Moving Into a New Home? Why You Should Clean the Carpet First

Moving comes with a long list of things to do, and carpet cleaning may not feel like a priority. But if your new home has carpet left behind by previous occupants, the best time to clean it is before your furniture goes in.

Carpet holds more than the dirt you can see: fine soil, dust, pet hair, dander, food particles and residue settle below the surface over time. The window between getting the keys and moving in is the easiest time to clean every room completely.

You don’t know the carpet’s history

Even when a home looks spotless at the final walkthrough, the carpet may have years of history: pets, kids, spills and however often (or rarely) it was cleaned. A professional cleaning gives you a clean starting point.

Vacuuming doesn’t remove everything

Vacuuming mainly picks up loose, dry soil. Fine particles work deeper into the pile, especially in traffic areas. Hot-water extraction removes the soil and residue vacuuming leaves behind.

Carpet hides more dirt than it shows

Patterns and darker colors conceal soil well. Traffic lanes darken so gradually that you often only notice when you compare them with carpet that was under furniture.

Previous owners may have had pets

Pet hair, dander, oils and accidents can remain even after routine vacuuming, especially near doors, stairs and favorite resting spots. Odor treatment works best before your own pets settle in.

Plan it into your move

Schedule the cleaning for right after you get the keys, leave time for the carpet to dry, then bring in furniture. Empty rooms also mean a faster, more thorough cleaning.