HOW TO CHOSE A CARPET CLEANING COMPANY? DO THEY HAVE GOOD REFERENCES?

Techniclean is referred exclusively by the most seasoned Carpet Retailers, Interior Designers and Real Estate Agents. Our Company is one of the most respected professional carpet cleaning firms in the Chicagoland area. Our references are available upon request.

 

WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE DO THEY HAVE?

Techniclean has over 11 years of experience in caring for the finest carpets, rugs and upholstery. We have handled many specialty items and have seen many unusual situations. Whether you have a natural or synthetic piece and regardless of soiling conditions, you will receive a level of expertise second to none.

 

ARE THEY WELL EDUCATED IN THEIR FIELD?

Techniclean is certified by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification), the world’s most recognized certification organization for carpet and upholstery cleaners. Attending educational courses, reading trade journals and being heavily involved in our industry allows us to stay abreast of all the latest techniques and procedures. Leading carpet manufacturers recommend only firms certified by the IICRC.

 

WHICH SYSTEMS DO THEY USE?

Techniclean uses the most advanced systems on the market today. We insist on the vest equipment and products. The procedures we use do not leave excess moisture in the carpet or leave a sticky residue behind to attract soil. You can expect maximum soil and spot removal. It is routine for our firm to remove spots that others were unable to remove. Techniclean is also committed to first class customer care. Our courteous, uniformed technicians will arrive in clean, lettered company trucks. You receive the most outstanding service experience ever!

 

DO THEY GUARANTEE THEIR WORK?

Far too often service companies are not willing to stand behind their work. Our guarantee o you is that if you are not completely thrilled with the cleaning experience you receive from us, we will rush back to your location at no charge to make things right. If you are still unimpressed, we will offer a 100% refund.

 

SPOT CLEANING

There is a right way and a wrong way to cleanup accidental spills on your carpet. What you should not do is just as important as what you should do. Today’s new carpets resist spots much better than those manufactured even a few years ago. However, they are still susceptible to spots and should be treated quickly to avoid a permanent stain.STEP 1: Blot up as much of the spill as you can. Make sure you blot– don’t scrub. Scrubbing will only work the spill deeper into the fiber and may leave a wear mark. Use a white paper or white cotton towel to blot. Fold the towel and press it into the spill. Rotate the towel often so a clean surface is always against the carpet. Continue to blot until no more of the spill transfers to the towel. Remove any solid material with a rounded spoon or the edge of a dull knife. STEP 2: Cover the blotted area with a fresh white towel. Weight the towel with something that will not transfer color to the carpet or towel. Leave this in place for 15-20 minutes to remove any remaining spill. Should the carpet remain stained, go to step 3.

STEP 3: Spotting the remaining stain in your carpet requires care and patience. You cannot apply moist household cleaners to the stain without further damaging the carpet. Many common cleaners contain dyes that will discolor the carpet or chemicals that will permanently set the stain. If you can locate the literature you received when you bought the carpet it should contain the spotting procedures for you to follow. If not, you can attempt to remove most common household spills with the following procedure. Mix a teaspoonful of colorless, mild detergent in a cup of lukewarm water. To test the safety of the solution, apply several drops to an inconspicuous area (closet, under a sofa) and rub gently with a clean white towel. Do not proceed if the carpet color transfers to the towel or if the carpet color changes. Try an alternate cleaner or call a professional. If the test is successful, spot the stain by alternately applying a few drops of cleaner followed by blotting. Always blot, never scrub. Work from the outer edge of the stain to the center. Continue this process until the stain is gone or no more color transfers to the white towel. The final step is to gently rinse the area with clean water, the absorb al the remaining moisture with absorbent towels.

Should a stain persist, contact Techniclean for assistance. We may be able to offer further advice by phone, or if necessary , we’ll dispatch a technician with a complete spotting kit to remove the stain.

 

AVOIDING THE CARPET CLEANING SCAM

“Two Room Cleaned FREE”

“$5.95 per Room Normal Cleaning”

“Free Carpet Protector”

 

Such carpet cleaning ads are seen everyday by consumers, but is anything really free? And what is normal cleaning? Too often unsuspecting consumers who are lured by specials find themselves victims of bait-and-switch advertising. They realize, often too late, that these advertised specials have conditions, either written in small print or not stated at all. They are often told that “preconditioning” costs extra or that the carpet is too soiled for normal cleaning at the advertised low price. Bait-and-switch operators are prevalent in many industries, and the carpet cleaning industry is no exception. This does not mean though, that all carpet cleaners are rip-off artists. But how do you know who is, and who is not? The professional carpet cleaning industry has cited these scam activities as a major industry concern, and is taking action to help eliminate unprofessional workmanship and unethical tactics. A leader in the campaign is the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), which certifies cleaners who meet prescribed levels of technical proficiency and pledge to operate by a “Code of Ethics”. To help educate consumers so they will not become victims of fraudulent practices within the cleaning industry, the IICRC has released a list of guidelines to consider when selecting a carpet cleaner.

 

PRICE:

If an advertised price sounds too good to be true, it often is? Carpet cleaners advertise a low price to get their foot in the door. Use common sense; low price usually equates to low quality for any product or service. Legitimate business people have legitimate expenses they must cover, including license, taxes, insurance, employee wages and benefits and quality tools of the trade. A professional carpet cleaner who must cover these business expenses and make a reasonable profit to stay in business cannot afford to drive to your house for $5.95, much less clean a room of carpet when there. QUALITY—Never should the price of cleaning services be the sole criterion for selection a carpet cleaner. A price that sound high may not be a signal of a rip-off. In al professions, quality work deserves a quality price.

 

TRUTH IN ADVERTISING

Read the fine print in advertised specials to find out exactly what the price includes and request a firm price before the work begins.

 

TRAINING

Professional cleaning firms require employees to engage in formal training in a variety of cleaning disciplines and these educational efforts will be ongoing. Ask about the training background of the technicians who will be cleaning your carpet.

 

CERTIFICATION

Professional firms require certification of technicians through such certification organizations as the IICRC or independent training and testing organizations.

 

EXPERIENCE

The years of experience, combined with formal training programs, contribute significantly to the proficiency of its employees.

KNOWLEDGEABLE

Professional firms employ and train technicians who can answer basic questions regarding carpet performance and maintenance, as well as spotting and cleaning.

 

REFERENCES

Consumers should ask for references from previous customers.

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

Professional cleaning firms are members of trade associations that promote high ethical standards and continuing education. Look for trade logos in advertising.

CLEANING STANDARDS

It is important to ask if the cleaner is operating according to IICRC Cleaning Standards.

 

METHOD

Ask the cleaner which method of cleaning will be used and the advantages and disadvantages of this method compared to other methods.

 

NO PRESSURE

Technicians must be courteous and willing to take the time to thoroughly explain the cleaning process and answer all questions. You should never feel pressured.

There is no single criterion for selecting a carpet cleaning service. Several combined factors must be considered in the selection decision.

 

FILTRATION SOILING

If you have a light colored carpet, you may have experienced dark lines around the baseboards, under doors and especially near the HVAC return. This soiling comes from air passing through the carpet as the air is attempting to go through the edge of the carpet pile, microscopic particles of soil are deposited there (hence the term air filtration soiling). This occurs over a significant period of time and is not noticed until a build up has occurred.

This type of soiling is difficult to remove because the soil particles are so fine that they penetrate deep into the carpet pile, sometimes into the backing of the carpet. Can it be removed? Sometimes. With special products, time and effort, reasonable results can be achieved, although not in all cases.

 

To help prevent air filtration soiling in the future, vacuum the edges of the carpeting on a regular basis, then wipe with a damp, white terry towel, Be careful around the tack strip under the edge of the carpeting, you could nick your fingers.