Carpet cleaning vs pressure washing
Carpet cleaning restores interior floors with hot water extraction. Pressure washing blasts exterior surfaces clean. Compare these complementary services.
These are complementary services — one interior, one exterior — that many homeowners pair in spring or before selling. Carpet cleaning ($120–$300 for a typical home) uses hot water extraction at low pressure (50–500 PSI) to dissolve and extract dirt from textile fibers. Drying takes 6–12 hours. Pressure washing ($150–$500) uses high pressure (1,300–3,100 PSI) to blast dirt, mold, and algae off hard exterior surfaces — driveways, siding, patios, and decks. Different equipment, different technicians, different surfaces. You would never pressure wash a carpet (it would destroy the fibers) or steam-clean a driveway (too gentle). The overlap is timing: both are seasonal services that boost home appearance and value. Scheduling both on the same week — pressure washing first (exterior), then carpet cleaning (interior) — is a popular spring combo that runs $270–$800 total.
Carpet Cleaning vs Pressure Washing
| Feature | Carpet Cleaning | Pressure Washing |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Choose carpet cleaning when your interior carpets have stains, odors, or allergen buildup. It's the right call after a long winter, before hosting events, or anytime your carpets look dull despite regular vacuuming. | Choose pressure washing when your driveway, patio, siding, or deck is covered in dirt, mold, or algae. Essential before exterior painting or staining, and a fast way to boost curb appeal. |
Call a carpet cleaning when…
Choose carpet cleaning when your interior carpets have stains, odors, or allergen buildup. It's the right call after a long winter, before hosting events, or anytime your carpets look dull despite regular vacuuming.
Call a pressure washing when…
Choose pressure washing when your driveway, patio, siding, or deck is covered in dirt, mold, or algae. Essential before exterior painting or staining, and a fast way to boost curb appeal.