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"Clean. Maintain. Enhance."

SOP-RES-001: Residential Carpet Cleaning

Standard Operating Procedure — In-Home Service (Houses, Townhouses & Apartments)
COR Certified IICRC S100 Compliant WorkSafeBC 2026 COR Certified CRI Standards
SOP ID
SOP-RES-001
Version
2.0
Effective
April 2026
Review Cycle
Annual
Applies To
All Carpet Cleaning Crews
01

Purpose

This SOP defines the standard job flow for delivering consistent, safe, and brand-compliant carpet cleaning in residential settings. It covers the full service lifecycle from pre-job preparation through close-out and documentation.

Cleaning technique, chemistry, and equipment mechanics are covered in the Carpet Cleaning Technical Manuals (FRP Library) — this document covers how to run the job, not how to run the machine.

02

Scope

Applies to all in-home residential carpet cleaning including:

  • Single-family houses
  • Townhouses and duplexes
  • Apartments and condos (individual unit interiors)
  • Whole-home and room-specific carpet cleaning
  • Move-in / move-out cleans
03

Workflow Steps

1

Pre-Job Preparation (Morning Of)

Crew Leader Review Skedulo: job scope, service type, customer contact info, internal notes, equipment needs

Crew Leader Confirm homeowner will be present (or confirm access arrangement)

Crew Leader Open Skedulo, press "Start Travel" (auto-texts customer: "We are on our way")

Crew Member Load vehicle per equipment list; verify chemical stock

Drive Like a Pilot: Branded vehicle = mobile billboard. Obey all traffic laws, no phone use while driving. Represent the company with every lane change.
2

Arrive and Greet

Crew Leader Park on the street or driveway — never block the customer's vehicle, neighbour's driveway, or fire hydrants

Crew Leader Call customer on arrival if no one answers the door

Crew Leader Greet warmly, introduce team by name, put on shoe covers before entering

Crew Leader Ask about: water access, parking duration limits, any areas of special concern

Crew Leader Ask homeowner to secure all pets in a separate room or outside

NO-SHOW Protocol: Wait 15 minutes. Photo the front door. Call Dispatch. Do not leave the site until cleared by Office.
3

Pre-Inspection and Work Plan

Crew Leader Walk every room with the homeowner. Identify and document challenge areas (traffic lanes, pet stains, permanent dye changes, furniture impressions)

Crew Leader Take "before" photos — wide shots of each room + close-ups of concerns

Crew Leader Set expectations on permanent stains before cleaning begins: "This area has a permanent dye change and may not fully come out"

Crew Leader Confirm cleaning method per work order AND observed conditions:

  • Truckmount HWE — primary method for most residential jobs
  • Portable HWE — upper-floor apartments or limited access
  • Whittaker TRIO Encapsulation — interim maintenance between deep cleans

Crew Leader Communicate the work plan to homeowner: rooms to be cleaned, method, work flow direction (furthest room to front door), estimated time, drying time

Never guarantee stain removal. Never comment on previous company's work. Never make health claims ("kills bacteria," "removes allergens").
4

Setup and Protection

Crew Member Place wet floor signs at entry points

Crew Member Lay corner guards on walls and doorframes where hoses will run

Crew Member Place drop cloths / hose protectors on hardwood, tile, or laminate floors in hose path

Crew Member Protect baseboards, doorframes, and furniture legs in work areas

Crew Member Route hoses; connect to water source (laundry tap or outdoor spigot)

Crew Leader Verify equipment is operational before first pass

Crew Leader Truckmount: position vehicle exhaust away from home, windows, and walkways; dispose waste water per BC regulations (FRP-015)

Personal Space: This is someone's home. Treat it with more care than your own. Ask before moving furniture. Never open closed doors without permission. Keep conversation professional.
5

Execute Cleaning

Execute cleaning per confirmed method and work order. Work from the furthest room toward the front door.

Crew Leader + Crew Member Perform cleaning per the confirmed method

Crew Leader Handle customer questions professionally throughout service

Crew Leader Price questions or scope changes → contact Office for authorization. Never quote independently.

STOP WORK Triggers: Mold, pests, biohazard, structural damage — photo it, call Office immediately, do not proceed until cleared.
6

Post-Inspection and Walkthrough

Crew Leader Inspect all cleaned rooms before calling the homeowner for walkthrough

Crew Leader Walk homeowner through results, room by room. Point out improvements; honestly note any stains that did not fully resolve

Crew Leader Communicate drying time: "Carpet will be dry in 4–8 hours. We recommend leaving windows cracked and fans on if possible."

Crew Member Place foam blocks under all furniture legs on cleaned carpet

Crew Member Set up air movers in high-traffic rooms

Crew Leader Offer maintenance recommendations: vacuum frequency, spot cleaning tips, next service timeline

Say: "These traffic lanes cleaned up really well. For the pet stain by the couch, the discolouration is permanent dye damage — it won't come out with any method, but the area is now clean and sanitized."
7

Close-Out and Depart

Crew Leader Upload to Skedulo: before/after photos, completion notes, detailed job report + recommendations

Crew Leader Mark job "Complete" in Skedulo

Crew Member Remove all signage, hoses, equipment, drop cloths, corner guards from home

Crew Member Leave the home cleaner than you found it — wipe boot prints, pick up any debris

No cash. No checks. "Everything is handled through our office. You will receive a receipt by email."
Drive Safe Home: Obey all traffic laws. Branded vehicle represents Servus at every intersection.
04

Roles & Responsibilities

Role Key Responsibilities
Crew Leader Pre-job review, Skedulo management, customer communication, pre-inspection, method confirmation, expectation setting, post-inspection walkthrough, close-out reporting
Crew Member Vehicle loading, equipment setup/teardown, protection placement, cleaning execution, foam block placement, air mover setup, site cleanup
Dispatch / Office Job scheduling in Skedulo, customer confirmation, billing and invoicing, follow-up satisfaction surveys, scope change authorization
05

Safety

  • Wet floor signage at entry points during work
  • Corner guards and drop cloths to protect customer's hard floors and walls
  • PPE: gloves, safety glasses for chemical handling
  • Shoe covers worn inside the home at all times
  • Hose routing to prevent trip hazards — secure across walkways
  • Never leave running equipment unattended
  • Verify customer's electrical outlets can handle equipment load before connecting
  • WorkSafeBC ergonomic guidelines for lifting (max 50 lbs solo)
  • Report any property damage immediately to Crew Leader → Office
  • Pets must be secured before work begins — do not handle customer's animals
  • Follow all Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for every chemical in use — SDS binder must be accessible on-site at all times
STOP WORK Triggers: Mold, pest infestation, biohazard contamination, structural damage — all require immediate work stoppage, photo documentation, and Office notification before proceeding.
06

Systems & Tools

Scheduling & Communication

  • Skedulo — job scheduling, "Start Travel" auto-text, status tracking, photo upload, job completion reporting

Equipment (names only — operating procedures in FRP Library)

  • Truckmount (primary for houses and ground-floor units)
  • Portable extractor (upper-floor apartments, limited access)
  • Whittaker TRIO (interim encapsulation maintenance)
  • Air movers / fans
  • Wand, hoses, corner guards, drop cloths
  • Shoe covers
  • Foam blocks for furniture legs
  • Wet floor signs

Chemicals (names & purpose only — dilution ratios and pH in FRP Library)

  • Pre-spray (traffic lane and general)
  • Rinse / neutralizer
  • Spot treatment products
  • Deodorizer (as needed per work order)

PPE

  • Nitrile gloves, safety glasses for chemical handling
  • Non-slip footwear, shoe covers
07

Communication

When Who What How
Day before job Office → Customer Appointment confirmation; reminder to secure pets, clear small items from floors Text / email
Day of (departure) CL → Customer "We are on our way" notification Skedulo auto-text
On arrival CL → Customer Greeting, team introduction, scope confirmation In person
Pre-inspection CL → Customer Room walkthrough, challenge areas, permanent stain expectations, method + work plan In person
During service CL → Customer Progress updates, any scope changes or issues encountered In person
Post-inspection CL → Customer Results walkthrough, drying time, maintenance recommendations In person
Close-out CL → Skedulo Photos, notes, detailed completion report + recommendations Skedulo app
Within 24h Office → Customer Satisfaction follow-up Text / email
08

Quality Checks

  • Homeowner confirmed present (or access arrangement verified)
  • Pets secured before work begins
  • Pre-inspection photos taken (wide shots + close-ups of concerns)
  • Permanent stain expectations set with homeowner before cleaning
  • Cleaning method confirmed per work order AND observed conditions
  • Wet floor signs and protection placed before any wet work
  • Post-inspection completed by CL before customer walkthrough
  • Post-inspection "after" photos taken
  • Foam blocks placed under all furniture legs on cleaned carpet
  • Air movers positioned in high-traffic rooms
  • All photos and notes uploaded to Skedulo
  • All equipment, hoses, drop cloths removed from home
  • Job marked "Complete" in Skedulo
09

Exceptions & Escalation

  • No-show / no access: Wait 15 minutes. Photo the front door. Call Dispatch. Do not leave until cleared by Office.
  • Pets not secured: Politely ask homeowner to secure all pets before work begins. Do not handle the customer's animals. If pets cannot be secured, call Office.
  • STOP WORK (mold, pests, biohazard, structural damage): Photo the hazard. Call Office immediately. Do not proceed until cleared.
  • Equipment failure: Switch to backup unit. Contact Office if rescheduling is required.
  • Scope change on-site: Customer requests additional rooms or services → CL contacts Office for authorization. Never quote independently.
  • Property damage: Report immediately to CL → Office. Photo the damage. Be transparent with the customer.
  • Customer dissatisfaction: Attempt resolution on-site (re-clean area, additional spot treatment). If unresolvable, escalate to Office within 24 hours.
  • Aggressive pets or unsafe conditions: Do not enter. Call Office. Reschedule if necessary.
10

Close-Out

After every residential job, complete in order:

  1. Post-inspection walkthrough with homeowner, room by room
  2. Communicate drying time and care instructions (windows, fans, pets off carpet)
  3. Offer maintenance recommendations (vacuum frequency, spot cleaning, next service)
  4. Upload before/after photos + detailed notes to Skedulo
  5. Include recommendations in job report
  6. Mark job "Complete" in Skedulo
  7. Remove all equipment, hoses, signs, drop cloths, corner guards from home
  8. Leave the home cleaner than you found it — wipe boot prints, pick up debris
  9. Drive safely home — branded vehicle represents Servus at every intersection
No cash. No checks. All billing is handled through the office. "You will receive a receipt by email."
11

KPIs / Success Metrics

> 90%
On-Time Arrival

Within ±15 min window

100%
Pre-Inspection Photos

Before + after every job

100%
Method Confirmation

Verified before first pass

100%
Post-Inspection Walkthrough

Homeowner walkthrough before departure

100%
Skedulo Completion

Photos + notes uploaded same day

< 2%
Re-Clean Call Rate

Within 30 days of service

> 4.5 / 5.0
Customer Satisfaction

Post-job survey average

0
Property Damage Claims

Zero per quarter target

12

Reference