I always vacuum before any carpet cleaning is done since we do it ourselves! I bought a Kirby vacuum cleaner system a couple of months ago and I plan on using it for cleaning our carpets too!

We vacuum carpet every day so it would already be clean in a way when they come, if it wasn't then I would as it would make cleaning it much easier.

Definitely, it gets a better clean if you remove the loose particles. It also raises the pile giving the cleaner a chance for a deeper clean.

The steam cleaning machines usually pick everything up...unless there is quite a bit of dust on the carpet, in which case you should probably vacuum first..

I vacuum before cleaning the carpets since I have my own carpet cleaner. If you don't, the carpet cleaning machine gets all gunked up. Before I got it, the carpet cleaning companies I used required their customers to vacuum as their professionals don't do it.

Never. If they know what they're doing, they should vac all the carpets. You should ask before contracting any cleaner if they vac first, then clean. If not, move on to someone else because that should be included in the cost. They have professional vacs much more powerful than your home Hoover.

Got rid of all the carpet so I don't need carpet cleaners.

Our carpet cleaners specifically request that the homeowner vacuum before the cleaning. We always do so.

Yes because I don't trust anyone even if they say the will or tell me they did.

took all carpeting out-just wood floors and ceramic.

I always vacuum to get rid of the pet hair. Even with the vacuuming, there's usually a bit of hair that bunches up here and there on the carpet after the carpet cleaners go through. They don't seem to notice, as my dogs hair does blend in quite well, but I know it's there so I look for it.

I have four hairy dogs. I would vacuum.

I vacuum. I have a Dyson that picks up everything, but I still have a carpet cleaning once a year to leave the carpet smelling better and to spot clean any stains. My mom cleaned before her weekly cleaning lady because she didn't want anyone to think she was a lazy housekeeper.

If you have any spot stains, try rubbing gently with a cloth with vinegar on it. It lifted old coffee stains off my Persian rug.

I not only vacuum but I also spot treat if needed to give it time to work.

No ... I have been using the person for almost 5 years, twice a year. He also does commercial work. Anyways ... I asked him the first time he came over, he told me that it wasn't necessary and he always does a great job. I have a dog and when he's finished I never find any dog hair left behind. Perhaps it's the equipment he uses

I own a carpet cleaning business. I always appreciate it when my customers vacuum ahead of time. I will also say that any carpet cleaner who comes to your home and does not vacuum before cleaning is doing it wrong (unless you vacuum for him) because the results are much better when pre-vacuumed. I always surprise my clean obsessed customers with a "clean home discount". On the other hand, when i show up and the carpet looks like no one has vacuumed in years and they don't even bother picking up the garbage on the floor I have no choice but to charge them extra and if they disagree before I start, I leave.

Yep. Probably not really necessary but still..

It is a weird thing. Pride. it has to be Pride why we would, but there is, as already mentioned that feeling of I want this carpet cleaned and the more stuff I can vacum away should give it a better chance of doing a better job from the cleaning company.

Now if I can just get out of the habit of cleaning before the cleaning lady comes; it is a bit of the same thing..Pride...maybe a bit of helpful micromanaging too!? it is weird to me..

richhates..., I don't actually clean but always straighten up before my cleaning lady comes because if I don't, I can't find anything after she leaves. Her idea of where to put something away doesn't come close to mine. Or maybe it does and that's where I've put all of those things that I can't find after putting them in a Safe Place.

Kristina, that's kind of like when my husband cleans. I can never find anything afterwards.

What carpet cleaners???

Debc, I've got my husband mostly trained about where things go. Still, there are times I can't find something after he's emptied the dishwasher. I don't complain. I just ask, "If I were a garlic press, where would I be?"

Kristina, I just had to ask that question earlier my self about where would I be? I so appreciate my husband being willing and emptying the dishwasher!

Now back on topic, yes I always vacuumed the carpet before the carpet cleaner came. Amazing how many crayons, etc. that I find underneath beds.

Don't have carpet anymore other than area rugs but when I did, I always vacuumed first. Why? Dust+water=mud

ABSOLUTELY! Vacuuming before the cleaners come allows me to spot any stains that I may need to let them know about so they can pre-treat. Also, I use the vacuum attachments to clean the carpert along the baseboards. The bulky steam cleaners can't get that close. Don't waste your money on carpet cleaning if you are not going to get the edge too.

Helpers are there to assist where you have left off. i mean who's house is it yours? or theirs? Women take care of your surroundings, they are basically there to give you a chance to put up your feet after a long day at work.

Get all the loose stuff out so the liquid doesn't spread it into the carpet.

Carpet cleaners typically do not want to move out the furniture, and they certainly don't want you dusting off the backsides of the furniture while it is pulled away from the wall. So I always prepare for them by moving everything out and cleaning behind before they arrive. I have found having heavy furniture on damp carpet can stretch the carpet or leach stain out from the furniture legs. Although not every square inch of carpet gets cleaned, the carpet is not typically soiled under furniture, it is usually only dusty. Also, it depends on your personal ability for taking on that task. Don't injure yourself!

I occasionally move the furniture around, usually after the carpet gets cleaned, so I want the entire carpet cleaned. Except for our large entertainment center, our furniture gets moved when we clean the carpets. The entertainment center is the only thing against a wall so no need to dust off the back of anything. The carpet cleaner generally has a better back than either me or my husband. I ask them to move the furniture before they start bringing in their equipment. If hubby is available he helps. Then I gather up all the change, missing crochet hooks, and other misc items before quickly vacuuming up where the couch and chairs were. The furniture gets moved back after our son and daughter-in-law, who live in our basement apt, get home from work. (Heavy lifting is part of the rent.)

My husband and I ARE the carpet cleaners. We bought our own machine and do the work ourselves. So YES we vacuum before we begin our carpet cleaning projects.

No carpet in my house other than throw rugs that fit in the washing machine! I do "pickup" and wash rugs before my housekeeper arrives!!

No carpet for me. But when I had my shop, the carpet cleaners did the vacuuming before the cleaning ! They always do !

I always had but last time he said not to worry, he would do it (with his Kirby) and then charged me for it. In the future I will vacuum because some do, and some don't, and then others charge! (Got to pay for that Kirby).