The UBS Clean Care Blog: Carpet Cleaning Indiana

The UBS Clean Care Blog: Carpet Cleaning: “YOU SHOULD HOLD OFF CLEANING YOUR CARPET AS LONG AS POSSIBLE”

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:16:00 +0000

The UBS Clean Care Blog: Carpet Cleaning: “YOU SHOULD HOLD OFF CLEANING YOUR CARPET AS LONG AS POSSIBLE”

ONCE YOU CLEAN A CARPET, IT WILL GET DIRTIER FASTER

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:50:00 +0000

CARPET CLEANING MYTHS EXPOSED!

I noticed that when I clean a new shirt, it loses some of that crispness it had when it was new. So, now I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't clean it for a while... you know, just keep wearing it until I finally lose all of my friends. .. just kidding.

Or, what I could do is WASH it and just restore the body with sizing. The choice is much the same with carpet except for a few differences. We deal with mostly synthetic fibers in carpet and repeated professional cleaning in itself does not make it attract soil.

What DOES cause a carpet to resoil rapidly is the leftover cleaning residues from an inept carpet cleaner. It attracts soil like a magnet as we walk across it.

Here's the deal: Hot water extraction performed by a competent, certified professional actually refreshes the texture of a carpet. When periodic cleaning is combined with the proper application of a carpet protector, the result is extended life and beauty for your carpet.

Our powerful vacuum combined with soft water technology assures you that no residue is left behind after we clean your carpet.

“YOU SHOULD HOLD OFF CLEANING YOUR CARPET AS LONG AS POSSIBLE”

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:43:00 +0000

CARPET CLEANING MYTHS EXPOSED!

If I had dollar for every time someone told me this, I’d own an island in the Caribbean... with my name on it… St. David.

The reason this myth has held on for so long is because people think it will get dirty faster after cleaning. If your last carpet cleaner left a ton of residue behind (and most do), well then, yeah... it's going resoil really fast.

But as you know, UBS Clean Care rinses your carpet completely with high pressure, 240 degree soft water for a pure rinse — absolutely no cleaning residues are left behind so there are no resoiling issues.

And here's something else to ponder.

The single most important motive for cleaning your carpet should be NOT for appearance. It should be cleaned frequently for health reasons. That’s right. How clean your carpet is has a direct bearing on how healthy your home is.

Now there's food for thought.

So. How often do YOU have your carpet cleaned?

“ALL CARPET CLEANERS ARE THE SAME… AREN’T THEY?”

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:11:00 +0000

CARPET CLEANING MYTHS EXPOSED!

Here are three questions you need to ask any carpet cleaner before they set foot in your home:

1. Are you IICRC certified? This is important for many reasons. Here are two: First, the carpet mills now REQUIRE that you have your carpet cleaned at least every 12 - 24 months and that it’s cleaned by an Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Inspection certified technician. Second, your carpet cleaner being certified means he really knows what he is doing and that you will get professionally cleaned carpeting and upholstery.

2. Do you guarantee your work? If he cannot offer a 100% No-Risk Guarantee, then what does HE have to lose by taking your job? Absolutely nothing. You, on the other hand, can be left with a big mess after he leaves (i.e. a residue-laden wet-for-days carpet that will look worse.

3. Will you inspect my carpet and give me an iron-clad price BEFORE you clean? Most don’t want to bother doing a pre-inspection. Since they don’t guarantee their work, seeing what they have to clean ahead of time isn’t a big issue for them.

If they cannot answer ‘yes’ to these questions - HOMEOWNER BEWARE!

“HOT WATER EXTRACTION CLEANING SHRINKS CARPETS”

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:04:00 +0000

CARPET CLEANING MYTHS EXPOSED!

Nope. Just another fairy tale.

Within the last fifteen years, the carpet manufacturing industry has made a unified change in tufting carpet, not in jute, but into a woven plastic known as polypropylene.

Now, using this as a primary backing in carpet and adding poly as a secondary backing, we have carpet fibers that are entirely synthetic. None of these are shrinkable!

Not even the most inept “splash ‘n dash” guy can shrink carpet - although there’s a bunch of other trouble they can cause!

There is one exception. The only way cleaning can cause shrinking is to over wet a woven carpet or jute backed carpet.

If this happens to these types of carpet, it’s the fault of the technician, NOT the method used to clean the carpet. A certified cleaning technician will know the difference!

“I ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU JUST REPLACED THE CARPET WHEN IT GOT TOO DIRTY”

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:32:00 +0000

CARPET CLEANING MYTHS EXPOSED!

I thought this was one of the more unusual carpet cleaning myths, but I have had several people tell me this.

It’s never occurred to them that their carpet can be cleaned. They say they had thought about getting it cleaned, but it just never happened. So as the years roll by and the spots and the soil accumulate… everyone sorta gets used to looking at it.

Part of the reason for this misconception is the homeowner thinks that their carpet is so dirty, it can’t be cleaned.

And if you used the ‘Splash-N-Dash’ guys, that would probably be true! They just don’t provide the TLC the carpet needs to get it looking almost new again.

Honestly, there have been very few carpet evaluations where our professional verdict was ‘rip it out and replace it.’

So the moral of the story? First: DON’T WAIT TOO LONG! Clean at least every year. And second: Be sure that you call us at least 7 -10 days in advance so we can get you scheduled.

“Do You Use Water or Powder?” – A True Story

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:07:00 +0000

I received a call recently from a lady that left a message for me, simply giving me her phone number to call back. I had looked up her phone number and so was able to call her by name when I returned the call.

By the way, our company cleans carpeting.

After she answered, I told her who I was and she immediately got to the point: “I have just one question for you.” I said, “Fire away Mrs. H.”

“Do you use water or powder?” I hoped she was talking about carpet cleaning. I replied, “We use hot water extraction to…” I never got to finish my sentence. “Not interested” was all she said as she was hanging up.

Well.

Older folks can sometimes be somewhat abrupt on the phone, although I haven’t had anyone hang up on me in mid-sentence for a long time.

The point of this little story? A lot of people still have prejudices and misconceptions about “steam” or hot water extraction carpet cleaning.

I think it’s safe to assume that Mrs. H sure did.

Why is that? There are three basic reasons people think hot water extraction is bad for their carpet:

1. A previous bad experience with a splash-n-dash carpet cleaner that left the carpet way too wet.

2. A previous bad experience with a carpet cleaning bozo that left the carpet way too wet AND used too much cleaning chemical, causing rapid resoiling.

3. They heard that you should wait as long as possible to get it cleaned because… (See Reasons 1 and 2).

There are a lot of guys out there that clean carpeting on side to make beer money for weekends. They are not professionals and have (and continue to) muddy the reputation of companies that are professional and dead serious about giving you the best job possible.

And for the record: Every major carpet mill requires that you use hot water extraction to clean their carpeting. They also expect you to use a certified cleaner (See IICRC.org). Not following these requirements will void a big chunk of your warranty with them.

Too bad Mrs. H never gave me a chance to tell her all of this.

Unfortunately urban legends die hard. I doubt that she would have been convinced.

"5 Ridiculous Things Carpet Cleaners Do That Drive Everyone Crazy"

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:18:00 +0000

1) Wasted Time: “We’ll be there between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.” Have you ever had to wait all day for a service company to show up? Like your time isn’t valuable? I really hate that. That’s why have 30 minute time frames for our appointments, allowing you to schedule your day around us. If we say we’ll be there between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p. m… we mean it!

(2) Worthless Guarantees: Such as — “SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED!” You hear this all the time… but they really mean it. Do they put that guarantee in writing? We do. If it was guaranteed then why are there so many horror stories out there? At UBS Clean Care, we offer The Most Thorough Cleaning Ever, or it’s FREE! We really do stand behind every job we do with our 100% Iron-Clad No-Risk Guarantee. There is absolutely NOTHING more important than your complete and total satisfaction!

(3) Bait & Switch: Many carpet cleaners advertise super-low prices hoping you call them for service - that’s the bait! Then once they arrive, everything suddenly becomes an additional charge – that’s the switch! At UBS Clean Care, we offer our exclusive FREE Carpet Evaluation™. This is a professional in-home evaluation of your carpet PLUS you’ll get an exact handwritten “down-to-the-penny” price when we leave on what it will cost to have us clean it for you.

4) Telemarketing: There’s nothing more annoying than sitting down for dinner with your family and then being interrupted by an unwelcome pest telling you he’s going to be in your neighborhood with a “special deal”. WE DON’T TELEMARKET! (I hate those guys!) Our clients call us and tell us when they want their carpeting cleaned.

(5) Unsupported Claims: “THIS CLEANING METHOD IS THE BEST.” You’ll read this in almost every ad and hear this from virtually every carpet cleaner. This is the bottom line: It pays to read your carpet warranty! The carpet mill will tell you which method they prefer and how often they expect you to clean it. The method YOU think is best may NOT be the method that your carpet manufacture approves. So be very careful when choosing a carpet cleaner— you don’t want to void your warranty!

Carpeting and Asthma/Allergy Sufferers - a Bad Mix?

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 22:38:00 +0000

I just finished doing a Google search on this subject. It seems for every website or blog or newsletter that preaches about the evils of carpeting in homes, you’ll find an equal amount to support carpeting as the floor covering of choice for allergy sufferers and asthmatics.

So, who do you believe?

I don’t have these health issues. Never did. But I know plenty of people that do and there isn’t anything they wouldn’t do to get rid of these maladies and feel better. Is ripping out the carpet the answer?

I’m in the cleaning business. And a large chunk of our business is cleaning carpet for residential homeowners. So, my opinions on this debate most likely would be suspiciously viewed as tainted, biased, and prejudiced.

But this is what I do know for sure - only 12 people out of 100 clean their carpeting… ever. Of that number, about a third chooses to do it themselves. Vacuuming? Most people say they vacuum every week. The honest ones tell me they’re lucky to vacuum the carpets once a month.

Sales marketing teaches that word choice is critical when selling. So, when describing the carpeting in a client’s home, we always use the word “soiled”.

But you know what, I’m not selling nothin’ here so I’m gonna to call it what it really is: Dirty, filthy, bacteria and dust mite infested carpet.

It comes down to two distinct issues

The first one is the maintenance issue.

How many people would tolerate their hard surface flooring (tile, wood, etc.) having spills and food and mud and grease all over it… and then keep it that way for years!

Try to imagine this scene: Every night, year after year, sitting there in the living room watching TV. And you’re surrounded by a floor covered with gobs and globs of dirt, food and drink… some of which has been there since the Clinton administration?

YUCK! Well, you get the picture. People simply do not give their carpeting the same diligent maintenance that goes into keeping hard surfaces clean. They’ll put up with spotted and stained carpeting for years.

Is it any wonder that health issues are aggravated by an unhealthy and bacteria infested carpet? It’s not the poor carpet’s fault. All it needs is routine maintenance.

How routine?

Vacuum it twice a week with a quality vacuum that has high-efficiency micro-filtration bags. Micro-filtration bags will trap even the tiniest of particles, such as dust mites and their feces, to keep it from becoming airborne.

Then have it professionally cleaned at least once a year (preferably twice a year.) Every major carpet manufacturer recommends this same routine.

The construction issue

Many people feel that since hard flooring is… well, hard… that it’s a more sanitary surface since there is no place for the dust to settle. And this is true. But if you are an allergy or asthma sufferer, this is really bad news.

The very ‘complaint’ that people have about carpeting is actually its best characteristic: The fact that it has soft and fuzzy fibers make it act like a filter or a sink. It traps and holds all of the junk and contaminants we haul in to our homes on our clothing and shoes.

This is a good quality of carpet.

With carpet, the fibers create a filter-effect and hold onto allergens until they can be vacuumed or cleaned. Hard floors cannot do that. The dust (a lot of which is dust mite do-do) has nowhere to land so it’s constantly airborne and being breathed in.

In fact, one way to prove that to you is to watch the air in a home when the sun is shining through a window. With clean, carpeted surfaces, you see some dust in the air, but not much.

In a home with hard floors, you see much more dust because there is less surface in the home that holds onto dust.

Even if your vacuum doesn't have a good filter bag, these dust-mite allergens disappear from the air about 20 minutes after vacuuming. This is because they are heavy enough that they’ve settled back down into the carpet. And if the vacuum uses micro-filtration bags or if it has a HEPA filter, the allergens are efficiently removed before even becoming airborne during vacuuming.

So you have two options:

#1: Have carpet in the home hold onto contaminants, keeping them away from your breathing space, and remove these contaminants with regular vacuuming and cleaning...

#2: Have hard floors in the home, which do not hold contaminants but instead allows them to "hang out" in the air, likely triggering allergen reactions from the occupants...

Here’s the bottom line of living with carpeting: Your carpet is a terrific filter. But you gotta clean it! If you don’t, the pollens, dander, dust, etc. will build up until your carpet is completely overrun with this stuff, aggravating allergies, asthma and many other breathing conditions.

Bait and Switch Carpet Cleaners Give the Business a Black Eye

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 21:46:00 +0000

"Bait and switch”: An illegal sales tactic that ‘baits’ customers with bargain-priced items or services; they are then pressured to ‘switch’ to purchase a more expensive item or service.

"Bait and Switch" is the bane of the service and sales industry. You see it being used almost daily in automobile commercials, sales ads for appliance stores, etc.

Many unethical carpet cleaning companies would have you believe that carpet cleaning is cheap.

I can assure that it is not. The cleaning process itself requires very expensive equipment, high quality chemicals and trained, certified, experienced technicians. It's hard work and you have to know what you are doing or the results can be disastrous for the homeowner.

Below are the tactics commonly used by ‘scumbag’ carpet cleaners to get their foot in your door.

Coupons… always coupons

They are in flyers, newspapers and mailboxes nearly every day. And truth be told, coupons are a great marketing tool. But watch out for those that seem too good to be true.

I’m looking at one right now that says they will clean 5 rooms for $100… hmm, seems like a great deal. But this is what they don’t tell you:

That the price quoted usually represents the minimum amount they will charge for undersized rooms. Have a large room or a carpet that’s actually dirty? Well, that will cost you more! Many times it doesn’t even include using detergent!

Dual process cleaning

Here’s how it works: You can get their basic cleaning for the price quoted on the phone, or you can get the “Deluxe Cleaning" for a price that is probably nowhere near the original estimate. Dual process usually means they treat the carpet with a pre-spray to break down the soil and then use a wand spraying hot water to rinse away the soil. Guess what? That’s how it’s supposed to be done. If you want the pre-spray… well, that’s gonna cost you extra.

Carpet protector

Carpet and fabric protectors such as Scotchgard™ and Dupont Teflon® really do work when mixed and applied correctly. They are a great way to be sure your carpets maintain their appearance after a professional cleaning. However, it is not cheap. So when a carpet cleaner tells you it’s free, it means he is probably just spraying water. Other cleaners will tell you that the carpet protector is in their water. If a carpet cleaner insists they are giving it to you for free, just ask them to let you watch them mix it… their reaction should interesting.

How they jack up the price

You call to get a price to clean a living room, dining room and a hall. The company tells them about a great special they’re running: 3 rooms for $69.95. “Sounds like a great deal,” you think. It is... until they get into your home. That’s when they reveal that a “room” is any area under 100 square feet. So… since your living room is 300 square feet, they’ll have to charge for two more rooms. Oh yeah, and since your hall is "L" shaped, that’s going to count as two areas. And you see that coffee spill in the dining room; we have to use a pre-spotter to get that out. That’s going cost extra too. And on and on it goes.

Fortunately there are several honest, professional carpet cleaners around to choose from. Just be sure to ask some basic questions.

"Bait and Switch" is the bane of the carpet cleaning industry. Unethical carpet cleaning companies would have you believe that carpet cleaning is cheap. It’s not. All businesses must make a profit to operate, so remember that when you’re being sold on an unrealistic price. And remember, if it sounds too good to be true... yep, it almost always is!

Carpet Protection Really Works

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 19:40:00 +0000

Four Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Carpet Cleaner

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:54:00 +0000

MISTAKE #1: Choosing a Carpet Cleaner Based On Just a Telephone Call.

Instead, invite them to your home and ask for a specific price quotation. Then you’ll know exactly what the carpet cleaner recommends - and you won’t be the victim of high-pressure sales tactics when the technician steps into your home.

MISTAKE #2: Choosing a Carpet Cleaner Who Doesn’t Offer a Money-Back Guarantee.

We feel strongly that every carpet cleaning company should be fully accountable for their work. And if you aren’t pleased with the job, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Period! Not all carpet cleaners offer a guarantee. Or, if they do, the guarantee may be “limited” or vague at best. And be sure they offer a complete 100% No-Risk Guarantee that is PUT IT IN WRITING!

MISTAKE #3: Choosing a Carpet Cleaner Without Any References From Their Clients.

Any carpet cleaner can say anything about his past jobs. Sadly, some of what they say may not be true. Make sure you ask for references or read testimonials from current customers! Any carpet cleaner that does quality work should be proud to provide you with comments from their clients.

MISTAKE #4: Choosing a Carpet Cleaner NOT Certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

The carpet industry relies on this organization to provide the cleaning standards for their product.

If your carpet cleaner isn’t a close friend, you may not know whether they have the knowledge or experience to clean your carpet properly. If you want to be sure you’re hiring a competent professional, make sure that they are IICRC Certified. Visit IICRC.org and you will find UBS Clean Care, Inc. listed.

Carpet Cleaning Misconceptions

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:45:00 +0000

MISCONCEPTION #1: The Only Reason You Should Clean Your Carpet Is to Remove the Dirt.

Unfortunately the dirt in your carpet has lots of company. As you probably know, outdoor air contains pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust and hundreds of other chemicals. Not to mention the dirty work done by dust-mites and their allergens. When you come into your home, you carry these pollens, bacteria, and chemicals in your hair and on your skin, clothing and shoes. Not surprisingly, all of these chemicals and toxins wind up in your carpet. As you walk on your carpet, all of this ‘junk’ is redistributed into the air you breathe.

If you have allergies, asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problems - one major source of your problem could be the pollens, fungus, dust-mite waste and chemicals in your carpet. Not only do you want a clean carpet, you want a HEALTHY carpet, too.

MISCONCEPTION #2: You Should Wait as Long as Possible to Clean Your Carpet.

No. Dirt is an abrasive – a lot like sandpaper. Every time you step on your carpet, you grind dirt into the carpet fibers. This cuts into your carpet fibers, causing it to wear out much faster. And while vacuuming helps, by itself, it simply is not enough.

Modern carpet is designed to conceal dirt – and this is a good thing. But it needs regular cleaning because by the time your carpet begins to show the dirt (for example, in the traffic lanes), the damage has already begun. Regularly scheduled cleaning can prevent this from happening. So the longer you wait to have your carpet cleaned, the more damage is done to the fibers and the faster it wears out.

MISCONCEPTION #3: One Method of Carpet Cleaning is as Good As Another.

No. The dry cleaning methods - which are dry foam, dry chemical and dry compound, don’t rinse your carpet in any way. Instead, they leave a dirty residue. You might say they clean your carpet only half way. The most effective cleaning method is hot water extraction.

Again, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer requires hot water extraction as the primary method of cleaning carpets and also requires only IICRC certified technicians be used. This is because it uses hot water cleaning solution under high pressure that is forced into your carpet and then drawn back out of your carpet by a powerful vacuum. This allows the dirt, grease,
bacteria, and pollens to be emulsified, liquefied and extracted from your carpet.

Some people believe that hot water damages your carpet. This is not true. I’ve heard people who sell carpet actually say this! Washing and then rinsing your carpet with very hot water is the only proven way to thoroughly deep clean your carpet.

MISCONCEPTION #4: Having the Right Equipment Is All a Company Needs to Clean your Carpets Properly.

Not true. Many companies own hot water equipment but very few companies teach their employees how to use them properly. That’s why it’s important to choose your carpet cleaner carefully.

The best cleaning companies are those that have been certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, known as the IICRC (www.iicrc.org). You cannot buy this certification. It must be earned through study, experience and successfully completing a formal, written exam. Before you choose a carpet cleaner, ask to see written proof of the company’s IICRC certification.

MISCONCEPTION #5: The Company With the Lowest Price Is the Company You Should Hire.

We have seen so many problems arise from the low-price companies that I suggest you NEVER hire a company that quotes the cheapest price. There is just too much at stake!

You've heard of the Better Business Bureau as well as your local Chamber of Commerce. These organizations are there to serve as watch dogs for the community and monitor the business activities of local companies. Choosing a company based upon low price alone could be a problem in 3 ways:

1. The price may not include services you want performed. The company may be equipped to remove only the dirt from your carpet. But you’ll certainly want the bacteria, fungus, pollens, and pollution residues removed as well. This requires a powerful truck-mount capable of producing water hot enough to destroy disease-causing bacteria and harmful chemicals.

2. The price you see advertised may not be the price you pay. Many homeowners have learned that the low price they saw advertised lasted only until the carpet cleaner got to their home. Then they were pressured into paying a lot more for a variety of so-called “extras”.

3. Low price means the carpet cleaner has cheap equipment and even cheaper chemicals which will not effectively clean your carpet. Instead, look for carpet cleaners who package their services - you’ll always get a better deal.

Avoiding Carpet Cleaning Rip Offs

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:41:00 +0000

RIP-OFF #1: UNBELIEVABLY LOW PRICE. To some degree, all of us are attracted by low price because we want to work within a budget. But some carpet cleaners use price as the bait for their false and misleading advertising. They offer a cheap price, usually between $10.00 and $15.00 per room. Once they’re in your home, then the pressure to buy the “add-ons” or “extras” begins. It’s like buying a car and finding out that the dealer was charging you extra for the seats and tires. Thorough carpet cleaning is not as cheap as some unethical carpet cleaners would like you to believe.

RIP-OFF #2: BAIT AND SWITCH. Dual process carpet cleaning describes the process of shampooing or heavy preconditioning, followed with hot water extraction cleaning. Unfortunately, unethical carpet cleaners often use dual process as a bait and switch technique. Here’s how it’s done: First they “bait” you with a basic cleaning (a single process) at an unbelievably low price. Then, when they arrive for the ‘cleaning’, they try to “switch” you to the more expensive dual-process cleaning. If you refuse to switch and choose their basic service, you’ll likely receive poor workmanship using little or no chemicals. As you can imagine, guaranteeing their work is a foreign concept to them.

RIP-OFF #3: UNSUPPORTED CLAIMS, SUCH AS: “THIS CLEANING METHOD IS THE BEST.” You’ll read this in almost every ad and hear this from virtually every carpet cleaner. But remember this: The method that’s best for you is the method recommended in your manufacturer’s warranty. So before you choose a carpet cleaner, look at your warranty. Then select the method that best matches those recommendations. It pays to read your carpet warranty!

RIP-OFF #4: OUTDATED BELIEFS: “HOT WATER DAMAGES YOUR CARPET.” Many people still believe this myth. Retail carpet sales people have even told their customers this! This is completely false. It is only by washing and then rinsing your carpet with hot water that it’s thoroughly cleaned. In fact, hotter is better. The cleaning power of water doubles every 18 degrees over 120 degrees. That means the hot water we use with our truck-mounted machine (at 240 degrees) cleans 5 TIMES BETTER than 180 degree water.

Check out what the carpet manufacturers themselves have to say. Shaw Industries is the largest carpet manufacturer in the world. They recommend only hot water extraction for cleaning carpets. Most of the other manufacturers are now making this same recommendation.

Also check out the warranty for your particular carpeting. Most likely it will require you to clean your carpet on a regular basis (every 12 months) using hot water extraction to keep your warranty in effect.

Carpet Cleaning FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:24:00 +0000

Can't I just rent one of those Rug Doctor things and do it myself?

Absolutely! You're probably the kind of person who can do anything once you put your mind to it. But face it; there are times when tying your shoes requires too much effort. Do you really want to deal with dragging that heavy thing through every room in your house, risking damage to your carpet and furniture? After you buy the shampoo and rent the machine, it won't save you that much money anyway. Besides, our truck mounted system is much more powerful, our cleaning agents are superior and our 240˚ soft-water rinse leaves absolutely no residue behind. ALL THAT’S LEFT BEHIND is soft, fresh really clean carpet.

Dust mites, bacteria, germs, pollen: How did they get in my carpet and why aren't they paying rent?

Here's the scoop: Your carpet absorbs EVERYTHING, like dust, dead skin (ok, it's gross, but it IS your skin), hair, food crumbs. PLUS anything else that’s outside eventually makes its way inside into your carpet. All of this stuff is like a party-mix in your carpet. And guess who's coming to the party? Bacteria, mold, dust mites, etc. As long as you're providing the goodies, they’re going to stay and they aren't exactly likeable guys. These micro-organisms can aggravate allergies, and in some cases, even cause illness. Simply walking across your carpet sends millions of them into the air for you to inhale. Not very appealing and certainly not very good for you. As for collecting the rent... you can hire an attorney, but I doubt if it will help.

How do I know when my carpet needs cleaning?

If you can’t remember what color it used to be, it may be time. Seriously though, ALL carpet manufacturers recommend cleaning your carpet every 6 to 12 months and they require you to clean it at least every 18 months – 24 months. If you have kids, you may want to clean more often. Although children are wondrous beings with a special gift of bringing joy into your life, they also bring with them something else - kid crud. Crud that can damage the fibers and shorten your carpet's life. Believe us, it's easier (and more socially acceptable) to get rid of the crud.

Just how long does it take for you to clean my carpet?

Typically a home can be cleaned in about an hour and a half to two and a half hours, (depending on how much we will be cleaning) That's using our super powerful equipment cleaning each room, plus the time it takes to move furniture (should you need it to be).

Plus, factor in the extra time it takes to work on stubborn spots. So, if your couch equals ‘x’... and you divide that by ‘Pi’... then carry over the 5, which equals a2+c2 ..... Really, we’re fast, thorough and we don’t charge an extra penny for the T.L.C.

Is there an ideal time of year to clean my carpet?

Yep. Spring, summer, fall, and winter. Spring cleanings reduce the dust and pollen in your carpet. This is a good thing. And if you have allergies, this is a great thing. Summertime heat can bring with it unpleasant odors caused by bacteria thriving on humidity. This will be eliminated by having your carpet professionally cleaned and disinfected. Fall is back-to-school time (we know you live for that). This makes for another perfect cleaning opportunity. A clean house is yours again... at least until 3 o'clock. Come winter, you're ‘holed up’ inside for months, living with everything that gets tracks in on your carpet from soil-laden snow and salt. If you clean it off your car regularly... your carpet would probably appreciate the same courtesy.

ALSO: Holiday time is also a prime time for cleaning. Chances are that you'll probably have family over. While listening to their considered opinions about your marital status, career and friends is always soooo informative, at least you know they will definitely have nice things to say about your fabulously clean carpet.

How long does it take for my carpeting to dry?

It depends on the carpet pile, the time of year, the level of humidity, and just how much soil is in your carpet - the more soiled it is, the more water and cleaning solutions we'll need to use. Our equipment gets out about 98% of the water, so it's not like you're going to hear any squishy noises when you walk across the carpet.

What will happen if I walk on the carpeting before it's completely dry?

Your feet will get wet. However, we’ll provide you will the most fashionable of accessories... designer plastic booties, just for that reason - but you'll have to draw the designer 'swoosh' on them!

What about the problems left behind by our pets?

Just get rid of the dogs and cats and your problem will be solved. Joking! We have six pets of our own! At UBS Clean Care, we know how to remove all kinds of pet stains and odors. Stubborn stains are usually not a problem, thanks to our 240˚ hot water and the premium cleaning agents that we use.

So why should I choose UBS Clean Care, Inc. over the other carpet cleaning companies?

Aside from the fact that we guarantee our work 100%... we’re skilled, certified technicians that have a great deal of experience (we’ve been cleaning since the Nixon administration). So you know your home is in capable, experienced hands. We'll treat your possessions as if they were our own. And our equipment is AWESOME - it's up to 5 times more powerful than the common equipment of other cleaners. So why call us? Because, we’re just better (and a whole lot cooler, too).

"Suppose Everything You Knew About Carpet Cleaning Was DEAD WRONG!"

noreply@blogger.com (David and Stacy Gruttadaurio) — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 14:59:00 +0000

OK... that sounds cocky.

I have a confession to make, and it may dramatically improve your quality of life. I hate to tell you this because I don’t want to sound pompous or arrogant, but if you are like most of my clients, you’ve been completely misinformed (and in some cases even lied to) about carpet cleaning.

I mean, think about it for a minute. Where have you been getting your information from?

Most people talk to the salesperson that sold them their carpeting. You would think that would a great place to start, right? Unfortunately, many (not all, but a lot) simply don’t know much about the product they sell. I’ve actually had clients tell me “the guy at Home Depot said never to use water to clean my carpet”... more on this later.

Do you get information from family and friends? Many times the same myths about carpet cleaning have been handed down through families for years. While they mean well, they’re just not qualified to give you expert advice.

Finally, there’s the carpet cleaner himself. And this where things become a bit awkward. After all, I’m a carpet cleaner, too.

Why would anything I say be more believable than anyone else?

That’s exactly the question I want you to ask!

I want you to ask me (or anyone, for that matter) to prove what they say is true.

That’s what this brochure is all about. It will help you cut through all of the hype, the misinformation and the downright lies.

Your family deserves the finest quality of life possible. Clean, fresh, healthy carpet will dramatically improve your home’s indoor living environment.

That’s why we offer free of charge, The Consumers Guide to Carpet Cleaning. And it’s available to you 24 hours a day! This FREE Report Reveals Information That Not One In A Hundred People Will Ever Know About Carpet Cleaning”.

You can get your complimentary copy by going to our website at: www.MyCleanCarpet.net (Click on e-Book under “Free Stuff”)

And once you have your free report, you’ll want to schedule your... Free Carpet Evaluation™

This is a FREE in-home evaluation of your carpet. It’s a FREE service we provide for the residential homeowner. It takes about 20 minutes and there is absolutely no pressure to “buy” our services.

First, we’ll look at your specific areas of concern. Almost everyone has a spot or two that’s been around for awhile (sometimes years). We can tell you whether it’s a spot or a stain... and also tell you what the difference is.

Next, we’ll examine the rest of your carpeting. Every home has well-worn traffic lanes throughout the house. Depending on the type of carpet and other factors, we’ll help you determine if these matted-down areas can be restored. But, if you wait too long, traffic lanes will become permanent.

Try before you buy...

We think you should be able to give a service company a “test drive”...

We’ll clean for FREE one room of carpeting (up to 125 SF). No obligation, no strings, no hassles. (New clients only, please).

Other carpet cleaning companies think we’ve lost our minds... that we’re determined to go broke.

We think that it’s just smart business.