Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQ
Can I get a price in advance?
We’re happy to provide complimentary quotes in advance. You can request a quote online, by phone or virtual tour. We can also arrange an onsite quote if you would prefer.
What is the best defence for my carpet and textiles?
Regular maintenance! We are all busy and let’s face it carpet maintenance is not at the top of our daily list.This is why we offer a great sign up feature to send you a reminder when it is time for your next maintenance cleaning. You choose the frequency and how you would like to be contacted for booking.
Can you remove all spots?
We will use our experience, knowledge and cleaning products to clean spots to the best of our ability. Unfortunately, many unknown variables may affect the potential removal of spots. Sometimes spots of concern may be a stain and can be permanent. Be wary of anyone who claims they can remove any spot, as this is impossible to promise.
What is IICRC certification?
The IICRC was formed in 1972. It is an international certification and Standards Developing Organization (SDO) non-profit organization for the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries. In addition to its standard-setting and certification, IICRC develops and monitors educational programs and standards for progressive companies like ours.
When a company is IICRC-certified, it means they’ve made an effort to educate themselves. IICRC-certified cleaners like us agree to update their training on an ongoing basis and abide by a strict code of ethics. Since there are no legal regulations in place for the carpet cleaning industry, most carpet cleaners have no formal training.
Carpet FAQ
How often should I clean my carpet?
To keep your carpet looking and performing at its best, The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends having your carpet professionally deep-cleaned every 12 to 18 months. Most carpet manufacturer warranties require this as well to maintain coverage. Check with your carpet retailer or warranty documents for details.
How long does it take carpets to dry after they've been cleaned?
Drying times can vary depending on a number of factors. Under ideal conditions, such as low outside humidity, warm temperatures and good air circulation, they can dry in less than two hours. If needed we can provide complimentary air movers to speed up drying. The maximum amount of time a carpet should take to dry is 24 hours.
Does dirt damage carpet?
It really does. Dirt is like thousands of little blades that cut carpet fibers. When you walk across a dirty carpet, you grind sharp dirt particles against the yarn, making tiny nicks in the fibers. All that fuzz mixed in with the dirt in your vacuum cleaner bags is your beautiful carpet headed out the door one bag at a time.
When dirt scratches the fibers, it dulls the sheen, which is why high-traffic areas appear duller than the rest of the carpet. Over time, grinding dirt wears away the fibers too, which mats them down and makes them stain more easily. This is why regular maintenance and application of protector is the key to extending your carpets life span.
Aside from professional cleaning, what is the best way to protect my carpet?
The best thing you can do is to vacuum often. In particular, you should vacuum entrance areas and high-traffic areas twice a week and the rest of the carpeting at least weekly. Oily soils attract oily soils, and frequent vacuuming will reduce soil buildup.
You should also start with a clean bag or filter. A dirty bag, dirt cup or filter can cut a vacuum’s suction power in half. The main reason bagless vacuums stop working is that the filters aren’t changed often enough. Replace or wash (if possible) the filters on bagless vacuums every three months. Replace vacuum bags when they’re three-quarters full.
Will you move furniture when you come to clean my carpets?
We will move your furniture if requested, but we ask that you remove smaller and breakable items. If we don’t have to move any furniture, your overall price quote will be less. Furniture items we will not move include beds not on a frame with functioning rollers, wall cabinets filled with books, furniture that contains or has breakables resting on its surface, dishes etc. Any furniture we move will have protective foil pads or foam blocks put under the legs to protect the it from getting wet and prevent any damage to the carpet from wood stain transfer or rust staining.
Do I have to move all furniture out of a room to be cleaned?
No, you don’t. Many of our customers just have “traffic areas” cleaned, which in many cases is all that is required. If the general layout of your room stays the same then obviously there won’t be any kind of ground-in soiling under items that requires our services. Any dust build up, etc. under furniture can be easily cleaned with a regular household vacuum.
What cleaning methods do you use?
We do most of our cleaning with our powerful Cleanco truck-mounted system using hot water extraction (up to 200° F). We use 100% soft water, enabling us to use up to 50% fewer cleaning agents while maintaining superb results. This ensures easier rinsing of any emulsifiers. We utilize portable extraction, encapsulation, oscillating pads, etc., when other methods are required.
You clean using hot water extraction. Is this as good as steam cleaning?
There is no such thing as ‘steam cleaning’ carpets. Hot water extraction (HWE) is generally what the industry refers to as steam cleaning. Currently, both Shaw Industries and Mohawk, who together manufacture over two-thirds of the world’s carpet, recommend hot water extraction cleaning. Actual steam occurs at over 212 degrees F.
Is your cleaning system superior to do-it-yourself options?
There is no comparison between do-it-yourself options and our powerful, specialized equipment, thorough service experience and IICRC certified training. Generic portable carpet cleaners found at many supermarkets or available for purchase tend to leave a sticky, soapy residue on carpets. These types of machines don’t have much heat, pressure or suction and rely primarily on harsh high-pH chemicals and aggressive brushes that can damage carpet and upholstery. Using agitation and harsh chemicals frequently can cause yellowing and fibre damage.
Another thing to consider is that Shaw Industries, the largest carpet manufacturer in the world, announced in 2008 that cleaning must be done by an IICRC certified company to warrantee their carpet products.
Is it true that professionally cleaning your carpet often is bad for it?
According to the IICRC, getting your carpets professionally cleaned at least once a year will increase the overall life span of your carpet. Letting a carpet go uncleaned until it is visibly soiled does more damage than frequent cleaning.
Over time, a buildup of abrasive soiling occurs that cannot be removed with regular vacuuming. These abrasive soils cut into the fibres at a microscopic level and have a cumulative effect. Infrequent cleaning accelerates wear patterns developing in high traffic areas and can give carpets a shadowed blotchy appearance over time. Our techniques and equipment rely on heat, high suction and thorough rinsing agents that are gentle on carpet fibres. Our primary goal is to achieve a carpet that is clean as possible without altering its original state.
I have allergies. Should I remove my carpets or have them cleaned?
It is a common misconception that carpets cause allergies. In most cases, when allergies are linked to carpets, it is because they have not been adequately maintained. Studies have shown that carpet is better at trapping allergens than hard flooring such as tile, laminate and hardwood. Particles and allergens fall to the floor (out of the breathing zone) and onto the carpet. The fibres trap allergens and particles, reducing their continued circulation in the air, which can then be vacuumed. A well-maintained carpet acts as a filter for all these things being circulated in your home.
Should I apply a carpet protectant after my carpets have been cleaned?
We recommend carpet protectant to help repel soil and spills and extend the lifespan of your carpet. A simple spray application is done immediately after cleaning and is evenly distributed using a carpet groomer. The cost associated with this service is a good value for its results. It really works!
How does carpet protectant work?
Carpet protectant helps fill in microscopic scratches in fibres that develop as soon as your carpet is installed and put into use. Filling in these scratches from regular wear helps to take away spots for soil to adhere. This, in turn, reduces carpet soiling between cleanings, reduces continued wear and extends the life of your carpet.
Upholstery FAQ
How long does it take my furniture to dry after being cleaned?
Our low moisture upholstery cleaning tool provides short drying times of 2-3 hours, depending on the overall soiling, fabric composition and design of the furniture. Fibres made from natural sources take the longest to dry as they are more absorbent. These include cotton, rayon, linen and wool.
Do you clean my furniture at my residence? Or does it have to be taken out and cleaned off-site?
In most cases, we can obtain excellent results cleaning your furniture in your home. Most of our clients find this to be the most convenient option. Furniture can also be dropped off and picked up at our facility if you’d prefer. Please note that drop-off and pick-up need to be scheduled in advance. If fabric has high natural fibre content such as rayon, cotton, linen or wool, we may recommend that it be cleaned at our cleaning facility, as these fibres can be more challenging to clean and dry properly.
How can I tell what my furniture fabric is made from?
The Government of Canada requires that all furniture produced or imported into the country for sale have tags attached stating fibre content. These tags are usually attached beneath the bottom cushions if the cushions are removable. Otherwise, tags may be found on the underside of the furniture. The tags will usually break down which fibres are present in either case. This will be expressed in a percentage (e.g. 45% Polyester, 55% Nylon). If your furniture was purchased outside of Canada, it might not have tags, as many other countries do not have any fibre composition tag requirements.
My furniture looks like it is suede. Can this be cleaned?
Genuine suede furniture is rare and expensive. If you have furniture that looks like suede, it is most likely microfibre. Microfibre is usually made from polyester and will clean well, but it can be challenging for homeowners to clean themselves. Visit our upholstery cleaning pictures on our Facebook page to see some extremely soiled microfibre and how well we can clean it.
Do you recommend fabric protectors?
Once your furniture has been professionally cleaned, it’s the ideal time to apply a fabric protector. When your furniture starts to wear, it can become more susceptible to soiling and staining. Fabric protector is an excellent value for the cost.
Area Rug FAQ
Do you clean my area rug at my residence, or does it have to be removed and cleaned offsite?
We offer a multistep area rug cleaning process when taken off-site for cleaning. This includes mechanical dusting, vacuuming, pretreatment, pH-balanced hot water/steam extraction and rotary extraction, followed by a hang dry. You can expect your area rug will be ready for pick-up or delivery in 5-10 business days.
Alternatively, a surface cleaning of your area can be completed in place, provided the rug is sitting on tile or vinyl or taken to another part of the house for cleaning and placed back once completed.
Can I drop my area rug off to you for cleaning?
Yes, however, this will need to be scheduled in advance. Our team is always here to help, but we are often attending to client needs off-site. Please contact our customer service team in advance to arrange a scheduled drop-off or pick-up of your area rugs from our location.
What cleaning process do you use?
All area rugs cleaned at our dedicated facility are treated to a multi step cleaning process for best results.
- Pre inspection
- Rug dusting with a Rug Badger machine to remove deeply embedded sand & dust.
- Vacuum
- Pre treatments
- PH balanced hot water/steam extraction
- Application of carpet protection (option/recommended)
- Hang dry on the carpet tower
- Post inspection
- Scheduling of drop off or pick up
Hard Surface Cleaning FAQ
How long will I have to stay off my newly cleaned floors?
We remove 99% of the moisture immediately during the cleaning process and set up air movers to dry up any remaining moisture quickly. This means that your floor will be ready to walk on within about 30 minutes of completion. If having a tile and grout sealer applied, your floor should be ready to walk on about an hour after the sealer application is complete.
What is your cleaning process for hard surfaces?
We use our powerful truck-mounted machine for excellent results. It usually occurs in the following steps:
- We inspect your flooring to determine its type and condition. This will dictate the cleaning chemistry and process.
- We will pre-spray the floor and scrub grout channels to loosen built-up soiling.
- We use one of our professional tile cleaning tools to flush and extract with high-pressure hot water to reveal a clean, brilliant floor.
- Air movers are set up to make the cleaned areas dry and usable as soon as possible. It will typically be fully dry within 30 minutes.
- A high-quality impregnating tile and grout sealer can be applied to preserve your clean floor longer and resist moisture and staining. Once the sealer is applied, it is usually dry within 60 minutes.
Can you bring back the original brilliance to hard surface floor?
In many cases, we can! Depending on how much soiling build-up is on the floor, there may be damage or staining not apparent until the floor is cleaned. We can do a “test area” to see how your floor will respond to cleaning and proceed from there.
How often should I clean my hard surface floors?
This depends on each environment and use. In a residential setting, the kitchen and main exterior entrance into the home tend to collect soiling the soonest. High-use areas can be cleaned annually or as soon as a noticeable soil level is reached. In commercial settings, depending on regular maintenance cleaning, intervals of professional cleaning can vary from 6 months and up.
Can you clean luxury vinyl plank flooring?
Yes! Luxury vinyl plank can be prone to accumulating soil in the texture of the plank. Standard cleaning methods don’t work well with this type of soil. Our specialized hard surface cleaning process gets deep into the texture of the plank to give a next to new appearance!