How To Properly Clean Carpets In Your Rental Property

A carpet at your rental is a welcome value, and its maintenance is something you should not neglect.

In this article, we will look at how you can properly take care of the carpet at your rental, so it can be as cosy as the first day and avoid trouble with your landlord.

Why is carpet cleaning important for a rental property?

Cleaning the carpet at your rental is essential for a few reasons. While it is the cosiest flooring by far, unfortunately, it traps all nasty particles, like dirt and allergens. This is especially true for carpets with higher piles.

On the one hand, this can bring along a lot of health issues, especially if you have allergies or asthma. On the other hand, dirt build-up can cause fibre damage to the carpet. Carpet damage could easily become a reason for your landlord to tap into your tenancy deposit.

Having your carpet unclean could also invite pest infestation. This is why you should do your best to perform basic carpet maintenance a few times a month or call professional cleaning services for help if you don't have the time or the knowledge to do carpet or property maintenance as a whole.

What to know before you start

Before you decide to tackle the carpet at your rental, you must check what products you can use to clean it. Some detergents can turn out to be way too harsh for the carpet and leave it discoloured.

Ask your landlord if they know about safe products or use something as mild as dish soap and water. If you want to use a carpet cleaner, apply some on a cloth and lightly dab it onto a remote area of the carpet to check if it will discolour it.

Step-by-step carpet cleaning

Once you know what type of carpet you have and what cleaning detergents are safe to use, you are set to begin the journey to a cosier and healthier carpet in your rental. Here is what you need to do:

• Prepare all the tools you will use - detergents, broom/vacuum cleaner, steam cleaner.
• Remove objects sitting over your carpet.
• Vacuum or broom the carpet to remove dirt.
• Apply safe detergent or home remedies to stains on the carpet to loosen them up.
• Let your carpet sit with the detergent or home remedies for a bit.
• Use the steam cleaner to perform a deep clean.
• Get the carpet to dry off properly, especially if it's made out of organic materials.

Declutter and move furniture

Cleaning the carpet at your rental will also allow you to eliminate any unnecessary items in the room.

Since you need to open up space, you will move the furniture and get the chance to go through your stuff. Use this opportunity to rid yourself of belongings you do not use and to tidy up the rest.

Once you have removed the clutter, try to relocate lighter furniture outside the room. Ask a buddy to help with the moving if you have big, heavy furniture.

You will need to move everything to get to any hidden dirt and stains, and you might have to move things around more than once.

Pre-treat any stains

Remember always to broom before you start pre-treating stains. Otherwise, any dirt that has been on the surface will get pushed deeper into the carpet fibres.

Once you have freed up plenty of space, you will be able to see any stained areas of your carpet. If you spot a stain and you are able to identify what has caused it, it will be much easier for you to come up with a treatment plan.

Otherwise, you could go with general detergents and some mild homemade mixtures to see if they will have an effect.

Double-check usage for the detergent and if it's safe for the carpet in your rental. Test if it will discolour your carpet before applying it to the stained spot.

Using a steam cleaning machine

Grabbing a steam cleaner will help easily clean any deep stains, freshen up your rental carpet, and make it last much longer.

If you do not have one yourself, it will be wiser for you to rent one instead of buying one. If you already have children or pets, it might be worth the investment as you'll need to clean more regularly.

When you are using a steam cleaner, it is important to remember that you should dry any organic carpets as best as you can.

Otherwise, the dampness can lead to mould and mildew growth. Ask your landlord for assistance if you are unsure about the type of carpet in the rental. Synthetic carpets cannot grow mould.

DIY carpet cleaning methods

If you first want to try out some carpet cleaning methods before relying on property maintenance services, here are a few ideas you should try:

• White vinegar and water. This mixture is harsher than dish soap and water. Combine 1/4 cup vinegar with 1L of hot water. Blot the stained spot. Rinse with water, then dry it off, dabbing with a cloth, and if the stain is still there, apply the mixture again. Rinse and repeat until the stain is gone.

• Vinegar and baking soda. This is an even stronger mixture that can deal with most stains. However, you must let it sit for 10 - 15 minutes. Combine 2 cups of hot water and 2 cups of white vinegar. Carefully and slowly add about 3 tablespoons of soda to the mixture, stir it and then put it into a spray bottle. Spray it and let it sit. Blot the spot with a clean cloth, and it should come off.

• Salt. Put some over the stained spot. Add a bit of hot water if the stain has been long dry. Let it sit for a bit. Vacuum the salt, and the stain should be gone.

• Club soda. Fill a spray bottle with club soda. Spay on the stained spot. Dab for a bit and spray again. Repeat until the stain comes off.

When to hire a cleaning service?

You don't have to be a cleaning expert, research and then perform property repairs and maintenance you’ve never done before. Though, you might eventually have to deal with carpet cleaning since every tenant needs to perform end of tenancy cleaning.

Returning a rental to its looks from the beginning of your tenancy is one of your major responsibilities as a tenant. Failing to do so might lead to a deposit deduction by your landlord.

Great cleaning services will take care of any property maintenance troubles you might have, offering high-quality, affordable move-out cleaning.

This includes properly cleaning the carpet at your rental, so you can get a quick release of your deposit once your end of tenancy month is nigh. You don't have to worry about how to do end of tenancy cleaning if the professionals can do it quicker and stress-free for you.

Conclusion

A well-maintained carpet is a testimony you care for the rental property and is an easy way to build goodwill with your landlord.

Do not hesitate to call end of tenancy cleaning services to help you during your term or move-out cleaning for healthier, shiny carpets and happy landlords.