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How often should I have my carpets cleaned?
EPA Suggested Carpet Cleaning Schedule
The carpet manufacturers recommend having your carpeting cleaned by an IICRC-certified professional, via the hot water extraction (or steam cleaning method) every 12-18 months. Check with your warranty for regulations.
However, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), suggests having your carpets cleaned a lot more often than that. Why? Carpet serves as a major filter for dirt, dust and other contaminants that end up in your home. And just like the filter in your furnace or home air cleaner, it requires maintenance. Tempted to rip the carpeting out? Removing the carpet to help prevent dust in the home is a very common misconception.
How long does the carpet take to dry after cleaning?
With normal soiling conditions and the proper air flow in the home, carpets take approximately 3-6 hours to dry. If a carpet is more heavily-soiled, the dry time may increase. Also, if windows are closed and no air circulation is flowing through the home, the carpet will also take longer to dry. The best way to minimize the time it takes for the carpet to dry is to open up windows (if the weather permits) and turn on fans in your home.
What is carpet cleaning certification and is it necessary?
Many people are not aware that there is a certification board in the carpet cleaning industry. The IICRC (
Institute of
Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) is the leading authority of standard setting in the carpet cleaning industry. You cannot buy their certification. Technicians must take classes and pass a rigorous exam to earn certification. In addition, technicians must also take continuing credits in order to maintain their certification. Why is this important to consumers? If you hire a general contractor to complete a renovation in your home, you want to ensure that the person you hire is licensed, insured and knows how to complete the job you are hiring them to do. But many people hire a carpet cleaning company without doing research. As with many industries, not all carpet cleaning companies are the same. It?s imperative that whoever you hire knows how to clean according to industry standards, in order to maintain carpet warranties. Otherwise, you could be dealing with less than acceptable cleaning results, not to mention a potential headache down the road.
Should I use something on my carpet to attempt to clean up the spot/stain before you come out to clean the carpets?
Although many people think this will be helpful in removing a spot, any over-the-counter spot or stain removers actually worsen our chances of removing a spot. We do not recommend using any over-the-counter spotters. Why? Many of them leave behind a residue. Imagine putting soap in your hair and not rinsing it out. How dirty will your hair feel? Without rinsing any soap or cleaning agent out of your carpeting, you are only adding residue to your carpet, which attracts dirt. In addition, some cleaning products may react with our cleaning products. Some oxidizing agents can actually bleach out your carpeting over time and with continued use. And one of the best reasons not to use a spotter before we arrive is that some spotters can actually set the stain or add a layer between the spot or stain, making it impossible to remove. Our cleaning products are made to clean spots and stains and are extremely effective. We also give all of our clients a free spotter bottle that is completely neutral so that it will not leave a residue behind.
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