Why the gap before you move in is the best time
Most carpet cleans happen around furniture. Sofas are cleaned around, beds stay where they are, and the carpet under the wardrobe hasn't seen daylight in years. When a house is empty, none of that applies. Every corner, every edge along the skirting and the strip under where the bed used to be can all be cleaned at once.
There are other advantages, too:
- No one walking on it while it dries. The carpet can dry undisturbed, with the windows open and the heating on.
- A fresh start. You don't know exactly what's in a carpet someone else has lived on, whether that's pets, smoking or years of spills. Cleaning it before your things go down deals with that.
- A clear view. Once furniture is in, stains and worn patches get hidden. Empty rooms show you exactly what you're working with.
- Less to organise later. Cleaning carpets once you're settled means moving everything out of the way again.
Getting the order right
The common mistake is cleaning too early, then having decorators, tradespeople and removal crews tramp across the clean carpet. A sensible order:
| Job | Before or after the carpet clean | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Painting and decorating | Before | Ladders, dust sheets and drips all end up on the carpet |
| Electrical work, plastering, new doors | Before | Dust and debris get everywhere |
| New carpet fitted in some rooms | Before | Fitters bring offcuts and fluff through the house |
| Clearing anything left behind | Before | Rooms need to be empty to clean properly |
| Curtains, blinds and light fittings | Either | Little impact on the carpet |
| Removals van and furniture deliveries | After, once dry | Heavy furniture on damp carpet can leave marks |
If the previous occupants left furniture, rubbish or a full attic behind, get that cleared first. Our property clearance service can empty the house, and the carpets can be cleaned once it's clear.
spotless.ieWhat to look for on your first walk-through
When you get the keys, walk through every room before anything else happens and look at the carpets properly. Empty rooms make it easy to spot things that a furnished viewing hid:
- Stains and marks, especially where furniture used to stand, beside beds and in front of the fireplace.
- Smells, such as pets, smoke or mustiness, which are often clearer in an empty, closed-up house.
- Worn walkways from the door to where the sofa was, and on the stair nosings.
- Ripples and loose edges, where the carpet has come off the gripper. A carpet fitter can re-stretch it, and that's best done before the clean.
- Damp patches, particularly under windows, along outside walls or below a bathroom. Find and fix the cause first, because cleaning a carpet over a leak or condensation problem won't last.
Take photos as you go. They're useful for planning, for pricing and, in a rental, for your records.
Moving into a new build
New homes usually come with new carpets, or none at all. If the carpets are new, they rarely need cleaning, but builders' dust from snagging work can settle into them. Vacuum well, and if there's plaster or paint trodden in after the snag list is finished, a clean then makes more sense than one before the trades are done.
Old carpet: clean it or replace it?
When you move into a house with old carpets, it's tempting to rip them all out. Sometimes that's right. Often a clean buys you time to decide, and some carpets come back far better than expected.
Cleaning usually makes sense when:
- the carpet is still in reasonable condition and the problem is mainly soiling
- you're planning to replace the floors eventually, but not for a year or two
- you need the house liveable now and the budget is going on other work first
Replacement is often better when:
- the pile is worn through to the backing in walkways or on the stairs
- there's been long-term pet urine, and the smell is in the underlay
- the carpet has been damp or flooded
- you simply don't like it, and it's going anyway
If you're not sure, send us photos. We'll give you an honest view of whether it's worth cleaning.
Moving into a rental
If you're renting, the carpets should be clean when you move in, and many landlords and letting agents have them done between tenants. If they look like they haven't been, raise it with the landlord or agent before you unpack.
Whatever their condition, take dated photos of every carpet on the day you move in, including any stains or worn areas. When you move out, those photos help show what was there before you, which matters for your deposit. Our guide to end-of-tenancy carpet cleaning covers the other end of the tenancy. Landlords and agents preparing a property for a new tenant will find more on carpet cleaning for property managers.
Getting the keys soon? Send photos of each room and the date you're moving in on WhatsApp. We'll give you a clear price and fit the clean into the gap before the van, usually confirming the same day.
What else to do while the rooms are empty
An empty house is the easiest time to get other soft furnishings sorted too:
- A furnished rental's sofa and mattress can be cleaned on the same visit. See upholstery cleaning and mattress cleaning.
- Rugs you're bringing with you can be cleaned before they go down. See rug cleaning.
- The driveway and patio can be power washed while the van isn't parked on them. See power washing in Dublin.
Planning the day
A few practical points make the clean go smoothly:
- Utilities on. Our extractor runs on mains power and needs a tap, so electricity and water both need to be connected. If the house has been empty, check with the seller, landlord or agent. Heating helps drying.
- Access arranged. Agree who will let us in, and when.
- Parking. Tell us where the van can stop, especially in an apartment block or on a busy street.
- Morning slot. A morning clean gives the carpets the whole day to dry, with windows open if the weather allows.
- A day's buffer. Ideally book a day or two before the removals, so there's no pressure on drying.
Drying usually takes a few hours, depending on the carpet and the weather. Our guide to carpet drying times explains what speeds it up. When you're ready, our carpet cleaning service in Dublin covers Dublin and all of Leinster, and a price from photos is the easiest place to start.
