Choosing a carpet and upholstery cleaning company should be a pretty straightforward process.
Shouldn’t it?
Then why do so many people have bad carpet cleaning experiences and horror stories to tell?
Here are some of the mistakes to avoid when you’re thinking of hiring a local carpet cleaning company.
Mistake 1:
Choosing a company based on the cheapest quote
Cheap prices – whether they be printed on a webpage or quoted over the phone – are usually misleading.
Firstly, they are often the bait that entices you to call or gets the job booked in over the phone. But once the company gets into your home, you may be told the price is only for a basic clean and be pressurised into a higher priced process that should have been quoted for in the first place.
Secondly, a cheap price usually means the company operates cheap equipment, which means results are compromised and the chance of damage increases significantly.
Mistake 2:
Hiring a company without checking reviews and reputation
Choosing a carpet cleaner without checking historical reviews or doing some basic research is a big mistake.
Many companies promise the world but often fail to deliver.
Do they have a good track record? What equipment do they operate? Are they insured? Do they have any real results they can show you? What will happen if damage accidentally occurs? How will they rectify or deal with it if there’s a problem?
These are just a few basic questions you should know the answers to before letting a company loose on thousands of pounds worth of carpets and furnishings!
Mistake 3:
Choosing a company purely based on their equipment
Although it is true that the right equipment and cleaning chemicals make a big difference to the end result, it is also true that the cleaning technicians must be skilled at operating their machinery and have the knowledge and intelligence to use the correct cleaning and stain removal solutions.
One way to check if a company is competent in cleaning carpets and upholstery, is to check if they are members of the NCCA or other recognised carpet and upholstery cleaning trade association.
A powerful machine cannot always undo the damage caused by a clumsy untrained carpet cleaner, and so it’s important to check they have been fully trained before booking your carpet cleaning appointment.
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Firing up our petrol powered, van mounted machine, it’s easy to take for granted the sheer power, heat and reliability we have on tap these days.
Step back a century and carpet cleaning and stain removal methods appeared crude and, at first glance, somewhat comical (think brushing carpets with tea leaves and freshly cut grass and mopping up stains with beef gall and split loaves of hot bread!)
Nevertheless, carpets and rugs were always fastidiously and proudly maintained and any spillages and stains quickly treated. And besides, isn’t there something inherently satisfying about restoring (and preferably maintaining) a quality rug or carpet, rather than casually discarding and replacing it?
It is thought that the first truly “on-location” carpet cleaning companies emerged in the mid 1930’s as fitted wall to wall carpets gained in popularity. But it was perhaps with the advent of hot water extraction cleaning machines in the 1960’s when carpet cleaning became more sophisticated, effective and reliable.
Indeed, the invention of that “ugly little carpet cleaning machine” gave birth to the process that we believe is still the best way to effectively clean upholstery and carpets: Hot Water Extraction Cleaning (sometimes referred to as steam cleaning).
But, as I mentioned earlier in this post, the technology has improved greatly over the years while the actual processes and chemicals have been honed by companies around the world.
So, here’s what we believe to be the most effective and thorough method of delivering the hot water extraction method when cleaning wall to wall carpets, and the equipment options available and employed by modern-day carpet cleaning companies.
A Detailed Look At The Hot Water Extraction Cleaning Processes
While the dose makes the poison (in this case chemicals and horsepower!) there are some “pre-extraction” steps that often make the world of difference to the finished result of a carpet clean.
The first step?
Pre-Clean Inspection
A carpet cleaning company should never start spraying chemicals over your carpets without first testing to identify the type of carpet fibres and identifying any pre-existing stains.
The incorrect application of an unsuitable chemical may cause irreparable damage or make it more difficult to remove particular stains.
Vacuuming
A thorough vacuum is necessary to remove loose soiling, hair and debris and it helps ensure a more consistent result.
While there are many good domestic vacuums available in high street stores, most professional carpet cleaners will be using a more robust vacuum such as a powerful Sebo.
Special attention should be paid to corners and skirting boards.
Pre-Spraying Of Chemicals
After vacuuming, a high quality, soil loosening pre-spray is applied to the carpet in order to break down general traffic soiling and stained areas.
Any conspicuous individual stains may need to be treated with specialist stain removal products. Examples of such stains would be oil, make-up, tar or red wine.
There are many brands available to carpet cleaning companies. The choice often comes down to personal preference and the technician’s knowledge of the various products (that little bit more experience in the field often proves the difference between removing and not removing a stubborn stain.)
Agitation (Or Massaging The Cleaning Solution Into The Carpet Fibres)
Once the carpet has been pre-sprayed, the chemicals often need to dwell for several minutes be agitated and worked into the fibres to facilitate the breaking down of the ingrained soils and stains.
There are many pieces of equipment that can be used for carrying out the agitation process. A basic but effective (and safe) tool, is a simple carpet agitation brush that is run back and forth through the fibres.
Another machine that carpet cleaning companies may use is an electric agitation machine such as a Sebo Duo, or for larger expanses of carpet, a rotary machine with attached pads or brushes (particularly helpful for large commercial jobs or heavily soiled carpets when there is sufficient space to manoeuvre.
Hot Water Extraction
To thoroughly clean a heavily soiled carpet, it’s hard to beat hot water extraction.
Hot water extraction can be carried out using electric portable type machines or more powerful petrol powered truckmount engines that provide more consistent heat and suction.
The key point is that the machine must be capable of generating sufficient heat, water pressure and suction to remove the maximum amount of moisture and all loosened soil particles.
To ensure your local carpet cleaner is operating machinery of the required standard, check that they’re fully approved members of The Approved Carpet Cleaners Alliance (TACCA).
Post-Cleaning Processes
Once the carpets have been fully extracted, there should be a final inspection to check all stains have been treated to best practice.
Maybe there’s a stubborn stain or two that would benefit from additional treatment with a different chemical and another extraction?
Once the carpet cleaning technician is sure that all stains have been treated correctly it is important that the drying process is helped along by combing the carpet fibres with a grooming brush and in some cases the use of turbo dryers.
What You Should Be Doing Between Your Scheduled Professional Cleaning Appointments
While the above process will make a huge difference to the appearance and health of your carpets and home, there are some steps you should (and shouldn’t) take in-between your regular carpet cleaning appointments.
1. Vacuum regularly.
Yes, I know it’s incredibly predictable and boring, but regularly vacuuming your carpets prevents loose soil and dirt morphing into unsightly greying / brown areas that spoil the appearance of light coloured carpets. It also prevents the premature wear of carpet fibres caused by abrasive soil and grit.
You should never “scrub” in case you merely spread the stain to a wider area of carpet and, in addition to making the stain appear visually worse, you’ll potentially damage the fibres.
Patience is key.
4. Deal with spillages immediately.
Yes, I know you probably mop up any spills as soon as they occur (in my experience, very few people are happy to pass their evening watching a red wine stain sink deeper and deeper into their carpet, adding a menacing purple hue to freshly fitted beige wool!)
But if a stain remains after blotting it with a towel, it is far cheaper to call your local professional carpet cleaner and ask them to remove the stain than it is to ruin your carpet by attempting to treat it with a cocktail of harsh chemicals.
5. Consider applying a high quality stain protector.
Stain protectors can provide a barrier against spillages that may otherwise become permanent stains.
The relatively small cost of such a product can be the difference between simply blotting up a spillage and replacing an expensive carpet.
These products can also help prevent soils becoming embedded and make vacuuming a much easier task.
A Summary Of What We’ve Covered
During this post I’ve attempted to cover what I believe to be the most important aspects of the modern-day carpet cleaning process.
If you’re researching having your carpets cleaned then I hope that you’ve worked out that in most circumstances we’re avid proponents of hot water extraction cleaning (it is also the method that most major carpet manufacturers recommend).
You should also have gained more of an understanding of what constitutes a “thorough” carpet cleaning process.
There will be occasions when this process may differ slightly and when alternative machinery and processes may be more suitable than others.
But the overall message remains the same:
Take care to maintain your carpets and furnishings.
When choosing a carpet cleaning company, do your research, and use this guide to ask some probing questions.
And then schedule a regular professional hot water extraction clean that will keep your carpets looking fantastic for many years to come.
https://edwardsjefferycarpetcleaning.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ejcarpetclean-logo.png00edwardsjefferyhttps://edwardsjefferycarpetcleaning.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ejcarpetclean-logo.pngedwardsjeffery2017-02-22 16:50:362018-06-12 10:06:29The Consumer’s Guide To Effective Carpet Cleaning
Autumn: The Most Important Time Of Year to Get Your Carpets Professionally Cleaned
Although spring is the time of year most often associated with household tasks and cleaning, the Autumn months are when the most thorough cleaning should be organised.
This is because Autumn is a time when allergies increase due to an increase in carpet dust mites and harmful bacteria.
Here’s what Dr Lisa Ackerley, a professor of environmental health at the University of Salford has to say:
“A perfect indoor storm of falling night-time temperatures, central heating being turned up and closed windows having inadequate vacuuming means that autumn is “the perfect time for carpets to house potentially harmful microbes and dust mite allergens.”
There’s no doubt that as the long cold days draw in, it’s tempting to close all your windows 24 hours a day and crank up the central heating.
But this only makes the problem worse. Reducing ventilation will increase moisture in your home’s atmosphere and provide the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, dust mites and other such allergens.
To manage and minimise the problem, Dr Ackerley recommends using a powerful vacuum cleaner and carrying out a thorough, deep Autumn clean, while ventilating your home when convenient.
“Skin flakes, dust, dirt, food crumbs and anything that has come in the house from pets and shoes gets trapped in the carpet and other soft furnishings. With that in mind, thorough vacuuming is essential to minimise health risks. In my view, doing this at this time of the year is far more important that the traditional spring clean, which has far less importance from a health perspective.”
Indeed, investing in and using a powerful vacuum will certainly help remove pet dander, hairs and dead dust mites. But in order to completely remove these troublesome allergens, a deep professional carpet clean is essential at this time of year.
We use a powerful Hydramaster truckmount carpet cleaning machine that offers high temperature steam cleaning and effectively removes dust mites from your carpets.
For a free quotation for your Autumn carpet clean, call us on 0800 028 2788 or 07530 532208
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There are seemingly two options when it comes to cleaning your carpets and upholstery (or indeed rugs, hard flooring and leather…)
The first option is to hire a DIY carpet cleaning machine and purchase chemicals from your local supermarket or hardware store.
The second option is to call a few carpet cleaning companies and plump for the cheapest quote you’re given over the phone.
Big mistake. Here’s why:
The machinery makes a huge difference
There’s rarely a week that goes by that we’re not called out to try and rescue a carpet that has been over-wet or shrunk by a homeowner using a Rug Doctor or similar rental machine.
These machines simply don’t have the power or the suction of more advanced professional carpet cleaning machines, and the chemicals aren’t anywhere near as effective in my experience.
In addition to this, the homeowner operating this equipment is highly unlikely to have any knowledge of how to safely clean a carpet or how to remedy a fault or mistake.
We do not recommend – under any circumstances – that you attempt to clean your own carpets with these hire machines.
So, now we’ve ruled out renting a DIY machine, I guess it’s time to call a professional…
But how do you choose the right company to clean your carpets or upholstery?
Although I’ve already covered why you shouldn’t consider hiring a carpet cleaning machine, you may be surprised to learn that some “professional” carpet cleaners use budget equipment that you could actually hire yourself.
In fact, one of the biggest problems with the carpet cleaning industry is that anybody can hire an under-powered machine, post a few leaflets and start cleaning carpets.
And if the business owner has very limited funds, it is often the case that they haven’t been professionally trained – and some will even be trading uninsured – meaning they offer you no protection against accidental damage or injury.
Needless to say, this is not a risk you would wish to expose yourself to.
And then there’s the carpet cleaning companies that have actually attended industry training courses and do hold full insurance.
Surely they’re all the same aren’t they? And it’s simply a case of booking the cheapest quote?
Not necessarily.
Although many companies may indeed operate equipment that far out-performs basic rental machines, there is still a huge difference in the price (and performance) of professional grade carpet cleaning machines.
Here’s an example of how 3 local carpet cleaning companies may differ in their approach, service levels and results:
Company A.) Operating in the bottom end of the market, this company invests very little in equipment, training or products, and only survives due to the volume of work such cheap prices secure. It goes without saying that results will not match those of a more conscientious carpet cleaner operating a higher standard of equipment. Indeed, the results are often unacceptable and the process may cause damage to expensive furnishings (as with homeowners using rental machines, we often attend homes with carpets that have been damaged by inexperienced budget priced cleaners.)
Company B.) This company might be operating a reasonably efficient but dated portable electric machine and may have attended a training course several years ago when starting the business. Although not operating at the high-end of the industry, they operate machinery that gets satisfactory results and charge accordingly. Re-investment in the best training, equipment and chemicals is stifled (as are results) due to high running costs and limited repeat business. Sometimes these companies may be more of a general cleaning company – rather than carpet and upholstery cleaning specialists – and therefore their commitment to furthering and improving their knowledge is not what it should be.
Company C.) This company charges a higher price than company A.) or B.) but offers a superior service and attains better results. This is because they constantly reinvest in the best training, machinery and chemicals in the industry and are therefore exposed to higher running costs. For example, while the purchase cost of the carpet cleaning machines of company A.) and B.) is likely to be in the range of £250 – £3000, company C.) may have invested anything from £5,000 – £30,000 in one machine alone. Such an investment means that the results attained are the best they could possibly be and repeat customers are the norm.
These 3 examples paint a very general picture of the carpet cleaning landscape, but I’ve omitted one other important example:
Company D.) The False Advertiser
The false advertiser can easily be spotted because of their incessant promotions of a SALE that never ends.
The headlines are depressingly predictable:
HALF PRICE SALE
50% OFF!
5 ROOMS FOR £50
GET ONE SOFA CLEANED, GET A 2nd FOR FREE!
This is an unethical approach for two reasons:
The first reason, is that even if they do manage to charge a reasonable price for their service, they are giving you a false impression of the original price. In other words, there was never an original higher price.
The second reason is far more sinister and it involves an illegal practice known as bait-and-switch.
Here’s the official definition:
bait-and-switch
noun
noun: bait-and-switch
the action (generally illegal) of advertising goods which are an apparent bargain, with the intention of substituting inferior or more expensive goods.
So, in the case of the carpet cleaning industry, a company that is using illegal bait-and-switch tactics would use an eye-catching headline to advertise their services for a bargain price.
An example would be the above mentioned “5 ROOMS FOR £50.”
From my many years of experience, I can guarantee that if such prices were to be completely genuine, the company would be out of business within a year.
The cost of purchasing and maintaining professional grade equipment (and vehicles), along with the advertising costs of acquiring customers via bargainoffers, would mean it would prove an incredible feat if they even managed to break even.
But, of course, their aim is not to actually leave your home having only cleaned your 5 rooms for a mere £50.
That price is for their really basic clean.
What they actually want you to do is to opt for their advanced deep clean; at a vastly inflated price.
Here’s the thing:
There is no such thing as an advanced deep clean … Or at least there shouldn’t be.
Every carpet cleaner’s final price should always include performing a full deep carpet clean and extraction, using the best quality chemicals and maximum effort.
Yes, there are sometimes special circumstances when a higher cost may be necessary (an obvious example is if you require Stain Protection applied, or if the carpet cleaner is likely to incur additional costs on a job).
But offering a fictitious headline price for a darkly cloaked, inferior service, with the sole intention of using aggressive sales tactics to inflate the price multiple times, is quite simply illegal.
And by falling for such deceitful tactics, your final bill is almost certainly going to be far higher than if you had chosen to spend a little more with an honest company with a proven track record.
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Over-Wetting: A Common Problem When Using Rental Machines Or Hiring An Inexperienced Carpet Cleaner
In the early days of carpet cleaning over-wetting was much more common.
The chemicals were sometimes harsh and the machinery somewhat less sophisticated and powerful than today.
And yet, over-wetting is still a problem we come across fairly regularly – most often when we’ve been called out to try and rectify the handy work of a cost-conscious homeowner who’s hired a supermarket rental machine!
But it’s not just rental machines that are responsible for over-wetting carpets.
There are also untrained and uninsured part-time carpet cleaners using sub-standard machinery and cleaning carpets using incorrect methods.
But aside from the inconvenience and excessive drying time, why else is an over-wet carpet a problem?
Shrinkage
Shrinkage is caused by over-wetting a carpet during the cleaning process. This can be due to using too much water or because the machine is either not powerful enough, or it’s been set-up and operated incorrectly.
It is vital that your carpet cleaner assesses any risks and identifies the type of carpet you have in your home.
If there is only slight shrinkage, it may be possible to stretch the carpet back into place. But if there is significant shrinkage, the only option is to replace the carpet.
Although an experienced carpet cleaner will take measures to ensure there is no risk of shrinkage, it is important you check they hold full insurance just in case there’s a problem.
Bad Odours
A carpet that has been over-wet and remains damp for several hours / days may develop a nasty musty smell. This is often cause by bacteria setting in.
Although this problem can usually be remedied, it should be avoided in the first place by an experienced carpet cleaner.
And if you absolutely insist on cleaning your carpets yourself, it’s a good idea to ensure you have good air flow and ventilation within your home – both during and after the cleaning process. Open your doors and windows until the carpet is completely dry.
If your carpet is still wet after several hours, contact an experienced technician – otherwise you risk bacteria and mold forming.
This is something to be particularly aware of when cleaning wool carpets.
Browning is the term used to refer to brown spots that appear out of nowhere sometime after the cleaning process has taken place.
It is more common in jute backed carpets and is caused by soil or previous spillages wicking back up, often due to over-wetting.
Although these spots can appear irreversible if you were to simply try and scrub them out, a good carpet cleaning technician will have the knowledge to remove them safely and prevent any further problems.
We’re often called out to customers who’ve had their carpets cleaned with a rental machine or by an untrained cleaner and notice these brown spots suddenly appearing all over their freshly cleaned carpet!
Although over-wetting can cause expensive damage to your carpets, you can avoid the risk altogether by hiring a fully trained and insured company with the experience and knowledge to carry out the work and deal with any potential problems.
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In this post, we hope to clear up some of the confusion and help you make an informed decision.
Here are the 3 most common misconceptions:
1. You should only have your carpets and upholstery cleaned when absolutely necessary (and really dirty) as it can cause your furnishings to “age” quicker.
I can kind of understand the origin of this myth.
I mean, it may seem plausible that the actual process of cleaning a carpet could cause “wear and tear.”
But it is categorically false.
In fact, the reverse is true: by leaving long periods between professional cleaning, soiling builds to a level that will decrease the life of your furnishings.
This is because the dirt that becomes embedded in the fibers acts as an abrasive and when you walk on your carpets (or sit on your sofas) the fibers are compromised and over time will “wear” much quicker.
Another important reason to regularly maintain your carpets and upholstery is that professional cleaning is an excellent way of keeping your home healthy and allergen-free.
Carpets and sofas act as filters in your home and will harbor bacteria, mites, pollen, animal skin and other common allergens.
Regular cleaning will prolong the life of your furnishings and help alleviate allergic symptoms.
2. All carpet cleaners and carpet cleaning methods are as good (or the same) as each other.
False.
Although there are certain jobs that may require and suit a “dry” cleaning method, the best results are achieved with HWE (Hot Water Extraction).
But it’s not just the process itself that dictates results…
The power of the machine used (directly related to the purchase price), the chemicals chosen and the knowledge and skill of the technician, will all play a role in the results you see when a job is complete.
Organisations such as TACCA, have played a key role in maintaining industry standards and educating the public about carpet cleaning (there are minimum entry requirements). A good starting point is to check if your local company is registered – and if not, why not!?
Companies that seem unusually cheap are often either cutting corners or using sub-standard equipment. Your local company should run and maintain high quality equipment, regularly attend training courses and hold full insurance.
If they don’t tick these boxes, it’s best to spend a little more elsewhere in order to get piece of mind and a better end result.
It is quite sensible to ask for references, training qualifications and proof of insurance.
3. I can clean my carpets myself at a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional – and with similar results.
Carpet cleaning rental machines don’t anywhere near to matching the power of a top professional machine. And nor do the chemicals provided achieve the same results as those we use.
Supermarket rental machines are at best ineffective, and at worst, can damage your carpets and upholstery.
The lack of power can result in shrinkage and odor due to over-wetting, and by treating stains with inappropriate chemicals you could actually “set” the stain, thus making it impossible to remove, even by a professional.
A reputable carpet cleaner will have undergone professional training and use an expensive, powerful machine that gets great results while leaving your carpets dry very quickly.
And once you add up the real costs of hiring the machine, buying the chemicals and factoring in your time, it doesn’t quite add up to the bargain it first appears to be.
A shrunk carpet or damaged sofa will be far more costly to replace that spending a little extra on hiring a professional technician.
Laurence Llewellyn Bowen Amazed At Results Of Our Carpet Cleaning Services
I’m very proud that we provide our upholstery and carpet cleaning services to a number of prestigious businesses throughout South Wales. And when you work as hard as we do, it’s the little things that make it all worthwhile.
Recently, we were asked to professionally clean a large, beautiful vintage rug for a BBC home makeover show hosted by Laurence Llewellyn Bowen.
Naturally, I was was thrilled to receive the call and bolted straight down the M4 to pick up the rug from a countryside property in Gwent.
We went to work testing the rug and choosing the most suitable and effective method of cleaning it so as to get the best results possible. The finished rug looked beautiful and completely transformed – I’m just annoyed I forgot to take before and after photos!
Although the comment we received from Laurence Llewellyn Bowen via the BBC, more than made up for my absent mindedness…
“I wanted to let you know that Laurence Llewellyn Bowen was amazed at how well the rug had come up with cleaning, and wanted me to tell you what a great job you had done on it.”
We carry out our professional rug cleaning in our Porthcawl unit so as to minimize any inconvenience to our customers.
We are also based from Bridgend, Swansea and Cardiff and travel all over South Wales – so there is always a quick and easy way for us to arrange the collection, clean and delivery of your rugs.
We are very careful to test all rugs before cleaning, so minimize any chance of color run or damage. Once your rug is cleaned, it is quickly dried and deodorized before being carefully stored, ready to be collected or returned at your convenience.
We currently provide carpet, upholstery, leather, stone and rug cleaning throughout Wales; right from the Severn bridge, through Cardiff, Bridgend and all the way down to West Wales.
To book an appointment or get a free no-obligation quotation, call us today on 0800 028 2788 or 07530 532208.
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3 Reasons Why You Need Professional Carpet Cleaning At Christmas, And What To Do With Messy ‘Guests’
Nearly there…
It’s been a manic month so far; early starts, late finishes and last minute weekend bookings come rushing in as the big day gets nearer.
We have 2 vans out on the road working flat out every day throughout South Wales at the moment, so please do get in touch if you’d like to reserve one of our last remaining appointments.
There are two schools of thought with hiring a professional carpet cleaner during the festive period.
Some customers prefer to book before the visitors arrive and get their flooring and upholstery looking beautiful for their guests.
Others wait until friends and family have long since buggered off so they don’t have to worry about the odd shoe trampling dirt through the home or the occasional spillage by a sozzled guest!
Either way, this is one of the busiest times of the year for a professional carpet cleaning company. And if you only have your carpets cleaned once per year, now’s the time to do it.
Here are 3 reasons why you need professional carpet cleaning during or after the festive period:
1. Children. Yep, those adorable little home wreckers wreak havoc at this time of year. Presents are ripped open at a lightening speed without a thought to the contents. Drinks and food are cheerfully transported throughout the home by little un’s, with trails of stains left in their wake. It’s going to happen – you can’t avoid it. Prepare for the inevitable and get one of our professional stain removers so that you can follow them around, spraying furiously and removing the evidence!
2. Guests. There are 2 types of guest: The considerate, clean and helpful guest – the one who removes shoes and helps with the washing up. And then there’s the guest who tramps through your home in a pair of deep ridged boots, drinks all your wine, eats all your food and falls asleep on the sofa before vanishing into thin air – but not before leaving a trail of destruction. This particular guest will leave lots of carpet mementos to remember them by. I usually find that ‘accidentally’ spraying them at the same time as the carpet helps them “get” the message.
3. The Dog. If ever there was a time the dog (or cat!) is in their element, it’s Christmas. Lots of new humans to suspiciously sniff. Crumbs and tasty morsels of forbidden food lurking in corners of rooms and under sofas. Extra walks from owners not at work. And cats that lurk teasingly in windows, parading their new shiny, jingling Christmas collar. Woof! But there’s a problem. All those muddy walks, rich food and over excitement often bring a few nasty ‘surprises’. The key is to act fast and treat any pet stains as soon as possible.
Or, alternatively, don’t hesitate to call us on 07530 532208 (just not on Christmas day – sorry!)
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Ok… so you’re thinking about saving a bit of money and getting down on your hands and knees to remove some of those stubborn stains that have been driving you to distraction…
Some common carpet stains can be successfully removed if you act quickly and use the correct stain removal procedures.
But, there are also some carpet cleaning mistakes you’ll want to avoid.
Here’s what not to do when cleaning your carpet or attempting to remove individual stains…
You fail to take immediate action. Stains can set if they are allowed to seep deep into the carpet fibres and dry. Deal with the spillage as quickly as you can.
Using a shop bought stain remover. I’ll get straight to the point: They are useless! In fact, many of these products cause damage to the fibres, can cause colour changes and potentially set stains. I see the damage these products do on a daily basis. Please don’t use them!!! Use a home based mix as I detailed here.
Forgetting to test your stain home made stain remover. I always suggest testing an innocuous patch of carpet (behind a sofa) when making or using a stain remover so if it causes any problems it’s not going to be visible.
Scrubbing a stain. All this achieves is to spread the stain and potentially make it worse. It may also embed the stain and if you scrub too vigorously, you may wear out the carpet fibres. Blot, don’t scrape.
And finally…
Don’t hire a cheap carpet cleaning rental machine. The results are rarely satisfactory, you are not covered for accidental damage, and they arenot cost effective!
If you are thinking about attempting DIY stain removal, I’m happy to give free advice over the phone. Simply call me today and I’ll help you identify the best method of removal. Or if you’d like a free quotation for carpet cleaning Cardiff or South Wales, please do get in touch.
https://edwardsjefferycarpetcleaning.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/21.jpg6971500edwardsjefferyhttps://edwardsjefferycarpetcleaning.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ejcarpetclean-logo.pngedwardsjeffery2014-05-13 09:14:302016-03-18 09:54:05What not to do when cleaning your carpet
Carpet cleaning rental machines are increasingly available to pick up in most major supermarkets these days.
It seems you can’t walk more than 10 meters into the entrance of your local supermarket without falling over advertising stands boasting claims such as “The best, most cost-effective way to clean carpets.”
This kind of statement is incredibly misleading.
Do-it-yourself carpet cleaning rental machines simply don’t come close to achieving the results of a professionally trained technician with powerful equipment. A quick comparison of the specifications of a supermarket rental machine vs a powerful professional machine will tell you all you need to know.
Before you go and pick up that ‘bargain’ rental machine, there are a couple things you should consider…
Shrinkage
A common problem with rental machines is over-wetting. A carpet that has been left excessively wet can cause major problems including browning and shrinkage.
Stain Removal
Another disadvantage to hiring a DIY machine is that most people simply don’t have the knowledge or the appropriate products to remove stubborn stains.
A professional carpet cleaning technician should have specialist training (be sure to ask & check out their reviews!) in stain identification. Not just so that individual stains can be successfully removed, but also to ensure that no damage is done to your carpet!
The Real Costs…
Hiring a rental machine is a bargain, right??? After all, you can pick up a machine for about £30 and you’re just a couple of hours work away from spotlessly clean carpets…
Not quite…
Let’s take a closer look at the real costs of hiring a Rug Doctor carpet cleaning machine…
First, you’ll need the machine itself – that’ll set you back £30.
You will also need their carpet ‘Detergent’ which will cost £9.99.
And what about those heavily soiled traffic areas such as the hallway? You’ll need the ‘Traffic Lane Cleaner’ for that… about £6.
Oh, and don’t forget that suspicious stain you blamed the dog for. You will need to purchase the ‘Urine Eliminator!’ for £5 (but don’t expect it to actually remove any urine stains…)
Any individual stubborn stains that need special attention? You’d better grab a bottle of ‘Spot and Stain Remover’ … £2.99
Assuming you don’t want to be liable for the full costs of a replacing a damaged machine, it would be wise to pick up a bottle of ‘Anti Foam’ to ensure the excess suds don’t break the machine…£2.99
And finally, you know that smell that’s been lingering since you handed back the machine??? That’ll be the over-wet carpets….
The “Odour Remover” mighthelp mask a bit of that pong… £2.99
So, that’s £59.96 to hire a machine and chemicals with a fraction of the power, capabilities and effectiveness of a professional set-up.
And that’s before factoring in the cost of your time and the potential for costly mishaps as per T&C’s.
Are you really grabbing yourself a bargain???
We have cleaned countless homes for unhappy customers who have previously attempted to clean their carpets and upholstery with a rental machine.
Save yourself the time, worry, and, in some cases cost, and call an approved TACCA operator in your local area.
