• Go over the carpet thoroughly to remove all soap residue. • Keep all traffic off the carpet until it’s completely dry. You should see a significant difference in both the smell and look of your carpet. Buyers will notice the fresh, clean feeling, too. Steam Clean: Stained carpets need more in-depth treatment than a regular carpet shampooer can offer. If that’s the case, go with a steam cleaning and spot treatment. Either rent a steam cleaning shampooer or hire a professional carpet cleaner. If you’re dealing with severe stains or damage, get a cleaning estimate first. Then compare the price to replacing the carpet. Cleaning can make a tremendous difference and save the cost of replacement. Sometimes deep cleaning works, but cannot remove an extra stubborn stain. You might be able to cover up isolated bad spots with rugs. Adding a tasteful area or throw rug makes the room a little more attractive for showings. Don’t be dishonest about a trouble spot, though. If your carpet was in such bad shape that a steam cleaning didn’t remove all the stains, it will be evident to buyers that the carpet will need to be replaced. Even if your carpet is beyond the help of professional cleaning, you might not want to replace it. New carpeting is
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