How a carpet cleaner earns our recommendation
We're an independent guide, which only works if our recommendations are honest. Here's exactly how we decide who we'll send you to, and the standards we hold them to.
- 1. A real, recent review recordStrong, consistent ratings across Google, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau, and reviews that keep arriving. A wall of five stars that all stopped in 2019 doesn't count.
- 2. Certification and trainingIICRC certification (or equivalent verifiable training) for the technicians who actually show up, not just the owner's name on a certificate.
- 3. Current insuranceActive liability insurance we confirm, so your home is protected if something goes wrong.
- 4. Customer reference callsWe speak with real, recent customers and ask the questions that matter: Was the quote honest? Did they show up on time? Would you use them again?
- 5. Communication and clear pricingThey answer the phone, give straight quotes, and don't bait-and-switch. The basics homeowners complain about most.
- 6. They stay accountableWe track how referrals go. If complaints pile up or standards slip, a company loses its spot. Recommendation is ongoing, not a one-time stamp.
Know a carpet cleaner who already meets this bar? We're still building our North Shore list, and a neighbor's recommendation is one of the best places to start.
Recommend a cleanerHow we make money, in plain English
Carpet Cleaning Report is an independent information and referral service. We are not a carpet cleaning company, and we don't take a cut of the work a cleaner does for you.
When we connect you with a cleaner we recommend, that company may pay us a referral fee for the introduction. That's how we keep this site free, publish our guides, and do the vetting work.
Two promises about that:
- It never changes our standards. A company cannot pay to skip the vetting, and paying more never moves anyone up our list. The criteria above are the only way in.
- It never costs you more. You pay the cleaner their normal price. Our fee is between us and them.
We follow the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's guidance on disclosing this kind of relationship, which is why you'll see a short version of this note in our footer and on our request page. If you ever feel a recommendation didn't live up to these standards, email us. It directly affects whether that company stays on our list.