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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
-
Bleach, permanent
-
Sometimes coffee and pop
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Anything adhesive such as gum
-
Varnish, usually permanent
-
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. |
