For those managing rental properties, regular cleaning is a vital practice to extend the life of the carpets and preserve their condition, but shampooing carpets can become a pricey maintenance burden, especially if it’s required multiple times a year. To save on costs, you might opt to clean the carpets in your rental house yourself, diving into this task personally. But is DIY the best approach?
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 powerful upkeep strategy—it removes stains and odors that can detract from a rental house’s allure and restores the carpet’s appearance by lifting dirt buried deep within the fibers, out of a typical vacuum’s reach. Industry pros 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 employ hot water extraction to clean carpets, but their equipment varies widely. Professionals use powerful truck-mounted machines or portable units, with truck-mounted machines excelling at ensuring carpets dry faster. On the flip side, renting or buying a steam cleaning machine provides a smaller machine, great for quick clean-ups after spills or accidents, offering a handy fix between deep cleanings.
Comparing DIY and Professional Cleaning
Choosing to clean the carpets in your rental house yourself can save on costs, a significant perk for keeping expenses in check, but there are disadvantages to the DIY route that can complicate things. A smaller personal machine takes longer than a professional cleaner—cleaning the carpets across a rental house could take 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
While professional cleaning typically yields excellent results, it does come at a higher cost. 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. However, opting for professional carpet cleaning is usually more efficient. It dries more quickly and typically takes only a couple of hours (or less), depending on the size of the area. If you consistently use the same cleaning company, they may be willing to offer you a discount.
Deciding whether to hire a professional carpet cleaner or use do-it-yourself machines hinges 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 priorities to pick the best path.
For expert cleaning the carpets, the Clearwater property management experts at Real Property Management Tampa St Pete offer property management services that ensure excellent results without the stress. Get in touch with us online or call 813-445-4600 today to enhance your rental house upkeep.
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