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Dry foam: The carpet cleaner
applies shampoo to your carpet, allows it to dry, and then,
without rinsing, extracts the dried shampoo into a vacuum. Can you
imagine applying shampoo to your hair, allowing it to dry and
then removing the shampoo from your head with a vacuum? This
method leaves dirty residue in your carpet, which attracts more
soil, DRY FOAM IS NOT EFFECTIVE.
Absorbent pad (bonnet cleaning):
This method
is similar to dry foam, except that the technician uses a floor
polishing machine set on top of a cotton bonnet which “buffs”
the carpet in a rotating motion. This rotating motion causes
the bonnet to absorb dirt from your carpet. This method is also
called bonnet cleaning. Bonnet cleaning is like trying to use a
large cotton towel or mop to rub the dirt out of your carpet. IT
IS NOT EFFECTIVE!
Absorbent powder: This method uses a moist compound
which is spread onto your carpet fibers. This absorbent compound
is allowed to dry and then is vacuumed off. This method leaves dry sponge-like
particles at the base of the carpet yarn. And because the carpet
is not rinsed, will re-soil quickly. THIS METHOD IS NOT
EFFECTIVE!
Hot water steam: Your carpet is pre-conditioned with a
solution to first loosen the soil and then a hot water rinse is
applied under pressure to extract or "vacuum" out the unwanted
pollutants.
In a recent Technical Bulletin, Shaw Industries, the world’s
largest carpet manufacturer, recommends the hot water extraction
system. Shaw Industries research indicates, hot water steam
extraction provides the best capability for cleaning carpet.
You can choose from two different types of hot water extraction:
Truck mounted extraction, which is done with a large machine
mounted in a truck or van. Or portable extraction, which is done
with a small, hand held unit.
Truck-mounted hot
water extraction is by far the most thorough and effective
method.
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MISTAKE #1:
Choosing a carpet cleaner based on equipment alone.
No question, your carpet cleaner needs first rate equipment. But
they also need something else. They need employees who are
skilled at operating that equipment. Many companies own hot
water extractors, but very few companies train their employees
on how to use them properly. The best way to know that the carpet
cleaner’s employees have been properly trained is to make sure
the cleaner has been certified by the Institute of Inspection,
Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). BEFORE YOU
CHOOSE A CARPET CLEANER, ASK TO SEE WRITTEN PROOF OF THE
COMPANY’S AND THE TECHNICIAN’S IICRC CERTIFICATION.
MISTAKE #2:
Choosing a carpet cleaner based on low price. Low
price could be a problem in three ways: (1) Low price can be the
bait that attracts your phone call. But once the technician gets
into your home, you are pressured into a much more expensive
job. (2) Low price can be for single process cleaning. Rarely
does the consumer know what this means, and when told,
asks for dual-process cleaning instead, which costs much more.
(3) Low price means the carpet cleaner may have cheap equipment,
which will not effectively clean your carpet.
MISTAKE #3:
Choosing a carpet cleaner who doesn’t offer a money
back guarantee. In my view, every carpet cleaning company should
be fully accountable for its work. And if you are not 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 ‘limited.’ Ask the carpet cleaner if they
offer a money back guarantee and then make sure the carpet
cleaner includes this guarantee in their quotation or invoice.
MISTAKE #4:
Choosing a carpet cleaner
without first getting recommendations from friends, relatives,
the HOA/PORA, and even the carpet cleaners clients.
MISTAKE #5:
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 they have the knowledge or experience to clean your
carpet well. If you want to be sure you’re hiring a competent
professional, make sure they are IICRC certified. The carpet
cleaner must earn that certification through study, experience
and successful completion of formal and written examinations. In
effect, cleaners who are certified by the IICRC have earned a
college degree in carpet cleaning.
MISTAKE #6:
Choosing a carpet cleaner who does not use a truck
mounted, hot water extraction system.
You might expect this from me, since I use this type of system.
But there are several good reasons. Portable hot water systems
are good, but they are not as good as truck mounted systems.
Truck mounted systems are the Rolls Royce’s of carpet cleaners.
Compared with portable hot water systems, truck mounted systems
use hotter water, higher pressure and stronger vacuum. So all
the way around, you get a much better job. No two ways about it. |
