Carpet Cleaning Methods

Posted by : fetzcleaning - 5 Aug 2011 [No comments]

What are the Differences?

Steam Hot Water Extraction or Dry Carpet Cleaning?  How do you pick?  Understanding the differences in each method, the recommended applications & the benefits of each are vital for you as the customer to make an educated decision. 
 

Steam Cleaning

First let’s talk about Hot Water Extraction also known as “Steam Carpet Cleaning.”   Yes, steam carpet cleaning does get your carpet wet, however, you have to remember that the extraction will only remove approximately 90% of all water out of your carpet during cleaning.  The key to a steam clean drying quickly is to use a company for the process that uses good equipment that will extract water well (truck mounted only), and that uses temps of 230+ degrees & trained technician running the machine.  Yes, its possible you can have steam cleaning that leaves your carpet wet & even nasty for many hours.  That, of course, is not a sign that the method used is necessarily bad, but rather the quality of the work is below our standards here at Fetz.

 

Though many dry carpet cleaning companies will advertise the negative aspects of steam carpet cleaning, the EPA nor Shaw Industries (largest carpet manufacturer in the world) agree, and actually state that steam carpet cleaning is their only recommended method.  At Fetz, we offer both steam & dry carpet cleaning methods & see the place for each.  We have never seen a negative aspect of steam carpet cleaning in the hands of our trained technicians & quality equipment.
 

Dry Carpet Cleaning

Now looking at dry carpet cleaning methods we find there are even several more options.  There are 3 primary types of dry carpet cleaning:

 

1) Dry Extraction
2) Encapsulation/Crystallization
3) Rotary Machine

 

Each of these methods use chemicals to break the dirt & soil, but the carpet is never rinsed thoroughly.  Chemical residue in your carpet will cause re-soiling very quickly & does not give a thorough clean.

 

However, there is not all doom & gloom for dry carpet cleaning methods.  The benefits of dry carpet cleaning are primarily in commercial carpet settings.  We do not recommend dry carpet cleaning methods for residential due to less frequent cleanings.  Also, the use of a rotary machine can cause carpet seams to rip, carpets to bubble & even break down carpet pad in some cases.  We recommend dry cleaning methods for commercial carpet that needs a “topical” cleaning frequently (weekly, monthly or quarterly).  However the long term benefits are only seen with periodic hot water extraction being completed between these rotations to thoroughly rinse & extract all soap residue.  Dry carpet cleaning alone without the use of any hot water extraction can actually cause your carpet to look worse.

 

Dry carpet cleaning in the right application does have its benefits, but knowing when to use them & how are all key to providing a great carpet cleaning!
 

Carpet Cleaning Comparison Chart

Carpet Cleaning Methods

 

What Carpet Cleaner’s Don’t Want You to Know

Posted by : fetzcleaning - 5 Aug 2011 [No comments]

Using the Their Method or the Right Method?

Every carpet cleaning company you talk to will tell you that their method is the best.  But really?  At Fetz we understand that there are benefits to both steam & dry carpet cleaning methods, that is why we offer both!  The real question is what method should I use for my application?  Knowing the right method is the first step to getting great carpet cleaning results. Check out our article “Knowing What Method is Really the Best” for more details on the differences & what will work best for you!
 

Making You Call Back!

You may think that your family are the most dirty bunch of people you ever saw or could it be that your carpet cleaner missed an important step & that is why it looks dirty so soon? Many carpet cleaning companies do not include a prespray treatment (includes basic spot remover & deodorizer) when cleaning your carpet.  They will try to “upsell” this service but don’t include it as part of the basic cleaning.  Making you to believe that you won the “battle of being upsold” or did you?  Carpet cleaning, no matter the method, that does not include the use a prespray treatment (cleaning agent) will not keep your carpet looking clean!  It would be the same thing as washing a load of laundry without using any soap, thereby “rinsing” the carpet, but not cleaning it!  At Fetz, we know that the only true way to get your carpet clean is with special formulated cleaning agents that actually break down the stains & soil in the carpet; thus allowing it to be extracted and removed.  Not only do we use cleaning agents in every job, but we also use professional grade, high quality cleaning agents, that are bio-degradable and safe for your family & your carpet!  No worries about sticky residue or re-soiling from overuse of cheap chemicals!

 

Do They Really Know What They Are Doing?

A carpet cleaning company can be certified as a whole, but this does not guarantee that the technicians actually cleaning your carpet are!  Carpet cleaning is a chemistry & a science & adequate training is necessary for a technician to be able to give you the best service.  At Fetz, we make training & certifying each of our lead techs a top priority.  Every carpet cleaning technician is personally trained by our owner, Ben Fetzer, before being sent out on any jobs.  We know that if we invest in our people, then you as our customer will see the benefits of our service and our results!
 

 They Have a Great Price or Do They?

Getting in the door with a low price is a common practice in the carpet cleaning industry but it is also deceptive & dishonest to the customer!  At Fetz we strive to have all our prices & services outlined up front with no hidden fees or gimmicks.  We require each of our employees to handle each our customers with the utmost integrity & no pressure sales! 

DIY Spot Removal

Posted by : fetzcleaning - 8 Jan 2011 [9 comments]
Removing stains from carpet & upholstery can be challenging at times, even for a professional! However, there are several ways that you can treat common household stains on your own!

 

Top 3 Mistakes in Removing Stains
#1 – Waiting too long to try & remove the spot.
#2 – Scrubbing the spot vigorously.
#3 – Not removing the cause of stains (i.e., spilled drinks, paint, etc.) with adequate suction.
 
3 Steps to Remove Common Household Stains
#1 – Remove liquid quickly.
Smaller Spots: Dab spot with white towel repeatedly to remove stain from carpet.
Larger Spots: Extract liquid from carpet with a wet/dry vacuum repeatedly until almost dry.
 
#2 – Spray with Spot Remover.
Homemade Spot Remover: Mix 1tsp of liquid soap & 1 quart of hot water in a spray bottle.
 
#3 – Repeat step 1 and remove all liquid until almost dry.
 
Tips for Other Common Household Stains:
WINE – remove wine stains according to the steps above using ONLY vinegar water
 
BLOOD – remove blood stains according to the steps above using ONLY cold water
 
SODA POP – remove soda stains according to the steps above using Homemade Spot Removal
 
PAINT – remove paint stains according to the steps above using Homemade Spot Removal
Note: Paint spots larger than 1 square inch will need professional carpet cleaning extraction.
 
WAX – remove wax by using a clothes iron on the full steam setting.  Using a dry white towel, place the towel over the wax spot on the floor.  Place the iron on the towel removing the iron every 20 seconds.  This will gradually remove wax from carpet.  NOTE:  Do NOT leave iron on floor for longer than 20 seconds as this can burn or damage your carpet!
 
PET URINE – is one the most complex and difficult stains to remove even for a trained professional.  When you notice a urine spot on your carpet, the amount of urine that has soaked through your carpet into the padding is approx. 2-3 times the size of the area that you see on the surface.  The only true way to tell the extent of urine damage is to have a professional do a black-light assessment. Note: Carpet that has had cat urine damage most often is un-salvageable due to the high levels of ammonia in the urine.

How to Keep Your Carpet Cleaner

Posted by : fetzcleaning - 13 Dec 2010 [8 comments]

We are often asked how to maintain clean new carpets.  Here are a few recommendations from our certified carpet cleaners:

1. Throw rugs in front of all doors or major walkways.

We recommend using left over carpet from install as runners in major walk way areas that attack large amounts of soiling.

2. Remove shoes and walk with socks (especially salty shoes).

Going barefoot is better than shoes but even the oil & dirt from your skin can make carpet dirty.  Clean white socks is the most recommended for keeping carpet clean.

3. Quick spot removal treatment.

Use DIY Spot Removal instructions from Fetz or call Fetz Carpet Cleaning for professional help.

4. Thorough vacuuming minimum of once per week.

A high quality vacuum is a major factor in keeping your carpet clean!  We recommend using a top rated vacuum, empty canister each use & keep the beater bar clean.

5. Avoid leave in chemicals, carpet dusts, rug doctors or home carpet cleaning machines.

Any type of home spot removal that is not rinsed or extracted from the carpet will leave soap in the carpet and cause quick soiling or even discoloration.  Carpet dusts settled down in the fibers of the carpet and also cause quick soiling of the carpet.  Carpet cleaning rental machines or home carpet cleaning machines leave a soap residue in the carpet due to the low extraction (psi) to remove the soap thoroughly out of the carpet; these types of machines will not provide a thorough clean or a long term solution since re-soiling will occur quickly due to the amount of soap left in the carpet.

6. Thorough Extraction, Steam Carpet Cleaning 1-2 Times per Year.

Doing a thorough carpet cleaning by an IICRC certified technician is vital to increasing the life of your carpet.  Most professional companies advertise being IICRC certified but their individual technicians are often not IICRC certified.  Your senior technician needs to be IICRC certified to have the proper knowledge of the chemistry of your carpet & how to effectively clean it.  Guarantee you get a professional & a company with the best carpet cleaning reviews.  Call Fetz Carpet Cleaning, a 5-Star Consumer Rated Company at www.fetzcleaning.com.