Carpet Cleaning

Detailed Pre-inspection of carpet. We identify specific spots, talk to you about the history of the carpet, identify what the carpet is, and explain our expectations to you.

We will move all that we can, with the exception of items that are of high value and may require two or more people to move. We do ask that you remove your high valued items to a safe place so they will not be damaged.

Dry-vacuum the carpet with our equipment. Removing the non-soluble soil (dry particulate soil) is the first step in cleaning carpet. This soil can damage the individual carpet filaments. Removing it can also improve the indoor air quality of your home. Popular substances removed are: pet hair, human hair, dead skin cells, dust, pollens, bugs, pollutants, food, etc.

This oxygenated encapsulating solution helps break down soil and dries it to a crystallized polymer for easy removal. Has very mild odor-eliminating features and removes most types of soil. Due to the neutral pH of nearly 7.0, it naturally is much safer for people, pets, and the planet. It is a very natural, green way of carpet cleaning.

Our two counter-rotating brushes gently massage the carpet in an upward motion which will loosen and lift any remaining dry particulate soil and the crystallized polymers to the surface while our vacuum removes them.

Specialized carpet cleaning products can remove difficult carpet stains most of the time. Many of these substances will be from a red beverage, ink, paint, and rust. Please note, there may be an additional charge to removing these substances depending on the amount on the carpet. We do have a policy where we will charge you for this specific cleaning service IF we remove the spot. If we do not remove it there will be no charge.

Another aspect of professional carpet cleaning is by using a hot water rinse or steam cleaning on the carpet. It can be very benefitial for heavily soiled areas where deep ground in dirt may have accumulated. It is also benefitial if the carpets have not been cleaned in a long time. Average dry time is typically 4 hours.

This removes any detergent residue, leaving the carpet softer. Many times previous carpet cleaners will leave a residue from their carpet cleaning agent, our process and the fabric softener removes the sticky residue and leaves a pH around 5.5, which is what the major carpet manufactures recommend when done with a carpet cleaning.

This process can sometimes be done during the cleaning process. Sometimes, we apply it after the carpet cleaning. The protectant has been coined the name Teflon or Scotch Guard. These are just brand names. It’s technically called a fluorochemical and all carpet has it when it is made. Unfortunately, over time and from inexperienced carpet cleaners, the protectant can be removed. It is highly recommended and a wise investment to re-apply the protective coating. With our Premium Package you recieve a 1 year warranty where we will come to you home and spot clean if you cannot remove the spot with our free bottle of cleaning solution.

This is the final step in the carpet cleaning process. It disperses fabric softener and or carpet protectant evenly. Grooming also leaves the face yarns of the carpet lying in one direction. Gives it a really finished look.

Most of the time we move the furniture back to it’s original location. Please note, that sometimes we are not able to because of the amount of moisture that may have been required to remove as much of the unwanted soil as possible. If this is the case, we ask that you wait until the carpet is completely dry, then move the furniture back.

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification program or IICRC teaches certified firms and technicians about the proper procedures for carpet cleaning. The IICRC is a non-profit organization that works closely with the carpet mills, like Shaw Industries and Mohawk, to set the standard for carpet cleaning companies. Here are the steps.

Non-Soluble removal with the use of a pile lifting machine. Proctor & Gamble did a study that said 78% of soil is dry particulate and can be removed with the use of a pile lifting machine.

Soil Suspension

Apply a cleaning solution to loosen the soil from it’s bond to the carpet fibers.

Apply heat to the cleaning solution to activate the chemicals and speed up the effectiveness of the cleaning solution.

Gently Agitate the heated cleaning solution to help break down and suspend the soil even further.

Allow for time to go by so the cleaning solution has it’s fullest effect.

Extract the soil. This extraction can be done many different ways, and this is where we run into the different methods.

System in place to dry the carpet.

Important point: as long as your carpet cleaning company is following these steps, they are meeting the standards set forth by the IICRC and carpet mills. Unfortunately, there are many companies that do not follow all of these steps.

There are 5 carpet cleaning methods available.

Hot Water Extraction, or also known as Steam Cleaning.

Spin Bonnet Cleaning.

Shampoo or Foam Cleaning.

Dry cleaning (not to be confused with solvent cleaning when applied to upholstery).

Low-Moisture Encapsulation.

The hot-water extraction method is one of the most commonly used forms of cleaning. A carpet cleaning solution is applied. Then water is either taken from your home or taken from a fresh water tank in the truck. The water is transported to a machine (usually a truck), heated up, applied to the carpet, and then sucked out. It’s a great method for extremely solid carpet, however, it can take a long time for the carpet to completely dry if not done correctly by trained carpet cleaning technicians. When it is done correctly, carpet can dry in as little as 4 hours.

When done improperly, the carpet takes a very long time to dry. In addition, a hard feeling or sticky residue may be on the carpet due to the carpet cleaning chemicals. This happens when all of the carpet cleaning solution is not removed! Ever had soap dry on your body? Over wetting can cause soil to penetrate deep into the padding and then wick back to the surface. Ever had a spot go away, then a few days or weeks later, it’s back again? Again, to a properly trained carpet cleaning technician, a neutralization solution can be applied during the hot water rinse, which neutralizes the carpet and gets rid of that stiff, sticky residue.

The spin bonnet method use a circular-buffing machine, one similar to having hardwood floors re-finished. A cotton pad is attached to the bottom of the machine. Carbonated carpet cleaning solution is sprayed on the on the carpet. The pad on the bottom rotates in a circular motion. Dirt and stains are supposed stick to the cotton pad.

Unfortunately, any dirt or stains in the bottom third of the carpet pile are not removed. Due to the weight of the machine, that dirt is being driven deeper into the carpet pile. Anything that is not stuck to the cotton pad, is left in the carpet. The weight and circular motion of the machine can crush the carpet. Did you know some of the carpet mills will void the warranty of the carpet if they find out this method was used?

The shampoo or foam method works by applying a carpet cleaning solution that foams up and is applied over the carpet. There are several types of machines that disperse the foam and agitate it in the carpet. There is no heat to the foam or any way to extract the soil that was loosened up other than having a vacuum pass over the carpet several hours later.

The completely dry-granule method works by putting a sawdust-like substance into the carpet pile. Then use a vacuum device and remove the substance from the carpet pile. The sawdust-like substance is supposed to attract dirt and stains from the carpet and bring them out when it is being extracted. This can leave you vacuuming for weeks trying to get what they missed out of the carpet. It is not a very effective way to remove the deep soil in the bottom third of the carpet pile. It is not very effective with severe stains. Chemistry tells us specific stains need a specific cleaning solution to be removed. How can a dry-granule remove a stain that requires a wet solution?

The low-moisture encapsulation method works by converting soil into crystallized polymers for easy removal by deep agitation. The carpet cleaning solution encapsulate the water and solvent soluble soils, converting adhesive grime into something flaky and removable. Powerful counter-rotating brushes gently massage the carpet and disperse the carpet cleaning solution. They agitate the fibers, loosening and lifting the soil to the surface. The carpets typically dry in 30 to 60 minutes. This is the only method that works over time as well. As day’s progress, the carpet cleaning solution continues to crystallize soil making it easily removable just from vacuuming. It helps prevent wicking and relies on a neutral pH leaving behind no sticky or hard residues. However, with all this being said, it is limited in the amount of heavy soil that can be removed. This system is very good for well maintained carpet with light soil levels.

First, read the different cleaning methods to understand which method we use. As a true professional carpet cleaner, we offer a variety of the 5 carpet cleaning methods depending on what is necessary for the carpet. Some situations require one type of carpet cleaning depending on the material the carpet is made of, and other carpet may require another method depending on the soiling levels. Our prefered method is a combination of several methods in one system that we call the USClean System.

The USClean System follows the IICRC guidelines. In general, we use the encapsulation technolgy because of it's quick drying time and abiliy to remove a significant amount of soil over a peroid of time. Of course we have other products we add to our solution that help remove more soil and increase the effectiveness of the carpet cleaning solution. We then can extract it using any of the methods above, again it depends on the soiling levels and the material of the carpet.

To clean carpet well, one must take specific steps to remove three kinds of soil :

Please keep in mind, that some of these types of soil will not release from the carpet depending on what type of material the carpet is. As professional carpet cleaners, our goal is to remove as much of these types of soil as possible.

There is a 4th type of soil that cannot be removed. It’s called apparent soiling and it is classified into 3 categories.

This is a two part question.

If your allergies are acting up in your home, it’s probably a good idea to have your carpets, upholstery and/or oriental rugs cleaned. There is an additional treatment that can be applied to reduce future dust mites and other allergens, making your carpets, upholstery, and/or oriental rugs even healthier.

Individuals can be sensitive to chemicals. Rest be assured there is a product line that can be used. The products are not as effective and more expensive when compared to a traditional cleaning, but at least you can experience a clean environment with even safer products. If this is you or someone you love, please tell us when you call so we can give a firm price quote.

The grey ring is the result of soil filtration. Soil is being filtered through the carpet at the point where the floor meets the wall. In essence dust, pollens, pollutants, and many other substances are being trapped along the edge of the carpet.

You know how you are supposed to change the air filter in your AC & Heating system every month or so because of the amount of soil that gets caught in the filter? Carpet acts just like a filter.

Unfortunately, there are not that many easy solutions. Professional carpet cleaners can sometimes remove most, if not all of the soil that has been trapped. Removing soil filtration is a difficult task and most professional carpet cleaning companies have an additional fee. Please note, that there is a chance that some of the soil filtration may still be present, even after a complete carpet cleaning.

If you are on a tight budget, we recommend getting a spray bottle of hot water, a safe cleaning solution for carpet, a tooth brush, and a vacuum. Apply the cleaner in the spray bottle then mist the cleaning solution along the soil filtration lines. Take your toothbrush, agitate it and then vacuum up the loosened soil.

Dirt is very abrasive and the longer it stays in your carpet, the harder it is to remove. Every time you step on your carpet, dirt is pushed into the bottom third of the carpet pile. Your shoes and the weight of your body stress each individual carpet fiber.

Vacuuming helps remove the soil, but it only works on the upper parts of the carpet pile. The longer you wait to clean your carpets, the more damage is being done, shorting the lifespan of your carpet. It is recommended to vacuum your carpet at a minimum of one time per day. Here is why. Dirt is constantly floating around in your home. Naturally gravity is going to pull that dirt down and it’s going to land on the carpet. Each second that goes by, the dirt is being pulled down deeper into the carpet by gravity. Now pair that with walking on the carpet, which pushes it down even further.

The non-soluble soil only goes down so far in a given day, and vacuuming each day reduces the amount of soil that is accumulated. If days are missed or long periods of time go by without vacuuming, then the soil stacks on top of each other, getting heaver and heaver, making it easier to be forced down by walking on it and for gravity to pull it down. At this point, it becomes very hard for a vacuum to remove it. The more non-soluble soil in the carpet, the more damage will be done, reducing the lifespan of it.

Carpet warranty usually states it should be cleaned by a professional IICRC carpet cleaning firm every 6 months to 18 months. Some carpet may require more frequent cleanings depending on what the activity is in the home or building.

Carpet material is broken down into 2 categories: Natural & Synthetic.

Natural fibers come from either an animal or plant.

Wool: Comes from sheep. Pro’s: very strong, great dye acceptance, flame retardant, resilient, natural crimp, natural insulator, sound absorbant, very long life span. Con’s: stain’s easily, hides up to 360% of it’s weight in soil, expensive, chemical sensitive.

Silk: Comes from silk worms. Pro’s: elastic, great dye acceptance, flame retardant. Con’s: stains easily, very expensive, chemical sensitive.

Cotton: Comes from the seed pod of the cotton plant and is primarily used in either the warp or weft yarns when constructing the backing of the carpet pile. Pro’s: Strong, Absorbent, heat resistant, static resistant. Con’s: Stain’s easily, mildew, browning, shrinkage.

Sisal, Jute, Sea Grass, & Coir: Comes from various plants. Pro’s: Strong, Durable. Con’s: Flammable, mildew, shrinkage, chemical sensitive.

Synthetic fibers are man-made and make up the majority of the carpet in homes and offices.

Nylon: Went through 5 generations to get it to where it is today. Pro’s: Strong, Good Elasticity, Static Resistant, Resilient, non-absorbent, responds well to cleaning, fairly inexpensive. Con’s: good dye acceptance, can stain easily, bleaching, fading.

Polyester: Can be known as the “green” carpet because it can be made out of recycled products. Primarily found in upholstery. Pro’s: resists bleach and fading, stain resistant, environmentally friendly, soft, inexpensive. Con’s: does not resist oil, crimp loss, dye resistant, has a short life span.

Olefin/Polypropylene: Known as berber carpet. Pro’s: Moisture resistant, chemical resistant, fade resistant, light weight, inexpensive, strong, cleans easily. Con’s: Not resilient, low melting point, loves oil, difficult to dye, wicks soil.

Acrylic, Rayon, Acetate: These fibers mimic natural fibers. Not very common and they are very inexpensive.

For the professional carpet cleaner, there are many ways to identify what material the carpet is. Several tests can be done to identify what material the carpet is. These tests consist of a burn test, in which the carpet cleaning technician is looking at how the fiber burns and responds to heat, the other is a chemical test, where specific chemicals disolve certain fibers. If you are unsure, a good guess will either be Nylon, Polyester, or Olefin/Polypropylene for these make up over 98% of the market share.

Please keep in mind, that since each of these fibers have different characteristics, a different cleaning method may be more effective than others. This is why it is important to hire a company that offer’s a variety of cleaning methods. We view carpet as our patient. We need to properly diagnose it in order to properly treat it. If you have any questions about what your carpet is made out of, please call or email us.

This is known as shading or carpet pooling. Over time the carpet nap changes direction. No one knows why it happens. When light strikes the carpet, it gets reflected at different angles or gets absorbed into the carpet. Depending on which way the light gets reflected or absorbed will leave a lighter or darker appearance. This effect tends to be more common in wool. When you hear someone talk about how wool has a character about it, this is what they are referring to. Synthetic fibers often show characterists of carpet pooling through high traffic areas.

Carpet protectant has been coined the name Scotch Guard or Teflon. Technically, it is called a fluorochemical. Your carpet had it when it was made. But it does not last forever.

Carpet protectant will help keep most non-soluble, water-soluble, and solvent-soluble soil from damaging the carpet. Carpet protectant wears off quicker in higher traffic areas. If a chemical of pH 10 or higher is applied to the carpet, it will actually take off the protectant. A lot of over-the-counter spot removers are pH 10 or higher.

Another misconception is that carpet protectant will stop all types of soil from getting into the carpet. Carpet protectant cannot help against disperse dyes, like those found in mustard and shoe polish. Other chemicals like insecticides and medications like Benzoyl Peroxide will go right through the protectant.

USClean's solution has a neutral pH (about 7), so it will not remove carpet protectant. However, we recommend that after each cleaning a carpet protectant be applied to increase the longevity and health of your carpets. Any areas where the protectant has been worn off from traffic will be protected.

Since USClean is an IICRC firm, we are required to send out a certified technician to you home. In order to have a technician certified, they must complete a specific course and pass an exam with a score of 75% or higher. There are over 11 certifications that a technician can receive. It is our company policy and goal to have each of our technicians complete all relevant courses and pass each exam for all the services we offer.

Outside the course work and exam, our technicians are trained on our system and held to a high level of customer service.

Many professional textile cleaners cringe when our customers talk about the over the counter spot cleaner they have used on the carpet. Many of these cleaners can put harmful chemicals into the carpet that may change the chemistry of the stain and carpet, causing a permanent problem.We do sell a spot cleaner that has a neutral pH and much safer to use on spots and carpet.

“USClean’s spot cleaner has been a lifesaver for my carpets. A few drops work quickly to remove almost any stain without damaging the carpet. Carpeting is an investment and should be treated with nothing but the best.” Pam – Overland Park, KS

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has served as the industry Guardian for the cleaning, inspection and restoration industries for more than 30 years. As a non-profit organization, the IICRC helps ensure that you have access to trusted and trained cleaning professionals by establishing and monitoring certification programs and standards for these industries.

To qualify for IICRC-Certified Firm status businesses must demonstrate proof of insurance, maintain a written customer complaint policy with documented follow-up and provide ongoing education and training leading to certification for all technicians. IICRC Certified Firms are also required to abide by the IICRC Code of Ethics. Services provided by IICRC-Certified professionals range from flooring inspection and cleaning to mold remediation to water and fire damage restoration.

There are really only two reasons as to why carpet will buckle or have waves/wrinkles. Poor installation or over wetting from an accident or poor technician cleaning. This can easily be fixed by having the carpets re-stretched by a professional using a power stretcher, not a knee kicker.

When the carpet gets too wet and if there is cotton used when making the backing of the carpet, it can swell, pulling in the edges of the carpet. When the carpet is fully dry, the backing goes back to it’s normal state. If there is no place for the carpet to go, a natural buckle will occur. A well trained technician and the right equipment will limit the carpet from buckeling when cleaning.

Getting mailing pieces or seeing ads in magazines is very common in our industry. The price range can vary greatly from company to company as well. Have you ever wondered why? Unfortunately, the carpet cleaning industry has a negative stigma due to the “bait and switch” companies. They work by simply giving you an offer that appears to be very cheap, and then when they get to your home, they tell you all the additional services and treatments you need. Soon, your $9.95 per room skyrockets to over $100.00 per room! Don’t believe me, watch the video below.

When you receive these coupons, read the fine print, if you can see it! Many times there will be anywhere between 8 and 16 additional services and treatments that will be offered. Sometimes their may be a price next to each service, like $0.20 per sq. ft. Don’t be fooled by these ads !

When price shopping, compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges.

This a great question and we see more and more people doing this now that the economy is in a little rough shape. Lets quickly calculate how much it will cost you to clean your own carpets. Renting a rug cleaner can cost anywhere between $50 to $75 per day. Then figure in your cleaning product of $25 to $50. Average it out, and you are at $100.00 per day.

How much carpet do you have and how long will it take you. Based on some information we have gathered from some of our customers, it would take them an average of an hour to two hours per room! Calculate your time for set up, emptying the tank, applying the solution, going over spots time and time again, etc. Don’t forget to calculate your time for running back and forth from the rental store.

Here are some questions to take into consideration.

These are a lot of things to take into consideration. Let a professional take on all the liability. It could save you a whole lot more money in the long run.

There are several reasons as to why your carpet may feel sticky, hard, and crunch after a carpet cleaning. The most common one is a residue that is left in the carpet. Have you ever had soap dry on your body and you skin feels sticky, hard, or crunchy? Cleaners are generally a pH of 10+. When a carpet cleaning solution is left on the carpet, it dries leaving a sticky, hard, and crunchy felling to it. When there is a sticky residue on the carpet, dirt sticks to it and when a vacuum passes over the area, the soil is not released. It stays attached to the carpet. You may have thought, “the carpet looks great at first, but then the dirt comes back in the same area.” This is because there is chemical residue in the carpet after the carpet cleaning.

If you do not have a sticky residue, but a hard and crunchy one, it is probably because there was hard water used when cleaning your carpets. Have you ever washed a t-shirt, let it air dry and then put it on and it felt really stiff? The same thing happens with carpet once the water evaporates. Minerals are left on the carpet making it feel hard and crunchy. To avoid this, you can use a water softener or apply a neutralizing agent.

How do professional carpet cleaners make it so all the chemicals are removed and there are no minerals in the carpet. Simple. A solution is applied that helps lower the pH of the carpet, which neutralizes any left over cleaning solution, and breaks down any remaining minerals. When done properly, the carpet will dry soft to the touch.

This is a common problem and sometimes there isn’t a whole lot the professional carpet cleaner can do about it. If there is a severe spill in a concentrated area there is a chance the moisture penetrates through the primary and secondary backing of the carpet and gets into the pad. If the pad is old and damaged, there is a greater chance the padding will absorb the spill. If the carpet is cleaned and the spot goes away and then the spot comes back several days or weeks later, wicking has occurred.

Here is an example and an experiment you can do. Get a bowl of water, pick a food coloring dye and put a few drops into the water. The water will change color. Now take a sponge and put it in the colored water and let the sponge absorb the water. Put the sponge on the counter and take a brand new white paper towel and gently place it on top of the sponge. What happens? The paper towel absorbs the moisture and even takes on the color! This is called wicking in the carpet cleaning industry.

This exact thing happens to your carpet. When it is clean, the spot goes away. When the carpet is completely dry, and if there is any moisture in the pad, the carpet will absorb the moisture, making it look like the spot never went away.

What is your solution? Simplest one is to pull the carpet back, cut out the damaged area of the pad, and piece a new pad in that area. Sometimes a carpet cleaner is able to pentrate the soil in the pad, remove it, and prevent the spot from coming back.