Cleaning
Carpet and upholstery cleaning
Whether this needs a licence in Ireland
No licence required
Taken from the statute below; not yet reviewed by a lawyer
Carpet and upholstery cleaning: what the job involves
Deep cleaning carpets, rugs, stairs, sofas and mattresses with hot-water extraction or a low-moisture method, to lift the soil, stains and odours that vacuuming leaves behind. The right method depends on the fibre, so a good cleaner checks it first.
Also asked for as: carpet cleaning · carpet steam cleaning · sofa cleaning · mattress cleaning · rug cleaning
How the job is usually done
- Inspect the fibre, colour-fastness and stains, and agree what can realistically come out
- Move light furniture and protect feet of heavier pieces with tabs or blocks
- Vacuum thoroughly, then pre-treat traffic lanes and spots
- Clean with hot-water extraction, or a low-moisture method for wool, delicate fibres and some upholstery
- Rinse and extract as much water as possible, and groom the pile
- Advise on drying, ventilation and when the room can be used
Carpet and upholstery cleaning: what is included
Usually included
- Pre-vacuuming and spot pre-treatment
- Hot-water extraction or low-moisture cleaning
- Moving light furniture and putting it back
Usually not included — agree it separately
- Guaranteed removal of old, set or bleach stains
- Moving heavy furniture such as wardrobes or pianos
- Repairing worn or burnt carpet
- Pest treatment for carpet moths or fleas
Materials and who supplies them
- Extraction machine and wands — the cleaner’s
- Pre-sprays, spotters and deodorisers — the cleaner’s
- Stain protector, if you ask for it
- A water supply and a socket — yours
How long it takes
Most homes take two to four hours; carpets are usually dry in four to eight hours depending on the method, the weather and the airflow.
When to book
Spring and summer suit carpet cleaning because carpets dry faster with windows open; before Christmas and after a tenancy are the busy times.
Carpet and upholstery cleaning: the rules in Ireland
What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.
Steam cleaning of carpets in a private dwelling is charged at the reduced rate of VAT by a VAT-registered business.
Applies to: the carpet cleaner, if VAT-registered
Revenue — Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010, Schedule 3 · revenue.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
What carpet and upholstery cleaning costs, and why
What jobs on Talqero came to
Not enough comparable jobs yet to publish a range here. Talqero shows a price range only once at least five comparable jobs, agreed prices or offers exist — a range from fewer would describe a handful of jobs, not the market. Post your job and compare the offers you get.
What affects the price
- Number of rooms, stairs and landings
- Pieces of upholstery and mattresses
- Fibre: wool and natural fibres need gentler methods
- Old or set-in stains, pet accidents and odours
- Furniture that has to be moved
- Stain protection afterwards
Paperwork to ask for at the end
- An invoice listing the rooms and items cleaned, and any stains that would not come out
Safety
- Keep children and pets off damp carpets and do not walk on them in outdoor shoes until dry
- Damp carpets on stairs and hard floors at their edges are slippery
- Open windows or run the heating to help drying and avoid a musty smell
Carpet and upholstery cleaning: before you hire
Questions to ask a tradesperson
- What method will you use on my carpet or sofa?
- How long will it take to dry?
- Can you get pet urine out, and what if the smell comes back?
- Are you insured if a carpet or fabric is damaged?
What you can do yourself
Spot-cleaning fresh spills is fine DIY; hired machines leave a lot of water behind and can shrink wool or leave rings, so whole-room cleaning is better left to a professional.
What to put in your task
- What needs cleaning?
- How many carpeted rooms?
- Are there particular stains or odours?
- Do you know what the carpet or sofa is made of?
Photos that help
- Each carpet as a whole
- Close-ups of stains
- Any sofa or mattress, and its care label if there is one
Carpet and upholstery cleaning by county
Choose your county for carpet and upholstery cleaning close to home.
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Dublin
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Cork
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Galway
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Kildare
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Limerick
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Meath
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Tipperary
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Donegal
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Wexford
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Kerry
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Wicklow
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Mayo
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Louth
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Waterford
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Clare
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Kilkenny
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Westmeath
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Laois
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Cavan
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Offaly
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Sligo
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Roscommon
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Monaghan
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Carlow
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Longford
- Carpet and upholstery cleaning in Leitrim
Cleaning
Need carpet and upholstery cleaning? Describe the job.
Post it once, free. Professionals near you reply with their own price and when they could start. You choose, and pay them directly.
Questions about carpet and upholstery cleaning
Does carpet and upholstery cleaning need a licence in Ireland?
No licence is required for this work in Ireland (source: www.cru.ie). Ask instead for references and photographs of similar jobs.
How long before I can walk on the carpet?
Usually a few hours in socks, and a full day before furniture goes back without protective tabs. Low-moisture methods dry faster. Good airflow makes the biggest difference.
Will all the stains come out?
Most everyday stains do. Old stains, bleach marks, and some dyes such as red wine or hair dye that have set may be permanent. A good cleaner tells you before they start.
Can wool carpets be steam cleaned?
Yes, with care: lower temperatures, wool-safe products and good extraction. Some wool and natural-fibre carpets are better cleaned with a low-moisture method.