|
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 $9.95 per room and $4.95 per
room, then once they're in your home, they pressure you into
buying "add-ons." It's as if you were buying a car
and found that the dealer was charging you extra for the tires
and steering wheel. Good carpet cleaning is not as cheap as
some unethical carpet cleaners would like you to believe.
Dual process carpet
cleaning describes the process of shampooing or heavy pre-conditioning,
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 (single process) at an unbelievably
low price. Then, when you call, they try to "switch"
you to the more expensive dual-process cleaning. If you don't
fall for their switch and choose their basic service, you'll
likely receive poor workmanship using little or no chemical
and they will not guarantee their work.
- UNSUPPORTED
CLAIMS. "THIS CLEANING IS THE BEST."
You'll read this
in almost every ad. You'll hear this from virtually every
carpet cleaner. Remember this: The method that's best for
you is the method that achieves your goal. If you require
a method that dries quickly, then a method that takes a longer
time to dry isn't the best for you. So before you choose a
carpet cleaner, identify your objectives. Then select the
method that best reaches those objectives.
- OUTDATED BELIEFS."HOT
WATER DAMAGES YOUR CARPET."
Years ago, many
people believed this was true because their carpets were damaged
by "technicians" who didn't know how to properly
clean using hot water. For this reason people will be sold
on different methods of cleaning and spend money on a method
that doesn't do the job they require.
But this is a false
belief. By properly washing and then rinsing your carpet with
hot water, your carpet is thoroughly cleaned - in the same
way that the person who showers and then rinses off the dirt
and soap will be much cleaner than the person who takes a
sponge bath.
Obviously, each
method does have advantages. So I suggest you look to what
carpet manufactures say. Shaw Industries, the largest carpet
manufacturer in the world, recommends only hot water extraction
cleaning with a truck-mounted unit used by firms that are
IICRC Certified.
This is a spray
that is usually applied immediately after cleaning. The more
common ones are 3M Scotchgard and Dupont Teflon. When properly
applied, as invisible film is left around the carpet fibers,
which prevents or inhibits soil from sticking to the fibers.
It also repels water and oil based liquid spills, giving you
a chance to blot them up before it penetrates the carpet or
upholstery. This means your vacuum will remove soil more efficiently,
spills will clean up easier, and your carpet will stay cleaner
longer and will last longer. This protective layer will be
effective for 6 months to 1 year in the main traffic areas.
Proper methods of cleaning will not remove this layer but
it will wear off.
However, some unethical
cleaners will over-sell you on the benefits and then apply
it improperly, usually by over-diluting the mixture. Technicians
that work by commission may even over-inflate the price of
the protectant so that they will make more profit. They pocket
your money and you are left thinking that carpet protectors
don't work and are a waste of money. You never make the investment
again and your carpet wears and soils much faster than it
should, which will cost you more money in the long run.
- THEY SAY "WE
USE ONLY FRESH WATER OR THERMAL-RINSE TO STEAM CLEAN OR
RINSE YOUR CARPET".
At first this sounds
very impressive. What it means is they use plain untreated
hot water to rinse your carpet. Nothing special! It is just
another way that a cleaner can cut a corner on proper cleaning.
Plain water is
a very poor rinsing agent for steam cleaning. That's why "professional"
cleaners follow the IICRC recommendations of adding rinsing
agents to enhance the removal of the emulsified soils as well
as the soap residues. It costs more to do this but the end
result is far superior!!
Another implication
is that the rinse becomes one more thing to sell you. It implies
bait-and-switch methods. They may not even use soap in a "basic"
cleaning unless you are willing to pay extra for it. I've
heard of cleaners "up-selling" the pre-treatment,
spot cleaners, and rinsing agents. This is why they can offer
such low prices. The truth is they need the pre-treatment,
spot cleaners, and rinsing agents if they are going to "ethically"
clean your carpet and the Carpet Cleaning Standard states
that is should all be included.
It is important
to know what a cleaner will specifically do for the price
they are offering you.
|
