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Dealing with a Professional Carpet Cleaner It is very important to accord your cleaner all the respect due to a professional. Make sure you hire a reputed, experienced cleaner and then follow his advice.  | Preparation - Remove/raise hangings, curtains, valuables, chandeliers etc.
- Vacuum the carpet - the carpet cleaner might not to do it, or may be not as carefully as you would!
| | Communication - Specify special services like truck-mounted Hot Water Extraction treatment, if required, in advance
- Talk to the service person about the cleaning methods to be used; treat him/her like a professional that he/she is!
- Specify any add-ons that you want / don't want
- Describe past cleanings, if any that the carpet has undergone
- Point out stains in the carpet and what might have caused them
- Alert the service person to any furniture with weak legs, seams in the carpet etc.
- Get the operation cost in writing before service begins
| | Afterwards - Pay only after inspecting the cleaned carpet/rug with the service person
- Make sure that the plastic or foil shields have been placed under all furniture legs
- Ask for estimate of carpet drying time and special instructions
- If the weather allows, open all doors and windows to speed up drying
- Don't cover the carpet with anything to walk on it
- Leave moisture shields under the furniture legs until th e carpet dries completely
- Vacuum immdeiately after the carpet dries and regularly afterwards
- If you notice spots after the service person has left, call the firm immediately
- If the carpet still seems damp after 24 hrs, call the carpet cleaning firm
- If unable to resolve any dispute with the carpet cleaner
- complain to the local office of consumer affairs
- contact the firm's headquarters, if it is a franchise
- get the carpet inspected by an independent inspector who might even assist you in solving your claim
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