The IICRC* has stated in the Standard for Carpet Cleaning that “Consumersmust not wait until carpet looks soiled before cleaning. Experts agree that clean carpet contributes not only to the overall aesthetics of a structure, but plays a significant role in the healthful state of the overall environment in which people spend the majority of their time.”

The United States EPA in a letter dated January, 1989 (referenced in the IICRC Carpet Cleaning Standard*) included the following information to serve as a guideline for cleaning frequencies for carpet from a health perspective.

*What is the IICRC Carpet Cleaning Standard?  This Industry Standard was developed to define the minimum standards for carpet care by a task force with input from DuPont, the EPA, Shaw Industries, ASCAR, BASF Fibers, the Carpet and Fabricare Institute, the Carpet Manufacturers Association, S.C. Johnston Wax, Monsanto, Miliken, and others for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)

Like every industry, the carpet cleaning industry has its share of bad companies. Although the majority of the companies are honest, their are some that are looking to scam the consumer. This article will help you identify the unethical carpet cleaners and help you avoid getting ripped off by a scam.

Bait and Switch - This is the classic carpet cleaning rip-off. In this scam, the customer is lured in by a ridiculously low priced carpet cleaning. Often the advertisement you read will offer carpet cleaning in the neighborhood of $5 per room. There is no way that a company can be profitable selling its services that low. But the companies usually have no intention of leaving your home with only the advertised amount. So how do they increase the bill after you have taken the “bait” of the low price?

Preconditioning Scam - One way they will increase the bill is by selling you preconditioning. Most legitimate companies include this in their pricing. That low price they offered probably didn’t include it. It may have been $5 per room to clean it with water only but pre-conditioning will cost you an additional 25 cents per square foot. Considering an average room size of 150 square feet, that would be $37.50 per room extra. So a 5 room home would go from the advertised carpet cleaning price of $25 to $212.50. Quite a difference.

But what if you just refuse to pay for the pre-conditioning? Chances are you will get a substandard cleaning or a rush job, but their is another way that they can try to force you into paying for the pre-conditioning. They may offer to do a demo for you. This isn’t necessarily bad, many good carpet cleaning companies do demos. What Bait and Switch companies will do however is clean an area in a highly visible area. If you decide to not pay for the extra service, you will have an extra clean spot in the middle of your carpet that will stick out like a sore thumb. By doing this you are forced to pay the extra price.

Extra Room Scam - Another way for Bait and Switch companies to increase their bill is through extra room charges. If you use a coupon, you must read the fine print. Some companies will charge extra for rooms over 100 square feet of carpet for example. It is hard to find a room in a typical home under that square footage, so that means the typical room will count as two and the typical living room or family room will count as three or even four rooms.

Protection Scam - Almost all carpet cleaning companies offer protection at reasonable prices and carpet protectors themselves are good products. This doesn’t become bait and switch until a company uses high pressure tactics. Customers may be told that their carpet will be ruined if they don’t have protection applied. This is simply not true. Protection will certainly extend the life of your carpet and make future cleanings easier but it is in no way necessary.

Whether your oriental carpet is a family heirloom or a new addition to your home, chances are its an important part of your décor.

Since your oriental rug is valuable and you probably would like to see it last a long time and look good in the process the way you care for your rug is extremely important.

Of course, the best way to keep your rug in tip-top shape is to make sure it doesnt get dirty or stained in the first place! However, the likelihood of that happening is probably slim to none.

So, there are some proactive steps you can take to keep your oriental rug looking its best.

First, weekly vacuuming will help to ensure that dirt and debris dont burrow too far down into the rugs fibers. That being said, your oriental carpet will certainly require more than just vacuuming. How do you know when your oriental rug needs a more intensive cleaning?

Lift up a corner of the carpet and kick the back side of it. If dust and debris fly out, its definitely time for a deeper cleaning!

Next, bend down and rub the carpet back and forth with your hand for five or ten seconds. When you take your hand away, is it dirty? If so, again, its time for a deeper cleaning!

Here is the thing, though, its almost never a good idea to give your oriental rug a deep cleaning yourself.

Attempting to wash your oriental carpet at home can sometimes cause the dyes to fade or run, or the rugs fibers and materials to break down. Your best bet, to prevent any accidental damage to your oriental rug, is to schedule a professional cleaning with our company.

Well be able to take a look at your oriental carpet and decide exactly the best way it should be cleaned, as well as which types of cleaners should be used to maintain the integrity of the carpet.

Whether its been in your family for years or its brand new, you can feel good knowing you will be enjoying your oriental carpet for many more years to come!

Hope to hear from you soon ,

Tal Alon.

(786) 663 - 2301

www.American-Steamers.com

I am sure you love your pet. And you probably really enjoy your clean carpet as well.

The problem is, the two things don’t always mix. As a matter of fact, dogs, cats, and other pets can often leave our carpets looking a bit on the dingy, dirty, and stinky side.

What to do, though?

Well, as always, a good plan of attack begins with your vacuum cleaner. While it’s recommended that people vacuum once or twice a week, those with pets should vacuum every day, or at the very least every other day, to keep dirt and debris from burrowing too far down in the carpet fibers.

What about those inevitable periodic accidents?

Well, be sure to have an enzyme cleaner on hand for these, hopefully, rare occasions. Blot up as much of the mess as possible, and as quickly as possible, with a white towel or sponge.

Then apply a very small amount of the enzyme cleaner to the area, and using a damp sponge, work the stain in a counter-clockwise motion.

Don’t soak the area with enzyme cleaner, though, as this can cause an entirely new and different set of problems. Just a dab will do it. The goal is to do some as much damage control before you call on us.

These preliminary actions can help to prevent permanent staining and odor-burrowing.

If your carpets have, unfortunately, been the victim of many pet accidents, you may want to think about having us out to your home for a comprehensive, deep cleaning.

This way, you can feel comfortable knowing that your carpets not only look their best, but they also smell fresh and clean as well.

Hope to hear from you soon ,

Tal Alon.

(786) 663 - 2301

Before you invite any carpet cleaner into your home, be sure that they have at least one out of two very important industry destinctions to maintain the warrantee on your carpeting: The Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval Service Provider and The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification Certified Firm.The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), Based in Dalton, Georgia, is a nonprofit trade association representing the manufacturers of more than 95 percent of all carpet made in the United States, as well as their suppliers and service providers. We coordinate with other segments of the industry, such as distributors, retailers and installers, to help increase consumers’ satisfaction with carpet and to show them how carpet creates a better environment.” The CRI has instituted a Seal of Approval program for both carpet cleaning companies and the cleaning solutions and machines they use.  According to the carpet and rug institutes’ (CRI) website (www.carpet-rug.org), “CRI worked with an independent laboratory to test off-the-shelf spot removers and pre-spray solutions. Of the 25 products tested, only four cleaned a soiled carpet sample better than water. Some caused the cleaned carpet area to re-soil faster and — worse — some products damaged the carpet’s color and texture.”

“The CRI recommends to the consumer getting their carpet professionally cleaned to utilize the services of those recognized SOA Service Providers as the best way to guarantee your carpet is being serviced with only the best cleaning equipment. It is also the best way to make sure many of your residential warranties covering your carpet are being met as many of carpet manufacturers are now tying their warranties to the use of SOA products” and IICRC certified status. Visit www.carpet-rug.org for a list of SOA Services Providers. 

The IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) is an independent body that provides the finest, most complete technical training courses and seminars available to carpet cleaners and restoration (flood, mold and fire damage) in the industry. Your cleaner should be IICRC certified in any type of cleaning or restoration service they are providing you. IICRC Certification and Training is expensive and many companies cut corners when it comes to training their employees in the best and most effective cleaning methods. Each technician must earn their certifications through study, experience and successful completion of formal, written examinations. In addition to your technician begin certified, the carpet cleaning company should also be a certified firm by the IICRC. Before agreeing to have your carpet or upholstery cleaned ask to see written proof of the company’s and the technician’s IICRC certification. Any cleaner who has gone through the exhaustive and intensive training provided by the IICRC will be proud to show you proof of their certification. Visit: www.iicrc.org for a list of certified firms. 

For most homeowners, the holidays are the most important time of year to have a clean home. Friends and relatives frequently drop by for visits. Christmas parties. Your home gets busy and you want everything to look perfect. Remember to book your holiday cleaning appointment early. We often are booked 2 weeks in advance for the holidays. So don’t wait until the last minute. Call us now at 1.800.743.9953 Happy Holidays! Tal Alon.

We are currently seeking companies that would like to offer their employees discounts on carpet cleaning. As a family oriented operation we know how hard it can be to find a reliable company for the services we use on a less than regular basis. We would be happy to speak to anyone capable of notifying your employees of our services with an added discount for being an employee of the company.

Currently we would like to either add our promotion to your employee newsletter, bulletin board, or payroll envelopes. The size of the company is not important. Whether you have 2 employees or thousands we would like to form a relationship with your company and allow all your employeees to receive a great incentive for being employed by your company.

If you are interested in learning more or discussing what is available, please contact me at (786) 663-2301.

A large majority of our customers have pets. Not everyone considers the harmful effects that harsh chemicals used by many carpet cleaners can have on their pets.

Your pets spend more time on your carpet than almost anyone in your family. This one fact means they are more likely to be exposed to any chemicals used to clean your carpets. Anyone who has a pet knows that vet bills can be very expensive. Most pet owners think of their pets like any other family member and would not intentionally expose them to harsh chemicals.

By taking the time to learn what chemicals are used in the cleaning process by your carpet cleaner you could actually help prevent your pet from becoming ill. As pet owners we understand this concern and the expense it could cause. Our organic carpet cleaning process is 100% safe for everyone including your family pet. Even our all natural cleaning process is safe for children, pets and people with allergies.

Since your carpets act like filters in your home. Having them cleaned regularly is important to maintain a healthy living environment. If we are introducing new toxins or chemicals into your living environment it doesn’t make much sense to clean in the first place. Everyone in your family deserves a healthy environment including your pet.

Don’t let anyone fool you when getting a quote for carpet cleaning. Every company cleaning carpets, large and small, must make money. If they don’t make money they won’t be around long. Many companies make you think you are getting a better price than possible over the phone or in their ads. So we want to take the time to give you the questions to ask every carpet cleaner you might call.

1. Do you charge extra for spot removal?
   Although this seems like it should be part of the “cleaning”, many companies charge extra to remove spots or heavily soiled areas. We hope this seems as silly to you as it does to us. What exactly are they cleaning if they charge extra to clean the dirty spots? We don’t charge extra for spots or heavily soiled areas. Mainly because we think when we say we are going to clean your carpets, that means really cleaning it!
2. Do you have a service charge or travel charge for cleaning under a certain amount?
   This is another one of those great little disclaimers we find hard to swallow. Usually you will see this on a coupon or advertisement for a carpet cleaning special. The special will be great but in the fine print it will tell you that in order to take advantage of the special you will need to pay a “sur-charge” for getting that special. Doesn’t seem like much of a deal to us. When we advertise a special, about the only disclaimer we use is the fact that you can’t combine it with another special. Which is only fair to everyone.
3. What other services do you provide for carpet cleaning above and beyond your normal “all inclusive” price?
   If they say none, either they are an excellent service that provides everything in one cleaning, which is great. Or they are using a little deception. Most carpet cleaners gamble on the fact that once they are in your house they can sell you on every little thing possible to make another buck. We only offer 2 additional optional services. Those are soil retardent and a germicide treatment. They are optional for a reason, not everyone needs them. We do recommend the soil retardent about 90% of the time and for good reason, we want to make sure your carpets stay looking their best for as long as possible. The soil retardent helps repell dirt and stains, just like the original soil retardent that comes on new carpet. The germicide treatment is recommended when there is a pet odor problem normally. We take great pride in our work and want to make sure your cleaning is done right, but we never try to take advantage of a customer in order to make a few extra dollars. We prefer establishing a long term relationship with our customers.
4. Do you charge extra for moving furniture?
   This one is so subtle most people never think to ask about this one. What happens when the technician gets to your home and tells you “oh that will be an extra $20 to move that sofa”. Most likely you’ll pay the price and go on without giving it too much thought. This is another one of those “hidden” charges many companies like to throw in their at you. Our policy is to move any furniture and replace it, that can be easily moved by 2 people (couches, chairs, tables, etc), at no charge. The only furniture we won’t move are those which can’t be moved easily by 2 people and any item which maybe considered permanent (entertainment centers, pianos, china hutches, etc).
5. Can you make my 20 year old carpet that has been cleaned twice look new again?
   If they say yes without hesitation, run don’t walk away. We’d love to say “we can clean any carpet and make it look new again”. But the reality is that is not possible on carpet that has not been properly maintained. If you have maintained your carpets on a regular basis, then yes it should clean up nicely no matter how old it is. Just like a car that has not been washed or maintained, it is going to cost a lot of money to make it run and look new again when it has been neglected. Probably more than just buying a new one. But if you spend the small amount of money making the necessary repairs and taking good care of it you will get many many more good years out of it. The same holds true for your carpet. We can clean a 20 year old carpet, but how clean it gets or how good it looks after the cleaning is really determined by you, not us.
6. Do you provide a written guarantee?
   We suggest never using any service that is not willing to guarantee their work. We give a 7 day written guarantee for any carpet cleaning service we provide. If anytime during that 7 days you notice something that is not right with the cleaning we will gladly come back out and do whatever we can to make it right. And it happens from time to time, we’re not perfect and sometimes a mistake is made. Instead of passing the blame though we make sure any mistake is taken care of in a timely fashion at your convience. We do whatever we can to make sure everyone we provide service for is 100% satisfied.
7. How many years experience does your technician currently have?
   Your carpet is one of the top 5 biggest investments in your home. Are you really willing to take a chance on someone who has little to no experience cleaning carpets? Our lead technician has over 20 years experience cleaning carpets. Our secondary technician has trained for over 10 years with our lead technician and we have just now turned him loose heading up his own crew. Not many other carpet cleaning companies take training that seriously.

We hope you are able to use these questions to find the perfect carpet cleaning company for your needs. Keep these little things in mind when you are comparing services from one company to another and you’ll find you will never be suprised by the service you get.

For many years we have offered a referral program for all our customers to take advantage of. All anyone had to do was tell their friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, or anyone they knew about our services. When we did work for one of those people a $20 credit was added to the account of the person who referred them to us. Many of our customers get their carpets cleaned completely free every single year.

This year we have expanded the referal program to make it an even better deal and to make it easier for you to refer your friends. We personally prefer that those referring us have used our services, but now anyone can take advantage of the referral program. Give us a call and we will take your information and send you referral cards to give to your friends. Everyone who gets a card from you also receives 10% off our normal price with that card and you get a $20 credit on your account. The best part of all, there is no limit to the amount you can have credited to your account and the credits never expire!

Call and get started today and enjoy your free carpet cleaning asap.