uses strong suction to remove the dirt. Professional carpet cleaners and do-it-yourself machines both utilize hot water extraction to clean carpets, but their equipment varies widely. Professionals rely on powerful truck-mounted machines or portable units, with truck-mounted machines excelling at ensuring carpets dry faster. On the other hand, renting or buying a steam cleaning machine provides a smaller machine, great for quick clean-ups after spills or accidents, offering a convenient fix between deep cleanings.
Comparing DIY and Professional Cleaning
Choosing to clean the carpets in your rental house yourself can save on costs, a major plus for keeping expenses in line, but there are disadvantages to the DIY route that can pose problems. A smaller personal machine takes longer than a professional cleaner—cleaning the carpets across a rental house could stretch into a full day or more, depending on the size of the area, with results that may be less than satisfactory. Smaller carpet cleaning machines often leave excess water, causing a long time to dry and risks like mold or further dirt collection; fans to speed the process can help. Using too much or too little cleaning solution might lead to stiff carpets or inadequate cleanliness, making DIY less effective for deep cleanings compared to professional standards.
Evaluating Professional Carpet Cleaning
Professional carpet cleaning offers excellent results, tapping into advanced technology and techniques that surpass most DIY efforts, though it comes with a higher cost that requires careful budgeting. Professional carpet cleaners use advanced technology and techniques, which can be more expensive than attempting to clean your carpets yourself. If you look for bargain deals, be cautious, as this can lead to poor service or scams. While attempting to clean your carpets yourself might ease short-term spending, professional cleaning delivers lasting quality, though low-cost offers can risk poor service or scams. A smart tip: hire a professional carpet cleaner consistently from the same cleaning company—they may offer you a discount, blending well with your property management services.
Deciding whether to hire a professional carpet cleaner or use do-it-yourself machines depends on knowing what each brings to your rental properties. Regular cleaning extends carpet life and saves on costs by avoiding early wear, with professional cleaning ideal for deep cleanings that deliver standout results and a smaller machine suited for quick clean-ups after spills or accidents. Assess your needs to pick the best path.
For expert cleaning the carpets, the Whitsett property management experts at Real Property Management Optimize offer property management services that ensure excellent results without the hassle. Get in touch with us online or call 336-704-0505 today to enhance your rental house upkeep.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
