What's a reasonable rate to clean a carpet?

[Jackie]

So I was laid off in Feburary and since then I have been trying to figure out a way to make enough money doing sort of odd/part time jobs. So far I have picked up 15 hours a week waitressing, and 8 hours a week cleaning a provincial park office, as well as I had previously been cleaning the bank in town that takes a half hour a day. Oh and I am the dog catcher but thats like commission and when I don't have time to care for impounded dogs I don't pick them up.


Anyway, I have thought about cleaning other peoples houses. I don't mind cleaning. I already do the park office and the bank. Getting pretty good and learning all the tricks. I thought I would start small and get used to cleaning for the public by cleaning carpets(I own a VERY good carpet cleaner). I was thinking $50 for a living room, $25 for a bedroom with a max charge of $100 per main part of the house plus shampoo. If someone wants a full basement done its an extra $50. Does that sound reasonable?? I have no idea what to charge. I KNOW I will get lots of business around here because its a 45 min drive to the nearest carpet cleaner rental and they only have 2 available. I could never get one when I needed one.

I honestly have no idea what the going rate is for carpet cleaning. :S

[Belfrybat]

I found this article that breaks the costs down. http://www.carpetsupersite.com/ABC_c...aning_cost.htm
This is in US$, so don't know the conversion rate to C$.

Another site I found suggests 30 cents per square foot of cleanable area only.

I guess it partly depends on how much furniture you have to move as well. You might have to hire someone to help move the larger pieces and that would increase the cost. A friend of mine cleans houses and charges $15.00 per hour and she uses the homeowner's equipment. I asked her about carpet cleaning and she said she'd charge more per hour since it is harder work than general cleaning plus the cost of equipment and cleaning products (she'd have to rent it).

[ronbre]

whatever prices you get quoted, price a home carpet cleaning machine, they are probably about the same price and you'll have it next time