If you have carpet in your home and want it to last while still looking great, regular vacuuming is not enough. Carpeted floors need to be professionally cleaned in order to keep the carpet fibers and carpet pads in good condition. While you could opt to rent a carpet cleaner and attempt to clean your carpet yourself, those machines often do not do a thorough job, so your best bet is to hire a professional carpet cleaning company. However, it is never a good idea to just randomly hire the first carpet cleaning company that you find—you are better off finding the best one possible. Use the following tips to help you hire a carpet cleaning company in your area:

Understand the Pricing

Before you agree to hire a carpet cleaning company, it is very important to know exactly how much you will be paying for their services. Many carpet cleaning companies charge by the room, but that is usually capped by a specific number of square feet. Thus, it is always a good idea to talk to a carpet cleaning company beforehand so you can have a clear idea of what you will be charged. When asking about price, it is also a good idea to ask what is included. Some carpet cleaning companies may include pre-treatment and stain removal in their price, while others may not.

Consider the Equipment Used

When looking for a carpet cleaning company to hire, don't forget to ask about the type of carpet cleaning equipment that they use. Ideally, you should hire a company that utilizes the highest powered, highest rated carpet cleaning equipment on the market. This will help ensure that your carpet is as clean as possible after the service is completed. A good rule of thumb is to hire a carpet cleaning company that uses truck-mounted steam carpet cleaners if you want the best results.

Hire an Insured Company

Any time you have a service provider working in your home, it is important to hire a company that is fully insured. This is to protect you financially in the event that the service provider is injured while on your property. A fully insured carpet cleaning company will carry workers compensation insurance. Likewise, you will be protected financially in the event that your carpet is damaged during the cleaning process if you hire a carpet cleaning company that has general liability insurance.