Vacuuming is one of the best ways to keep your carpets clean. However, there is only so much your vacuum cleaner can do. This is where professional carpet cleaning comes into play. Most professional carpet cleaners use heavy-duty equipment and commercial-grade materials to remove visible dirt and stains and eliminate dust mites and other microscopic pollutants.

Now, as a homeowner, you might wonder how much you’ll pay for carpet cleaning services. The pricing varies depending on the age and condition of your carpet and the size of the rooms. This article will discuss how much it costs and whether it might be worth it for you!

Factors Affecting the Carpet Cleaning Cost

Area of Carpet

Square footage is one of the most common indicators of the carpet cleaning price. Most companies measure the area before cleaning to provide you with an estimate. Having a bigger home will save you money since carpet cleaners will likely give a lower rate if you have a larger carpeted floor area. This means if you have a small home, it might not be cost-efficient to choose this kind of pricing. On average, expect the carpet cleaning to pay between $0.20 and $0.40 per square foot.

Number of Rooms

Some carpet cleaning companies also charge a flat fee per room, meaning each carpeted room can be cleaned at a fixed price regardless of the size. If the company might impose a cap on size, a large room may be charged as two rooms if it exceeds certain square footage. According to HomeAdvisor, most homeowners pay around $25 and $75 per room.

Types of Stains and Dirt

The dirtier your carpet gets, the more time you’ll spend cleaning it. Having hard-to-remove stains and stubborn spots will likely cost you more. Stains on the carpet are irritating and quite difficult to eliminate. Water-soluble, protein-based, and oil-based stains require extra care and specialized products to treat and blot up. 

If you have a carpet stain that you can’t get rid of, call in a professional carpet cleaner. The carpet cleaning expert will charge depending on how severe the stains are.

Carpet Cleaning Methods Required for the Job

As a homeowner, you are given various carpet cleaning methods to choose from. Not all cleaning techniques will work for your carpet, so make sure to be informed before making a decision.

One option is dry carpet cleaning. Costs between $75 and $350, dry carpet cleaning is used to remove surface-level dirt and quickly dry the material within 1-2 hours.

On the other hand, steam cleaning is the most popular method that involves pressure to deep clean and lift buildup from the carpet fibers. It is also known as hot water extraction and costs between $100 and $500.

Price Range for Carpet Cleaning Service

Carpet cleaning companies charge their clients depending on quality, cleaning techniques, the areas that need to be cleaned, and your carpet’s condition. Here’s a list of sample computations per square footage:

For a 140-Square-Foot Carpeted Room:

Price Per Square Foot – Estimated Costs

18 cents per square foot – $25.00 (Carpet doesn’t look dirty)

28 cents per square foot – $40.00 (Carpet looks fairly dirty)

36 cents per square foot – $50.00 (Carpet is very dirty)

For a Whole House With Three 1000-Square-Foot Rooms:

Price Per Square Foot – Estimated Total Costs

18 cents per square foot – $180.00 (Carpet doesn’t look dirty)

28 cents per square foot – $280.00 (Carpet looks fairly dirty)

36 cents per square foot – $360.00 (Carpet is very dirty)

Aside from overcharging, you need to watch out for companies that charge you too little. They might lure you for cheap prices and amazing discounts but will deliver poor quality, and you might end up wasting money. Always remember that quality comes with a price.

Proper Carpet Care and Maintenance

Carpets need regular cleaning and maintenance to remove dirt and maintain their like-new appearance. Professional carpet cleanings every 12 to 18 months are required to keep your carpets clean, fresh, and fluffy. Don’t wait until your carpets are beyond cleaning and repair. Remember that the longer it takes to get rid of the carpet stains and dirt, the more money you need to spend.

If you wait too long, your carpets can look filthy and become permanently damaged. Dirt and grime on your carpet will increase the likelihood of stains and expose you to pollutants and allergens. Prolong your carpet’s lifespan and improve indoor air quality by having your carpets cleaned regularly.

Carpet Cleaning Add-Ons

Stain Removal

Additional costs will be charged if there are pet accidents, blood, coffee, or other kinds of stains visible on your carpet. These spills, spots, and blemishes require heavy-duty equipment, special treatment, and extra effort—that’s why most companies offer it as a separate service. Stain removal costs anywhere from $40 to $300, depending on the stain’s type and size.

Carpet Restoration and Repairs

Based on a HomeAdvisor article, the extent of the damage, size, and carpet material can affect the carpet repair costs. Homeowners usually pay between $129 and $270 to repair carpets or $198 on average. The most common carpets are stretching, patching, dyeing, burn repair, and water damage repair. If your carpet is too damaged to be repaired, you may consider buying a new one.

Stair Cleaning

You will have to pay from $2 to $3 per individual step for the removal of dirt and high traffic stains on your carpeted staircase. Since not all customers need stair cleaning, this is an extra service and not included in the regular carpet cleaning and repair applications.

Trust the Carpet Cleaning Experts

The best way to keep your carpet in its tip-top condition is by hiring a professional carpet cleaner. Carpet Cleaning Pros of Lancaster is committed to making your carpets spotless and clean to the core!