Get Quotes from Top Carpet Cleaning Services in Austin, TX

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Carpet Cleaner

If you are going for that pristine cleanliness for your carpet, you would have to use some cutting-edge tools and the right chemicals. Some of these cleaning chemicals do have adverse effects, such as skin burns, asthma attacks, and coughing, if handled by untrained persons. It is, therefore, a good idea to hire a professional rather than doing it yourself so as to avoid these hazards as well as the stress and time required to do a proper cleaning.

When looking for top carpet cleaners in Austin, ensure to contract those who are experienced, insured, and can satisfactorily answer the following inquiries:

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Carpet Cleaning Companies in Columbus?

Prior to entering into contracts with any Austin carpet cleaners, you should always find out how much you will be required to pay for your necessary carpet cleaning services. The majority of carpet cleaning businesses in Austin determine their prices either using square footage rates, where the customer is charged for each square foot cleaned, or per-room rates, where a flat payment is charged for each room completed. The total cost of these fees is often influenced by a number of factors, including

  • The urgency for the work
  • The cost of moving furniture, and other labor costs
  • The cleaning procedure and materials employed
  • The carpet's condition
  • Dimensions and type of carpet
  • Additional services include water damage cleanup, stain and odor removal, and room cleaning.

You should seriously consider requesting and comparing these estimates from at least three different firms before making your final decision. Many professional carpet cleaners in Austin give free pricing estimates for their services. If a carpet cleaner declines to provide you with an estimate before you sign any paperwork or if any estimate you receive is noticeably higher or lower than the others, take it as a warning sign. This is typically a red flag that the carpet cleaning company is unreliable and might be out to con you.

The list below offers typical prices for various carpet cleaning services provided by reputable carpet cleaning businesses in Austin:

250 square feet
$40 - $100
500 square feet
$100 - $200
1,000 square feet
$200 - $400
1,500 square feet
$300 - $500
2,000 square feet
$400 - $800
2,500 square feet
$500 - $1,000

Carpet Cleaning Cost Estimates per Room:

1 room
$45 - $80
2 rooms
$55 - $160
3 rooms
$80 - $310
4 rooms
$90 - $310
5 rooms
$140 - $610

Carpet Cleaning Cost Estimates Based on Cleaning Method:

Steam/Hot Water Extraction
$100 - $350
Carpet Shampooing
$100 - $250
Dry Cleaning
$65 - $140
Bonnet
$30 - $90
Encapsulation
$80 - $200

Carpet Cleaning Cost Estimates Based on Carpet Type:

Synthetic fiber carpets
$60 - $300
Natural fiber carpets
$100 - $450

Carpet Cleaning Cost Estimates Based on Type of Service:

Green carpet cleaning
$110 - $230
Carpet stain removal
$30 - $450
Upholstery cleaning
$50 - $100
Pet stain and odor cleaning/removal
$30 - $50 per hour
Stair carpet cleaning
$2 - $5 per stair
Water extraction
$400 – $2,000
Furniture moving
$10 - $50
Carpet patch repair
$100 - $250
Carpet re-stretching
$100 - $300
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Do You Conduct Background Checks on Your Carpet Cleaning Technicians?

It is crucial that you determine whether the carpet cleaner you are choosing is trustworthy. Simply put, looking at someone as the perfect match for a position based on their talents and experience is insufficient. Nowadays, the majority of businesses perform background checks on their employees to make sure they are reliable. Services like carpet cleaning should also do such background checks. It's crucial to find out whether a cleaning firm runs background checks on its personnel before hiring them because they will have access to your house. If the carpet cleaning company cannot guarantee that they will examine the backgrounds of their employees, consider this a warning sign.

A thorough background check enables a carpet cleaning business to recruit trustworthy employees who will not damage the company's reputation by robbing their customers out of their houses. These background checks show the following information about a worker's past:

  • Worker’s compensation records
  • State licensing records
  • Social Security number
  • Sex offender lists
  • Financial records
  • Educational and certificate verification
  • Driving records
  • Criminal records
  • Credit records
  • Court records

Are Your Carpet Cleaning Technicians Certified By the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC)?

Inquiring about the training programs the carpet cleaning company offers its employees is crucial in assessing their capacity to execute your job properly. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration (IICRC), a non-profit organization representing these industries, upholds the most common standards and accredits some of the best experts in the world. A technician's level of expertise can be predicted by their certification, which they obtain through experience and passing written tests.

A carpet cleaning company can also apply for and obtain the IICRC badge, which would distinguish it as possessing a high degree of technical expertise and professionalism if it has at least one IICRC-certified technician, a business license, and proper insurance coverage.

What Carpet Cleaning Methods Do You Use?

Finding out the cleaning procedures your intended carpet cleaning service employ is a crucial step to take when choosing the best carpet cleaning business in Austin. When determining the best cleaning techniques and cleaning supplies to utilize for your carpet, professional carpet cleaners in the city frequently take a number of factors into account. These factors include the kind of carpet and carpet fiber, the sort of debris or stain on the carpet, and whether you prefer using industrial or eco-friendly cleaning solutions. Among these, the type of carpet greatly affects the appropriate cleaning technique.

Natural or synthetic fibers, each of which has certain properties, are often used to make carpets. Several typical carpet fibers are

  • Acrylic: Acrylic is regarded as a less expensive option for wool rugs. However, it's not common to find this kind of carpeting.
  • Cotton: Another natural carpeting material to consider is cotton. These carpets are regarded as being extremely soft and simple to clean, but they require a lot of upkeep, are susceptible to fading, and are difficult to clean.
  • Nylon: This is one of the most often used carpet fibers because of its strength and wear resistance. However, stains can occur on these kinds of carpets.
  • Olefin: Olefin carpets are suitable for basement and outdoor carpeting since they are moisture, mold, and mildew resistant. These carpets, however, are uncomfortable to walk on.
  • Polyester: These carpets are comparable to nylon carpets but are less durable.
  • Triexta: Triexta is a synthetic fiber carpet that is regarded as being tough, remarkably moisture- and stain-resistant, and quite simple to maintain.
  • Wool: This is a premium natural fiber carpet that is long-lasting, stain-resistant, and environmentally friendly. However, wool carpets require a lot of maintenance and are susceptible to fading.

When offering their services in regard to the aforementioned carpet kinds, Austin carpet cleaning businesses often use one or more of the cleaning techniques listed below:

  • Hot water extraction/Steam carpet cleaning: With this technique, the carpet is cleaned of dust, muck, thick dirt, and other contaminants using superheated pressurized water.
  • Carpet shampooing: This procedure entails cleaning the carpet with water and specialized detergents, frequently using a rotating brush to apply the "shampoo" to the carpet and a machine to extract this shampoo until the carpet is thoroughly clean and free of residue.
  • Dry carpet cleaning: With this technique, the carpet is cleaned using specialized powders or chemicals with little to no water or liquids.
  • Bonnet cleaning: This entails using a machine with a motorized rotating pad that administers the cleaning solution to the carpet's surface before extracting it together with any dirt and debris that was left behind.
  • Encapsulation carpet cleaning: This procedure is the application of specialized cleaning solutions to the carpet that bubble and expand, trapping dirt and debris in the process.

The benefits and drawbacks of each of these carpet cleaning techniques are listed in the table below:

The table below lists the pros and cons of each of these carpet cleaning methods:

Method Pros Cons

Steam Carpet Cleaning/Hot Water Extraction Carpet Cleaning

Effective for removing dirt and bacteria from carpets


Can help neutralize pollens, dust, and other allergens

Requires hours of downtime to dry


Retained moisture may cause mold or mildew-related issues

Carpet Shampooing

Separates and removes dirt molecules from carpet fibers


Strips embedded pet hairs from tightly wound carpet fibers

Improperly removed shampoo molecules can end up making your carpet look dingy over time


Excess moisture may soak into your carpet’s foam padding and create mold and moisture-related issues down the line

Dry Carpet Cleaning

No drying downtime


Safe for all types of carpets

Powders and detergents used can be pungent


Not a good option for homeowners with breathing difficulties or allergies

Bonnet Cleaning

Effective for light stains


Quick-drying

Not effective for deep cleaning

Encapsulation Carpet Cleaning

Environmentally friendly


Quick-drying


Does not rely on water or electricity

Only useful for surface cleaning and is usually ineffective for deep stains and odors

As a result, you should always ask your selected carpet cleaners what cleaning techniques they plan to employ on your carpet and confirm that they have the tools and knowledge required to do the task effectively. Additionally, it's a good idea to let the carpet cleaning service know if you have any allergies so that they can choose the right cleaning solutions for your carpet in consideration of your needs.

Are Your Cleaning Products Safe for Kids and Pets?

When looking for carpet cleaning businesses in Austin, it's important to take into account the kind of cleaning materials that will be applied to the job. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), along with other potentially toxic pollutants and chemicals like ammonia, bleach, and synthetic perfumes, are present in many conventional cleaning products. These pollutants can have detrimental health consequences, especially on children and animals. These kinds of cleaners and chemicals provide a number of health risks, including:

  • Allergic reactions
  • Dizziness
  • Eyes and skin irritation
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Increased risk of cardiovascular and lung issues
  • Increased risk of new on-set asthma
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Sore throat

Due to such health risks, you should always confirm that the carpet cleaner you intend to hire uses cleaning agents that are safe for kids, pets, and the environment, even though professional Austin-based carpet cleaning firms often do so. Additionally, it is a good idea to ask for a list of the cleaning supplies that will be employed. The EPA's Safer Choice platform, which catalogs cleaning products that have been approved as safe for use by this organization, allows you to search for the goods online.

What Other Cleaning Services Do You Provide?

Some carpet cleaning businesses in Austin concentrate entirely on carpet cleaning, but others also provide cleaning services that are unrelated to carpets. As a result, it is a good idea to find out if your desired carpet cleaning company offers any of the other services that you might need if you are considering doing more than just cleaning your carpet. Austin carpet cleaners frequently offer the following additional cleaning services:

  • House cleaning services: Cleaning services for homes typically comprise polishing surfaces as well as sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping. Depending on the size of the property or the number of rooms to be cleaned, this service normally costs between $50 and $200 or more.
  • Deep cleaning: Similar to house cleaning services, deep cleaning often entails more thorough cleaning tasks that also focus on less-frequented or challenging-to-reach regions of the house. Depending on the size of the house and the number of rooms cleaned, deep cleaning normally costs between $200 and $450 or more.
  • Window cleaning: Window cleaning costs between $1.50 and $12.50 per window and involves having the carpet cleaners also clean your windows.
  • Pet odor and stain removal: Pet odor and stain removal: This service, which can range in price from $150 to $800, removes the unpleasant odors and stains that pets frequently leave behind.
  • Pressure washing: Hard surfaces including walls, roofs, gutters, sidewalks, and driveways typically require pressure washing. Costs for pressure washing range from $100 to $700 on average.
  • Laundry services: This entails having the carpet cleaner wash your soiled clothes as well. This washed clothes might also be folded or ironed, depending on the business. The typical cost of a load of laundry is between $10 and $20.
  • Upholstery cleaning: Armchairs, couches, and other pieces of furniture that generally require specialized cleaning methods and materials are cleaned with upholstery cleaning. On average, this service costs $15 to $250 per piece.
  • Disinfection and sanitization services: These services are designed to stop the development and spread of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. Depending on how many rooms need to be cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized, this type of service often costs $200 to $450 or more.
  • Green cleaning services:Cleaning services referred to as "green" are those that use natural cleaning materials and products. Depending on the size of the house and the number of rooms cleaned, green cleaning often costs $100 to $250 or more.
  • Pest control cleaning services: Pest control cleaning services range in price from $80 to $1,500 and are focused on preventing or treating rodent and pest infestations. Be aware that you might need a state-issued occupational license for this.
  • Rug cleaning: Although rugs and carpets are similar, rugs are often smaller and not attached to the floor. A typical rug cleaning bill ranges from $150 to $500.
  • Mattress cleaning services: this entails cleaning bedding supplies, drying out the mattress as needed, and removing stains from soiled mattresses. An average mattress costs $50 to $150 to be cleaned.
  • Tile and grout cleaning: With a particular focus on the tile grout, this service comprises cleaning tile floors. Costs for tile and grout cleaning range from $30 to $50 per hour on average.
  • Hardwood floor cleaning: This service, which is comparable to tile and grout cleaning, focuses on cleaning hardwood floors and uses tools and products that assist the floors to maintain their natural beauty without harming them. Costs range from $40 to $65 per hour on average for cleaning hardwood floors.

Remember that before signing any contracts, you should always confirm the precise services that your chosen carpet cleaning company is prepared to provide and make sure that you and the company agree on the costs of these services. You should think about finding out whether your potential carpet cleaners offer reduced cleaning packages that comprise two or more different cleaning services.

How Long Will It Take for My Carpet to Dry?

Knowing how long it will take your carpet to dry after cleaning is crucial, especially if you have young children or animals that you must keep away from the wet carpet or if you are having guests soon. While professionally cleaned carpets normally require four to ten hours to completely dry, there are a number of variables that might affect how quickly your carpet dries.

  • The type of carpet: Carpets made of synthetic fibers, such as nylon and polyester, normally dry more quickly than carpets made of natural fibers, such as wool and cotton, which are typically more absorbent and can take up to 24 hours to completely dry.
  • The cleaning technique: Carpets cleaned using techniques like encapsulation and dry carpet cleaning, which use little to no water, often dry more quickly than carpets cleaned using techniques like steam cleaning and carpet shampooing, which use a lot of water
  • Humidity: Carpets often dry more quickly in low-humidity settings.
  • Temperature and airflow: Indoor air quality and temperature have an impact on how fast or slowly carpets dry.

You can shorten the drying time of your carpet in a number of methods, including:

  • Get the furniture off the soggy carpet.
  • If at all feasible, open your windows and doors to let in fresh air.
  • If you reside in a region that is generally humid, use a dehumidifier.
  • In circumstances where opening a window is not an option, turn on the AC.
  • Use fans
  • Utilize a wet vacuum to remove moisture.

Are You Insured and Bonded?

There is always a chance that any workers or service providers you let into your home will get hurt, hurt someone else, or cause damage to your property while providing their services. Particularly for carpet cleaners, there are numerous risks and dangers at work that include

  • exposure to flammable liquids, chemicals, and other possibly dangerous substances
  • injuries caused by specialist cleaning equipment and tools
  • damages to a client's house or workplace

If these or any other unfavorable or unanticipated occurrences happen while your carpet is being cleaned, you can be confident that you will be kept financially and legally protected by using a carpet cleaning service that is fully insured and bonded. Be aware that despite the fact that insurance and bonding are both forms of monetary assurances intended to safeguard customers and business owners in case something goes wrong, they are not the same. Bonds normally simply safeguard the client and make sure they won't suffer losses if the carpet cleaning company doesn't deliver the promised services.

Contrarily, insurance often ensures that the client won't be responsible for any out-of-pocket expenses in the event that something unforeseen occurs and protects both the carpet cleaning services and the client. Professional carpet cleaners frequently hold the following types of insurance policies:

  • Insurance for general liability: this protects against bodily harm, property damage, and personal injury.
  • Workers' compensation insurance: this protects the carpet cleaner's staff from accidents.
  • Employee dishonesty insurance: this protects against losses brought on by theft or deception carried out by carpet cleaner staff.

Although Austin does not mandate workers compensation insurance, it is advised that you obtain it along with other insurance policies, such as disability insurance, to fully protect yourself from liability.

To avoid this, always confirm the insurance and bonding of any potential carpet cleaners before entering into any agreements with them. This can be accomplished by requesting copies of their insurance and bond certificates, which you can then validate with the relevant issuing agencies.

How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Carpet Cleaning Service in Austin

Austin carpet cleaners who provide inadequate service are subject to complaints to the Office of the Attorney General of Texas' Consumer Protection division, which is in charge of safeguarding Texas customers by taking complaints and carrying out legal actions in the public interest.

Despite the fact that many Austin-based carpet cleaning businesses offer their services in a professional and ethical manner, the city is also teeming with con artists and fraudsters who are seeking for any chance to cheat unwary homeowners. As a result, you should constantly be on the lookout for specific signals and red flags that suggest that you might be dealing with a con artist when looking for carpet cleaners. These red signals include, among others:

  • Area rugs are not removed by the carpet cleaner before cleaning.
  • The carpet cleaner demands upfront payment in full.
  • The carpet cleaner knocks on your door without invitation.
  • The carpet cleaner offers a quote that differs from their original estimate, claiming that your carpet is unique or that particularly difficult stains require more expensive cleaning supplies.
  • The carpet cleaner offers to employ a special cleaning technique, but the price will be higher than usual.
  • The cost of the carpet cleaner is absurdly low or high.

By being cautious while making hiring decisions with potential carpet cleaning businesses in Austin, you can avoid these con artists:

  • Never work with unauthorized carpet cleaners. Request recommendations from friends and family members who have had their carpets professionally cleaned for reliable carpet cleaning firms in the area.
  • Perform thorough research on any carpet cleaning company you intend to use. Check online reviews and recommendations for potential carpet cleaning businesses on sites like Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, Google Reviews, and other comparable directories.
  • Prior to selecting a carpet cleaning, always evaluate their prices.
  • Check to see if the prospective carpet cleaner has the necessary insurance and bonds.
  • Avoid verbal commitments and never pay the entire amount up front for your carpet cleaning services.
  • Obtain a formal contract that details the services to be provided, their price, the products to be used, and any assurances the carpet cleaner gives regarding these services.

Call the Office of the Attorney General of Texas at (800) 621-0508 or (210) 225-4191, or submit an online complaint, if you believe that an Austin carpet cleaning has defrauded you.