OVERTURF'S CLEANING
Carpet & Tile Cleaning Bradenton, Sarasota,
Ellenton, Brandon, & Surrounding Areas
941-301-9555 or 813-438-2201
Benefits of Carpet Cleaning
Techniques and Frequencies
How often should my carpets be cleaned?
Should my carpets be dry cleaned instead of steam cleaned?
Choosing A Cleaner or Doing it Yourself
Can't I clean my carpets myself and get the same results?
Why do some carpet cleaners charge so much less? I’ve seen ads for $5.95 a room.
How do I choose the right carpet cleaner?
Concerns Over Carpet Cleaning
Does my wool carpet need special cleaning?
Does it really matter if my carpet cleaner vacuums first?
I already have Scotchguard, do my carpets still need cleaned?
Will my carpets get dirty faster once they’re cleaned?
How can I prepare for my cleaning?
After the Cleaning
How long will it take my carpets to dry?
Do I really need to run my A/C after cleaning? Can I run the heat?
Can odors develop after cleaning?
How long until I can walk on my carpet?
What if the spots you got out reappear?
Why do some grout cleaners charge so much less?
What kind of cleaner should I use on my tile?
Do I really need to seal my grout?
How long does grout sealer last?
How can I prepare for my cleaning?
How long until I should walk on my sealed grout?
General Questions
Is Overturf's Cleaning insured?
Why do some carpet or grout cleaners charge so much less? I’ve seen ads for $5.95 a room.
Why do you charge by the square foot instead of by the room?
Is Overturf's Cleaning Insured?
Yes, Overturf's Cleaning carries insurance for your protection.
What are
the Health Benefits of Carpet Cleaning?
We all love how our freshly cleaned
carpets look, smell, and feel. But have
you thought about what's going on
beneath the surface? Consider this:
Every day we all track in contaminants
from the outside world into our home and
onto our carpets. John Roberts, an
environmental engineer, found that
carpet dust from typical homes can
contain alarmingly high levels of
pollutants. These include lead, cadmium,
mercury, pesticides, and the
carcinogenic polychlorinated biphenols
(PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Contaminants like pesticides, pollen,
exhaust fumes, and cigarette smoke get
into our homes on our clothes, skin,
shoes and pets’ paws. These can increase
the bacteria and pesticide content of
carpet dust hundreds of times. Dirty
carpets affect our indoor air quality,
which is dangerous for everyone, but
especially those with allergies.
Young children can be especially
vulnerable since they often play on the
floor and then put their fingers in
their mouth. If you wait until your
carpet looks dirty, you’ve already been
living among, breathing in, and
ingesting these dangerous substances in
your carpet.
You will need a thorough, regularly
scheduled cleaning to get rid of these
germs deep below the surface and not
just the spots on top. To do so, you
need powerful truck mounted carpet steam
cleaning equipment, professional
strength cleaning solutions, and someone
with the training and experience to use
these tools properly.
That's why at Overturf's Cleaning we
have invested in high quality equipment,
including truck mounted machinery, HEPA
filtering vacuums, and some of the most
effective cleaning products on the
market. That's also why our standard
carpet cleaning package includes so many
steps. Not only are our products
effective, but they're safe for the
environment, your children, and your
pets. All these tools are worthless if
you don't know how to use them properly,
that's why we also invest in ongoing
IICRC training and certification for our
professional carpet cleaners.
What
are the Financial Benefits of Carpet
Cleaning?
Not only is regular carpet cleaning good
for your health, it's good for your
wallet. There's a reason why top carpet
manufacturers like Shaw require your
carpet to be professionally cleaned
every 12-18 months to maintain your
warranty. It's because regular cleaning
can double the life of your carpet. Why
deal with the hassle and expense of
buying new carpet twice as often?
Professional cleaning is also a MUST
when selling your home to increase your
chances for a faster sell.
Can't I clean my carpets myself and get the same results?
If you're not picky and you're just looking to get some of the dirt off the surface of your carpet, a rental machine may be all you need. However, if you're looking to get a thorough cleaning, one that removes all the pollens, bacteria and chemicals we bring in on our hair and on our skin, clothing and shoes, you will need your carpets cleaned with a professional hot water extraction machine.
A rented carpet cleaning machine or one you buy at your local retail store just can't achieve even close to the same level of clean as our professional equipment. The high level of consistent heat, industrial strength vacuum to remove soil, and high pressure water to get contaminants below the surface just can't compare. We've been trained, tested, and certified by the IICRC to clean carpets and we use powerful professional cleaning agents and pre-sprays.
Don't just take our word for it, take a look at the Ultimate Truckmount Challenge, truckmount vs. retail carpet machine:
How often should my carpets be cleaned?
We recommend it done once a year. This can vary, you might have children, pets, or other circumstances in your home where you might need your carpets cleaned every 6-12 months. To maintain your residential carpet warranty, all the major manufacturers require a minimum of one professional cleaning every 18-24 months. (See your carpet warranty requirements for details.)
Dirt trapped beneath the surface of your carpets can cause it to wear out prematurely. We all bring in contaminants from outside like pollen, tobacco smoke, exhaust and more into our homes. Regularly scheduled professional carpet cleanings can extend your carpets life and keep your family healthy.
Should my carpets be dry cleaned instead of steam cleaned?
The 2 main methods of carpet cleaning are dry cleaning and hot water extraction. Dry cleaning is more accurately referred to as "low moisture cleaning" since all carpet cleaning methods must use water in one form or another.
Because of the thoroughness of the process, hot water extraction (or steam cleaning) is the method recommended by most carpet manufacturers, including Shaw, the world's largest carpet manufacturer. In fact, many carpet manufacturers require steam cleaning to maintain your carpet warranty. For details on the different methods and to help choose which is right for you, download our free report, How to Choose a Carpet Cleaner.
Water can damage carpet if it is not properly extracted. That’s why Overturf’s Cleaning uses high powered, professional equipment that removes 95% of the water used to clean. The hot water extraction method we use (or steam cleaning) is the only method nearly all carpet manufacturers recommend as the most thorough carpet cleaning method.
Be sure to run your air conditioner at 70-75 degrees and run all available fans so carpet dries correctly and you can avoid any moisture or humidity problems.
For the texture retention warranty, STAINMASTER® requires the steam cleaning (hot water extraction) method at least every 18-24 months. (See Stainmaster's website) Residential carpet warranties from all the major manufacturers require a minimum of one professional cleaning every 18-24 months. See your carpet warranty requirements for details. See also Shaw's website under heading, "Shaw's Choice: Hot Water Extraction".
Hot water extraction is the only carpet cleaning method classified as deep cleaning because it gets beneath the surface of the carpet.
Why do some carpet or grout cleaners charge so much less? I’ve seen ads for $5.95 a room.
A low price should cause you to ask questions. How can they charge so little? What will the final price be, and what exactly will you get for that price? Where have they cut costs in order to get their price low, and how will it effect your family, your home, and your floors?
Some unscrupulous companies use a method known as bait & switch, and unfortunately this unethical advertising is still popular. We’ve written a full article on the types of bait and switch scams to watch out for and how they work.
At Overturf's Cleaning, we use high quality people, high quality techniques and cleaners, along with powerful truck mounted equipment for the best possible clean. Our technicians are IICRC certified and our company is fully insured. We spend the necessary amount of time and go through a step by step process to do the job right. We choose not to compromise in our values, we see them as vital to creating an outstanding service experience. If another company is charging an extremely low price, where have they cut costs so they can make money? And do you really want to take the chance to find out? If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Check out this video exposing bait & switch:
How do I choose the right carpet cleaner?
If you're not picky about the germs below and you're just looking to get some of the dirt off the surface of your carpet, you can choose from hundreds of cleaners or even rent a machine yourself.
However, if you're looking to get a thorough cleaning, one that removes all the pollens, bacteria and chemicals we bring in on our hair and on our skin, clothing and shoes, you will need your carpets cleaned with a professional hot water extraction machine.
Not only will you need to determine the method the carpet cleaner uses, you will also want to make sure they are trained properly, and that the price they quote you is the final price you will pay.
Don't worry, we've made it easy for you to know what to ask before calling a carpet cleaner. It's all in our free guide, How to Choose a Carpet Cleaner.
Does my wool carpet need special cleaning?
Your wool carpet does need different cleaners used on it. For wool carpeting, Overturf’s Cleaning uses wool-safe cleaners with a low pH so as not to damage the carpet fibers.
Does it really matter if my carpet cleaner vacuums first?
Yes, lab tests have shown that vacuuming with a commercial vacuum cleaner before carpet cleaning can remove up to 30% more dirt that carpet cleaning without vacuuming. To achieve the best results, we use a commercial vacuum with 4 level HEPA filtration that removes over 99% of particles 1 micron & larger. We’ve written a full article about the importance of pre-vacuuming.
I already have Scotchguard, do my carpets still need cleaned?
Yes, your carpets may be protected against some stains, but it will still get dirty. Think of it this way, you may have stain protection on your pants, does that mean you don’t wash them? Also, Scotchguard breaks down over time and loses effectiveness unless it is reapplied.
Will my carpets get dirty faster once they’re cleaned?
No, not if your carpet is cleaned correctly. If your carpet cleaner leaves a lot of residue in the carpet it can get dirty faster. In the old days of carpet shampooing way too much cleaner was applied and a soapy residue was left behind which attracted dirt. With our rinse and extraction process we rinse your carpets clean to prevent this from ever being a problem.
How long will it take my carpets to dry?
When the humidity outside is high, drying times of your carpets increase. It's important to help your carpets dry quickly. What can you do?
Most carpets dry within 4-6 hours but it’s not unusual for it to take up to 24 hours. It varies based on humidity, airflow, and the type of carpet. We recommend setting your air conditioning to 70-75◦ and running fans to help speed the process and remove the humidity.
Turn your heater down in the winter (or off). Heating the humid air increases the drying time! Instead, switch your thermostat to the "fan" setting and have all available fans on to maximize air flow to your carpet. The old wives' tale of "turning up the heat" to dry the floors is a myth. It has quite the opposite effect! The interior of your home becomes hot, moist and subtropical which are not effective drying conditions.
Can odors develop after cleaning? Do I really need to run my A/C after cleaning? Can I run the heat?
Occasionally carpets can develop a musty odor if they do not dry properly. To avoid this, be sure to turn on your thermostat and set it to 70-75 degrees, also turn on all available fans after cleaning. This will allow the carpets to dry completely in a timely manner and avoid any humidity issues in your home. If it's too cold to run the A/C, turn your thermostat to the fan setting, so air will still flow throughout your house.
Running the heat combines hot air with wet carpet, creating humidity. A humid house equals slow drying carpets which can equal problems.
If a musty smell has already developed, run fans on the carpet and open your windows. You may also need to run a dehumidifier or use other moisture removing techniques.
How long until I can walk on my carpet?
The carpet may be walked on immediately after cleaning, but we recommend doing it as little as possible until it is completely dry. We’ll provide you with shoe covers so you can walk on the damp carpet without getting it dirty.
What if the spots you got out reappear?
On some rare occasions a spot we remove comes back after your cleaned carpet dries. This is because a substance had sunk down into the carpet backing and as the wet carpet dried, it wicked to the surface. We have no control over when wicking might happen. If it happens to you, contact us with 15 days of your cleaning and we'll take care of it free of charge.
Note: Some spots are actually permanent stains that will not come out. We cannot guarantee total removal of every spot.
What kind of cleaner should I use on my tile?
Be sure to use neutral pH cleaners or cleaners made specifically for tile. To keep a pristine appearance, mop your tile 2 to 3 times per week.
Some professionals recommend this technique:
Mix 1 capful of dishwashing liquid per gallon of hot water.
Mop up excess water and allow to dry.
Buff with a dry towel to reduce spotting.
What not to use: Some cleaning products contain lemon, vinegar, bleach, ammonia. A common recommendation is to use vinegar water to mop tile. Stay away from these products on your tile floors. Also stay way from scouring powders. Repeated use will remove your sealer, wear away your grout, and in some cases strip the pigmentation from colored grout.
Something else to avoid using on your tile floors is any kind of wax. It can create a film or a haze over your tile and grout, and be a mess to clean off. Avoid using these altogether on tile, including a famous one that ends with the word "Glo".
Do I really need to seal my grout?
Without sealing grout, it will return to a dirty state rather quickly. When you mop your floor, the water naturally seeks out the lowest spot on the floor. It settles in the grout lines. Soils make their way into the grout along with the water and settle there as the moisture evaporates. Left behind is soil and a detergent residue that binds the soil to the grout, leaving you with discolored grout lines.
By sealing the grout, a barrier is formed between the grout and the dirt, allowing you time to clean it before the dirt penetrates into the grout.
Sealing your grout will also help prolong its beauty and life span.
How long does grout sealer last?
The manufacturer of the grout sealer we use rates the expected wear as 3-5 years on interior surfaces. Of course, this can vary depending on the amount of traffic the floors receive.
The Ceramic Tile Council of America recommends sealing once a year, as the tile installation breathes thereby opening microscopic fissures in the grout. We would never disagree with The Ceramic Tile Council of America but a general rule of thumb realistic for most homeowners is to reseal high traffic areas every 2-3 years.
How long until I should walk on my sealed grout?
A full cure is achieved after 24-48 hours, but foot traffic may begin in 4 hours. The manufacturer recommends you cover the tile with red rosin paper if foot traffic must resume before the recommended time periods have passed.
How can I prepare for my cleaning?
To prepare for our visit, we've provided a checklist of things you can do. Download the form here.
Why do you charge by the square foot instead of by the room?
We used to figure out the investment by the number of rooms, but as we began serving more and more clients with custom homes, we quickly realized not all homes have standard room sizes. Charging by the room is not very precise, and we found ourselves unintentionally undercharging or overcharging, and this inconsistency doesn't create the most outstanding service experience ever for our clients, which is what we're all about. While both methods may service a purpose, we have found that figuring out your investment by the square foot is much more consistent for our clients.
Call for an appointment, you'll be glad you did!
Overturf's Cleaning | Email Us
Ellenton, Palmetto, Bradenton, Parrish, Lakewood Ranch, Sun City, and Sarasota: 941-301-9555
Brandon, Gibsonton, Riverview & Surrounding areas: 813-438-2201
Carpet Cleaning Bradenton and throughout Manatee and Sarasota Counties - Ellenton, Palmetto, Bradenton, Parrish, Lakewood Ranch, Sun City, and Sarasota
