CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANING TIPS
FOR THE BEST RESULTS
Preparation
For the best results the following preparation tips are recommended.
Vacuuming - While the equipment I use does vacuum the carpet, it is mainly designed to extract the soiled water. It cannot remove pet hair or debris larger than a popcorn kernel. Because of this I recommend that you do vacuum beforehand.
Objects and Furniture - Remove any small items from the carpet such as toys, chargers, power strips, baskets, etc. Should you choose to move the furniture off of the carpet, please note that any items made of wood or metal CANNOT go back on the carpet until it is completely dry. The wood can bleed, resulting in permanent stains, and the metal could rust. If you need to move the furniture back immediately, placing plastic or foil underneath will reduce this risk. I do provide small pads for small tables, end stands, etc. Being a one man operation, I personally will not move any heavy furniture such as couches, bed frames, book shelves, etc (I do not want to risk damaging your belongings or injuring myself). In most cases the best prep is to move all of the smaller items of of the floor on to the larger furniture. I will clean as much carpet as you expose for me.
Drying Time
Drying time depends on several factors such as: how dirty the carpet is, the humidity in the home and the weather outside.
Typically carpets dry on the same day that they were cleaned. Some carpets can take up to 24-hours to get completely dry. While cleaning when it is raining out is never ideal for the customer, it does not cause the carpets to dry any slower. However, a sunny, warmer day does help speed up the drying time because you can open the windows and doors to get a nice circulation of air moving through the home. In any situation a fan is the best tool to help the carpets dry faster.
The Truth about Reoccurring Spots
Many people believe spots come back. Sometimes they do, but sometimes they are just new spots that appear in high traffic or common areas. The reason a spot may come back is because the volume of the spill was great enough to get past the carpet and into the pad below. When I come and clean a carpet I can only add so much soap and water because I risk causing a greater issue like over saturation. Over saturation can lead to very long drying times which can lead to the possibility of mold growing, or a PH imbalance. So, since the spill still remains in the pad, it can seep back up to the surface as the carpet dries, or simply when you walk on it over a period of time.
Pet urine can also cause reoccurring issues. If the volume of pet urine is so much that it has seeped into the pad, carpet cleaning alone may not be able to remove the smell. Carpet cleaning is designed to clean the carpet and does not remove spills from the pad. Therefore after the carper cleaning is performed, smells from the pad can possibly wick back up into the carpet. The ultimate solution for heavy urine damage would be replacement of the pad.
A pro-tip for all problems mentioned above would be to purchase a wet/dry shop vacuum. Getting spills up as soon as they happen can dramatically decrease the risk of the spill getting into the pad and staining. A diluted mixture of dish soap, white vinegar, and water can neutralize the acid in the urine. Spray and blot.
Expected Results
Throughout years of experience I've learned that carpet cleaning is pretty straightforward. Life happens, and typically the results are similar - the customer is happy and the carpets are cleaned without issue. However, there are circumstances that could result in a permanent stain. While I do try my best to get everything out, sometimes they are permanent. Spills such as coffee, wine, OJ, or anything of an acidic nature, tends to cause permanent stains. As soon as the spill hits the carpet, it begins to dye it whatever the color the spill is, and the longer it is left uncared for, the more likely it is to stain. The best thing to do is to treat it with a type of carpet soap. That will increase the odds of the stain coming out when I come to clean it. Even with the best methods there are no guarantees it will come out, but please know, I always do my best.
A pro-tip for all problems mentioned above would be to purchase a wet/dry shop vacuum. Getting spills up as soon as they happen can dramatically decrease the risk of the spill getting into the pad and staining.