Printable checklist
How to prepare your home or office for a professional carpet clean
A little preparation means more time spent actually cleaning, a better result, and carpets back in use sooner. Below are tickable checklists you can print, for homes, apartments and offices, plus the reasons behind each step.
The five things that matter most
- Clear small items off the floor and from under beds.
- Tell us about heavy furniture when you book. Don't wait until the day.
- Vacuum thoroughly if you can, especially if you have pets.
- Note every stain: what it is, and what's been put on it.
- Sort out parking and access, and plan where pets and children will be.
Home checklist
Before your carpet clean: homes
carpetcleaningservice.ie · Carpet cleaning preparation checklist (homes)
When you book
The day before
On the day
After the clean
Why each step matters
Clearing small items
Every item picked up during the visit is time not spent cleaning. Items left under beds and behind doors also mean patches of carpet that can't be reached. Small breakables near the floor are safer moved by you than worked around.
Furniture
We move light furniture such as dining chairs and small tables as part of the visit, where it's safe to do so. Heavier pieces like wardrobes, bookcases, beds and large sofas are best moved beforehand if you can. If not, tell us when you book so it's planned and priced in, rather than discovered on arrival.
Vacuuming
Hot water extraction is designed to remove the soil vacuuming can't reach, not the loose grit and hair vacuuming can. Removing that first lets the clean work deeper. In homes with pets or near the coast (sand), it makes a noticeable difference.
Noting stains
What a stain is, how old it is and what's been put on it changes how it's treated. A note saves guesswork and makes the result better. Please don't try new products the night before. Layered products are harder to remove, and some can set a stain. The stain removal guide explains why.
Parking and access
A lot of Dublin terraces have permit-only or pay parking, and apartments add fobs, lifts and long corridors. Equipment is carried in, and a hose runs from the machine to the room, so a clear route and somewhere to park make the visit smoother. The machine is portable, so upper floors without a lift are fine. They just take a little longer.
Pets and children
Running equipment and an unfamiliar visitor stress most pets, and hoses and cables are a trip hazard for small children. After the clean, keep both off the carpet until it's dry. There's more in our guide to cleaning products, children and pets.
Extra steps for apartments
- Check whether the management company has rules on work hours, lift use or corridor access.
- Arrange visitor parking, or tell us where the nearest legal parking is.
- Make sure we can get through the main entrance: fob, code or someone to let us in.
- If the lift is small or out of service, mention it. We'll plan for the stairs.
Office and commercial checklist
Before your carpet clean: offices
carpetcleaningservice.ie · Office carpet cleaning preparation checklist
For larger premises, see our commercial carpet cleaning page and the guide to how often office carpets should be cleaned. Our working hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
What to expect on the day
We'll walk through the rooms with you, confirm what's included, look at any stains and give you an honest view of what's likely to come out. Then we work room by room, taking care around furniture, skirting and stair edges. The equipment does make some noise. Before we leave, you'll get a realistic drying time and a few tips to help it along. There's a fuller step-by-step account in our complete guide to carpet cleaning in Dublin, and drying is covered in how long carpet takes to dry.
Ready to book?
Send a few photos of the rooms and stairs for a quick, accurate quote, or see our carpet cleaning service in Dublin.
FAQ
Questions about preparing for a carpet clean
Do I need to move furniture before the carpet cleaners arrive?
Not the heavy items. We move light furniture like dining chairs ourselves on the day. For anything heavier, such as wardrobes, bookcases or large sofas, let us know when you book so it can be planned for rather than discovered on arrival.
Should I vacuum before the carpet is cleaned?
If you can, yes. Removing loose grit, hair and sand first lets the clean work on the deeper soil that vacuuming can't reach. It makes the most difference in homes with pets and near the coast.
What should I do about parking and access?
Tell us when you book. A lot of Dublin properties, particularly terraced streets and permit-only areas, have limited or restricted parking, and apartments add fobs, lifts and stairs. Flagging permit parking, narrow access or an upper floor in advance means the visit is planned around it.
What about pets during the appointment?
Keeping pets in a separate room, or out of the house if that's easier, is best for everyone. Running equipment and an unfamiliar visitor stress most animals, and it keeps them out from underfoot. Keep them off the carpet until it's dry afterwards.
Do I need to be at home during the clean?
It's up to you. Once we have access and you've told us what needs doing, plenty of customers leave us to it. If you'd rather be there, especially the first time, that's fine. Just let us know when you book.