WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW…

The carpet in your home has many functions.  It looks attractive and feels good under your feet.  Carpet helps you in the winter by keeping your feet warm and giving your home a cozy feeling.

Carpeting also acts like a giant filter in your home.  It traps soil and air pollutants such as animal dander, pollen, mold, air pollution, car exhaust, bacteria, and many other chemicals that float through the air.  With a high efficiency vacuum, you can remove approximately 90% of those pollutants and create a healthier environment for you and your family.  But that is not enough.

The soils that can embed in the carpet can act like sandpaper, aging your carpet rapidly.  A thorough steam cleaning will greatly enhance the condition of your carpeting, removing harmful chemicals and toxins which may have been aggravating conditions such as asthma, allergies, emphysema and/or other breathing problems.

A proper steam cleaning will provide a higher indoor air quality for you, and extend the life of your carpeting.

Vacuum tips

To eliminate or reduce the amount of dry soil in your carpeting, vacuum regularly.  Rooms with light traffic should be vacuumed twice a week, and rooms with heavy traffic should be vacuumed daily.  Technique is as important as frequency:  three to seven passes will help reduce embedded soils (fewer passes for less traffic).  Changing direction or your vacuum passes will ensure the carpet pile gets a more thorough clean.  With today’s high efficiency vacuums, HEPA filtration will reduce the occurrence of airborne particles being released from the vacuum.  Vacuum cleaners will operate at peak performance if the bag (if applicable) is changed when 1/3  to 1/2 full. 

Avoid “Bait and Switch”

Most people love saving money, but beware of companies that offer deals that seem “too good to be true”:  they usually are.  There are some companies that advertise unheard of low prices, then attempt to persuade you into “premium services” for an additional fee.  These “premium services” usually fall under normal guidelines for most carpet cleaners.  If you refuse their add-ons, you might receive an incomplete cleaning, usually with poor quality work with little or no chemical, and no guarantee of workmanship.  Remember…you get what you pay for.

Do-it-yourself Cleaning & Spot Treatments

Thorough carpet cleaning requires expertise and professional equipment.  Store-rented or home “steam cleaners” lack the suction power and sometimes the high temperature needed for a proper deep clean.  These machines usually leave a large volume of water behind, and left in the carpet, can lead to formations of microbial growth (mold) and bacteria in as little as 24 hours.  Shampooing with a store-rented machine can have a tendency to leave excessive detergents in your carpet, which actually attracts soil and causes rapid re-soiling.

Be cautious when using “off the store shelf” spot cleaning agents.  Some contain optical brighteners/stripping agents.  Some contain oxidizing and bleaching agents.  Use of these products may void the manufacturer’s warranty.  Many of these agents are not authorized by Shaw Industries, a major carpet manufacturer.

Choosing a Carpet Cleaning Company

In your search for the best company to suit your needs, referrals from friends and family will have a great influence over who you will select.  It is generally advisable to check a company’s history through the local Better Business Bureau.  The most qualified carpet cleaning firms are those that have achieved IICRC^* certification status, assuring you that they are abiding by a strict code of ethics and following written guidelines to give you the best cleaning possible for your dollar.

Some Frequently Asked Questions:

My carpets seem to get dirtier, faster, after I get them cleaned.  Why?

• If rapid re-soiling is an issue, there is the possibility that too much detergent or cleaning agents were used, and not thoroughly extracted.  This residue will act “sticky” and will actually attract more soil.

Will general carpet cleaning remove the bleach spots in my carpet?

• Bleach spots are from the removal of color from the carpeting.  The only way to repair the spots is to re-add the missing color to return the carpet back to its original color (spot dyeing).

Is it safe to clean my Oriental rugs with a store-rented machine?

• No, as store-rented machines are notorious for leaving too much residual moisture behind.  Since proper drying is essential in the cleaning process, excess moisture would create an unfavorable situation.

Can I wait to contact someone about the standing water in my basement?

• It is imperative to call your restoration company and your insurance company as soon as it is detected, due to pending secondary damage of mold and bacterial growth.

There is mold growing on my attic rafters.  Can I clean it with bleach?

• Bleach (a hypochlorite solution) can become inactivated when in contact with organic substances (i.e. mold).  We advise you to seek professional advice to determine a proper course of action.

Can I get just a few ducts cleaned?

• We highly recommend that the whole system be cleaned so as to not redistribute any residue or pollutants from non-cleaned ducts.

Can you remove every stain from my carpet?

• Master Care Restoration Company has the expertise to clean or repair all stains, but not all come out with a general cleaning.  Extensive stain removal requires our optional repair services, which are designed to save you from costly carpet replacement.

If I have red, rust, furniture stains, etc. can I bleach them out?

• Bleach is a highly unstable solution which can ruin dye sites in carpet.  This may make the carpeting un-repairable unless bonded inserts (patches) are used.

If I have bleach spots, can I use a marker to touch up the spot?

• A common problem we see is where people use a brown marker to touch up a spot on a brown carpet.  Unless the bleach spot is absolute white, it is unadvisable.  Our spot dyeing service re-adds just the color that was removed from the carpet, not the actual carpet color.

Is there any way to find a moisture problem in my home without poking holes and cutting out drywall?

• Yes, there is.  Our ThermalScan IRC-3000 can detect moisture using temperature differentials.  See details under our restoration services.

Is all mold harmful?

• Mold can range from beneficial (i.e. in making antibiotics) to carcinogenic.  The best way to know what type of mold you have is through testing by an Industrial Hygienist.  See details on our mold remediation page for more information.

Is mold sampling necessary?

• We highly recommend sampling, especially where litigation is pending or where health issues are of concern.  During the process, pre-and post-samples are taken, which are analyzed and compared for a decrease in the amount of inside spore count from initial samples taken, indicating successful remediation.  Master Care Restoration Company has never failed a post-sampling clearance to date.

^* Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification