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• Carpet Cleaning
• Cleaning Services
• Cleaning Strategy
• Cleaning Tips
• Professional Carpet Cleaning
• Stain Removal

Question: How often should I get my carpets cleaned?

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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. [Editor's Note: Ad links featured on this page are not affiliated with IICRC and should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by IICRC.]

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
  

• 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)
  

 (Heavy-Use Area Cleaning and Restorative Cleaning are often best handled by professionals. Find a Certified Professional at www.certifiedcleaners.org.)

About IICRC

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is a non-profit certifying body for the floor and carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and disaster restoration industry. Organized in 1972, the IICRC currently represents more than 5200 Certified Firms and more than 42,000 Certified Technicians in 33 countries. The IICRC sets consensus standards for inspection, cleaning and disaster restoration. Locate IICRC-Certified Firms at www.certifiedcleaners.org.