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Frequently
Asked Questions
How long does it take my
carpet to dry?
For steam cleaning, normal
drying time for moderately soiled carpet is approximately 6-8 hours. If
doors and windows can be opened and ceiling fans or floor fans used,
drying time can be as little as a couple of hours. Our truck-mounted
equipment will extract nearly 97% of the water out of the carpet, so
drying is faster than you might have imagined. With our dry cleaning
method, drying takes about an hour.
Steam cleaning is a
deeper, more penetrating cleaning method. It works particularly
effectively on heavily soiled carpet. It uses detergent and water, so
it is non-toxic and biodegradable – and completely safe for
humans as well as pets.
Our dry cleaning method
uses a "bonnet" cleaner and an odorless mineral spirit solvent. We
recommend it for maintenance cleaning on lightly soiled areas. One
advantage is that it dries in about an hour.
Most of today's carpet
manufacturers recommend steam cleaning, reserving dry cleaning for
certain natural fibers such as wool or cotton.
Will the cleaning remove
all stains?
The cleaning methods we
use will get the carpet clean, we guarantee it! Unfortunately, there
are some substances that will permanently discolor carpet fibers, such
as bleach, hair coloring, fingernail polish, paint, and some food
coloring agents.
Do
the padding or hardwood floors under the carpet get wet?
Only carpets that do not
have padding risk penetration to the floor. Steam cleaning penetrates
to the carpet backing, but is perfectly safe for the hardwood floor
underneath.
My carpet looked great after they cleaned it. A couple days later the
spots came back, what happened?
Wicking: just like a
kerosene lamp works, something gets spilled and goes through the
backing into the pad. During the cleaning process the substance is
removed from the carpet fibers but remains in the padding. This
substance can "wick" its way back up through the backing into the
carpet. Usually, a repeat spot cleaning (which we do at no additional
charge if we are notified within a week) will take care of the problem.
On rare occasions that particular area of padding will need to be
replaced.
What
is and is not included with my cleaning as estimated?
The estimate we quote over
the phone is an accurate price based on the information our office
staff is given. Taxes are charged and a waste and/or fuel fee may
apply. We do not charge any "hidden" costs such as travel charges,
pre-treating or furniture moving.
Additional products and
services are not included in the basic cleaning, but are available at
an additional charge, and your cleaning technician will be happy to
provide that pricing. These include stain protectors, pet odor removal,
water damage treatments, or additional areas or furniture you want
cleaned. Sales tax is charged based on the applicable local law.
Is it extra for spot cleaning?
No, we do pre-cleaning at
no charge which helps to dissolve heavily soiled areas prior to steam
cleaning so they extract better.
Can you guarantee to
get out all stains?
Unfortunately, no one can
make that promise. Our technicians can look at your stained carpet and
give you their professional opinion. Because of their expertise most
normal soiling usually comes clean, but some stains may not release
depending on type or source. Some examples:
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Kool-Aid or juice, due
to dyes they may contain
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Water stains, usually
permanent
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Bleach, permanent
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Sometimes coffee and
soda
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Anything adhesive such
as gum
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Varnish, usually
permanent
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Grease or oil,
non-water soluble
Note: If the stains
consist of Kool-Aid, adhesive or grease/oil, alternative methods may be
tried such as heat transfers or different solvents, but there is an
extra charge quoted by the tech at the time of service. Pricing depends
on the type of stains, size of area, and what needs to be done.
However, there are still no guarantees on these types of stains.
I have four areas but they equal less than 500 square feet. Can you
count that as two areas?
We charge by the area, not
by the square foot. Any one area that exceeds 250 square feet counts as
two areas. Halls, baths, and walk-in closets are each considered one
area. They are high-traffic areas and are usually more soiled.
Is dry cleaning better
for my carpet?
Some customers prefer it
because a mineral spirit solvent is used which actually evaporates, so
there’s a greatly reduced drying time. But dry cleaning should be
viewed strictly as a maintenance cleaning. It doesn’t
penetrate deep into the carpet fiber, so it is recommended only for a
mildly soiled carpet. If you have moderately to heavily soiled carpet,
steam cleaning is the better method.
If dry cleaning isn't as deep of a cleaning, why is it more expensive?
Dry cleaning uses a
straight solvent, which is far more expensive than detergents that are
mixed with water in steam cleaning.
I have
Berber carpet. Does it have to be dry cleaned?
No. As a matter of fact,
we steam clean 98% of all Berber carpet.
Is there an extra
charge for Berber carpet?
No, we’ll get your
Berber carpet clean for the same reasonable prices as other types of
carpet.
Do you honor competitor
coupons?
No. We include a lot of
service that most of our competitors don’t offer. We do a
quality job with skilled employees, including pre-cleaning at no extra
charge. But we frequently have special offers on our cleaning and
encourage you to take advantage of those savings opportunities.
Will there be a
charge for waste removal?
To protect the
environment, we follow strict guidelines mandated for waste water
disposal. Disposal is costly, and in some cases a small surcharge
is passed on to customers.
Will they
charge me more once they get to my home?
Based on the service you
have requested, you have been given an accurate estimate. The
technicians may offer you additional services such as protector, pet
odor control, etc., which you are under no obligation to accept. (Tax
is additional)
What do you consider an
area or room?
An area/room is any single
purpose area/room up to 250 sq ft. Combination rooms and
great rooms count as 2 areas. Hallways, walk-in closets, and
dressing rooms each count as a separate room. Stairways are $2.00
per step.
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