Consumer's Guide to Carpet Cleaning by Phil Mitchell,The Sutton
Carpet Cleaning Co. Ltd
• How to
avoid four carpet cleaning rip-offs!
• 6 costly
misconceptions about carpet cleaning
• Crawling'
critters: a guide to the slime, grime and livestock that's seeping,
creeping and galloping through your carpet • Which method cleans
best?
• 8 mistakes
to avoid when choosing a carpet cleaner • 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
Provided as an educational service by The Sutton
Carpet Cleaning Co. Ltd
Call
Now On 0800 840 7429
Choosing a carpet cleaner
isn't easy! Why? Because you're bombarded with misleading
advertising, confusing claims and simply bad information. From
super-low prices and high-pressure sales to unqualified technicians
and near-worthless methods - how do you ever find a qualified,
competent, professional carpet cleaner? You start by reading this
“Consumer's Guide To Carpet Cleaning”. In this fact-filled document,
you'll discover how to avoid four carpet cleaning rip-offs, eight
mistakes to avoid when choosing a carpet cleaner, and four steps to
a fresh, clean, healthy carpet. I wrote this document after our
experience of being in the cleaning industry for 8 years. Our aim is
to help you better understand carpet cleaning. Now with this
information, you can make an informed, intelligent decision. And if
you have any questions about carpet or upholstery cleaning, you’re
invited to call us on 0800 840 7429. We've dedicated our business to
educating consumers. We'll be happy to help you in every
way.
Phil Mitchell.
PS. You can be sure our
company works to the highest standards – we are certified by the
Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification – the
only international body to set standards for the cleaning industry.
HOW
TO AVOID FOUR CARPET CLEANING RIP-OFFS
RIP-OFF No.
1
UNBELIEVABLY LOW PRICE.
To some degree, all of us are attracted by low price because we want
to work within a budget. But some cleaners use price as the bait for
their false and misleading advertising. They offer a cheap price
usually between £ 5.00 and £ 15.00 per room- and then, once they're
in your home, they pressure you into buying "add-ons" It's as if you
were buying a car and found that the dealer was charging extra for
the tyres and steering wheel. Carpet cleaning is not as cheap as
some unethical carpet cleaners would like you to believe.
RIP-OFF No.
2 BAIT AND SWITCH. Dual process cleaning describes the
process of shampooing or heavy preconditioning, followed with hot
water extraction cleaning. Unfortunately unethical carpet cleaners
often use duel 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 No.
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. If you want a method that
dries quickly, then a method that takes a long time to dry isn't the
best for you. So before you choose a carpet cleaner, identify your
objectives. Then select the method that best reaches those
objectives.
RIP-OFF No.
4 : OUTDATED BELIEFS. "HOT WATER DAMAGES YOUR CARPET."
Years ago people believed this was true because their carpets were
damaged by "technicians" who didn't know how to properly clean using
hot water. But today, we know it's false. By washing and then
rinsing your carpet with hot water, your carpet is thoroughly
cleaned-in the same way that a person who showers and then rinses
off the dirt and soap will be much cleaner than the person who takes
only a sponge bath is. Obviously, each carpet cleaner will be biased
toward his own method. And each method does have advantages. So I
suggest you look to what carpet manufactures say.
Six
Costly Misconceptions About Carpet Cleaning
MISCONCEPTION No. 1. You should wait
as long as possible before cleaning your carpet. No. Dirt is
abrasive- like sandpaper. Every time you step on your carpet, you
grind dirt into the fibres. This cuts your carpet, just as if you
had used a knife. This cutting causes your carpet to wear out
faster. 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 No.
2: The only reason to clean a carpet is to remove dirt. No.
As you are probably aware, outdoor air contains pollens, fungus,
bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust- and hundreds
of other chemicals. When you come into the home, you carry those
pollens, bacteria etc. in your hair and on your skin, clothes and
shoes. Not surprisingly all those chemicals and toxins wind up in
your carpets. If you have allergies or breathing problems the source
could be in your carpets.
MISCONCEPTION No.
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
dirty residue. You may say they clean the carpet half way. The most
effective method is hot water extraction. Hot water extraction means
hot water cleaning solution, under high pressure, is forced into
your carpet and then sucked out of your carpet. Shaw industries, the
world's largest carpet manufacturer, recommends truck mounted hot
water extraction as the primary method of cleaning carpets, along
with an IICRC approved firm. Carpet cleaners use two types of hot
water extraction. If they use an extraction unit mounted in a van
outside it is known as a truck mount. If they use a machine they can
bring into the home, it is known as a portable machine.
MISCONCEPTION No.
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 is important that you choose your
carpet cleaner very carefully. The best cleaning companies are those
that have been certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and
Restoration, known as the IICRC. Before you choose a carpet cleaner,
ask to see written proof of the company's IICRC certification and
also the certification of the technician who is going to do the job!
If they don't have them -don't use them!
MISCONCEPTION No. 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 a company that quotes the cheapest price. The two
most common problems are: 1. The price may not be for the services
you want performed. The company may be equipped to remove only the
dirt from your carpet. But you may want bacteria, fungus, pollens,
dust mites and tobacco residues removed as well. 2. The price you
see advertised may not be the price you pay. Many homeowners have
learned that the low price they saw advertised only lasted until the
carpet cleaner got into their home. Then they were pressured into
paying a lot more for a variety of add-ons. ( Some carpet cleaners
even break the law by using illegal bait and switch tactics.)
MISCONCEPTION No.
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. To get an
accurate measurement, I use a digital estimator to measure the size
of the carpet area. First, the type of carpet. Certain types of
carpet are harder to clean than others. Second, the amount of
soiling. Carpet that hasn't been cleaned for ten years will take
longer than a carpet that we cleaned within the last year. Third,
the amount of furniture we have to move. If you move your furniture,
you'll save money.
CRAWLING CREATURES AND
CRUD:
A GUIDE TO THE SLIME, GRIME AND LIVESTOCK
THAT'S SLEEPING, CREEPING AND GALLOPING THROUGH YOUR CARPET.
Asphalt, Bacteria. Car
exhaust. Chemicals Dirt. Dust. Dust mites. Earth. Food particles.
Fungus. Germs. Gravel. Grease. Hair. Industrial waste. Lint. Mud.
Pet stains. Pollens. Pollutants. Smoke. Soot. Tar. Tobacco smoke.
Urine. Vomit. Plus don't forget living creatures, such as dust
mites, fleas, and other critters that live, breed and hide in your
carpet. Did You Know …
• House dust mites
and their faeces are the biggest cause of asthma and allergic
reactions affecting four million people in the UK
• Up to 25% of the weight
of the average pillow consists of dead skin, house dust mites and
their droppings
• 85% of asthma attacks
are triggered by house dust mite allergens
• At best, vacuuming
removes only 5-10% of the dust mite populations in your home
• You cannot see them
with a naked eye … but they are there!
WHICH METHOD CLEANS BEST
Dry
foam:
The carpet cleaner
applies shampoo to your carpet, allows it to dry, and then, without
rinsing, sucks the dried shampoo into a vacuum. Can you imagine
applying a shampoo to your hair, allowing it to dry and then
removing the shampoo from your head with a vacuum? This method
leaves dirty residues in your carpet, which is one reason why dry
foam is not very effective. Absorbent pad ( bonnet
cleaning):
This method is
similar to dry foam, except that the company sets a large cotton
bonnet on your carpet and with a floor polishing buffer machine on
top, "buffs" the carpet. The rotating motion causes the bonnet to
absorb dirt from your carpet; it is not very effective.
Dry, absorbent
powder: The dry-compound method spreads a moist, absorbent
powder through the carpet. The powder is allowed to dry and then
sucked up into a vacuum. This method leaves dry sponge particles at
the base of the carpet yarn. And because the carpet is not rinsed,
this method also, is not very effective.
Hot water
extraction: This is a fancy way of saying that a hot water
cleaning solution under high pressure is forced into your carpet and
then sucked out of your carpet. In a recent technical bulletin, Shaw
industries, the world's largest carpet manufacturer, "recommends the
truck mounted hot water extraction system, which research indicates
provides the best capability for cleaning". 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 a sponge bath will.
8
MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN CHOOSING A CARPET
CLEANER
MISTAKE No.
1:
Choosing a carpet
cleaner based 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
their employees 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).
MISTAKE No.
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 the phone call. But once the cleaner get into your home, he
pressures you 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 has cheap
equipment, which will not effectively clean your
carpet.
MISTAKE No.
3: Choosing a carpet cleaner based 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.
MISTAKE No.
4: 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 aren't pleased with the job in
every way, you shouldn't have to pay for it. Not all carpet cleaners
offer a guarantee. Or, if they do, the guarantee may be "limited".
Ask the carpet cleaner if he offers a money back guarantee and then
make sure the cleaner includes it on his written quotation.
MISTAKE No. 5: Choosing a carpet cleaner without
getting comment from his 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 or read comments from
current customers so you can depend on the carpet cleaner and his
work.
MISTAKE No.
6: Choosing a carpet cleaner who isn't certified by the
Institute for 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. He must earn that certification
through study, experience and formal written examinations.
MISTAKE No.
7: Choosing a carpet cleaner who isn't a member of the
National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA). NCCA is a trade
association of carpet cleaners who are dedicated to: (1) honest,
ethical business practices, (2) staying current on the latest
methods for carpet and upholstery care, (3) the highest possible
level of customer service, You're making a wise decision when you
have your carpets cleaned by a member of the NATIONAL CARPET
CLEANERS ASSOCIATION (NCCA).
MISTAKE No. 8 choosing a carpet cleaner who
doesn't use a high-powered 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. They are the Rolls Royce
of carpet cleaning machines; they use hot water, high pressure and
stronger suction than any other method, so you get a far better job.
THE IMPORTANCE OF VALUE AND
PRICE
Price is what you pay. The value is what you get. When you
select a carpet cleaner, you'll choose from a wide variety of
cleaning methods and prices. Shaw industries, the world's largest
carpet manufacturer, recommend truck mounted high-powered hot water
extraction cleaning. Here's why:
(1) High-powered
hot water extraction units heat the water to higher temperatures.
Higher temperatures means better cleaning ability.
(2) It shoots the
cleaning solution into your carpet at high pressures, which breaks
up the dirt, bacteria, chemicals and pollens.
(3) The machine
uses strong suction to draw the dirt, chemicals, bacteria, pollens
and tobacco residue out of your carpet. Not surprisingly, having
your carpet thoroughly cleaned with high-powered hot water
extraction costs more than renting a DIY machine. If you bought the
cheapest carpeting you could find, then renting a small shampooer
might be all you need. No question, it will get some of the dirt-
but the key word 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 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
once a year, as recommended by many leading carpet
mills.
DO YOU WANT A CLEAN, HEALTHY
CARPET?
Which is more
important to you: a clean carpet- or a clean and healthy carpet? Yes
I assure you, there is a big difference. Each carpet cleaning has
advantages and disadvantages. Some methods will only get out the
dirt. Other methods will get out the 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 £25.00 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 you're invited to call
me. The truck mounted 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 these units for a good
reason: More and more families want the good-health benefits that
come from having a fresh, clean carpet. Have you seen how a little
boy's trousers get when he plays outdoors? If you have, then you
know you can brush off his trousers and make him think they're
clean. Or, if you want the job done right, you can machine wash them
in hot water and detergent and you'll KNOW they're clean. The same
is true for your carpet. You can hire someone for £20.00 to £25.00
who will "brush off " your carpeting and make you think it's clean.
Or, if you want the job done right, I'll clean your carpets with hot
water and eco friendly cleaning solutions using my state of the art
cleaning machine and you'll know they're clean. So if you want a
thoroughly clean carpet- if your 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 Double 100% NO-RISK GUARANTEE We
want you to be really pleased- in fact absolutely delighted- with
every carpet & upholstery job we do. So every job comes with our
double ironclad, risk-free, guarantee. What does this mean? Simply
this:
(1) If you aren't
happy with our work, we'll re-clean the whole area for free.
(2) If you
still aren't pleased, you pay nothing – or we refund what you have
paid! Many companies don't guarantee their work- but we feel nothing
is more important than your complete satisfaction. We stand behind
every job 100%. If ever you have any questions or concerns about our
work, please call us right away: Call 0800 840 7429 Thanks.
4
STEPS TO A CLEAN, FRESH, If you're thinking of having your carpets
cleaned,
STEP No. 1:
Make a
commitment to yourself to get your carpets cleaned. The longer they
remain dirty, the sooner they'll wear out. Plus the longer you have
to breathe all the pollens, fungus and chemicals that hide in your
carpet.
STEP
No.2: List your objectives. Do you want only the dirt
removed, or do you want all the bacteria, fungus, chemicals and dust
mites removed, which will require a powerful hot water extraction
cleaner, as we use. Do you want to work with an honest, reputable
company - or are you willing to risk working with the company that
offers you the lowest price - knowing that the company might not be
in business tomorrow.
STEP
No.3: Ask questions. The way you learn about a company is
to ask specific questions and listen carefully to the answers. Here
are eight tough questions to ask a carpet cleaner before he begins
to clean your carpet: 1. What method of carpet cleaning do you
recommend? 2. What type of equipment do you use to clean carpet? 3.
What will your equipment remove from my carpet? 4. How often should
I get my carpets cleaned? 5. What training have you had in cleaning
carpets? 6. Are you a member of the NCCA (National Carpet Cleaning
Association)? 7. Are you certified by the IICRC? 8. Are your
cleaning technicians certified by the IICRC and can I see their
certifications?
STEP
No.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 will be able to help
you, or you could do the job yourself. But if you want your carpet
& upholstery to be completely and healthfully cleaned- removing
the bacteria, fungus, chemicals, pollens and tobacco products- then
we invite you to call us. We'll be happy to answer your questions-
provide you a cost estimate over the telephone- or come to your home
and give you a free written quotation- without obligation of any
kind.
To reach us, call 0800 840
7429
THANKS AGAIN!
…for reviewing our new CONSUMER'S GUIDE TO CARPET CLEANING. I hope
you found this information helpful. If you have any questions or
comments- or if you'd like us to give you an exact written quotation
to clean your carpet or upholstery- please call us on
0800 840 7429.
We've
dedicated our business to consumer education and service. We'll be
pleased to help you in every way. We look forward to your call.
Thanks!
Phil Mitchell
The Sutton Carpet Cleaning Co. Ltd
Specialists in
carpet & upholstery cleaning
|