Carpet Cleaning Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

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

Will water damage my carpet?

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?

 

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?

 

 

General Questions

 

Is Overturf's Cleaning insured?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is Overturf's Cleaning Insured?

Yes, Overturf's Cleaning carries insurance for your protection.

 

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.

 

Will water damage my carpet?

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 cleaners charge so much less? I’ve seen ads for $5.95 a room.

A price this low should cause you to ask questions. What will the final price be, and what exactly will you get for that price? 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 cleaners, along with a powerful truck mount machine for the best possible clean. Our technicians are IICRC certified and insured. We spend the necessary amount of time to do the job right. 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.