A rented machine can work for a small, lightly soiled carpet if you have a full day for it to dry. Hire a professional when your lease asks for professional cleaning, when there are stains or pet odors or when the walkthrough is close: professional hot water extraction pulls out more water, so the carpet dries faster. Whether you have to clean the carpets at all is covered in do I have to clean the carpets when I move out.
Rented machine or professional
| Do it yourself | Professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | A rented machine and solution from a store | Professional hot water extraction equipment |
| Water removed | Less suction, so more water stays in the carpet | More extraction power, so the carpet dries faster |
| Stains and pet odors | Fine for light soil and small spots | A professional can treat heavier soil, stains and odors |
| Your time | Collecting and returning the machine, moving furniture, several passes per room | Usually done while you finish other jobs |
| Proof for your landlord | Your own photos | A dated receipt, which some leases require |
| Cost | Rental fee plus solution | Usually quoted separately from a move out clean |
What the carpet maker says
Shaw Floors, a carpet maker, says hot water extraction gives the best cleaning, and that professional equipment has more extraction power than rental units, so carpet dries faster. It recommends equipment with the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval, and warns that machines without it may not remove enough water. Too much water can make carpet wrinkle or come away from its backing. The CRI tests extractors, cleaning solutions and service providers for its seal, so look for it on a rental machine or ask a carpet cleaner whether they use certified equipment.
Drying in Florida humidity
The US EPA says wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold, and indoor humidity kept below 60%. In a humid Florida summer, damp carpet in a closed, empty apartment can smell musty or grow mildew.
- Run the AC through the drying time, not just the fans
- Open interior doors and point fans across the carpet
- Finish 1 or 2 days before the walkthrough, so the carpet is dry when the landlord sees it
- Do not put furniture back or close up the home while it is still damp
If you do it yourself
- Vacuum slowly in two directions first. The machine will not lift loose sand and grit
- Test the solution on a hidden corner, such as inside a closet
- Use the amount of solution the machine label gives. More does not clean better and leaves residue
- Make extra passes with the water off to pull out as much water as you can
- Leave the AC and fans running and keep people off it until it is dry
When a receipt matters
If your lease requires professional carpet cleaning, use a professional and keep the receipt, with the date, the address and the rooms cleaned. Send a copy to your landlord with your forwarding address. Even when it is not required, a receipt and dated photos are clear evidence if a carpet charge is disputed. What can be charged is covered in our carpet guide.
Booking it with your move out clean
A move out clean includes vacuuming, but carpet shampoo or steam cleaning is usually priced separately. Ask for it when your cleaner calls to quote, and have the carpets done last, once the rest of the home is clean. Send a request for a move out clean and a local cleaner will call you to quote.