Carpet Cleaning - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I make an appointment?
There are several ways to choose from. You can call, text or select an option through our website home page. Also, you can message us through google or facebook.
Holton 785-364-5021
Holton Text 785-230-1533
Topeka 785-230-2623
Email: tbaselsteam@aol.com
Why should I hire a professional carpet cleaning company vs. DIY?
Save Time - If you consider going to a store, renting a machine, hauling it home, then filling and refilling and emptying a small machine by hand as you clean, and then hauling the machine back to the store, the time you spend will really add up. Using a large, powerful machine like we have at Steam Power enables us to complete most jobs completed within 1-2 hours.
Save Money - Similar to the time saved as described above, think of the cost not only of renting or purchasing a small cleaning machine but also very expensive solutions or chemicals that may or may not be exactly right for your issue. These add up very quickly and can actually cost you more than simply hiring a professional.
Save Your Back - Let us do the hard work for you! Water is very heavy. Lifting, dumping, refilling machines can really take a toll on your body. So can trying to clean large areas in a short period of time while you have access to a rental machine.
Save your carpet - Improper cleaning can damage the carpet and pad in your home. For instance, leaving areas wet for several days can cause unwanted odors and growth of bacteria, mildew, mold and so forth. Depending on how much water is put down while cleaning, a small machine may simply not have enough suction to effectively lift moisture back out. It can be difficult to determine whether your machine is adequate or not. So leave it to the professionals. We do this every day. We know the right amount of solutions, water and water pressure to use for your carpet. We also use a very powerful, gasoline powered machine that has tremendous water lift that enables your carpet to dry within hours, not several days.
What do I need to do before my appointment?
If possible, please vacuum the area to be cleaned before we arrive. We can vacuum for you but it will be an additional charge. Also, if you have pets that you don’t want to go outside it is best to secure them in an appropriate area of your home since we will usually need to open doors several times to bring in equipment, hoses, etc.
- Also, see FAQ regarding Moving Furniture
How long will my carpet take to dry?
On average 6-24 hours. Many factors impact drying time including humidity levels, carpet style, type of fiber, air movement and the amount of water pressure used in cleaning. To help your carpet dry faster you may choose to turn on ceiling fans or other fans in your home. Some areas that have been given extra attention using additional steam repeatedly may take longer. Never put furniture back on to carpet before it has completely dried.
How do I know if my carpet needs to be cleaned?
Carpet manufacturers recommend steam cleaning every 12-18 months. However, you should also consider the amount of use your carpet experiences in your home. For example, if you have several pets, small children, or have a high volume of traffic in certain rooms we would suggest steam cleaning more often.
Do not wait until your carpet looks dirty to have it professionally cleaned. Soil very easily hides in between fibers. By the time it looks dirty it may be too late to effectively clean with only one service.
What is Steam Cleaning?
Steam cleaning or shampooing are common terms that refer to the ‘hot water extraction’ method of cleaning. This is our primary method of cleaning, although other options are available.
Our hot water extraction cleaning involves pretreating the carpet with an appropriate detergent to lift up or attach to the soil. Then our tools inject soft, filtered water that is heated to around 200 degrees at 350-400 psi. It is immediately extracted using high CFM vacuum that lifts the water back out of the carpet. Essentially this is rinsing the carpet fibers. It then needs time to air dry for 6-24 hours.
Because we use a powerful truck-mounted, gasoline powered machine we are able to remove much more soil, grease, dirt etc. than any small, handheld cleaning unit. Extraction is key to clean carpets.
What cleaning method is best for my carpet?
The vast majority of installed residential carpet will require steam cleaning for the best results. However, we advise you to check the warranty or other information provided to you by the manufacturer. Dry cleaning or encapsulation cleaning may be recommended in some cases. To give an example: A wool area rug would not be cleaned using the same method as a polyester or polypropylene one.
Shaw (one of the largest manufacturers of carpet in the world) reccomends steam cleaning for most of their carpeting on it’s website. It lists the following:
Shaw Floors recommends hot water extracting every 12-18 months depending on the traffic in your home.
Hot water extraction or steam cleaning - removes oils and particulates that accelerate soiling.
https://shawfloors.com/flooring/how-to/carpet/carpet-care-maintenance/carpet-cleaning
Will all spots come out?
In our opinion, no carpet cleaner should guarantee spot removal. This is due to the unknown nature of most spots. Do you always know exactly what the spot is from? Or how long it has been there? What products have been applied to the spot to try to remove it previously? These are just a few of the variables that can impact whether or not it is possible to clean a spot completely remove it. Steam cleaning works very effectively on removing most common soil, grease, dirt etc. Food spills and pet spots may clean very easily, however some can be more stubborn. Please call us to see what options may be available for your specific issue.
What about moving furniture?
We can move a small amount of furniture upon request at no additional fee. Most customers prefer to move items themselves to another room before we arrive. This is especially true of small items such as lamps, decorations, chairs and so on. But if you need help moving a couch, loveseat or recliner we may be able to do so depending on how heavy the item is. We cannot move large items such as china hutches, pool tables, entertainment centers or any valuable items like electronics.
Who sets the standard for how to clean carpet?
The Institute of Inspection cleaning and restoration certification sets the standard for carpet cleaning. All technicians for Steam Power have received training and been certified by this organization. We are always committed to following the ANSI/IICRC S-100 Standards for our industry.
https://iicrc.org/iicrcstandards
https://iicrc.org/s100/
