Consumer Awareness Message
Hi! This is Jon Hunt. I’m grateful for the opportunity to provide you with information about carpet cleaning and to help you choose a carpet cleaning company.
I own and run Hunts Cleaning Ltd. I have been in the carpet cleaning business for over 10 years. In that time I’ve learned that carpet cleaning is the subject of much confusion. In fact, people have so many misconceptions about carpet cleaning that we decided to offer this consumer education message, so when you select a carpet cleaning company, you can make an informed intelligent decision.
Here, I’ll share with you six costly misconceptions about carpet cleaning. Plus I’ll offer four recommendations. And I’ll give you seven questions you should ask a carpet cleaner before you invite him into your home.
Now, here’s
Misconception #1: You should wait as long as possible before cleaning your carpet.
No. Dirt is an abrasive – like sandpaper. Every time you step on your carpet, you grind dirt into your carpet fibres. This cuts your carpet, just as if you had used a knife, causing it to wear out faster. A dirty carpet will not last nearly as long as a clean carpet. And while vacuuming helps – by itself, it’s simply not enough. Then, the longer you wait to have your carpet cleaned, the more damage you do to your carpet and the faster it wears out.
Misconception #2: The only reason to clean carpets is to get the dirt out.
No. As you probably know, outdoor air contains pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust – and hundreds of other chemicals. When you and your family members come into your home you carry these pollens, bacteria and chemicals in your hair and on your skin, clothing and shoes. Not surprisingly, all those chemicals, pollens and bacteria wind up – you guessed it – in your carpet.
If you have allergies, asthma, emphysema or other breathing problems – one major source of your problem could be the pollens, fungus, chemicals and particularly dust mites and their faeces in your carpet.
In addition, as you may know, tobacco smoke contains over 4000 different chemical compounds, 43 of which cause cancer. And even if you don’t smoke, those chemicals get on your shoes, you track them into your home and you leave them in your carpet.
If you’re sensitive to cigarette smoke, you might find that you’ll breath easier after you hire a company to get rid of those harmful chemicals out of your carpet.
So in addition to getting rid of dirt, another important reason to clean your carpet is to get rid of pollens, fungus, bacteria, chemicals and the tars and residue from tobacco smoke.
Misconception #3: One method of carpet cleaning is as good as another.
No. You can choose from two primary methods: Dry cleaning or hot water extraction.
First I’ll explain dry cleaning. Many people believe that dry cleaning your carpet is like dry cleaning your clothing. This is not true. All carpet cleaning methods use water in one form or another. Here are the three methods of dry cleaning carpet.
When a carpet cleaner uses a dry foam, he applies shampoo to your carpet, allows it to dry, and then sucks the dry 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 can leave a residue in your carpet, which is one reason dry foam is not very effective.
The dry-chem method is similar to dry foam. The major difference is that when dry-chem is used, the company sets a large cotton bonnet on your carpet. Using a machine, the bonnet spins from side to side, absorbing the dirt that’s in the carpet. After the bonnet is saturated with dirt, another cotton bonnet is applied. Bonnet cleaning is like trying to use a large towel to rub the dirt out of your carpet. Like dry foam it is not very effective.
The dry-compound method spreads an absorbent mixture that looks like sawdust all over your carpeting. Then the machine brushes the mixture into the carpet, which in theory causes dirt to absorb into the mixture. When the mixture has dried, a vacuum cleaner sucks the material out of the carpeting. Because the carpet is not rinsed in any way, this method is not very effective.
The second carpet cleaning method is called hot water extraction. This is a fancy way of saying that a hot water cleaning solution under high pressure is forced into the carpet and then sucked out of the carpet. This method is also referred to as steam cleaning.
Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, recommends Truck Mounted Steam Cleaning.
And this isn’t surprising. You see, a truck mounted steam extraction unit cleans much better because it heats the water to a high temperature and then shoots the cleaning solution into the carpet at high pressures. This breaks up the dirt, bacteria, chemicals and pollens in the carpet. Then the machine produces huge vacuum volume to draw the dirt and chemicals out of your carpet. This is the method that my company uses.
No question , the most effective way to clean carpeting is with a truck mounted steam extraction unit. The machine we use is the most powerful on the market and the only machine that really cleans your carpet of dirt, harmful bacteria, fungus, chemicals, pollens, tobacco residue and dust mites.
Some people believe that hot water damages your carpet, but this isn’t true. By washing and 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 only a sponge bath.
Misconception #4: Having the right equipment is all a company needs to clean your carpets properly.
Not true. Many companies own hot-water cleaners – but a large number of employees don’t know how to use them. You probably know someone who bought the newest computer on the market – but didn’t learn how to use it for a year or more. The same is true with carpet cleaning machines. The company may own good equipment, but the employees may not know how to use it correctly. This is why it is important to choose your carpet cleaner carefully.
The best carpet cleaning companies are those that have been certified by the National Carpet Cleaners Association. Before you choose a carpet cleaner, ask to see written proof of the company’s NCCA certification.
Misconception #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 the company that quotes the cheapest price. Here are two important points to consider.
(1) Point #1: The price may not be for the services you want performed. Before you select a company, decide what you want to accomplish. If you want the carpet cleaner to remove only some of the dirt, you can choose from hundreds of companies that use small shampooers or other cleaning methods. Or you can even rent a machine at the local hire shop and do the job yourself
On the other hand, if you want your carpet thoroughly cleaned – if you want to remove the harmful dirt, bacteria, pollens, chemicals and tobacco residues – then you need to hire a company that uses a truck mounted steam extraction unit. This is the only way to assure that your carpet remains healthy and free from dirt, disease-causing bacteria and hurtful chemicals.
(2) Point #2: The price you see advertised, or are quoted over the phone, may not be the price you pay.
Many homeowners have learned that the low price they saw advertised was not the amount they were charged.
And if you’ve ever hired a carpet cleaner, you too may have been the victim of false or misleading advertising. You probably learned the hard way that some carpet cleaners offer a cheap price – usually between £5 and £15 per room – and then pressure you into paying a lot more once they get inside your home. Some of them may even break the law by using illegal bait and switch tactics.
As in all businesses and professions, the carpet cleaning industry has its share of bad apples. I take no pleasure in telling you this, but some are unethical – and, sadly, a few are dishonest. By their misleading advertising and false promises, they cast a dark shadow on our entire industry.
Then you’ll find other carpet cleaners – professionals like us who work hard to earn your trust and respect.
As a way of improving our profession, we’ve dedicated our business to educating the public. The only way you can make an intelligent decision is to have all the facts you need. This is why I’ve written this message.
Misconception #6: Any honest carpet cleaning company should be able to give you an exact price over the phone.
I wish this was 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 yard. 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 yards that you want cleaned. But even that won’t enable me to give you an accurate quote over the phone.
You see there are three other factors we consider when we estimate the cost of cleaning.
First, the type of carpet. Certain types of carpet are harder to clean than other types.
Second, the amount of soiling. Carpet that hasn’t been cleaned for ten years will take longer to clean than carpet that we last cleaned 6 months ago.
Third the amount of furniture we have to move. If we have to move your furniture the bid must include that labour. But if you move your furniture, you’ll save money.
To recap, I consider the type of carpet, the amount of soiling and the amount of furniture that has to be moved. So, as you can now imagine, every quotation is different.
If you’re thinking of having your carpets cleaned, I offer these four recommendations:
Recommendation #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, chemicals and dust mites that live in your carpet. The same goes for you upholstery and curtains.
Recommendation #2: List your objectives. Do you want only the dirt removed, something you could do with a rented machine. Or do you want the bacteria, fungus and chemicals removed, which will require a twin-vacuum high-pressure hot water extraction machine, like we use. Do you want an honest, reputable company – or are you willing to risk working with the company that offers you the lowest price – knowing that company might not be in business tomorrow.
Recommendation#3: Ask questions. The way to learn about a company is to ask specific questions and listen carefully to the answers. Here are the questions I suggest you ask:
1. What method of cleaning do you recommend?
2. What type of equipment do you use to clean carpet?
3. What does 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 any trade associations and, if so, which ones?
7. Are you certified by the NCCA and will you show me your certificate?
Recommendation#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 recommendations, 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 can help you. Or you can rent a shampooer and do the job yourself.
But if you want your carpeting or upholstery to be completely and thoroughly cleaned – removing the bacteria, fungus, chemicals, pollens and tobacco products – then I invite you to call us.
I will be happy to answer your questions – come into your home and give you a free health home carpet audit and written quotation – without any obligation of any kind. To reach me call free on 0800 695 1844.
Here’s one last point: I know that many consumers are sceptical about carpet cleaning companies. Before I got into the business I was sceptical too. So in addition to dedicating my business to consumer education, I do one more thing as well.
I guarantee my work. That’s right. I fully guarantee every carpet, upholstery or curtain-cleaning job we do. If you aren’t happy with our work, we’ll reclean the area for free. And if you still aren’t happy, you pay nothing. Not one penny.
What could be more fair?
As a matter of fact, add this question to the list. Question#8 “Do you guarantee your work?” Not all companies do – and its important that you have this information before you make a decision.
