Regular cleaning can extend the life of the carpets in your Dallas rental properties. Though shampooing carpets may be an expensive maintenance item, it shouldn’t be much of an issue if you don’t do it more than once a year. One way to save on costs is to clean the carpets in your rental house yourself. However, is it that valuable? Informing yourself of the advantages and disadvantages of both professional and do-it-yourself carpet cleaning can serve to benefit you and your property well, especially when choosing which of the two options can cater best to your property needs.
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. But, if your goal is to be more economical, then renting or buying a steam cleaning machine would be a better option. 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.
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. 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. Both will bring you either 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 offer will cost more than trying to do it yourself. Bargain deals might save you a few bucks, but you run the risk of diving into 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.
If you decide to hire a professional carpet cleaner or do it yourself, be sure that your decision is thorough and well informed, all for the benefit of you and your rental properties.
These nitty-gritty details might intimidate you. You don’t have to go about them all by yourself. Allow our team of Dallas property managers at Real Property Management Legend to assist you! We do regular maintenance service so we can save you the trouble of doing so. To know more about what we can do for you, please contact us online or give us a ring at 214-227-2404.
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