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Most office carpet doesn't wear out. It gets ground down by grit that nobody removed. How often you clean depends less on how the carpet looks and more on how many feet cross it, and what those feet bring in from outside.
Below is the schedule we use as a starting point for buildings across the Lower Mainland, and the adjustments that matter.
Start with traffic, not appearance
Carpet can look fine while abrasive soil builds up at the base of the fibres. By the time it looks dirty, the damage is already done. Map your floor into three zones and schedule each one separately:
- High traffic: entrances, reception, main corridors, break rooms.
- Medium traffic: open-plan workstations and meeting rooms.
- Low traffic: private offices, storage, and rarely used rooms.
A baseline carpet care schedule
Adjust up for buildings with heavy foot traffic, food service, or direct street access.
- Vacuum high-traffic areasDaily
Use a commercial upright with a beater bar. Most soil removal happens here.
- Vacuum workstation areas2–3× weekly
- Spot-treat spills and stainsWithin 24 hrs
The longer a spill sits, the more likely it is to bond with the fibre.
- Hot water extraction, high trafficEvery 3–6 mo
- Hot water extraction, low trafficEvery 12 mo
Extraction vs. low-moisture cleaning
There are two main professional methods, and most buildings benefit from using both at different points in the year.
Which method fits when
| Hot water extraction | Low-moisture encapsulation | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Deep restoration and removing embedded soil. | Keeping carpet presentable between deep cleans. |
| Dry time | Several hours, depending on airflow and humidity. | Usually under an hour. |
| Typical timing | Evenings or weekends, a few times a year. | Can run more often with less disruption. |
The cheapest carpet to maintain is the one you vacuum properly every day. Everything else is catching up.
The wet-season problem
From roughly October through March, every person walking in from the street brings water and grit with them. Entrance carpet takes the worst of it, and the soil tracks deeper into the building from there.
Signs your schedule needs adjusting
A schedule is a starting point. Move to more frequent cleaning if you notice any of the following:
- Visible traffic lanes or grey pathways between desks.
- Stains that return a few days after spot cleaning.
- A musty smell, especially after wet weather.
If you're not sure where your building sits, a walk-through usually answers it in a few minutes.
Common questions
Office carpet cleaning FAQ
Does regular vacuuming replace professional cleaning?
No. Vacuuming removes loose surface soil, but it can't lift the fine grit that settles at the base of the fibres. That grit is what wears carpet out, and it takes extraction to remove it.
How long does office carpet take to dry?
After hot water extraction, usually several hours depending on airflow and humidity. We schedule extraction for evenings or weekends so floors are dry before staff arrive.
Can carpet be cleaned outside business hours?
Yes. Evening and weekend cleaning is standard for most offices, so there's no disruption to your team.