How to clean it
Carpet: what you can fix and what you cannot
Carpet generates big deductions because replacement is expensive, so it is worth knowing what is actually your responsibility.
Vacuum thoroughly including the edges against the baseboard, and treat spots individually. Flattened traffic paths are normal wear and tear. Pet urine, burns and large stains are damage and are chargeable.
Edges matter more than the middle
The strip of carpet against the baseboard collects dust that a vacuum head skims over. Use the crevice tool along every wall. It is the difference an inspector notices.
What you are not liable for
A worn path from the door to the kitchen after two years of walking is wear and tear. Carpet has a finite life and landlords are expected to absorb its ageing.
What you are
Pet urine is the big one, because it soaks into the padding and the subfloor and cannot be surface-cleaned. Burns, ink, and large set stains are the same category.
Is professional cleaning worth it
If the lease requires it, yes, and keep the receipt because it is the only proof. If it does not, it is worth it when there are real stains and rarely worth it when the carpet is merely worn.
Related
- Normal wear and tear versus damageThe line between wear a landlord absorbs and damage they can charge for, with the items that actually come up on walk-throughs here.
- Why floors go last, alwaysThe order of operations that stops you cleaning the same floor three times, and how to finish so it dries clean.
Need a move-out clean booked?
Tell us the address, the unit size, and your walk-through date. You get a fixed quote back, not a callback to schedule a callback.