FAQs
Frequently Asked Cleaning Questions
When it comes to our business, we offer our customers a powerful steam cleaning resource and a recipe
for success. Listed below is a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions. But Don't hesitate to
pick up the phone or send us an e-mail! We're HAPPY to help you in any way!
- Is carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning expensive?
It can be. But only if you allow a company to "add-on" services that should be included as part of what you're buying. That is, you shouldn't pay extra for "premium" detergents or deodorizers. You shouldn't pay for "deep scrub" methods to "better" clean your carpets. You see, they are giving you a false choice. No one hires a cleaner, and then directs them to use a method that doesn't clean carpets. - Do professional carpet cleaners remove all stains?
Unfortunately, not all stains can be removed. Keeping a carpet stain free is a process of understanding what causes stains and thereby being able to interrupt them before they happen. For example, by simply knowing whether or not a spill is acidic we can take immediate steps to stop the stain from bonding. If a food item that you spill has a hot flavor or is sour or citrus, or if it is dry to the pallet like some red wines, chances are, the substance has a low pH and it is acidic. Acids stain. There is one specialty service that involves heating the carpet with an iron in a special chemical that may sometimes pull the bonded stain, but it is not part of normal carpet care. Aside from that Consumers Choice uses everything in its power, solvents, spotters pre-treatments, deodorizers and boosts in stain removal. The only stains that could persist after attempted stain removal would be acid-bonded stains. - How long does it take for my carpets to dry?
Steam cleaning and extraction forces stains out of your carpet and is the recommended cleaning method for nearly all manufacturers. The process does leave some residual moisture. The best carpet cleaning truck mounts, like ours, have high vacuum with power to recover 97% of affluent water and steam. The residual evaporates off the fiber within four to five hours. However, this assumes optimum dry conditions. Humidity in Florida is high, especially during the summer rainy season. We can only maintain dry conditions. By keeping windows closed and running the air conditioner. The air conditioner is an extremely effective dehumidifier and accelerates the drying rate of our carbons provided you do not lead and any moisture rich air from the outside. - Can I walk on my Carpets as they dry?
There are two reasons that consumers are warned against walking on wet carpets: first, is that nothing cleans the bottoms of dirty feet and dirty shoes better than wet carpet. The second reason is because of the potential for slip and fall if person steps off of the carpet onto a slippery surface such as tile or linoleum. Moisture carried on the bottoms of feet can act as a lubricant when the feet come in contact with a smooth surface such as tile or linoleum. These are two very compelling reasons not to walk on the carpet and to time for the carpet to dry. However, a large towel or terry cloth mat placed at the entries, if used properly, and clean feet going on to carpet and dry feet coming off. - Will carpet cleaning remove pet stains? How about the odor?
Pet stains can only bond to nylon carpet for the same reasons mentioned above. It depends upon the pH of the urine and levels of ammonia and ureic acid. Acid will cause the yellow urea molecule to bond to the nylon. High ammonia levels, on the other hand, will raise pH in to a bleach category and can bleach the carpet. Rather than stain it (Some of you may have seen this.). So the urine stains are persistent if acidic. The problem is that you never know until you try. We would say that pet stains come out about 70% of the time. The associated odor often requires heavy treatment with enzyme deodorizers and is a separate issue with the same chemistry. Separate, howevwer, because it's source beneath the carpet which often has to first be found. - My carpets are duller in certain areas. Will carpet cleaning fix this?
Tracked in dirt and even bare foot body oil can cause traffic areas to begin to look dull. Traffic itself will cause these specific fibers to lay down flat. Steam cleaning the carpets will remove the oils and dirt and also cause the fiber to stand up again. However repeated traffic will eventually chafe the surface of the fibers in the traffic area, which changes the way that they reflect light. But this is not typically too pronounced until the traffic causes the yarn to fray and crush. Once the yarn is frayed and crushed, carpet steam cleaning will only remove the dirt and spots, but the traffic area will still appear to be worn. - My entryway threshold and carpet are coming up. Is this something that can be repaired?
Sure. Wooden and aluminum thresholds can be replaced. There are several types. Some have vinyl strips built into them that are color coordinated with the carpet or tile. Some are wood. Some are flush tucked where there is no threshold material at all between carpet and tile or marble. Our team of service technicians is very well versed in all phases of thresholds and carpet repairs in addition to furniture and carpet steam cleaning. - I am missing threads in my bedroom corner or my dog has chewed and has a tendency to dig when I am not home.
Can this be repaired?
Yes it can. Particularly in a corner. We have developed techniques were we actually heat the carpet fibers. So that when they are blended together seems to disappear far better than with conventional techniques. However, we discourage the practice of cutting patches into high traffic areas, because eventually they begin to show. In areas that do not see a lot of traffic such as corners in areas along walls. Patches can be an effective remedy for both pet damage, and things like and indelible furniture stains. Check ou our Consumer Videos for a safe way to rtrain your pet to behave even when you're out! - Are your chemicals safe for children and pets?
All of our carpet steam cleaning chemicals are hypoallergenic and safe for children and pets. Some of our spotting agents and carpet dyes are more caustic, and certainly not meant for human contact. However, all c carpet procedures include a complete steam cleaning of the treated areas so that nothing is ever left behind, except freshly steamed carpet. - I have allergies. We'll cleaning my carpets, help?
Yes. Carpet cleaners remove pet dander and other allergens from your environment. Steam cleaning is often doctor recommended for patients who suffer from allergies. However, the effectiveness of this recommendation, contingent upon the patient's allergic thresholds. The human body is a remarkable detection device. We can smell parts per million been remarkably small trace amounts. The same is true with our ability to detect and react to allergens. So carpet cleaning can only be an effective remedy when it reduces the levels of allergens to a point that is lower than the persons allergic threshold or their bodies ability to detect the presence. - My tile is old and dirty and has some scratches. Will tile and grout cleaning solve my problem?
Tile and grout cleaning will remove the dirt and residue from the surface of your ceramic tile. Our grout cleaning process actually reacts with the calcite in your Portland grout and the score is off the very top micron to reveal new grout underneath. While I pressure spending will clean dirt out of scratches on the surface of your tile cleaning will not remove the scratches. - What is the difference between having my sofa dry cleaned, as opposed to using water?
True dry clean-only upholstery cleaning requires the carbon tetrachloride base solutions that can only be done at a plant in controlled conditions. There are some water freeze solvents that can be used in the home, but they are largely less effective and have residue issues. Most "dry-cleaning" processes that are done in the home are done by whipping a normal shampoo into a foam and applying the foam to the fiber of the sofa while working it in with a soft brush, then extracting it using an upholstery cleaning tool. This is an effective means of cleaning furniture but it is not dry cleaning. It is only "less wet" cleaning. It is important not to pay for unnecessary dry-cleaning. You can test your furniture of yourself with a small amount of soapy water. Simply apply some mildly soapy water to an inconspicuous area on your upholstery, like the side of a cushion, saturate well and allow it to dry. If you can see where you applied the solution after it is completely dry, then you should likely not use water to clean your furniture. This includes water rings, color bleeding, fabric backing lead through, yellowing, or any other issues. These are rare, and do not often occur with wet cleanings, but it is best for you to know, and to test for yourself.
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