What Should I Do Before
Steamgard Arrives?
Before the technician
arrives make sure all small,
breakable items are removed
from tables, dressers,
etc... Remove any items
from under tables and beds
that are to be cleaned
under. Point out any
stubborn spots to the
technician, so they may be
properly pretreated.
Pre-vacuum your carpets to
ensure a better clean, so
that there are no large
particles (IE:
un-popped kernel of corn) that will
obstruct the cleaning
wand.
How
Long Will My Carpet Take to
Dry?
Damp Carpet:
It is best to stay off of
damp carpet as much as
possible both to avoid soil
tracking and to allow the
pile to dry in its "up"
position. If you walk
directly on the damp carpet,
it is best not to wear
shoes, only white socks.
Drying Time:
Drying time will be 2 to 6
hours, depending on the
fiber and degree of soiling.
Furniture Blocks:
Plastic squares and
Styrofoam blocks found under
any furniture should be left
in place for about 24 hours
or until the carpet is
completely dry.
Ventilation:
Increased air circulation
will aid you in carpet
drying. Consider
turning up the heat in the
winter, and the
air-conditioning in the
summer months to decrease
drying time.
How
Often Should I Have My
Carpets Cleaned?
The biggest enemy of carpet
is dirt. Soiled carpets wear
out faster because foot
traffic grinds dirt into
fibers, causing them to
fray, unwind and mat
together. The most effective
defense against this kind of
carpet wear is frequent
cleaning. Residential
carpets should be
professionally cleaned at
least once, preferably
twice, a year.
Reapplying carpet protector
after cleanings enhances the
amount of protection. Areas
of higher traffic and
soiling should be steam
cleaned more frequently.
How
Does Dirt Affect My Carpets?
Dirt is abrasive, much like
sandpaper. Every time you
step on your carpet, you
grind dirt into the carpet
fibers. 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. 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.
Why
Choose Steam Cleaning Over Dry
Cleaning?
Steam Cleaning is the best
method for deep-cleaning
most carpets. Steam
cleaning requires the use of
a machine which sprays
cleaning solution into the
carpet pile. Chemicals
attack the soil and greasy
build-up on the carpet
fibers. A powerful vacuum
then extracts the solution
almost immediately. It is recommended
to have carpet protector
applied for optimal soil and
stain protection after every
steam cleaning. The dry
cleaning methods - which are
dry foam, dry chemicals, and
dry compound - do not rinse
your carpet in any way. They
basically only clean your
carpet halfway and push the
dirt deeper into the carpet.
The chemicals are removed by
vacuuming as the final step
of the dry clean. This
is not an efficient method
of dirt removal, and many of
the chemical particles are
left in your carpet.
Years ago, many people believed
that "Hot Water Damages Your
Carpet" because their carpets
were damaged by 'technicians'
who didn't know how to properly
clean using hot water. 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 a person who showers and
then rinses off the dirt and
soap will be much cleaner than
the person who only takes a
sponge bath. Obviously, each
carpet cleaner will be biased
toward his own method. Look at
what your carpet manufacturers
suggest. Shaw Industries, the
largest carpet manufacturer in
the world, recommends hot water
extraction with a truck-mounted
unit.
Why
Shouldn't I Clean My Own
Carpets?
Avoid Do-It-Yourself methods
if possible. Proper carpet
cleaning requires experience
and very expensive, powerful
equipment. Most rental or
home cleaning machines are
unable to thoroughly extract
the water and detergents
they put into the carpet.
When left in the carpet, the
detergents attract dirt,
causing rapid re-soiling and
increased wear. The
detergents left in the
carpets also make if
difficult for steam cleaning
to work properly on the
first cleaning, as the
detergents counteract the
steam cleaning chemicals and
tend to foam up when they
get wet. Too much
water can soak into the
backing of the carpet,
causing damage if not
properly removed.
How
Do I Remove Allergens in My Carpets?
Dirt removal is not the only
reason to keep your carpets
clean. Carpet cleanliness
can improve indoor air
quality which is often 10 to
100 times worse than outdoor
air. Outdoor air contains
pollens, fungus, bacteria,
air pollution, cigarette
smoke, car exhaust and
hundreds of other chemicals.
When you come into your
home, you carry those
pollens, bacteria and
chemicals in your hair and
on your skin, clothing and
shoes. Not surprisingly,
those chemicals and toxins
wind up in your carpet. If
you have allergies, asthma,
emphysema, or other
breathing problems - one
major source of your problem
could be the pollens, fungus
smoke and chemicals in your
carpet. Regular vacuuming
helps keep indoor air
cleaner and extends carpet
life. Most air
filtration unit on the
market make the allergens
and airborne dirt heavy and
cause them to fall to into
the carpet. Removing your carpet
will NOT reduce the
allergens in your home; it
will have the opposite
effect. Carpets keep many
of these allergens from
becoming airborne. Keeping
your carpet clean is the
best way to manage allergens
in the home. Truck Mount
Extraction cleaning is the
most effective way to remove
soil. Think of carpet as an
air filter, clean carpet =
clean air.
Why
Choose Carpet?
Comfort. Carpet provides an added
measure of warmth and
insulation with the millions
of fibers placed between
them to hold warmth or to
insulate against extreme
heat or cold.
Sound Reduction.
With the introduction of so
many new household
electronics, our homes have
become a lot noisier.
Fortunately, the solution to
this problem of airborne
sounds can be found right
below our feet -- carpet. A
recent trend in new homes is
the Great Room. By
combining all of the living
area rooms into one open
space, it promotes family
togetherness, but also
creates a noisy atmosphere.
With the addition of carpet,
sound is absorbed rather
than bounced off the floor.
Carpet also absorbs the
sound of foot traffic within
the home, especially on
stairs, and works as a sound
barrier between floors by
helping to block sound
transmission to rooms below.
Safety.
Safety in the home is a
primary focus, especially
for small children and the
elderly. Carpet provides a
stable, non-slick walking
surface that prevents slips
and falls, and a surface
that protects from bruises
and other injuries if one
does fall. Carpet also
cushions foot steps,
reducing the shock on feet
and knees.
Simple Maintenance.
Regular, but simple, care on
carpet helps counter the
abuse your carpet suffers
and help it retain its
beauty. Vacuum every few
days in high traffic areas,
and once a week in less-used
areas. Use a
well-functioning vacuum
cleaner, with an enclosed,
efficient, dust-catching
bag.
Most carpet today has been
treated for stain resistance
and soil retardance, but
stain resistant does not
necessarily mean "stain
proof." Address spills
quickly and remove them as
soon as possible to afford
the easiest spot removal.
Act preventively and avoid
contact with difficult spots
that are hard to remove -
makeup, pesticides,
disinfectants, iodine,
mustard, and plant food
products. Have carpets
professionally cleaned on a
regular schedule, before it
begins to show soil.
