Get Quotes from Top Carpet Cleaning Services in Philadelphia, PA

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Carpet Cleaning Companies in Philadelphia?

Carpet cleaning companies typically charge varying fees, even for the same or similar services. This is because different factors influence these charges, especially:

• The nature of the service
• The size of the carpet
• The material and condition of the carpet
• The tools and manpower necessary for the job
• The location of the property
• The cleaning method
• Other considerations, such as the timeframe for the job

With several factors influencing fees for a service, it is generally best to get and compare estimates from at least three different carpet cleaning companies when trying to make a hiring choice. Having different estimates in hand helps to plan your budget, discover and avoid unreasonably high fees, gauge a cleaning company’s expertise, and know what you are paying for. Estimates typically contain all the materials necessary for the job, labor considerations, and corresponding costs. Therefore, if a company’s estimate is not detailed enough, ensure to ask questions and seek clarification.

While companies charge differently, the list below outlines different kinds of carpet cleaning services offered by professional carpet cleaning companies and their average costs:

Carpet Cleaning Cost Estimates per Square Foot

Carpet Cleaning Cost Estimates per Room (with no furniture)

Carpet Cleaning Cost Estimates Based on Cleaning Method

Carpet Cleaning Cost Estimates Based on Carpet Type

Carpet Cleaning Cost Estimates Based on Type of Service

Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Carpet Cleaning Technicians?

Carpet cleaning technicians are professionals that will necessarily be in your private space to perform your desired service. This makes it imperative to hire only trustworthy people or people who do not pose a risk to you and your family. One way to determine this is by conducting background checks on prospective cleaning technicians. Likewise, cleaning companies typically conduct background checks on employees to ensure they do not hire employees likely to bring them to disrepute or return to a pattern of unprofessional behavior. However, when engaging the services of a carpet cleaning company, ensure to confirm with the company whether they perform background checks, as not all companies do this. More specifically, you can ask the company if they have performed background checks on employees that will be working in your home. 

Background checks are wide-ranging, and some of them include:

• Criminal records check
• Credit background check
• Civil records check
• Identity verification
• Sex offenders registry check
• Education, certification, or training, verification
• License verification
• Drug test and screening
• Reference check
• Driving records check

Note that when hiring independent carpet cleaning technicians, you would have to conduct background checks yourself or hire a professional to do so. You can check local, county, and state court records, sex offenders registry, or the national or state criminal database for a start.

Are Your Carpet Cleaning Technicians Certified By the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC)?

Professional certifications and training are among the many ways carpet cleaning technicians develop their skills and expertise. Therefore, this is one thing to look out for when searching for a competent technician to clean your home’s carpets. If engaging a carpet cleaning company, you can inquire whether this company offers certification opportunities to their employees, whether their employees are certified, or whether certified professionals conduct employee training. 

While different organizations offer certification and training opportunities to carpet cleaning technicians, one of the most reputable organizations is the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). The Institute’s popularity is largely because of its in-depth training programs and certification requirements tailored to ensure that the cleaning technicians they certify are well grounded. Also, the Institute exposes trainee technicians to modern and safe cleaning methods and enforces strict professional behavior. To obtain a certification, a technician typically has to go through training, pass certification exams, go through character assessments and check, amongst other things. As such, certified technicians are typically skilled and behave more professionally than their non-certified colleagues.

Considering the edge certified cleaning technicians have, especially when certified by the IICRC, it is common for unscrupulous and fraudulent technicians to falsely claim to have been certified. Therefore, ensure to verify certification claims before hiring a cleaning technician.

What Carpet Cleaning Methods Do You Use?

There are several carpet cleaning methods available to carpet cleaners, each with pros and cons. However, most carpet cleaners choose a particular method for a job after considering various factors, such as:

• A homeowner’s preference
• The carpet’s condition
• The nature of the carpet cleaning service
• The carpet’s material

Carpet cleaners pay particular attention to the carpet’s material because using a cleaning method on the wrong material can ruin the job and damage the carpet. Carpets are made from natural or synthetic fibers, examples of which include:

• Cotton: This a type of natural fiber carpet, which is widely popular because of its comfort, affordability, aesthetic appeal, and durability. Although eco-friendly, downsides of cotton carpets include their shrinkage and how easily they stain.
• Silk: This is another carpet type mostly made from natural fiber, although artificial silk carpets are also available. Silk carpets are eco-friendly, durable, and soft. However, they are delicate, high maintenance, and relatively expensive.
• Nylon: This is a popular carpet type made from synthetic fiber. Nylon carpets have several pros, including durability, easy maintenance, decent stain resistance, and it is relatively affordable. This carpet type is effective for high-traffic areas. However, cons to look out for include that this carpet type is not eco-friendly and is not as comfortable as other carpet types.
• Polyester: Polyester carpets have many of the attributes of nylon carpets, and both carpet types are similar in many ways. However, polyester carpets are less durable and more difficult to maintain than nylon carpets, although they are more comfortable.
• Acrylic: Also made from synthetic fiber, acrylic carpets are moth-resistant, fade-resistant, and a cheaper alternative to wool carpets. Despite their comfort, acrylic carpets are relatively not durable and have a shorter lifespan than wool carpets.
• Wool: This is a carpet type made from natural fiber. Wool carpets are decently dust-resistant, comfortable, environmentally friendly, and durable. However, the disadvantages of this material type include its cost and maintenance.

Having considered the necessary factors, carpet cleaning methods most professional carpet cleaners utilize include:

• Dry powder cleaning: As the name implies, this cleaning method involves very little water. The process is to spray powder cleaning solution, mixed with little specialized solvent, on the carpet and wait a few minutes for the mixed solution to take effect. After the brief wait, a specialized cleaning machine is used to vacuum the carpet.
• Carpet shampooing: This entails applying liquid carpet shampoo to the carpet with a cleaning brush or machine and then wiping off the carpet’s surface. Some carpet cleaners prefer to make their shampoo by mixing compatible cleaning solutions.
• Hot water extraction: This involves using a high-pressure machine to spray the carpet with hot water containing cleaning agents. This pumps out dirt and debris from the carpet and brings them to the surface. The pumped-out dirt and debris are then vacuumed along with the sprayed water. 
• Encapsulation cleaning: This method involves using cleaning solutions that begin to dry up once sprayed. As the solution dries up, it traps dirt, debris, and stains, which are later vacuumed from the carpet.
• Bonnet cleaning: This requires a specialized cleaning machine with a rotating cleaning pad. The machine typically has a compartment for putting mixed cleaning solution, which the cleaning pad applies to the carpet surface to wipe off dirt and debris.

Below is a table that shows the pros and cons of each carpet cleaning method:

Are Your Cleaning Products Safe for Kids and Pets?

Similar to cleaning methods, there are various cleaning products available to professional carpet cleaners. Some products are more compatible with a cleaning method than others, which primarily influences what product your carpet cleaner may use. However, note that not all cleaning products are certified safe for use. Some products contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), which are harmful healthwise. Likewise, these products sometimes have other harmful chemicals, such as:

• Formaldehyde
• Phthalates
• Sodium hydroxide
• Ammonia 

The health effects of these products are wide-ranging and may be mild or severe. Generally, these include:

• Headaches
• Skin irritation
• Allergic reactions
• Breathing difficulties
• Dizziness
• Nosebleeds
• Cancer

Considering these health concerns, it is imperative to confirm that the cleaning products your carpet cleaners may use are safe and not hazardous to your health. If you are unsatisfied with your carpet cleaner’s response, it is best to find another one. Alternatively, you can find safe cleaning supplies yourself and give them to the carpet cleaner you hire for your cleaning job. One way to find out if a cleaning product is safe for use is to check it on the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s safer choice portal. This portal has a list of products certified safe for use, which you can use to filter out unsafe products.

What Other Cleaning Services Do You Provide?

Besides offering professional cleaning services, some cleaning companies in Philadelphia also provide other cleaning services to clients. These services typically relate to housekeeping but may vary by company. If you are interested in cleaning other parts of your house besides your carpet, you can confirm with your carpet cleaning company whether they offer your needed service. Note that some companies bill separately for these other cleaning services, and you should find this out to assist with your budgeting. 

More cleaning services offered by cleaning companies in Philadelphia include:

• House cleaning services: this entails periodic cleaning activities that help keep the home neat and tidy. The service mostly involves surface cleaning, including dusting, sweeping, mopping, and arranging household items. House cleaning typically costs between $35 - $80 per hour.
• Deep cleaning services: this service is more intricate than regular house cleaning services. It involves cleaning every area of the house, including areas with the least traffic, corners, and underneath heavy objects like shelves and bed frames. Deep cleaning services are typically occasional since they can be labor-intensive. This service can cost anywhere between $250 - $1,000.
• Window cleaning services: this service involves cleaning dirt off a building’s window and keeping it clean. This may be occasional or frequent, costing between $150 - $350.
• Pet odor and stain removal: this is a form of deep carpet cleaning aimed at removing pet stains and odor, especially from fecal matter, outdoor dirt, and food spills. This service costs between $300 - $750.
• Pressure washing services: this service entails cleaning floors and hard surfaces with a high-pressure water sprayer. The water may be mixed with cleaning solution. It costs around $150 - $800.
• Laundry cleaning services: this involves washing a range of fabric materials, including clothes and dresses, bedsheets, kitchen gloves, and cover clothes. Some packages include folding these fabrics. The service typically costs $1 - $3 per item.
• Upholstery cleaning services: this service entails cleaning the fabric or cloth material attached to a piece of furniture, especially sofas. It costs anywhere in the $110 - $250 range.
• Disinfection and sanitization cleaning services: this involves cleaning a building and surrounding objects, such as pieces of furniture, with cleaning solutions that are hostile to bacteria, viruses, and pathogens. This helps to stop their spread and create a healthy environment. The service costs between $90 - $400.
• Green cleaning services: this service involves using organic cleaning products, as opposed to synthetic chemical-based ones, to perform a cleaning service. The cost of this service is in the $10 - $50 per hour range.
• Pest control cleaning services: this service aims to curb the spread of pest and rodent infestation, eliminate these pests, and sanitize affected areas. It typically involves fumigation and sanitization cleaning. It costs around $30 - $70 for weekly visits.
• Rug cleaning services: this is similar to carpet cleaning services since the same cleaning methods work for both rugs and carpets. However, rugs are smaller than carpets and are not affixed to the floor. Rug cleaning involves wiping stains and dirt off rugs, and it costs around $70 - $300.
• Mattress cleaning services: this service entails removing stains and odor from a mattress without damaging it. It costs between $50 - $200.
• Tile and Grout cleaning services: this service involves cleaning tile flooring while placing focus on the grout lines. This cleaning is mostly done to remove dirt and dust buildup on the tile flooring and help retain its original appearance. The cost of this service is in the $250 - $800 range.
• Hardwood Floor cleaning services: this service entails using special techniques to maintain the quality of hardwood floors, keep them clean, and prevent usual damages like termite infestation and peeling finish. It costs between $0.65 - $1.5 per square foot.

How Long Will It Take for My Carpet to Dry?

How long your carpet will take to dry after a cleaning job is something to be concerned about. This concern understandably heightens when you have pets and need to keep them out of the house temporarily, or you have people coming over. Carpet drying timeframes vary widely, as this depends on many factors. Nonetheless, most carpets take around eight hours to dry. The factors that influence this timeframe include:

• The carpet’s fabric: Carpets made from fabrics that retain more water take relatively longer to dry. For example, wool carpets retain more water than nylon carpets, so they take longer to dry as a consequence.

• The cleaning method: Carpets cleaned using high-moisture cleaning methods tend to have a higher drying downtime than most low-moisture cleaning methods.

• Climate conditions: Carpets cleaned in low humidity climate conditions dry slower than those in high humidity climate conditions. 

A general influence is also the nature of the service you need. Deep cleaning services would typically require high-moisture cleaning techniques. Therefore, deep-cleaned carpets may take longer to dry than carpets cleaned at the surface level. 

If you need your carpets to dry faster, some of the helpful ways to achieve this include:

• Place the carpet under a fan
• Use a dehumidifier
• Try a water extraction or drying equipment
• Open your doors and windows if possible

Are You Insured and Bonded?

Insurance and bonding are safeguards to ensure that a carpet cleaner’s client does not suffer financial problems because of the cleaner’s actions. These financial problems are possible in instances where the carpet cleaner or their employee sustains injuries on the job, causes injuries to a third party, or causes property damage, and the client is held responsible wholly or partly. Injury situations are more common, as carpet cleaners are prone to wide-ranging injuries on the job, including skin burns, trips and falls, cuts and bruises, and other bodily injuries. 

By hiring an insured and bonded carpet cleaner, you can avoid these financial problems should any issue happen during your project. It should be noted that while insurance and bond help prevent out-of-pocket expenses on the part of a client, they both operate differently. Insurance financially indemnifies the carpet cleaner and client if a particular event occurs during the job, such as an injury or property damage. On the other hand, a bond protects the client and helps them recover monies spent if the carpet cleaner fails to perform their job. The client may also receive the money necessary to help them fix any problems the carpet cleaner’s failure caused to the carpet. 

Also, note that not all insurance policies are relevant to carpet cleaning. However, some of the relevant policies are:

• General liability insurance: this covers occurrences of bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury
• Workers’ compensation insurance: this covers occurrences of employee injury while working
• Employee dishonesty insurance: this covers losses a client suffers due to the fraudulent actions of a carpet cleaner or their employees

To this end, verify that your carpet cleaner is bonded, has relevant insurance, and the insurance coverage amount is decent enough to indemnify you. Before hiring your preferred capret cleaner, it is best to ask for evidence of bonding and insurance and confirm it with the issuing organizations.