How to Prepare for Your Carpet Clean: A Checklist

What should I do before the carpet cleaner arrives?

Vacuum, clear the floor of small items, and make sure I can park near an entrance with an outside tap. Those three things make the biggest difference.

• Vacuum the carpets
• Pick up toys, shoes, bags, cables and anything on the floor
• Move small furniture, plants and fragile items
• Clear a parking spot near an entrance
• Check the outside tap works
• Plan where pets and children will be
• Make a note of stains you want me to look at

Do I need to vacuum before a carpet clean?

Yes, please. A good vacuum first removes loose dirt, hair and grit so the clean can work on the soil lower in the pile. Pay extra attention to edges, under beds and behind doors.

If you can’t vacuum, for example when you’re moving out and the vacuum is already packed, just let me know when you book.

What furniture should I move?

Move small, light and fragile items yourself: dining chairs, side tables, lamps, plants, floor rugs, things stored under beds, and anything with sentimental or breakable value. Clear the tops of anything you’d like moved, so nothing falls.

Large, heavy items like beds, wardrobes, couches and full bookshelves usually stay where they are, and I clean around them. If you want something big moved, tell me when you book and we’ll talk about what’s practical.

Tie or pin up any curtains that touch the floor.

Why do you need parking and an outside tap?

I use a Hydramaster Boxxer 318 truck-mount, which runs from my van. The hoses run from the van to the rooms, and they reach roughly 45 m, so I need to park close to an entrance. The machine also needs water from an outside tap.

• Leave the driveway clear, or save a spot on the street right outside if you can.
• If parking is tight (shared driveways, townhouses, apartments), tell me when you book.
• Make sure the outside tap turns on and is easy to get to.
• For gated properties, have the gate code or access ready.

Some upper-floor apartments are beyond hose reach. In that case I offer a low-moisture clean instead. It’s a lighter clean, and I’ll explain the difference so you can decide. My methods compared guide explains both.

What about pets and kids on the day?

Keep pets and children out of the rooms being cleaned while I work and until the carpet is dry. Hoses run through doorways and the van is running outside, so a closed door or a spot in another room keeps everyone safe.

My products are wool-safe and safe around children and pets. They’re the same ones I use at home. Even so, damp carpet is easy to mark, so paws and little feet are best kept off until it’s dry.

How do I point out stains?

Walk me through the house when I arrive and show me any stains, pet spots or problem areas. Tell me what they are if you know, and anything you’ve already tried on them. Products you’ve used change how I treat a mark.

A sticky note beside each spot works well if you won’t be home. For pet areas, I can check with a UV torch to find spots you can’t see. I’ll be honest about what will come out and what can only be lightened. See my stain treatment page and my stain removal guide.

Do I need to be home?

It helps to be there at the start for the walk-through, so we agree on rooms and stains, and at the end to check the result. If you can’t be there, arrange access and leave notes, and we can sort out how you’d like to check the result.

What should I do after my carpets are cleaned?

Keep the rooms well ventilated, stay off the carpet as much as possible until it’s dry, and leave the protective film under furniture legs in place until the carpet has fully dried.

• Ventilation. Open windows if the weather allows, run a heat pump on dry mode or a dehumidifier, and keep internal doors open. On a cold, damp Christchurch day, a heat pump helps.
• Furniture film. I put protective film under furniture legs so stain and rust from wooden or metal feet doesn’t transfer to damp carpet. Leave it until the carpet is completely dry.
• Walking. If you need to walk on the carpet, use clean socks rather than bare feet or outdoor shoes, and take care where carpet meets hard floors, which can be slippery.
• Rugs and furniture. Wait until the carpet is dry before putting rugs back or moving furniture onto cleaned areas.

Drying depends on ventilation, the weather, the carpet fibre and how soiled it was. I use air movers for faster drying and I’ll give you guidance on the day. My drying guide has more tips.

What if something isn’t right afterwards?

If something isn’t right, let me know and I’ll come back and take a look. Sometimes a mark from deep in the backing shows up again as the carpet dries, and it’s worth a look.

Ready to book? Get a free quote. For a rental move-out, see end of tenancy carpet cleaning.