Regular cleaning can extend the life of the carpets in your Elmhurst 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? Don’t hesitate to make inquiries on the advantages and disadvantages of both professional and do-it-yourself carpet cleaning. In doing so, you will be making a more informed decision. This will lead you to the best option for your properties.
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. Between the two choices, the truck-mounted units are more efficient since they are more powerful, extract water more efficiently, and lead to shorter drying times. Another option would be renting or buying a steam cleaning machine. This option might be more viable for people who are trying to stick to a budget. And if your carpet only needs a touch-up between full cleanings, you can always opt for smaller devices on hand to address spills or accidents.
Do take note, however, that while the DIY route might be cost-effective and efficient, it also has disadvantages. Using a smaller personal machine does take more time than a professional cleaner typically would. If the job is to work on an entire rental house or a large area, then you might very well end up spending your whole day cleaning carpets. 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. Too little or too much can lead to 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.
Instead of getting lost in these nitty-gritty details yourself, contact our Elmhurst property managers at Real Property Management DuPage Preferred to get all of this over and done with, for you. To relieve you of any possible hassle and stress, we’ve also included in our offerings, regular maintenance service. Please contact us online or call us at 630-427-2200 to learn more about how we can serve you.
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