If you’re gearing up to give your carpets a much-needed deep clean, you might be wondering if you need to play furniture Tetris and move everything out of the way. Do you really have to haul your couch to the other room, or can you leave it right where it is and let the carpet cleaner work their magic?
The Case for Moving Furniture
First things first, let’s talk about why you might want to move your furniture when you’re breaking out the carpet cleaning machine. The main reason is pretty simple: it allows the carpet cleaner to get to every nook and cranny of your carpet. When you move your furniture out of the way, you’re giving the carpet cleaning pros (or yourself, if you’re going the DIY route) full access to the carpet.
Think about it – when was the last time you moved your couch or bed to vacuum underneath? Probably not as often as you should, right? Over time, dirt, dust, and all sorts of icky stuff can accumulate under your furniture, and it’s not going to magically disappear on its own. By moving your furniture for carpet cleaning, you’re ensuring that every square inch of your carpet gets the TLC it deserves.
When You Can Leave Furniture in Place
Now, before you start frantically googling “how to move a grand piano,” let’s talk about when it’s okay to leave your furniture right where it is. If you’re just doing a quick surface clean with a carpet cleaning machine, you might be able to get away with leaving your furniture in place. This is especially true if you’re focusing on high-traffic areas like hallways or entryways, where you probably don’t have a ton of furniture anyway.
Another scenario where you might not need to move all your furniture is if you have really big, heavy pieces that are just too much of a hassle to move. We’re talking about things like oversized sectionals, antique armoires, or that massive entertainment center that took four people to carry into your living room. In these cases, a professional carpet cleaner might be able to work around the furniture or clean the carpet in sections.
How to Prepare for Carpet Cleaning
Whether you’re moving all your furniture or just a few pieces, there are a few things you can do to prepare for carpet cleaning. First, declutter as much as possible. The less stuff you have lying around, the easier it will be to move furniture and get to all areas of the carpet.
Next, give your carpet a good vacuuming before the carpet cleaner arrives. This will help remove surface dirt and debris, making it easier for the carpet cleaning machine to do its job. If you have any particularly stubborn stains, you might want to pre-treat them with a spot cleaner.
Finally, if you are moving furniture, make sure you have a plan for where everything will go. You don’t want to be stuck with a couch in the middle of your kitchen and no idea how to get it back into the living room!
Protecting Your Furniture During Carpet Cleaning
If you do decide to leave some furniture in place during carpet cleaning, there are a few things you can do to protect it. First, consider putting plastic or foil protectors under the legs of your furniture to prevent any moisture from seeping in and causing damage.
You can also use furniture sliders to move heavy pieces slightly away from the wall, giving the carpet cleaner a bit more room to work. Just be sure to place the sliders under the legs of the furniture, not directly on the carpet.
Final Thought
Do you have to rearrange all your furniture when getting your carpets cleaned? Well the answer isn’t so straightforward. If you’re aiming for a cleaning job moving the furniture is the way to go. However if time is of the essence or if you have pieces that’re hard to move it’s fine to leave some items, in place and let the carpet cleaner adapt around them.
Ultimately what matters most is giving your carpets the cleanse they deserve to look and feel fresh. Whether you opt for a DIY approach, with a rented carpet cleaner. Hire a service preparing your space and deciding whether to shift furniture or not will ensure optimal results.