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Upholstery & Carpet Cleaning
Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: What will you need from me on the day?

A: I will need access to your hot water and electricity for my carpet cleaning machine and parking at the property. Any items that can be cleared from the rooms (in particular vases, photo frames, valuables and other damageable items) should be removed to eliminate any chance of damaging them. The clearer the room the faster the cleaning process.

Q: How long will my carpet or upholstery take to dry?

A: This will depend on the temperature, what material is used in the carpet/item, the depth of the pile and available ventilation in the room. Most synthetic carpets will be walk on dry within 2 hours. Synthetic carpets will dry faster than wool carpets as they are less absorbent. Wool carpets can take anywhere between 4-12 hours to dry depending on the type of wool, depth of pile and how dirty they were. Sofas usually dry within 2-5 hours however the same variables as above apply. Mattresses usually dry within 4-6 hours however I recommend booking a morning appointment to be sure. My machine has two super strong vacuum motors to reduce drying times considerably when compared to less powerful machines commonly used by carpet cleaners.

Q: What can I do to ensure my carpets or upholstery dries as quickly as possible?

A: If it is warm outside open a window and where possible turn on a fan in the room. Opening a window allows for the moisture to escape and avoid condensation. During colder weather you should still leave a window open a little for ventilation but turn on the heating too. You can also use a dehumidifier in addition to the above. Ensuring the room is as clear as possible of furniture etc prior to my arrival will also mean I can start cleaning earlier in the day and therefore the item/carpet will dry earlier in the day.

Q: How often should you have your carpets cleaned?

A: The National Carpet and Rug Institute, Good House Keeping and most carpet manufacturers themselves recommend having your carpets cleaned professionally once every 12 months. This can vary depending on your personal circumstances. A professional couple who spend much of the day at work and have no children, once every 18 months should be sufficient as less soil will build up in a home with fewer people. A retired couple who spend more time at home may opt for once every 12 months. A family with several family members and possibly pets once every 9-12 months. And for families with very young children who crawl on the carpet once every 6-9 months. Ultimately this is a personal preference as to how clean you want your home to be.

Q: Do you use professional equipment and cleaning solutions?

A: Yes I use the Airflex Storm portable carpet cleaning hot water extraction machine. This is the top of the range model sold in the UK sold by Cleansmart. I also use a Sebo mechanical agitation machine to work the pre spray cleaning solution into the carpet before using the Storm. I have heard stories of carpet cleaners turning up with a Vax cleaner in the past or under powered rental machines!! I only use professional equipment to ensure the best results.

Q: Are you insured against damage to my carpets/upholstery?

A: Yes I am. Peace of mind as standard.

Q: Have you been PROFESSIONALLY trained?

A: Yes I have been trained by both Cleansmart and also Prochem on carpet cleaning, stain removal/treatment and upholstery cleaning. This is essential to avoid damaging your carpets or upholstery and covers aspects including carpet fibre identification, carpet construction types and associated risks (such as shrinkage, browning, delamination, dye bleed etc), PH level chemistry, choosing the right cleaning solution for the right fibre type, wool safe product use, stain treatments and much more.

Q: Do you charge hidden extras?

A: No I do not charge hidden extras. Unfortunately some companies offer several levels of cleaning, often quoting for the most basic option on their leaflets or websites and then when they arrive advising you need a more expensive option or cleaning solution for your carpet. This is called a "bait and switch". Reeling you in with a cheap price and then drastically pushing the price up when they arrive saying you need this or that with a hard sell. I DO NOT DO THIS. I do not offer a bronze, silver and gold standard of cleaning just my best cleaning every time. I do not have hidden charges either, my upholstery cleaning, carpet cleaning, deodouriser and stain guard pricing are listed upfront on my website as I believe in doing a great job for a fair price. There is no VAT to pay either.

Q: Do you offer weekend appointments?

A: Absolutely just give me a call to check for availability.

Q: Do you move the furniture in the room?

A: Sadly we are not insured to move personal items and furnishings. I ask that you have the floor space as clear as possible prior to my arrival by either removing items from the room or placing items on beds/sofa etc. Any items left in the room will be cleaned around whilst cleaning as much of the carpet as possible.

Q: How will you clean my carpets?

A: I believe I offer not only the best customer service but the most thorough upholstery and carpet cleaning service in the Colchester and Sudbury area. Take a look at the video on the home page to see my deep ten stage carpet cleaning process for yourself. I use the recommended cleaning method of Hot Water Extraction (sometimes referred to as steam cleaning).

Q: How long will my carpet or upholstery cleaning take?

A: This will depend on how many carpets / items you are having cleaned and how dirty they are. Generally it takes me around 30 minutes to get set up, 5 minutes per room/item for the survey and usually around 30-45 minutes per room for the actual cleaning process. This can of course vary depending on soil levels, the amount of furniture to move, room size etc. I try to take up as little of your time as possible without compromising on the quality of the cleaning. I do however take longer than "splash and dash" merchants (as they are known in the business) who will nip in with a quick whiz over the top of the carpet and be in and out in no time! As an indication, a average four bedroom house will generally take me a full day where as some carpet cleaners would spend just 3-4 hours with poor results.

Q: Can I walk on my carpets once they have been cleaned?

A: Walking on the carpets whilst still damp can cause rapid resoling of the carpet, flattening of the pile and footprint marks drying in the carpet. I would advise keeping everyone off of the carpets until they are dry but appreciate that this is not always possible. Children and pets must be kept off the carpet until dry and must not be in the room during cleaning. Damp carpets can also be slippery especially when walking from damp carpet to a hard floor surface. Care must be taken. The above effects are more likely on deep pile wool carpets with shallow pile carpets less prone to these problems.

Q: Can all stains be removed?

A: In a word, no. Anyone telling you that they can remove ANY stain just isn't being very honest with you. I use market leading stain treatment cleaning solutions and attend specific training courses dedicated just to removing stains. More often than not I am able to remove most stains from most types of carpet. Some stains however will simply be impossible to remove and this will depend upon how old the stain is, what type of stain it is, the type of carpet fibre the stain is on and what has been done to tackle the stain already. Many people will try to remove the stain themselves first with household items and this together with any scrubbing can "SET" the stain. Call a professional straight away and they can advise you on the best course of action or check out my stain removal basics blog.

Q: Will my carpets shrink when cleaned?

A: This is very unlikely these days. Woven carpets containing vegetable fibres like Jute in the backing are prone to shrinkage. Most carpets are tufted which have next to no chance of shrinkage in the hands of a professional. Part of the reason that I (unlike most carpet cleaners) conduct a pre-cleaning survey is to identify the carpet fibre and carpet construction. This will enable me to ensure the right cleaning solutions and method are used for your individual carpet. I recommend ensuring that the carpet grippers are well secured to the floor as these act like an anchor reducing shrinkage potential in woven carpets like axeminsters / Wiltons. I also do not over wet the carpets which is the main reason some woven carpets can shrink.

Q: Can high traffic or worn areas be cleaned so they are no longer visibly different?

A: High traffic areas (those walked on most frequently such as in front of the sofa, doorways etc) are subject to more wear than other areas. They will hold more dirt and become flattened and more worn as the carpet fibres are damaged through compression and friction. If the area is heavily soiled and worn we can usually improve the area but signs of the high traffic area are likely to remain as cleaning will not repair worn or compressed carpet fibres.

Q: Can you remove odours from the carpet?

A: Yes in most cases any odours are dealt with through the deep cleaning process and I also offer a deodouriser option too. If a strong smelling stain such as urine has reached the underlay however the carpet should be pulled back and the affected underlay replaced prior to cleaning the carpet. Damp carpet, in particular wool fibre carpets can have their own smell after being cleaned. This is normal and will fade over the course of a few days. It is essential to ensure the room is ventilated and heated once the cleaning takes place to ensure the quickest drying times.

Q: Can you clean wool carpets?

A: Yes, I will identify what the carpet fibres are made of upon arrival during my initial survey and where it is identified to be a natural fibre such as wool I have a range of wool safe cleaning solutions for this purpose. Using non wool safe products will damage a wool carpet which is another reason why I conduct a full pre-cleaning survey as part on my ten step carpet cleaning process.

Q: Can you clean Seagrass, Coir, Sisal, Art Silk, Ryon, Viscose carpets/rugs?

A: Unfortunately not. These fibres do not react well to moisture and stains are also usually permanent. Do not entrust these carpets to untrained carpet cleaners and they will without doubt cause more damage.

Q: Can you clean sofas with fabrics made from viscose, rayon, artsilk, sisal, seagrass, real suede, leather or real velvet?

A: Unfortunately not as these fibre types are not suited to hot water extraction cleaning (commonly referred to as steam cleaning).

Q: How can I tell if my sofa is a cleanable fabric?

A: There are several fabric types (as per the question above) that are not suitable to hot water extraction cleaning. Check for labels inside your sofa cushions, underneath the seat cushions or at the rear of the item. These labels should advise you what the sofa fabric is made from. If your sofa fabric is made of wool, polyester, nylon, acrylic or polyproprolene then they are cleanable in the hands of a professional. Take a look for labels before calling us (however I will conduct a survey of the sofa prior to coming to clean it to double check it is likely to be wet cleanable).

Q: Can you clean rugs?

A: I are able to clean most modern rugs however I do not clean silk, Viscose, Rayon (artsilk) or antique rugs and they should be cleaned by rug cleaning specialists off site due to high shrinkage and dye bleed risks. Most modern rugs will have a label underneath telling you what they are made from or for chinese / persian rugs your sales receipt should detail this.

Q: Do you offer end of tenancy carpet cleaning?

A: I certainly do and I can also provide a signed and dated certificate to give to the landlord or managing agent as proof of carpet cleaning.

Q: Why should I have my carpets cleaned?

A: Our carpets are great! They act like an air filter trapping dust, dirt and allergens such as pollen from the breathing zone. If you did not have carpets those particles would not be trapped and would be floating around in the air you breath. Your carpet is likely to contain human shed skin, pet skin, pet hairs, pollen, carbon deposits, dust mites both alive and dead, silverfish, cheese mites and their faeces in addition to all the general household dust that makes its way deep in to the carpet pile. All of this "soil" can build up and actually cause the carpet to wear more quickly decreasing its lifespan. If you imagine all these particles taken from a carpet and put on a sheet of glass and then people where to walk all over it. What do you think would happen to the surface of the glass? It would be scratched up! The same friction can take place in a carpet decreasing its lifespan and appearance. Whilst regularly vacuuming the carpet will help remove a layer of soil from the carpets top surface it does not reach the base of the pile where the majority accumulates. Take a look at the why clean your carpet video on the home page.

Q: What payment methods do you accept?

A: I accept cash, visa or mastercard. However I can only accept card payments if I am able to connect my portable card reader to your home wi-fi. If you do not have the wi-fi code please have cash available.

Q: What is your minimum charge and why do you have one?

A: My minimum charge is £55.00 per visit. As you can imagine travelling across the area uses van fuel, it also takes us the same time to set up our equipment and load it back on to the van cleaning one carpet as cleaning a full house. Unfortunately this makes travelling out for a £15.00 hallway carpet only cleaning unpractical.

Q: What areas do you cover?

A: I cover Colchester and Sudbury including the following postcodes: CO1, CO2, CO3, CO4, CO5, CO6, CO7, CO8, CO9, CO10, CO11, CO12, CO13, CO14, CO15, CO16, IP7, IP8, IP9. This incldesOld Heath, Berechurch,Layer De La Haye, Lexden, Stanway, Myland, Boxted, Tiptree, Kelvedon, Peldon, Rowhedge, Coggeshall, Earls Colne, Marks Tey, Great Tey, Chappel, Wakes,Colne, Copford, West Bergholt, Great Horkesley, Little Horkesley, Wormingford, Nayland, Stoke by Nayland, Polstead, Brightlingsea, Wivenhoe, Great Bentley, Bures, Alphamstone, Halstead, Sudbury, Manningtree, Lawford, Mistley, Bradfield, Wrabness, Wix, Horsley Cross, CLittle Bromley, Brantham, Cattawade, Harwich, Dovercourst, Parkeston, Ramsey, Little Oakley, Great Oakley, Stones Green, Frinton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze, Clacton-on-Sea, St Osyth, Little Clacton, Copdock,Belstead,Shotley Peninsula, Capel St Mary, Chelmondiston and Shotley.


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