For rental property owners, regular cleaning is essential to extend the life of the carpets and maintain their appeal, but shampooing carpets can become a significant financial burden, especially if it’s a recurring task throughout the year. To save on costs, you might choose to clean the carpets in your rental house yourself, taking ownership of this upkeep responsibility. But is DIY worth the effort?
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 critical upkeep measure—it removes stains and odors that can diminish a rental house’s allure and restores the carpet’s appearance by dislodging dirt trapped deep within the fibers, out of a typical vacuum’s grasp. Industry professionals often advocate for hot water extraction, also known as steam cleaning, which applies hot water mixed with a cleaning solution to the carpet, then uses strong suction to remove the dirt. Professional carpet cleaners and do-it-yourself machines both utilize hot water extraction to clean carpets, but their tools vary widely. Professionals employ powerful truck-mounted machines or portable units, with truck-mounted machines leading for their ability to make 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, serving as a useful stopgap between deep cleanings.
Comparing DIY and Professional Cleaning
Choosing to clean the carpets in your rental house yourself can save on costs, a big plus for managing expenses, but there are disadvantages to the DIY route that can pose problems. A smaller personal machine takes longer than a professional cleaner—cleaning the carpets throughout a rental house could stretch into 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, leading to a long time to dry and risks like mold or further dirt collection; fans to speed the process can help mitigate this. Using too much or too little cleaning solution might result in stiff carpets or inadequate cleanliness, making DIY less reliable for deep cleanings compared to professional-grade work.
Evaluating Professional Carpet Cleaning
Professional carpet cleaning offers excellent results, tapping into advanced technology and techniques that outshine most DIY efforts, though it comes at a higher cost that demands budgeting foresight. 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. While attempting to clean your carpets yourself might ease short-term spending, professional cleaning ensures lasting quality, though low-cost offers can risk poor service or scams. A savvy strategy: hire a professional carpet cleaner consistently from the same cleaning company—they may offer you a discount, blending well with your property management services.
Whether you hire a professional carpet cleaner or opt for do-it-yourself machines, knowing each method’s strengths helps you choose the option that is right for you and your rental properties. Regular cleaning extends carpet life and saves on costs by avoiding early wear, with professional cleaning excelling at deep cleanings for standout results and a smaller machine suited for quick clean-ups after spills or accidents. Weigh your priorities to pick the best approach.
For expert cleaning the carpets, the Bushland property management experts at Real Property Management of the High Plains offer property management services that deliver excellent results without the stress. Get in touch with us online or call 806-553-7914 today to enhance your rental house maintenance.
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