If you’ve attempted to clean carpets alone, you’re aware of how hard it can be when you’re not aware of the entire process. There is so much you need to know, which is why it is best to have a professional take care of it. Read on to learn what you should consider when choosing a company.

Be sure and compare several cleaning services to each other prior to selecting one. Customer reviews are a great way to find out the good, bad and the ugly of each prospective carpet cleaning company you are considering hiring. Check with the BBB for the company’s local reputation, and don’t hire a company who doesn’t have a good one.

Carpet cleaning companies also usually offer other types of services. Many carpet cleaning companies also offer upholstery cleaning services. You might even be able to find a carpet/upholstery special.

Be aware that the chemicals that carpet cleaners use are potentially hazardous. Consider environmentally friendly solutions for cleaning your carpet, including rinses containing baking soda or vinegar to rid the carpet of chemical residue.

For quick cleaning, use distilled white vinegar. Even though this solution usually does an adequate job, hiring a professional carpet cleaning service is usually the wisest choice. Never use any cleaning solution before testing it on a small, hidden portion of carpet.

Try out a few products before choosing one that is best for cleaning your carpet. Tons of choices exist, but certain products are meant for certain kinds of carpets. Having the company test a small spot first will ensure that they do not damage your carpets.

Each type of cleaning solution a professional uses comes with instructions. You need to know about the best solutions to use, the type of ventilation you need and what sort of poison control to exercise in case of accidental contact with the solution. These are all things you should know before you use the product.

If you have a very difficult stain in your carpets, consider hiring a professional. A professional cleaning company has an arsenal capable of eliminating stains from food, grease and even bodily fluids–things which might otherwise be difficult to remove. The best part is that these people can usually eliminate stains without damaging the carpets. As a result, although you will have to make an initial investment, these professionals can end up saving you money over the long run.

Get in touch with your city’s chamber of commerce to get a concise list of local carpet cleaners. They can tell you which companies are local and they can provide lists of complaints that you can look at. Doing these things can help ensure you choose the best company.

Before hiring a company, ask them what they do before they actually start cleaning. You should be looking to find a company that vacuums before they do deep cleaning. The carpet is going to look much better when done, so if the cleaner refuses to vacuum, find another company.

Remove all the houseplants from the areas in your home which are going to be cleaned. This protects your plants from any potentially harmful chemicals the carpet cleaners may be using. Many companies don’t reimburse for this kind of loss, so you must be proactive.

Always have a chemical stain remover, baking soda, vinegar and table salt available to clean up stains immediately. This will make the process of professional cleaning go much smoother down the line. This type of product can be immediately applied to the stain as soon as it occurs, and let it sit on the stain for as long as the instructions state to do so. Clockwise sprays help to cover the whole stain and provide the best results.

Red Wine

If you’ve ever spilled red wine on your carpet, you know how dreadful the stains can be. When you treat the stain ASAP, it will minimize any damage. You can immediately use some white wine to help dilute a red wine stain. Use some cold water and absorb the stain with a clean cloth. This way, you won’t be forced to look at the ugly stains forever. You could also just call in a cleaning professional, which would be a less labor intensive way of handling the problem.

Ask the carpet cleaning company you plan to hire what kind of solvents and chemicals they use to clean your carpet. Take the time to look into their methods so you can determine how environmentally friendly the carpet cleaners are. If everyone insists their carpet cleaners use environmentally safe cleaning products, the cumulative effect would be enormous.

If you take the advice you’ve read into consideration, you will have a much easier time going about getting your carpets cleaned. Do your best to clean your carpet regularly, and consider hiring a professional if you need help. That should be easier now.