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When choosing a carpet or upholstery cleaning company, most customers have no idea what questions to ask. Inevitably the only question you can think of to ask is can you get the dirt out and how much does it cost? Well any cleaner is going to answer yes to the first question and shopping by price can be a big gamble. So what should you look for?
Is the company certified?
There are several certification organizations available to carpet cleaners. The largest is the IICRC or the Institute for Cleaning Restoration Certification. A company that is certified by one of these organizations is more likely to have proper training and participate in ongoing education.
Do they offer a guarantee?
Most companies will offer at least a 14 to 30 day guarantee. If you have any problems with the work they should agree to come back to re-clean your carpet at no charge.
WhatÂ’s included in their price?
Prices should include all of the basic steps in the process. Some cleaners may not include vacuuming in their price and that is okay, but the price should include pre-spraying or pre-treating the carpet and basic spotting. Services like pet odor removal, wax removal or tough stains may be at additional cost.
Who will do the work?
Find out if the owner themselves does the work, if they use employees or if they use subcontractors. If they use employees find out if they are uniformed and if they run background checks on them. If they use subcontractors you may want to determine how they choose them and who is ultimately guaranteeing the work.
What method do they use?
There are a variety of different carpet cleaning methods. Some have advantages over others but all will get the job done. Here are the basic carpet cleaning methods.
The Need For Carpet CleaningYou may know its time to clean the carpet once it starts to get musky or maybe it is just starting to look bad. But, if you did not realize it, it is very important to clean your carpet much more often than that! In fact, it is necessary for good health as much as it is for sanitary living. While many of us sweep out kitchens and mop our floors, we don t all take the time to get in a carpet clean as much as we should. Here, we will talk about why it is important to clean your carpet and provide you with some helpful tips on how to keep it looking clean in between deep cleanings.
First, let s ..
Steam Cleaning: The most common method in which a detergent solution is sprayed onto the carpet, allowed to dwell for a few minutes and then extracted with hot water. The cleaner may either use a portable unit which they bring into your home or a truck mounted unit where they bring only hoses into your home. Some consider this to be the most thorough method. Drying time is generally between 4 to 6 hours.
Bonnet Cleaning: The second most common method in which a pre-spray is applied to the carpet and then is absorbed with cotton or synthetic bonnet pads attached to a floor machine. This method is often superior to steam cleaning on berber carpet. Drying time is generally between 1 to 2 hours.
Dry Powder Cleaning: A semi moist natural or synthetic powder is applied to the carpet and agitated with a machine with counter rotating brushes. The powder is agitated and then vacuumed up. Drying time is usually less than 1 hour.
Shampoo Cleaning: A shampoo is applied to the carpet and then agitated with a brush mounted on a floor machine. The solution absorbs soil and crystallizes as it dries. Soil and shampoo are then removed through vacuuming at a later time. This method is also referred to as encapsulation. Drying time is generally between 1 to 2 hours.
As you can see, there are many important things to ask when choosing a carpet cleaner. You can significantly improve your chances of finding a qualified company by just asking a few questions.
8 Ways Carpet Cleaning Companies Take Advantage Of You1. Many companies that charge by the square foot will charge you for the
space under the furniture, even if they don t move any. In other words, if
your room is 12 x 12 , they will charge you for 144 sq. ft. If there happens
to be furniture in the room, you could be paying 10% to 30% more than
you should be!
2. Chances of getting a novice carpet cleaning technician are pretty good,
especially if you are dealing with a larger company. Novice technicians
have an improper wand stroke, meaning they leave areas of the carpet
that have either not been cleaned or that are too ..
About the author:
James Carlson has over 10 years of experience as a professional carpet cleaning contractor. For more information, you may visit his site http://www.carpet-cleaners.info
James CarlsonChoosing a Carpet Cleaning Company
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