Carpet Shampooing

Why carpets need more than vacuuming

Regular vacuuming only removes loose surface dirt — it doesn't reach the dirt and dust that work their way down into carpet fibres over weeks of foot traffic, or lift stains that have already set. Left long enough, that embedded dirt breaks down carpet fibres from the inside and dulls the colour, which is why carpets that are vacuumed regularly can still look tired without a periodic deep clean.

What's included

Our carpet and rug shampooing service uses deep-extraction equipment — shampoo is worked into the fibres and then extracted along with the loosened dirt, rather than left to dry on the surface the way some budget cleaning methods do. This lifts embedded dirt that vacuuming alone can't remove and treats visible stains directly.

How pricing works

Carpet shampooing is priced per 100 sq ft, so cost scales directly with the area being cleaned — a small area rug and a full living-room carpet are priced according to their actual size rather than a flat per-item rate. Larger areas and heavily soiled carpets are quoted after inspection, since the amount of product and time needed can vary significantly with how soiled the carpet already is.

Extraction cleaning

Extraction cleaning is used rather than dry powder methods because it physically removes the dirt from the carpet rather than just encapsulating it — this generally gives a deeper clean and a longer-lasting result, at the cost of a longer drying time than a dry-clean method.

Drying time

Carpets typically need several hours to fully dry after extraction cleaning, depending on humidity and airflow in the room — this is worth planning around if you need the room usable again quickly.

When to book

Carpets in regular-use areas benefit from shampooing every four to six months; high-traffic carpets or homes with pets may need it more often. It pairs well with sofa cleaning if you're refreshing multiple fabric surfaces at once.

What's not included

Carpet repair (fraying edges, damaged backing) isn't part of a cleaning visit. Very old or delicate rugs (antique, hand-woven, or wool-silk blends) should be flagged at booking, as they may need gentler handling than a standard carpet.

Products and equipment used

Crews use carpet shampoo formulated for deep-extraction equipment, which works the product into the fibres and then extracts it back out along with the loosened dirt — this is different from surface-only foam cleaners, and generally lifts more embedded dirt as a result. Stain-specific pre-treatments are used on visible marks before the general shampoo pass.

How to prepare for your visit

Clear furniture and loose items off the carpet or rug where possible so the crew can treat the full area, including edges near walls and under furniture legs. Point out any specific stains and what caused them if known, since different stains (food, pet, ink) sometimes need different pre-treatment. Plan to keep the room clear for several hours afterward while the carpet dries fully.

After the visit

Keep the room well-ventilated and avoid walking on the carpet in shoes while it dries — this is when it's most vulnerable to re-soiling. If a stubborn stain is still faintly visible once dry (some deeply set stains need more than one treatment), let us know so a follow-up can be discussed.

Signs it's time to book

Carpets that look visibly duller than their original colour, hold onto smells after airing the room, or show traffic patterns (darker paths where people walk most) are past what vacuuming alone can restore, and are good candidates for a full extraction clean.