Good everyday care keeps carpet looking better for longer and makes a professional clean more effective when you need one. This guide covers what you can do yourself, how to deal with spills without making them worse, and what renters in Victoria and the ACT need to know when they move out.
Reviewed 13 October 2026 against the Victorian and ACT renting rules cited below. General information only.
Everyday care
- Vacuum regularly, more often in hallways, entrances and other high-traffic areas. Grit trodden into the pile wears the fibres; vacuuming removes it before it does.
- Use doormats at outside doors to stop a lot of dirt reaching the carpet in the first place.
- Move furniture occasionally or use furniture cups so heavy pieces do not leave deep dents in one spot.
- Limit strong sunlight with blinds or curtains in rooms where it falls on the same patch of carpet every day.
- Follow your carpet’s care guide. The manufacturer’s care instructions are the best reference for which products and cleaning methods suit your carpet type, and some warranties set out how carpet should be cleaned.
Dealing with spills
- Act quickly: scoop up anything solid, then blot liquid with a clean white cloth or paper towel.
- Blot, don’t rub. Rubbing can spread the spill and roughen the pile.
- Work from the outside of the spot towards the middle so it does not spread.
- Use only a little water. Soaking the carpet can push the spill into the backing and underlay, where it is harder to remove.
- Before using any spot cleaner, read the label and check the carpet’s care guide, and test it on a hidden area first.
- Never mix cleaning products, and keep the room ventilated while you use them.
Some stains, such as dyes, bleach spots or old pet urine, may only fade, even with professional cleaning. Tell your cleaner about them, and about anything already used on them, before the clean.
What a professional steam clean does
Our carpet cleaning is a steam clean (hot water extraction): heavily marked areas are pre-treated, then hot water and cleaning solution are worked through the fibres and extracted with the machine, leaving the carpet damp rather than wet. Keep the room ventilated afterwards. Pricing and preparation are on our carpet cleaning page.
Carpets at the end of a lease
- Victoria: a rental provider can only require professional cleaning at the end of a tenancy if the property was professionally cleaned immediately before you moved in and you were told, or if it is needed to return the property to its condition at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear (Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 (Vic), reg 12).
- ACT: you do not have to use professional cleaners; professional carpet cleaning can only be required if your lease says so and the carpets were professionally cleaned at the start of the tenancy.
Source: Consumer Affairs Victoria: Director’s Guideline 2, Cleanliness · The Renting Book (ACT Government, January 2026)
Moving out? See our end of lease cleaning checklist.
Related: choosing household cleaning products, and using them safely.
Carpet care: questions
How often should carpet be professionally cleaned?
There is no single rule: it depends on traffic, pets, children and the carpet itself. Your carpet’s care guide or warranty may recommend how and how often it should be cleaned.
Can I use a hire machine?
Yes, but follow the machine and carpet instructions closely and avoid over-wetting; carpet that stays wet for a long time can develop odours or damage to the backing.
Will steam cleaning remove pet odour?
It often helps, but odour from urine that has soaked into the underlay may not be fully removed by surface cleaning. Tell us about pets when you book.
How do I book a carpet clean?
Book online with the price for your address, or call 1300 280 576.