How long does carpet cleaning take?
For an average Calgary home (3–4 carpeted rooms plus hallway), expect 1.5 to 2.5 hours from setup to completion. Larger homes, heavy soiling, or add-on services like pet enzyme treatment or fibre protector add to the total time. The technician will give you a more accurate estimate after inspecting the areas.
How long until the carpets are dry?
Typically 2–4 hours with good ventilation (open windows, ceiling fans, furnace fan running on "on" rather than "auto"). Dense pile carpets or low-airflow rooms may take 4–6 hours. Wool takes longer — up to 6–8 hours. You can walk on the carpet in clean socks after about 30–60 minutes, but avoid normal foot traffic until fully dry.
Do I need to move furniture before the technician arrives?
Move smaller, lighter pieces — dining chairs, ottomans, coffee tables, floor lamps, and any items on the carpet you don't want the technicians handling. Alberta Home Services will move standard sofas and chairs as part of the service. We don't move large bedroom furniture, entertainment units, heavy bookshelves, or items with fragile contents. Areas under unmoved heavy furniture won't be cleaned.
Is carpet cleaning safe for children and pets?
Yes. Our ThermoRinse® cleaning solution is non-toxic and eco-friendly. We recommend keeping children and pets off the carpet until it's fully dry — typically 2–4 hours. This is to prevent re-soiling of the damp fibres, not because of any chemical concern. Once dry, the carpet is completely safe for everyone.
Why did my carpet re-soil faster after the last cleaning?
Rapid re-soiling after cleaning is almost always caused by cleaning residue left in the carpet fibres. Soap and detergent residue — common with shampoo-based methods or low-quality extraction — acts like a sticky film that attracts and holds dirt. Our ThermoRinse® system uses a pH-balanced, low-residue formula specifically to avoid this. If your carpets have been cleaned with a high-residue method previously, our process includes a residue-removing rinse pass.
Can you get all stains out?
Most stains respond well to professional cleaning combined with appropriate pre-treatment. However, some stains are permanent — particularly those involving chemical reactions with carpet dyes: bleach spots, certain pet accidents on older dye-sensitive fibres, red dye spills (Kool-Aid, punch), and rust. We'll assess stains during the pre-inspection and give you an honest expectation before cleaning begins. We don't charge for stains we're unable to remove.
A stain came back after cleaning — why?
This is called "wicking." Some stains extend deeper into the carpet backing and padding than the fibre itself. Cleaning removes the stain from the surface fibre, but as the carpet dries, the moisture draws the remaining contamination back up from below — and the stain reappears. Wicking is especially common with pet urine and beverage spills that soaked in deeply. A follow-up treatment with extended dwell time usually resolves it.
How often should I vacuum between professional cleanings?
At least twice per week in high-traffic areas (entry, hallways, family room), and once per week in lower-traffic rooms. In pet households, more frequent vacuuming is beneficial. Use a quality HEPA-filter vacuum and make slow, overlapping passes — fast vacuuming misses a significant portion of embedded dry soil.
Do you move furniture?
Yes, for standard-weight pieces — sofas, armchairs, dining chairs, coffee and end tables. We place protective blocks under furniture legs after cleaning to prevent dye transfer or rust marks on the damp carpet. Heavy items (beds, dressers, china cabinets, entertainment units with electronics) are left in place; we clean around them. Let us know in advance if there are specific pieces you want moved or protected.
What's included in the price?
Our quoted price includes: pre-inspection, dry vacuuming, pre-treatment of the entire area, agitation, hot water extraction (ThermoRinse®), spot treatment of visible stains, post-grooming, and furniture blocking. Optional add-ons (fibre protector, enzyme pet treatment, deodorizer) are priced separately and offered upfront — not presented as "necessary extras" on arrival.