‘Affordable’ is a relative word of course, what may be affordable to you, may not be affordable to me or other people.

So rather than try and convince of what I think is affordable or just tell you about the cheapest offers I’ve found, I’m going to tell you about some of the marketing techniques used by professional carpet cleaning companies and what you will need to look out for.

Ridiculously Cheap per Room rates!

So the most common one that’s going about at the moment is where a carpet cleaning company offers to clean your carpets for $4.99 per room or $19.99 or some other amazingly cheap price. Already you should be a bit wary because at $4.99 per room it’s not even worth driving to your house and lugging the equipment out of their van and into your house.

These have featured on the news a little of late, and most of the carpet cleaning companies state (once they’re at your house) that the deal is only for the cleaning of your carpet with hot water. That’s fine if you’ve just had your carpets cleaned a week ago, but then, why would you call out a carpet cleaner unless you had dirty carpet, right?

The following story from NBC Action News shows exactly what happens when you try and use these coupons for great carpet cleaning deals.

In the video above they mention the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification). This is a non-profit certification organization that establishes and monitors certification programs and standards for the cleaning industry. Their guidelines state that a professional carpet clean should include the following things.

Dry Soil Removal – giving your carpet a good vacuum

Soil Suspension – Application of a cleaning solution that is designed to separate soil from the carpet fibers.

Soil Extraction – The most popular method for soil removal among professionals is hot water extraction.

Grooming, as necessary – To eliminate pile distortion and matting, to properly distribute additives, such as carpet protectors, and to create an even appearance of your carpet.

Drying – Damp carpet resoils rapidly so it needs to be dried.

The video showed that there are a few companies out there who will actually honor their coupons… but they’re few and far between.

My advice would be to make sure that you make it clear to the company that you have a coupon that you want to use and get them to tell you exactly what you will be getting for that price.

Typically professional carpet cleaning costs start at around $79 for a small area and go up from there, depending on the size of your home and the type of cleaning you choose. Plus, stairs and hallways are generally not considered part of a room. Most companies will offer a free in-home estimate.

Ask about certification: Only use carpet cleaning companies who can show certification from IICRC, which most manufacturers require, and are insured and bonded.

Obtain a written contract: Before any work is done, obtain a written contract with the total prices and statement of guarantees that the cleaning company offers. Most reputable companies will return if carpet stains show back up after they leave – so ask about any guarantees before you sign a contract.