Carpets play a major role in the comfort and appearance of your home, but they also act as a magnet for dirt, dust, allergens, and bacteria. While regular vacuuming is essential, it only removes surface debris and doesn’t address what’s trapped deep within the carpet fibres. This often leads homeowners to ask an important question: how often should you get your carpets professionally cleaned?
The answer depends on several factors, including household size, lifestyle, and health considerations. Below, we break down what affects carpet cleanliness and how often professional carpet cleaning is recommended.
General Recommendation for Professional Carpet Cleaning
As a general rule, most households should have their carpets professionally cleaned every 12 months. This helps remove embedded dirt, bacteria, and allergens that regular vacuuming cannot reach. Annual cleaning also keeps carpets looking fresher, extends their lifespan, and helps maintain indoor air quality.
However, many homes benefit from more frequent professional carpet cleaning depending on usage and environmental factors.
Homes with Children or High Foot Traffic
If your home has children or experiences heavy foot traffic, carpets tend to accumulate dirt much faster. Mud, food spills, and everyday play can push grime deep into the fibres, leading to staining and odours over time.
In busy households, professional carpet cleaning is recommended every 6 to 9 months. This helps maintain hygiene, keeps carpets looking presentable, and reduces bacteria build-up in areas where children spend time playing on the floor.
Pet Owners and Carpet Cleaning Frequency
Pets bring joy to a home, but they also bring hair, dander, odours, and occasional accidents. Even well-trained pets contribute to faster carpet wear and hygiene issues that vacuuming alone can’t fix.
For homes with pets, it’s best to schedule professional carpet cleaning every 6 months. This removes pet hair, neutralises odours, and reduces allergens, creating a cleaner and more comfortable living environment for both people and animals.
Allergy Sufferers and Health Considerations
Carpets can trap allergens such as dust mites, pollen, mould spores, and pet dander. For individuals with allergies, asthma, or respiratory conditions, dirty carpets can significantly impact health and comfort.
If anyone in your household suffers from allergies, professional carpet cleaning is recommended every 3 to 6 months. Deep cleaning improves indoor air quality and helps reduce allergy symptoms by removing irritants embedded in the carpet.
Rental Properties and Professional Carpet Cleaning
For rental properties, professional carpet cleaning is often required at the end of a tenancy. However, landlords and tenants alike benefit from more regular cleaning to protect the condition of the carpets.
In rental homes, carpets should ideally be professionally cleaned at least once a year, or more frequently in high-use areas. This helps prevent long-term damage and keeps the property in good condition for future occupants.
Why Regular Professional Carpet Cleaning Matters
Knowing how often you should get your carpets professionally cleaned isn’t just about appearance – it’s about hygiene, comfort, and longevity. Dirt and grit act like sandpaper within carpet fibres, wearing them down over time. Regular professional cleaning removes this abrasive debris, helping carpets last longer and look better.
Professional cleaning also removes bacteria, allergens, and odours that household cleaning methods simply can’t reach, creating a healthier living environment.
Conclusion
So, how often should you get your carpets professionally cleaned? For most homes, once a year is a good baseline, but households with pets, children, allergies, or heavy foot traffic will benefit from more frequent cleaning.
At Refresh Carpet Cleaning, we provide professional carpet cleaning services tailored to your home’s needs. Using specialist equipment and effective cleaning techniques, we remove deep-seated dirt, allergens, and stains – helping your carpets stay fresh, hygienic, and long-lasting.
