• 7 Mistakes to avoid when choosing a carpet cleaner
• How to avoid 4 carpet cleaning rip-offs
• 6 Costly misconceptions about carpet cleaning
• Which method cleans best?
• Crawling insects and bugs
• The importance of value and price
• Do you want a clean, healthy carpet?
• 100% no-risk guarantee
• 4 steps to a fresh, clean, healthy carpet

MISTAKE #2: Choosing a carpet cleaner base on equipment alone.

No question, your carpet cleaner needs first-rate equipment. But he also needs something else. He needs employees who are skilled at operating that equipment. Many companies own hot-water extractors, but very few companies teach theirs employees how to use them properly.

MISTAKE #3: Choosing a carpet cleaner base on a single telephone call.

Instead, invite the person to your home and ask for a specific written quotation. Then you’ll know exactly what the carpet cleaner recommends and you won’t be the victim of high-pressure tactics when the technician steps into your HOME.

MISTAKE #4: Choosing a carpet cleaner who doesn’t offer a 100% no-risk guarantee.

In my view, every carpet cleaning company should be fully accountable for its work. And if you aren’t pleased with the job in every way, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Period. Not all carpet cleaners offer a guarantee. Or, if they do, the guarantee may be “limited”. Ask the carpet cleaner if he offers 100% no-risk guarantee and then make sure the carpet cleaner includes his guarantee on his written quotation.

MISTAKE #5: Choosing a carpet cleaner without getting comments from other clients.

Any carpet cleaner can say anything about his past jobs. And, sadly, some of what he says may not be true. Make sure you ask for references and check with them to see if the work was done to their satisfaction.

MISTAKE #6: Choosing a carpet cleaner who isn’t certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

If your carpet cleaner isn’t a close friend, you may not know whether he has the knowledge or experience to clean your carpet well. If you want to be sure you’re hiring a competent professional, make sure he is IICRC certified. The carpet cleaner must earn that certification through study, experience and successful completion of formal, written examination. In effect, cleaners who are certified by the IICRC have earned a college degree in carpet cleaning.

MISTAKE #7: Choosing a carpet cleaner who doesn’t use a truck mounted, hot water extraction system.

You might expect this from me, since my employees and I use this type of system. But there are several good reasons for choosing a truck mounted, hot water system. Truck mount systems are the Roll-Royce of carpet cleaners and use hotter water, higher pressure and stronger suction.

RIP-OFF #2 Bait and switch.
Dual process carpet cleaning describes the process of vacuum, shampooing, agitate for soil suspension followed with hot water extraction cleaning. Unfortunately, unethical carpet cleaners often use dual process as a bait-and-switch technique. Here’s how it’s done: first, they “bait” you with a basic cleaning (single process) at an unbelievably low price. Then, when you call, they try to “switch” you to more expensive dual-process cleaning. If you don’t fall for their switch and choose their basic service, you’ll likely receive poor workmanship using little or no chemical and they will not guarantee their work.

RIP-OFF #3 Unsupported claims.
“THIS CLEANING METHOD IS THE BEST.” You’ll read this in almost every ad. You’ll hear this from virtually every carpet cleaner. Remember this: the method that’s best for you is the method that achieves your goal. So before you choose a carpet cleaner, identify your objectives. Then select the method that best reaches those objectives.

RIP-OFF # 4 Outdated beliefs.
“HOT WATER DAMAGES YOUR CARPET.” Years ago, many people believed this was true because their carpet was damaged by “technicians” who didn’t know how to clean properly using hot water. But today, we know it’s false.

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 fiber. 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, chemicals in your hair and 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 or air duck system.

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 compound, 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.

Hot water extraction means a hot water cleaning solution, under high pressure, is forced into your carpet and then sucked out of your carpet. The carpet manufacturer recommends hot water extraction as the primary method of cleaning carpet also is recommended by the IICRC (Institute Inspection Cleaning and Restoration).

Carpet cleaners use one or two types of hot water extraction. The large unit that operates from a truck outside your home or facility, it’s called truck mount. The small unit that can be brought inside is called portable extraction. A truck-mounted unit is the manufacturer’s first choice. And the portable unit is used only in areas where the truck-mounted unit won’t reach.

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 very 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 very important, 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 two most common problems are:

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.

Honest, reputable carpet cleaning companies almost never price carpet cleaning by the room. Instead, carpet cleaning is usually priced by the square foot. So if you’d like me to tell you the exact cost of cleaning your carpet, I need to know the exact number of square feet that you want cleaned.

HOT WATER EXTRACTION:

Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, “recommends the hot water extraction system, which research indicates provides the best capability for cleaning”.

As you can see, Shaw recommends the truck-mounted unit first. And this isn’t surprising. You see, the truck-mounted unit cleans much better because it heats the water to a high temperature and shoots the cleaning solution into the carpet at high pressure. This breaks up the dirt, bacteria, chemicals and pollens in the carpet. Then the machine produces huge vacuum volume to draw the dirt and chemicals out of the carpet.

This is the method my company uses.

No question, the most effective way to clean your carpet is with a hot-water unit mounted in a truck. It’s the most powerful cleaning machine on the market and the only machine that cleans your carpet of dirt, harmful bacteria, fungus, chemicals, pollens, tobacco residue and dust mites.

Some people believe that hot water damages your carpet, but this isn’t true. By washing and then rinsing your carpet with hot water, we clean your carpet completely, in the same way that the person who showers and then rinses off the dirt and soap will be much cleaner than the person who takes only a sponge bath.

OTHER METHODS

Plus, don’t forget living creatures, such as dust mites, fleas and insects that live, hide and breed in your carpet.

(Will you help us? We’re trying to find at least one thing that’s in your carpet for every letter of the alphabet. And we don’t have anything at all for these following letters: K, N, Q, and W, X, Y, Z. If you can think of something that could be in your carpet that begins with these letters or any other letters, please call or write to us and we’ll consider including them in our next consumer’s guide.

Not surprisingly, having your carpet thoroughly cleaned with truck-mount hot water extraction by a professional will cost more than renting a shampooer at the corner grocery store.

If you bought the cheapest carpeting you could find, then renting a small shampooer might be all you need. No question, it will get out some of the dirt, but the word here is “some.” It will not get out many of the pollens, chemicals, bacteria and dust mite residues.

On the other hand, if you want your carpet to look good and give you years of dependable service, then you need to take extra good care of it. This means you need to have it cleaned by a skilled qualified technician at least every six months to one year, depending on the amount of soiling and foot traffic it receives, and you need to have it cleaned thoroughly and disinfected, as only a truck-mounted hot water extractor can do.

Each carpet cleaning method has advantages and disadvantages. Some methods will get out only the dirt. Other methods will get out dirt and grease. Still others will get out virtually everything. And, to be sure, some are more expensive than others.

If all you want is a cheap, rinse-the-dirt-off-the-top cleaning which you might find for around $15.00 per room, then I respectfully ask that you call another company.

But if you want to protect your health, if you want to protect your investment in carpeting, if you want to protect your family from the countless bacteria, fungus, pollens and dust mites that reside in your carpet, then please call me.

The truck-mount hot water unit we use is the most effective cleaning system available today. Likewise, it’s one of the most expensive units on the market. But we bought this unit for a good reason. More and more families want the good-health benefits that come from having a fresh, clean carpet.

So if you want a thoroughly clean carpet, if you’re willing to invest in your family’s good health, you’re invited to call us. You’ll receive a written estimate, at no cost or obligation. And if you give us the go-ahead, you’re further protected with our…

STEP #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 breathe all the pollens, fungus and chemicals that hide in your carpet.

STEP #2: List your objectives. Do you want only the dirt removed, something you could do with a rented shampooer? Or do you want all the bacteria, fungus, chemicals and dust mites removed, which will require a hot water truck-mount cleaner, as we use? Do you want to work with an honest, reputable company, or are you willing to work with the company that offers you the lowest price, knowing that the company might not be in business tomorrow?

STEP #3: Ask questions. The way you learn about a company is to ask specific questions and listen carefully to the answers. Here are eleven tough questions to ask a carpet cleaner before to begins to clean your carpet:

STEP #4: Once you’re satisfied that you’re working with an honest, competent professional, invite him into your home and ask for a specific quotation in writing. A written quotation gives you the assurance that you know exactly what your job will cost -no surprises.

By following these four steps, you’ll gain all the information you need to make an informed, intelligent decision. If you want a quick, cheap carpet-cleaning job, many companies in the phone book can help you. Or you can rent a shampooer from the corner supermarket and do the job yourself.

But if you want your carpeting to be completely and healthfully cleaned by removing the bacteria, fungus, chemicals, pollens, and tobacco products - then please give me the opportunity to work with you. I believe I’m the best in Las Vegas.

We’ll be happy to answer your questions, provide you a cost estimate over the phone, or come into your home and give you a written quotation, without cost or obligation of any kind.