Do I Need Any Qualifications to Become a Carpet Cleaner?

When setting up a carpet cleaning business, it's important to have all the accreditations you need. If you've already been cleaning carpets for a while, you may not have any formal training. So how do you know you are doing things correctly? To find out what qualifications you need to start a carpet cleaning business, read on.

Minimum training

There isn't any training legally required to start a carpet cleaning business. However, qualifications improve your credibility, so it's good practice to have a few basic certifications under your belt.

Additionally, if you want to join the National Carpet Cleaning Association (NCCA), you will need an entry-level qualification in Professional Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning.

Recommended training

Further training allows you to confidently add other services to your repertoire, increasing your potential earnings. No matter how long you've been cleaning carpets for, training can help you keep up to date on the most efficient methods and new technology. Training sessions themselves also allow you to network with other carpet cleaners.

A few courses that you may find helpful are:

Textile pest control

Once creepy crawlies start eating your carpet, they can be a nightmare to get rid of. It's important that you know how to repel, kill and destroy the eggs of various household pests. Insecticides and pesticides can also be dangerous when handled poorly, so proper training can protect you and your clients.

Fine fabrics

Some fabrics are incredibly delicate. Incorrectly handling fine fabrics can be expensive and lead to poor reviews, unhappy customers and a claim on your insurance. Correctly identifying these fabrics, carrying out patch tests and cleaning and protecting these fabrics should all be covered by this kind of course.

Water damage restoration

With weather as wet as the UK, flooding is common. As carpet is on the ground, it often takes the brunt of the damage, which can be catastrophic for homeowners. Cleaners with water damage restoration training can help customers with damage caused by flooding, leaks and burst pipes.

Advanced stain removal

Some stains can feel impossibly stubborn. If you don't know what you're doing, you may damage the carpet in the process. Proper training can help you handle stains correctly and also apply protectors to prevent future staining.

Commercial cleaning

If you're used to providing residential cleaning services, you may be missing commercial opportunities. A course will help you prepare for these by covering different cleaning methods, how to price your services effectively and how to build business relationships.

Marketing for carpet cleaners

While it doesn't relate directly to carpets themselves, marketing is an important part of running a business. Without good marketing, clients won't know how to find you. At the end of the day, your duty to your business is to make the phone ring. A marketing course will help you understand buyers and how to attract more of them.

Access member-exclusive training courses

By joining the National Carpet Cleaning Association (NCCA), you gain access to exclusive and discounted training courses. All of the topics above are covered by courses listed on our carpet cleaning training page. Other membership benefits include arbitration support, access to forums and a listing on our searchable directory.

Join the NCCA today to take your carpet cleaning business to the next level.