Professional carpet cleaning costs $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot or $40 to $90+ per room on average. The price per room typically goes down when hiring a professional to clean multiple rooms in your home. A whole-house carpet cleaning job ranges from $200 to $700+, depending on the number of rooms and the soil level of the carpets. Professionals typically charge extra for stairs, hard-to-access areas, heavily soiled carpets, or multiple stained areas that require pre-treatment and more time and effort to clean.

Carpet cleaning companies do not expect you to tip. However, if the cleaners spend more time than expected or they go above and beyond for you, tipping 10% to 20% of your total bill is a good general guideline to follow.

Professional carpet cleaning takes 20 minutes per room on average. The timing can vary greatly depending on several factors, including the room size, the amount of furniture that needs to be moved, how dirty the carpet is, and whether the cleaners need to pre-treat stained areas. Adding Scotchgard or other stain preventers also adds to the cleaning time.

You should get your carpets professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months on average for carpets with low to moderate foot traffic. If you have children, pets, family members with allergies, high foot traffic, or smokers in the home, hire a professional service to deep clean the carpets every 6 months.

Yes, professional carpet cleaning removes bad odors, mold, mildew, and pet stains. Be sure to talk to your carpet cleaning professional beforehand about the specific odor and stain problems you have, as this information may affect the type of cleaning solution they use to target the issues.

Professional carpet cleaning companies will often move small or basic furniture pieces for free and charge extra only for large, awkward, or heavy pieces. Other may charge a fee for any furniture moving, or they may decline to furniture at altogether. If you need furniture moved before the cleaning, be sure to ask about it before hiring and get a detailed estimate in writing.

Carpet takes 6 to 24 hours to dry completely on average after a professional cleaning. Drying time depends in several factors, such as the cleaning method, air circulation, indoor temperature, and humidity. Use floor drier fans, open windows, or turn on the air conditioner to facilitate faster drying. 

To find the best carpet local carpet cleaners:

• Ask 3+ reputable carpet cleaning companies for estimates with similar details to compare.
• Request a list of references from their past customers.
• Verify the company is licensed and insured.
• Read carpet cleaner reviews on sites like HomeGuide and Google.
• Ask them about their employee training process and confirm they perform background checks.
• Ask about their warranties and guarantees and get an estimate and contract in writing.
• Never make the final payment before the job is complete.

Ask the following questions to help you choose the best professional carpet cleaning service for your needs:

• How long have you been professionally cleaning carpets?
• Are you licensed and insured?
• What cleaning method do you recommend for my carpet, and why?
• Are all your cleaning solutions tested and considered child and pet safe?
• Are your cleaning solutions and equipment approved by the Carpet and Rug Institute?
• Will you move furniture before cleaning? Does it cost extra?
• Do you offer free estimates?
• What does the estimate include?
• Are you running any deals or specials?
• Can you give me a list of references to contact?
• How long will the carpet cleaning take?
• Do you guarantee your work?
• What do I need to provide you with to get started?