How often should I get my carpets cleaned?

Answer: Frequently-used carpet should be professionally cleaned by a qualified technician at least annually – perhaps a little longer interval for infrequently-used carpet, and even sooner for carpet in homes of respiratory-sensitive or allergic persons, or in homes with indoor pets.

The following information from the IICRC S100 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Carpet Cleaning is a guide to cleaning frequencies for carpet. Factors to consider include: traffic, soil level, vacuuming schedules, spot cleaning schedules, professional interim cleaning schedules, and restorative cleaning schedules.

Remember: It’s important to follow the carpet manufacturer’s recommended cleaning schedule to maintain your warranty.

Residential Carpet Cleaning Frequency Guide

If you have:

Light Soil

• Vacuuming: 1x per week
• Spot Cleaning: Daily or as soon as spots are noticed
• Heavy-Use Area Cleaning (Professional Carpet Cleaner/Restorer): Traffic areas every 12 to 18 months
• Restorative Cleaning (Professional Carpet Cleaner/Restorer): Every 2 years or per manufacturer warranty

Normal Soil (families with children, elderly)

• Vacuuming: 1 to 2 x per week
• Spot Cleaning: Daily or as soon as spots are noticed
• Heavy-Use Area Cleaning (Professional Carpet Cleaner/Restorer): Traffic areas every 6 to 12 months
• Restorative Cleaning (Professional Carpet Cleaner/Restorer): Annually

Heavy Soil (families with pets, smoking)

• Vacuuming: 2 to 4 x per week
• Spot Cleaning: Daily or as soon as spots are noticed
• Heavy-Use Area Cleaning (Professional Carpet Cleaner/Restorer): Traffic areas every 3 to 6 months
• Restorative Cleaning (Professional Carpet Cleaner/Restorer): Semi-annually (2x annually)

Extreme Conditions (large families, multiple pets)

• Vacuuming: Daily
• Spot Cleaning: Daily or as soon as spots are noticed
• Heavy-Use Area Cleaning (Professional Carpet Cleaner/Restorer): Traffic lanes every 2 to 3 months
• Restorative Cleaning (Professional Carpet Cleaner/Restorer): Quarterly (4x annually)