Regular cleaning can extend the life of the carpets in your Everett rental properties. Albeit an expensive maintenance item, shampooing carpets serves to extend its usefulness. It will only become a bit burdensome if you do it more than once a year. One way to save on costs is to clean the carpets in your rental house yourself. The question is, is it cost-effective? Exploring the advantages and disadvantages of both professional and do-it-yourself carpet cleaning can hopefully help you arrive at a well-informed decision as to which one would suit your needs best.
Most people know that cleaning carpets will help remove stains and odors. But regular cleaning does more than that. It can restore the look and feel of carpets, especially nylon carpet, and remove deeply embedded dirt that a regular vacuum cleaner is unable to remove. For most carpets, manufacturers recommend using a hot water extraction method, often referred to as “steam cleaning.” This method deep cleans carpets by spraying hot water (often mixed with a cleaning solution) onto the carpet and then using strong suction to remove it, along with the dirt.
Most professional carpet cleaners, as well as do-it-yourself carpet cleaning machines, use the same hot water extraction method. But there are usually distinct differences in the process as well as the results. Professional carpet cleaners often use either a truck-mounted cleaning unit or a portable unit. If you are particular about the quality of results, the more preferred out of the two are the truck-mounted units. For good reason; they are more powerful, extract water more efficiently, and lead to shorter drying times. Renting or buying a steam cleaning machine is an option, too, however. These units are more affordable, as well. So as not to feel like maintenance is such a daunting task, know that your carpets only need a few touch-ups between full cleanings. You can use a smaller device on hand to address spills or accidents.
The DIY route has its advantages; but it also has its own set of disadvantages. Using a smaller personal machine does take more time than a professional cleaner typically would. What if you need to do an entire rental house or large areas? If you don’t mind spending a whole day dedicated to cleaning carpets, then it shouldn’t be much of a problem. Despite all of the trying and working, the results are likely to be less than ideal. Smaller carpet cleaning machines often don’t remove enough of the water from the carpet, so it can take carpets a very long time to dry. The longer the drying time, the higher the risk for complications like mold or further dirt collection, so using fans to speed the process is usually recommended. It’s also probable that you might use too much or too little cleaning solution. Using too much or too little can cause problems like having a stiff carpet or an insufficient level of cleanliness.
While professional cleaning will usually give you good results, it does come at a price. The advanced technology and service professional carpet cleaners provide will cost more than trying to do it yourself. In hopes of saving a few dollars, others try to look for bargain deals. Not all of them are bad, but you do have to understand the risk of getting anything between shoddy service and full scams. However, professional carpet cleaning is more efficient, takes less time to dry, and usually only takes a couple of hours (or less), depending on the area. If you tend to use the same company regularly, they might be willing to offer you a deal.
It’s all up to you whether you want to hire a professional carpet cleaner or do it yourself. Keep in mind to make an informed decision based on all the information available. After all, every reward and benefit made is all for you and your rental property.
If all of these nitty-gritty details are a bit too much for you, our competent team of Everett property managers at Real Property Management Commonwealth can help you, all so that you don’t have to go about this yourself. One of the services we do is regular maintenance. Save yourself the hassle! Please contact us online or call us at 617-299-2342 to learn more about how we can serve you.
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