6 Costly misconceptions about carpet cleaning

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Cassie, Craig ,Micah & Abagail Holland

Local owners of

Diamond Carpet Cleaning, Rockhampton, Queensland

We have been in the carpet cleaning business for over three years. And in that time, we have learned that carpet cleaning is the subject of much confusion. In fact, people have so many misconceptions about carpet cleaning that we decided to offer this Consumers Awareness guide, so when you select a carpet cleaning company, you can make an informed, intelligent decision.

6 COSTLY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CARPET CLEANING

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 your carpet, you grind dirt into the carpet fibres. This cuts your carpet, just as if you had used a knife. A dirty carpet will not last as long as a clean carpet. And while vacuuming helps – by itself, it’s simply not enough. The longer you wait to have your carpet cleaned, the more damage you do to your carpet and the faster it wears out.

MISCONCEPTION #2: The only reason to clean carpets is to remove the dirt.

No. As you probably know, outdoor air contains pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust – and hundreds of other chemicals. When you come into your home, you carry those pollens, bacteria and chemicals in you hair and on your skin, clothing and shoes. Not surprisingly, all those chemicals and toxins wind up in your carpet.

If you have allergies, asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problems – one major source of your problem could be the pollens, fungus, smoke and chemicals in your carpet.

MISCONCEPTION # 3: One method of carpet cleaning is as good as another.

NO. The dry cleaning methods – which are dry foam, dry chemicals and dry compounds – do not rinse your carpet in any way. Instead, they leave a dirty residue. You might say they clean your carpet only halfway. The most effective cleaning method is hot water extraction.

Hot water extraction means a hot water cleaning solution, under high pressure, is forced into your carpet and then sucked out of your carpet. Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, recommends hot water extraction as the primary method of cleaning carpets, along with an IICRC (explained later) approved firm.

Carpet cleaners use one of two types of hot water extraction. If they use a large unit that operates from a van or truck outside your facility, its called truck mounted extraction. If they use a small unit that can be brought inside, it’s called portable extraction. Shaw’s first choice is the truck-mounted unit – and it recommends the small, portable unit only in areas where the truck-mounted unit won’t reach.

The truck-mount extraction cleans much better because it heats the water to a higher temperature – which breaks up the dirt, bacteria, chemicals and pollens in the carpet. Then the machine uses high suction to draw the dirt and chemicals out of your carpet. This is the method my company uses.

MISCONCEPTION # 4: Having the right equipment is all a company needs to clean your carpets properly.

Not True. Many companies own hot-water cleaners but few companies teach their employees how to use them properly. This is why it’s important that you choose your carpet cleaner carefully. The best cleaning companies are those that have been certified by the institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, Known as the IICRC. Before you choose a carpet cleaner, ask to see written proof of the company’s IICRC certification and also the certification of the technician who is going to do the job! If they don’t have them, don’t use them!

MISCONCEPTION #5: The company that offers the lowest price is the company you should hire.

No. I’ve seen so many problems arise from lowest bid companies that I suggest you NEVER hire the company that quotes the cheapest price. The three most common problems are:

(1) The price may not be for the services you want performed. The company may be equipped to remove only the dirt off the surface of your carpet. But you want a thorough clean and you may want removal of bacteria, fungus, pollens, dust mites, and tobacco residues.

(2) The price you see advertised may not be the price you pay. Many homeowners have learned that the low price they saw advertised only lasted until the carpet cleaner got into their home. Then they were pressured into paying a lot more for a variety of add-ons. (Some carpet cleaners even break the law by using illegal bait-and-switch tactics.)

(3) Often, (but definitely not always) the cheapest company will rush through the job giving you a less than thorough cleaning. They may leave the carpet wet for days (which can damage it) or they may use cheap cleaning agents or equipment which will not clean as thoroughly and possibly even damage your carpet.

MISCONCEPTION #6: Any honest carpet cleaning company should be able to give you an exact price quote over the telephone.

I wish this were true, but it isn’t.

To give you an idea of how we estimate the cost of cleaning, here are the four things we consider:

First, the size of the area you want cleaned.

Second, the amount of soiling. Carpet that hasn’t been cleaned for ten years will take longer to clean than carpet that we cleaned within the last six months.
Third, the type of carpet. Certain types of carpet are harder to clean than other types.

Finally, the amount of furniture we have to move. If you move your furniture, you’ll save money.

Six Costly Misconceptions About Carpet Cleaning