Short answer: pick up everything on the floor, move small and fragile furniture, point out stains and pet areas, keep pets and children in another room, and make sure the crew can park close to your door. In a condo, book the elevator and parking with your building first. A little preparation means a faster visit and a better result.
The day before
- Pick up toys, shoes, books, plants and anything else on the floor.
- Move small furniture, lamps, side tables and chairs out of the rooms if you can.
- Take fragile items off furniture that may need to be shifted.
- Unplug cords and move them off the floor.
- Note stains, pet spots and high-traffic areas to point out.
- Condo owners: book the service elevator and visitor parking.
The day of the cleaning
- Keep pets in a room that is not being cleaned, or take them out.
- Make sure there is parking close to your door for the truck.
- Prop open or unlock the doors the crew will use.
- Walk through with the technician and point out problem areas.
- Turn on the heat or air conditioning to help drying.
Do you need to vacuum first?
It helps, but it is not required. Professional crews vacuum heavily soiled areas before extraction. A quick vacuum the day before removes loose dirt so the cleaning can focus on deep soil.
What about heavy furniture?
Beds, dressers, entertainment units and pianos are usually cleaned around rather than moved. If you want carpet under heavy furniture cleaned, move it before the visit and tell us when you book.
After the cleaning
- Keep air moving with fans, the furnace fan or air conditioning.
- Walk on damp carpet in clean socks, not bare feet or shoes.
- Put furniture back on foil or plastic tabs until the carpet is fully dry.
- Keep pets and children off until dry.
Read how long carpet takes to dry.
Preparing a condo for carpet cleaning
Condos need a little more planning than houses. Ask your building whether contractors must use the service elevator and whether it needs to be booked. Find out where the service vehicle can park, and whether the hoses from a truck-mounted unit can reach your floor. In high-rise buildings the hoses often cannot reach, and a portable machine is used instead. Tell the company your floor and building type when you book so they bring the right equipment.
Preparing stairs, rugs and furniture
- Stairs: remove shoes, baskets and decorations from every step and landing.
- Area rugs: roll them up if they sit on wall-to-wall carpet, or leave them out if they are being cleaned too.
- Fragile items: move lamps, plants, electronics and anything breakable off the floor and away from walls.
- Long curtains and bed skirts: pin them up so they do not touch damp carpet.
- Cables and chargers: pick them up so the wand can move freely.
A short checklist for the morning
- Vacuum high-traffic areas if you have time.
- Put pets in a closed room.
- Unlock the door closest to the parking spot for the hoses.
- Point out stains, pet spots and any area of concern.
- Plan where everyone will be for a few hours while the carpet dries.
Book your carpet cleaning
UltiClean cleans carpets, stairs and rugs with truck-mounted hot water extraction across Toronto, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Aurora and Newmarket. Call 647-676-0576 or see carpet and rug cleaning.
Carpet Cleaning Preparation FAQs
Do I need to be home?
Someone should let the crew in and walk through the job. You do not need to stay in the room while they work.
Will the crew move my furniture?
Light furniture, yes. Heavy pieces are cleaned around.
Should I clean the ducts first?
If you are booking both, yes. Ducts first, then carpets, so released dust does not land on clean floors.
How long does the visit take?
A condo bedroom takes about an hour. A full house with stairs can take several hours.
Can I book in the evening?
Yes. UltiClean is open 24 hours.
Ready to book? See carpet cleaning or call UltiClean at 647-676-0576.
Ready for a deep clean?
Carpets, air ducts, dryer vents and tile and grout across Richmond Hill, Aurora, Newmarket, Vaughan and Toronto.
Written by
Carpet, air duct and tile cleaning specialist at UltiClean
Seyedamir (Amir) Vafamand has 12 years of hands-on experience cleaning carpets, upholstery, air ducts, dryer vents and tile and grout in homes across Toronto, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Aurora and Newmarket. This guide is based on that work.
- 12 years of experience
- 1,100+ jobs completed on Jiffy
- 98% approval rating
- $2M liability insurance
UltiClean Inc.
54 Limeridge St
Aurora, ON L4G 7X9
647-676-0576, open 24 hours, 7 days a week