First things first. You will need to first decide what kind of carpet cleaning you would like to have done. You can take your pick by going through the various methods of carpet cleaning available. Then decide on who is going to do it. This process should ideally be done when your carpet is dirty, not filthy. If you wait till your carpet is absolutely soiled, you will probably have to pay more for cleaning it and you will probably be shortening the life of your carpet because stronger chemicals will have to be used to make it clean again. Especially if you have a valuable piece, do take care to have it cleaned professionally at regular intervals to keep it looking good and in good shape.

How do you go about hiring someone for the job? There are thousands of carpet cleaners all over the country, in fact, they number over 30,000, most of them very professional and able to handle any kind of cleaning of carpets. You could, of course, ask if the cleaners have certification as many carpet cleaners today have undergone professional courses. In fact, many cleaning companies will only hire personnel who have completed a national-certified course. Many companies, especially the large carpet cleaners have their own continuing internal programs to make sure the cleaners are aware of the latest and the best techniques. So the cleaners are kept updated as far as techniques of carpet cleaning go. Try not to make your decision going by the price alone. Prices that are terribly low might not come with the expertise required.

You could also check for how long they have been plying their trade. The longer, the better as it shows that their services are utilized and appreciated. If it's a new firm, ask for credentials. If they give you references, call the people concerned and find out about the company. Or talk to the Better Business Bureau for information about them. If the company had a charge filed against it, this will be on record and you need to check. You would also do well to make enquiries about insurance as far as you are concerned.

Sometimes, a new company might just be using newer, more efficient methods than a company that's set in its ways and has been around for years. Besides cleaning, some firms offer many other cleaning services as well. Find out, as then you can have all your cleaning jobs done at one go. These jobs could include upholstery cleaning, deodorizing, applying various soil and stain protectants and stain removal.

Once you've chosen someone for the job, ask for an estimate. Tell the carpet cleaner that you want a fix on prices and that they should be all-inclusive, no costs that will be added on just before the bill is made. Also ask if the estimate includes certain other treatments. For example, some firms include services like antistats, reapplying stain treatments, etc. It is always better to ask a lot of questions right in the beginning than feel sorry you did not later.