What does carpet shampooing cost, and is it the right clean?
Plenty of people still call any professional carpet clean “shampooing”, and that’s fine. But when you’re comparing prices, it helps to know that a true shampoo and a hot water extraction clean are different jobs, and the cheapest number on a flyer isn’t always the cheapest carpet a month later. Here’s what shampooing involves, what it costs with us, and how to compare it against a rental machine.
Shampooing vs hot water extraction
Traditional shampooing works a foaming detergent into the carpet with a rotary brush, then lets it dry and vacuums the residue away. It was the standard method for decades. The catch is the residue: whatever detergent the vacuum doesn’t lift stays in the fibres, and sticky residue pulls in dirt, so a shampooed carpet can look grey again within weeks.
Hot water extraction, often called steam cleaning, is what we do. Traffic lanes and spots get a pre-treatment, then hot water is rinsed through the carpet and pulled straight back out with strong suction. Our truck-mounted unit, a Cleanco Compact 47, heats the water in the van and does the suction from there, so the carpet is left only damp and the dirty water goes back to the truck. In towers where hoses can’t reach, we bring a portable unit instead.
So when you search for shampooing prices, what you’re usually after is a deep clean that actually removes dirt. Extraction does that without leaving soap behind.
What it costs with us
Carpet is priced per area: one room up to about 150 sq ft, a hallway, or a set of stairs. Prices are before the current promo, plus GST.
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Each carpet area | $90 |
| Minimum visit (covers up to 3 areas) | $210 |
| One area on its own | $150 |
| Emergency spot clean (up to 5 spots in one small area) | $125 |
| Sofa seat or armchair | $90 |
| Rug about 10×8 or bigger / smaller | $90 / $65 |
The promo comes off jobs above the $210 minimum, and you see the full price online before you book. There’s no separate charge for pre-treatment or the truck.
What common homes come to
Worked examples at list price, before the promo and GST:
| Home | What’s cleaned | Areas | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or one-bedroom condo | Bedroom, living room, hallway | 3 | $210 (minimum, list $270) |
| Two-bedroom condo | 2 bedrooms, living room, hallway | 4 | $360 |
| Townhouse | 3 bedrooms, hallway, stairs | 5 | $450 |
| Family house with a rec room | 3 bedrooms, living room, rec room, hallway, stairs | 7 | $630 |
The minimum covers up to three areas, so on a small job it’s worth adding the hallway or one more room. It costs nothing extra up to three.
What about renting a shampooer?
A rented machine looks cheaper on the day. Before you decide, count everything it costs:
- The rental and the solution. You pay for the machine, plus the detergent, and often a pre-spray too.
- Your time. Moving furniture, filling and emptying the tank, and going over each room twice usually takes most of a day.
- Drying. Home machines have far less suction than a truck unit, so carpet can stay wet for a day or more. In a damp Vancouver winter, that’s how musty smells start.
- Residue. Too much soap and too little rinsing leaves the carpet sticky, which brings the dirt back sooner.
For a small spill in one room, a rental can be fine. For a whole home, a move-out, or pet accidents, a professional extraction clean usually works out better per month of clean carpet.
How long does it take to dry?
Most carpet is dry in 3 to 6 hours after hot water extraction. Open a window or run a fan and it’s quicker. Shampooed carpet, and carpet done with a rental, often takes much longer because more water and soap stay in the pile.
When a shampoo-style clean isn’t enough
A few things need more than a general clean:
- Pet urine. The smell sits in the backing and the underlay, so it needs an enzyme treatment as well as extraction. Our guide to pet stain and odour removal explains what’s involved.
- Wool carpet. Wool needs wool-safe solutions at the right pH. Strong detergents can damage it.
- Old set-in stains. Most come out a long way. Some leave a shadow, and the technician will tell you before starting.
We use plant-based, pet-safe solutions, and if something isn’t right after the clean, we fix it or refund you.
Booking
Count your rooms, hallways and stairs, add any couches or rugs, and book carpet cleaning in Vancouver online. The price shows as you go, and you pick a weekday time, Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 4.
Common questions
Is carpet shampooing the same as steam cleaning? No. Shampooing uses foaming detergent and a brush, then vacuums the residue. Steam cleaning, or hot water extraction, rinses the carpet with hot water and pulls it back out, so less soap is left behind.
How much does it cost to clean one room? One area on its own is $150, plus GST. Up to three areas is the $210 minimum.
Do I need to move furniture? Move small things like toys, plants and breakables. We can work around big furniture or move lighter pieces for you.
How often should carpet be deep cleaned? Most homes do well with a deep clean once a year, and more often with pets, small kids or a lot of foot traffic.
Ready to book? See carpet cleaning in Vancouver, or call (604) 802-8500.