How often should rental carpets be cleaned?
How often should rental carpets be cleaned in Townsville? What to check in your lease, how often to clean during a tenancy, and how to get ready for the exit inspection.
Most tenants only think about the carpet when they're moving out. By then a year or two of dirt and spills has built up, and it's harder to get the carpet back to how it looked on the entry report.
What the lease says
Check your lease and your entry condition report. In Queensland you have to leave the property in the same condition you got it, apart from fair wear and tear. Many Townsville leases also have a clause about carpet cleaning when you leave, especially if you have pets. If you're not sure what applies to you, the Residential Tenancies Authority (rta.qld.gov.au) explains the rules.
Property managers usually want to see an invoice from a professional cleaner at the exit inspection.
How often should rental carpets be cleaned during a lease?
Without pets, once a year is plenty for most households. With pets or young kids, every six months keeps on top of it. Hallways and doorways get dirty first, so keep an eye on those.
Deal with spills the day they happen. Blot them with a dry towel. A fresh spill is easy to get out. The same spill after a few months may not come out at all.
Before the exit inspection
- Book the carpet clean for after the furniture is out, so we can clean the whole floor.
- Leave a few hours for the carpet to dry before the inspection.
- Ask about curtains and blinds at the same time. They're often on the exit report, and we can clean them on the same visit.
- Keep the invoice and give a copy to the property manager.
What can't be fixed
A professional clean gets out most dirt, stains and pet smells. It can't fix bleach marks, burns or worn carpet. If you're worried about a particular stain, send us a photo before you book and we'll tell you if it's likely to come out.
See our carpet steam cleaning Townsville page for end of lease cleans, or get a quote.
