BEFORE YOU HIRE...

FOUR THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE HIRING A CARPET CLEANER:

1: BE AWARE OF UNBELIEVABLY LOW PRICES:

The economy we are in has brought out the discount coupon companies in full force. To some degree, all of us are attracted by a low price because we want to work within a budget. Some carpet cleaners use a low price as bait for their false and misleading advertising. They offer a cheap price, usually between $3.95 and $14.95 per room and once they’re in your home, they pressure you into buying extra cleaning procedures, such as pre-spray or moving furniture. The only way to get your carpet cleaned for the low price offered is for the company to cut corners with untrained sub-contractors, scary guys in tank tops with a portable machine, little or no cleaning agents, no insurance, not in business long enough to know how to stay in business, etc. Carpet cleaning is like any other service business with overhead expenses such as, workers compensation, auto and liability insurance, taxes, real cleaning agents (that do not leave residue and ruin your carpet), truck and machine maintenance, employee compensation and a whole list of other fun and exciting stuff. Hopefully this opens your eyes to the real expense that goes along with cleaning your dirty carpet.

2: BE AWARE OF BAIT AND SWITCH TACTICS:

Unfortunately some carpet cleaners will use a bait and switch technique to get into your home. First. They bait you with a basic cleaning (single process) at an unbelievably low price. Then, once they are in your home they will pressure you into buying, what they call dual process, pre-scrubbing, pre-conditioning, stain release etc… At an additional cost of .20 to .50 per square foot. If you do not fall for their switch and choose their basic service, you will likely receive poor workmanship using little or no cleaning detergents and they will not guarantee their work.

3: BE AWARE OF UNSUPPORTED CLAIMS:

“This cleaning method is best.” You will read this in almost every ad. You will hear this from virtually every carpet cleaner. Remember this: The method that is best for you is the method that achieves your goal. If you want a method that dries quickly, then a method that takes a long time to dry isn’t best for you. So before you choose a carpet cleaner, identify your objectives. Then select the method that reaches them.

4: BE AWARE OF OUTDATED BELIEFS:

“HOT WATER DAMAGES YOUR CARPET.”
Years ago that statement was true. Damage was caused by technicians who were not properly trained using hot water. Not to mention, the equipment being used was portable with inadequate suction power to remove the water and cleaning agents. Today we know that by using a truck mounted hot water extractor; we can remove up to 95% of the water (Leaving carpet practically dry). By washing and then rinsing your carpet with hot water, your carpet is thoroughly clean. In the same way the person who showers and then rinses the dirt and soap will be much cleaner than the person who only takes a sponge bath. Obviously, each cleaner will be biased toward his own method. And each method does have its advantages. So I suggest you look to what carpet manufactures say. Shaw Industries, the largest carpet manufacturer in the world, recommends hot water extraction exclusively.