| Melvin Lorg is the owner of Mel's World Class Carpet Cleaning. He has been in the carpet cleaning business for over thirteen years. Mel's company is certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Mel spends much of his time teaching his carpet cleaners how to achieve excellence in cleaning and customer service, and has dedicated his business to helping homeowners get the highest return from their carpet investment. Mel welcomes your inquires and can be reached by phone at (800) 318-9812, (316) 687-9812 or (316) 941- 3500. |
Carpet Cleaning & Restoration
2005-10-01 14:59:00
Tips for carpet cleaning - part two
ANSWER: In the September issue, I began answering this question by addressing three of six costly misconceptions about carpet cleaning. Now for the remaining three misconceptions:Misconception #4: Having the right equipment is all a company needs to clean your carpets properly. Not true! Many companies own hot-water cleaners but very few companies teach their employees how to use them properly. This is why it's important that you choose your carpet cleaner carefully. The best cleaning companies are those that have been certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, (IICRC). Before you choose a carpet cleaner, ask to see written proof of the company's IICRC Certification.Misconception #5: The Company that offers the lowest price is the company you should hire. No. NEVER hire the company that quotes the cheapest price. So many problems can arise from lowest-bid companies. The two most common problems are:1. The price may not be for the services you want performed. The company may be equipped to remove only the dirt from your carpet. But you may want bacteria, fungus, pollens, and tobacco residues removed as well.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 in to their home. Then they were pressured into paying a lot more for a variety of add-ons. Some carpet cleaners even break the law by using illegal bait and switch tactics.Misconception #6: Any honest carpet cleaning company should be able to give you an exact price quote over the telephone. No. Honest, reputable carpet cleaning companies almost never price carpet cleaning by the room. Instead, carpet cleaning is usually priced by the square foot. So in order to give an exact cost of cleaning your carpet, you would need to know the exact number of square feet that you wanted cleaned. There are three things to consider in estimating the cost of cleaning carpet:1. The type of carpet. Certain types of carpet are harder to clean than other types.2. The amount of soiling. Carpet that hasn't been cleaned for ten years will take longer to clean than carpet that was cleaned within the last six months.3. The amount of furniture that will need to be moved. If you move your own furniture, it will save you money.