HOW TO HIRE · CLEANING

How to hire a rug cleaner in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

A rug cleaning in Ireland costs €25–€100 per rug, typically around €50. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.

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  • Nearest to you first
  • One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews

THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a rug cleaner in five steps

  1. Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers rug cleaner work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — drying and Finishing — after cleaning, rugs are dried properly to prevent mould and mildew growth.
  2. How does size of the rug change the price?The area covered is what the day rate is set against. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  3. How does type of material change the price?Materials for an unusual job carry a premium. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  4. How does severity of stains change the price?Providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  5. What is not included?Rug cleaning services generally do not cover repairs or restoration of damaged rugs — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a rug cleaner job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

No licence or register applies to cleaners in Ireland. Anyone may trade as one, so the checks that matter are trader status, insurance, references and what is written down.

Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.

What to check instead

That they are a trader, not a favour — a business name, an invoice, a VAT or tax reference if registered; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; Whether the person who quoted is the person who comes; References from two current customers, not testimonials on a page; What is in scope in writing, because 'a clean' means different things.

Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.

Insurance

Expect public liability; an agency also carries employer's liability and covers sickness. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.

Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.

Trader or private seller

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.

Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.

VAT

VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.

Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →

“Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?”

A good answer: No register covers rug cleaner work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — drying and Finishing — after cleaning, rugs are dried properly to prevent mould and mildew growth.

“How does size of the rug change the price?”

A good answer: The area covered is what the day rate is set against. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does type of material change the price?”

A good answer: Materials for an unusual job carry a premium. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does severity of stains change the price?”

A good answer: Providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“What is not included?”

A good answer: Rug cleaning services generally do not cover repairs or restoration of damaged rugs — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a rug cleaner job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

“Who insures you, and what is the policy number?”

A good answer: Expect public liability; an agency also carries employer's liability and covers sickness — deep Cleaning Techniques — deep cleaning methods, such as steam cleaning or hot water extraction, may be employed to remove embedded dirt and grime.

“What do I get in writing, and when?”

A good answer: A written scope and a price before the rug cleaner starts, and an itemised invoice after — stain Treatment — specialised solutions are applied to treat stains, such as wine, coffee, or pet accidents.

Getting the quote right

  • Size of the rug — the area covered is what the day rate is set against.
  • Type of material — materials for an unusual job carry a premium.
  • Severity of stains — providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day.
  • Its condition — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job.
  • In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
  • What is NOT included, named
  • Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
  • The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register

Walk away if

  • They will not talk about it: size of the rug — the area covered is what the day rate is set against
  • They will not talk about it: type of material — materials for an unusual job carry a premium
  • They will not talk about it: severity of stains — providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day
  • A price for the rug cleaner before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
  • Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
  • No written quote, or one that moves once the rug cleaner has begun
LOW
€25
TYPICAL
€50
HIGH
€100

What a rug cleaner costs: €25–€100 per rug

The figures are for the job, per rug, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Oriental rug cleaning and Stain removal services each carry their own band. Rug Cleaning price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Rug cleaners near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. Look firstSize of the rug — the area covered is what the day rate is set against — that is what the rug cleaner is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
  2. Agree what is being doneType of material — materials for an unusual job carry a premium — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
  3. The work itselfSeverity of stains — providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
  4. Check it togetherIts condition — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the rug cleaner is still there.
  5. What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, any specific treatments required — better finishes need more coats, more passes or more care.

Dust and Dirt Removal
Rug cleaning typically starts with a thorough dust and dirt removal process.
Stain Treatment
Specialised solutions are applied to treat stains, such as wine, coffee, or pet accidents.
Deep Cleaning Techniques
Deep cleaning methods, such as steam cleaning or hot water extraction, may be employed to remove embedded dirt and grime.
Drying and Finishing
After cleaning, rugs are dried properly to prevent mould and mildew growth.
Oriental Rug Cleaning
Specialised cleaning techniques for delicate, hand-woven rugs to preserve their colours and integrity.
Stain Removal Services
Targeted treatments for specific stains like wine, pet accidents, or food spills.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and the paperworkAn itemised invoice with the trader's name, the work and the total — drying and Finishing — after cleaning, rugs are dried properly to prevent mould and mildew growth, because it is what a buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a lender asks for long after the rug cleaner has gone.
Test what was doneDeep Cleaning Techniques — deep cleaning methods, such as steam cleaning or hot water extraction, may be employed to remove embedded dirt and grime — and something that does not work on the day is theirs to put right there and then.
Ask what the guarantee isOn the workmanship and on the parts, and for how long each one runs — they are usually different. stain Treatment — specialised solutions are applied to treat stains, such as wine, coffee, or pet accidents — under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 what was agreed is what can be relied on.
Leave the reviewOnly a booked job can be reviewed on Locufy, which is why the score on a rug cleaner's card means something — dust and Dirt Removal — rug cleaning typically starts with a thorough dust and dirt removal process.

STEP 1Say it in writing, firstSay what is wrong and what you want done. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and defective work put right.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyUnder four stars you are asked whether to send it to the provider first; we follow it through. Then review.
STEP 3Escalate to the body that regulates itThere is no register, so the route is the consumer body and, if needed, the courts.
STEP 4Small claimsSmall claims covers €2,000, once you have asked in writing and given them a chance to put it right.

Hiring a rug cleaner: questions people ask

The cost of rug cleaning can vary based on factors such as the size of the rug, the type of material, and the severity of stains. Additionally, any specialised treatments required will also impact the overall price.

The duration of a rug cleaning job can range from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the size and condition of the rug. Larger or heavily soiled rugs may require more time for thorough cleaning.

While general cleaners can handle basic rug cleaning, hiring a specialist is advisable for valuable or delicate rugs. Specialists have the expertise and tools to address specific materials and stains effectively.

Many cleaning services offer same-day or emergency rug cleaning options, but availability can vary. It's best to inquire directly with the service provider for immediate assistance.

Yes, many cleaning companies offer discounts or package deals if you book multiple services together, such as carpet and upholstery cleaning. This can be a cost-effective way to maintain your home.

Rug cleaning services generally do not cover repairs or restoration of damaged rugs. Additionally, services like fringe cleaning or dyeing may be considered separate from standard cleaning procedures.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in cleaning

How to hire: House CleaningHow to hire: Regular Domestic CleaningHow to hire: One-Off CleaningHow to hire: Deep CleaningHow to hire: Spring CleaningHow to hire: End of Tenancy CleaningHow to hire: Move-in / Move-out CleaningHow to hire: After Builders CleaningAll 701 hiring guides →

Rug cleaners near you

Rug cleaners in DublinRug cleaners in CorkRug cleaners in GalwayRug cleaners in LimerickAll rug cleaners on Locufy →Do it yourself: washing a loose rug at home →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
  2. Consumer Rights Act 2022
  3. Revenue — VAT rates
  4. Courts Service — small claims
  5. Revenue — CARPET CLEANING (Certain repair and related services) — Reduced rate
  6. Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
  7. Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only