Misconception #1: You should wait as long as possible before cleaning your carpet. NO!
Dirt is an abrasive - like sandpaper. Every time you step on the carpet
you grind dirt into your carpet fibers. This cuts your carpet just as
if you had used a knife, causing it to wear out faster. Oily soils
along with dry soils build up on the carpet fibers when not cleaned
regularly. This scratchy dirt causes the carpet to mat and wear down. A
dirty carpet will not last nearly as long as a clean carpet. While
vacuuming helps, by itself, it's simply not enough. The longer
you wait to clean your carpet, the more damage you do to it and the
faster it wears our. We all know how much new carpet can cost. Misconception #2: The only reason to clean carpet is to get the dirt out. NOPE!
As you probably know, outdoor air contains pollens, fungus, bacteria,
air pollution, car exhaust, and a host of other things we don't even
want to think about. You carry this outdoor pollution into your home in
your hair, on you skin, clothing and shoes. And not surprisingly, all
these pollutants wind up....you guessed it...in your carpet! This is
because your carpet acts as a filter for non-circulating air in your
home. So in addition to getting rid of the soil and stains, another
important reason to clean your carpet regularly is to get rid of the
contaminants and allergy causing dust mites in your carpet. Cleaning your carpet improves the indoor quality to protect your family's health. Misconception #3: One carpet cleaning method is as good as another. Not True! You can choose from two primary methods; hot water extraction (steam cleaning) or dry cleaning. Hot
water extraction is just a fancy way of saying that soapy hot water, or
in our case hot Procyon cleaning solution, under pressure is forced
into the carpet. Then sucked out of the carpet with a vacuum. Some
people prefer this method, however if the carpet is over saturated, it
can cause mold and mildew when water is trapped between the carpet and
the padding. Most steam cleaners use a soap solution to break down oil
based soil which can leave a soapy residue. You know the old adage of
"oil and water don't mix". It's true. The leftover soap residue
attracts more dirt, and your carpet gets soiled faster. We use
'Procyon' which does not leave a residue The three methods of dry cleaning are; dry foam, dry compound and bonnet cleaning. With
the dry foam method, shampoo is applied to your carpet, allowed to dry,
then vacuumed up. Not very effective as this method also leaves a soap
residue. The
dry-compound method is done by spreading an absorbent mixture, that
looks a lot like wet sawdust, all over your carpeting. The mixture is
brushed into the carpet, allowed to dry, then vacuumed. Which in theory, causes dirt to absorb into the mixture. Because some of the absorbent residue remains, this isn't very effective either. The
last dry-cleaning method is "Quik-Dry" bonnet cleaning. Bonnet cleaning
uses a non-toxic solution mixed with a minimal amount of water. It's
gently sprayed onto the carpet. The solution is agitated into the
carpet fibers but does not soak the carpet backing.. A 100% cotton
bonnet is worked over the carpet which pulls up the soil and stains
like a magnet, and removes the moisture from the carpet. Because the
bonnet removes so much of the moisture, the carpet dries very quickly,
allowing you to get on with your daily home activities. The final step
is grooming your carpet, to lift the pile and give it that new again
apprearance. The
non-toxic solution Five Star Carpet Care uses is hypo-allergenic and
biodegradable so it's 100% safe for your children and pets. Misconception #4: The company that offers the lowest price is the company you should hire. Maybe,
but not always. There are two important points to consider. Number 1,
the price you see advertised may not be for the services you want. If
you want to remove soil and stains, are concerned about using a
non-toxic solution, want the pollutants removed and want your carpet to
stay clean longer, then you need to select a company that uses the
"Quik-Dry" bonnet cleaning method. The second point is, the price you
see advertised may not be the price you pay. Many
homeowners have learned the hard way that the low price they saw
advertised was not the amount they were charged. Just like I learned
the hard way. If you've every hired a carpet cleaner, you too, may have
been the victim of false or misleading advertising. You probably
learned the hard way, that some carpet cleaners offer a cheap price, a
ridiculously low price per room or whole house. Then they pressure you
into paying a lot more once they're inside your house. This is called
"Bait and Switch", and is against the law, as you may have seen on the
television program 20/20. The
carpet cleaning industry has had it's share of bad apples and carpet
cleaning rip-offs. They cast a bad light on ethical professionals, who
work hard to earn your trust and respect. This is why I have dedicated
my business to educating consumers. The only way you can make an
informed decision is to have all the facts you need. Misconception #5: Any honest carpet cleaning company should be able to give you an exact price over the phone. We
wish this were true, but it isn't. Honest, reputable carpet cleaning
companies usually price carpet cleaning by the square foot. So if you'd
like us to tell you the exact cost of cleaning your carpet, we need to
know the exact number of square feet you want cleaned. To get an
accurate count, we measure all rooms, and deduct the square footage of
non-movable items. Though we'd love to give you an exact quote over the
phone, we have to consider all aspects when quoting a price. Carpet
that hasn't been cleaned for ten years, obviously will take longer to
clean than carpet that was cleaned 6 months ago. The type of carpet
along with the amount of furniture items we have to move is considered.
If we move these items, the quote must include that labor. But if you
move your furniture and small items off the floow, you'll save money.
Every quote is different, which is shy we offer a FREE caarpet
evaluation and a written quote so there will be no surprises later. If you're thinking about having your carpets cleaned, I offer these four recommedations: #1
- Make a commitment to yourself to get your carpets cleaned. The longer
they remain dirty, the sooner they'll wear out. And the longer you have
to breath all the pollutants and those creapy dust mites that live in
your carpet. #2
- List your objectives. Not only do you want to remove the soil and
contaminants, but I'm sure you want to work with an honest, reputable
company. One who offers a 100% money back guarantee if you're not
satisfied. Or are you willing to risk working with the company that
offers you the lowest price, knowing that company might not care about
your carpet like I do, or be in business tomorrow. #3 - Ask questions. The way you learn about a company, is to ask questions. Find
out what type of equipment they use to clean the carpet. Ask them how
often they recommend cleaning your carpet. Are they members of any
trade organizations or the Better Business Bureau? Do they offer a
money back guarantee? And most important, are they licensed, IIRC
certified and insured? #4
- Once you're satisfied that you're working with an honest, competent
professional, invite them into your home. Ask for a specific quotation
in writing. A written quotation gives you the assurance you know
exactly what your job will cost, with no surprises after the service is
done. By
following these recommendations, you'll gain all the information you
need to make an informed decidison. If you want a quick, cheap carpet
cleaning job, many companies in the Pennysaver can help you. Or you can
rent a shampooer and at your local grocery store, and do the job
yourself. Renting a shampooer is certainly less expensive than hiring a
professional, but think about this....It may be cheaper, but what will
it cost you in time, aching muscles and your families health? Not to
mention the fact that it will have to be done again sooner. | 