Misconceptions of Carpet Cleaning

Common Misconceptions about Professional Carpet Cleaning

Misconception #1: You should wait as long as possible before cleaning your carpet. Or

Having your carpet cleaned too frequently will damage the fibers

No. Dirt is an abrasive like sandpaper. Every time you step on the carpet, you grind dirt into your carpet fibers. This cuts your carpet, just as if you had used a knife, causing it to wear out faster. A dirty carpet will not last nearly as long as a clean carpet. And while vacuuming helps, it's simply not enough. Proper vacuuming only recovers 85% of the soil that your carpet accumulates. The longer you wait to have your carpet cleaned, the more damage you do and the faster it wears out.

Misconception #2: The only reason to clean carpets is to get out the dirt.

No. Indoor air quality is greatly affected by the condition of your carpet. As you probably know, outdoor air contains pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust, and hundreds of other chemicals. When you and your family members come into your home, you carry those pollens, bacteria and chemicals in your hair, on your skin, clothing and shoes. As your homes largest filter, all those chemicals, pollens and bacteria wind up in your carpet.

Misconceptions #3: One method of carpet cleaning is as good as another.

No. Dry Cleaning vs. Hot Water Extraction.

DRY CLEANING: / CARPET ABSORBENT CLEANERS

A dry absorbent compound (containing small amounts of water, detergent, and solvent,) is sprinkled over carpet or worked into the carpet with a machine. This purpose of this cleaner is to attract and absorb soil. Mechanical agitation from a brush works the cleaner through the carpet.

These products usually contain an absorbent carrier, water, detergent, and solvent. The theory is that the liquids dissolve the soil and this soil/detergent/solvent mixture is absorbed into the carrier and is then vacuumed up. They are often used with a detergent pre-spray in heavily soiled areas.

The absorbent cleaner most commonly is organic, but may also be polymers. The compound is supposed to absorb the dislodged soil and is then vacuumed away. Carpet must be thoroughly vacuumed before and after cleaning.

Very thorough vacuuming should be used to ensure that most of the carrier comes out of the carpet. With the extremely fine powder types, indoor air quality can be reduced. If a white powder starts appearing on shoes and cuffs of pants, too much was used and it was not thoroughly vacuumed up

Manufactures who recommend this type of cleaning also state that for deep cleaning, Hot Water Extraction is the preferred method.

The reasons why some companies use low moisture cleaning methods are: 1) They dry fast, 2) They are easy to produce, 3) Technicians can work very fast, 4) The price is cheaper than a properly done hot water extraction process.

HOT WATER EXTRACTION CARPET CLEANING

This is the cleaning method nearly all carpet manufacturers and carpet fiber producers recommend.

This is the only cleaning method classified as "deep cleaning". All the others are considered "light surface cleaning" because they are incapable of removing soil deep in the pile. Also, all other methods leave large amounts of cleaning agent in the carpet after cleaning.

The maintenance brochure published by the world's largest carpet manufacturer, Shaw Industries, recommends this method, because its own research indicates that it provides the best capability for cleaning.

This method is frequently called "steam" cleaning due to the fine spray of water used to force dirt out of the carpet which is sucked up by the vacuum slot immediately in front of the spray. Seldom is real live steam used, however. This process consists of spraying a solution of water and detergent into the carpet pile and recovering the water and soil with a powerful vacuum into a holding tank. This can be done from a truck-mounted unit outside the home with only the hose and floor tool brought inside, or by a portable, system brought into the home or office.

From a health standpoint, the truck-mounted system is preferred because the dirty air and humidity are exhausted outside rather than re-circulated around the house. Additionally, truck-mounted systems usually are more powerful than portable units and do a much better cleaning job and get the carpet dry more quickly.

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 a large number of employees don't know how to use them. The best carpet cleaning companies are those that have the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, known as the IICRC. A carpet cleaning company cannot buy this certification. The carpet cleaner must earn the certification through study, experience, and the successful completion of formal, written examinations. Cleaners who are certified by the IICRC have, in effect, earned a degree in carpet cleaning.

The IICRC provides written credentials to the companies it certifies. So before you choose a carpet cleaner, ask to see written proof of the company's IICRC certification.

Misconception #5: Any honest carpet cleaning company should be able to give you an exact price quote over the telephone.

We wish this were true, but it isn't. Consumers often think that if they want to clean four rooms there should be a price set for the cleaning.

Honest, reputable carpet cleaning companies price carpet cleaning by the square foot. We are only going to charge for the space that we actually clean. So if you'd like us to tell you the exact cost of cleaning your carpet, we need to know the exact number of square feet that you want cleaned. To get an accurate measurement, a technician will need to be scheduled to come and measure the areas you want to have cleaned. Quotes from Arizona Hydro-Pro are free of charge!

Taking Care of Hard Surface Floors

Mopping our hard surface floors takes enough energy; we do not have to make it harder than necessary. Utilizing the proper tools can go a long way in reducing the effort it takes to maintain the cleanliness of our floors.

1)      Make sure that handles on mops and brooms are the appropriate length for your height.
2)      Select a broom with tapered bristles and wide coverage
3)      String mops (Raggedy Ann) are the best choice for tile as they do not deposit the soil we are trying to
      remove back into the grout “valley”.   **Plus, they are machine washable

Before we can mop we must always vacuum, dust mop or sweep the entire area to remove any loose debris; dust, dirt & food particles.
Next, prepare your mop water in either a mop bucket or the sink, whichever is your preference. It is important to note that most cleaners are acidic and will damage (break down) the sealer on your grout. Acidic cleaners also etch natural stone tile. We suggest mixing 1 cap full of dish soap to every gallon of hot water to mop your tile floors.

Dip your clean mop into the cleaning solution and then wring it out. *Your mop does not need to be dripping to be effective

Starting at the furthest corner of the room, we are going to make a figure eight pattern without leaving the openings; there should be a minimum of 50% overlap with each pass of the mop.

To rinse our mop, we want to use clean water. Some mop buckets have dual sections for this purpose.
If we are using the sink to hold our cleaning solution, then we want to use the empty side of the sink to rinse
the mop with fresh water.

At this point, and per our own preference, we can elect to go back and buff dry the area we just cleaned before moving onto the next section.

If we elect to allow the floor to air dry, then we move to the next section of the room and start again with the figure eight pattern. This process is continued until we have mopped ourselves out of the room.

**You will need to make fresh mop water when the solution gets cloudy enough to prevent you from seeing the bottom of the bucket or sink.

If you have the need to go beyond simple sweeping and mopping give us a call - 602-242-1120                                           

Professional Steam Cleaning is a safe, quick way to get clean floors.

 Mop water should never look like this

Carpet Fresheners

Using carpet fresheners or similar type powdered products can cause damage to your carpet. The powder is like tiny pieces of sand that can scratch the fibers of the carpet and cause the carpet to wear out even faster over time.

In severe cases, it can cause problems with air conditioners, and the homeowner's health. As you walk on the carpet, some of the powder will become air born and create dust in your house, which can aggravate your allergies.

This type of product is also, generally, overused. You can spend hours vacuuming the carpet and you will not be able to remove all the powder because these powders are so fine that they work themselves through the backing of the carpet and down to the pad. No amount of vacuuming or cleaning will remove the powder from beneath the carpet.

It is important to remember that whatever you put into your carpet you need to be able to take back out. Instead of using products that not only leave behind the dreaded residue but cause actual damage to your carpet we suggest taking proper care of your carpet. The first step is to vacuum thoroughly to remove soil that might be causing odor. The way in which you vacuum is as important as making sure your vacuum is well-functioning and properly-filtered.  
To properly vacuum it is suggested that you use slow, repetitive front to back motions in an overlapping sequence, moving slightly to the right or left every four strokes. If you are unable to rid your carpet of odor, it is highly probable you need to call a professional cleaning company equipped to handle your issue. 

The following chart from the IICRC S100 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Carpet Cleaning serves as a guideline for recommending cleaning frequencies for carpet. They consider traffic, soil rating, vacuuming schedules, spot cleaning schedules, and professional interim and restorative cleaning.

Residential Carpet Cleaning Frequency Chart

Traffic Soil Rating	Carpet Owner/Maintainer		Professional Carpet Cleaner/Restorer
	Vacuuming	Spot Cleaning	Heavy-Use Area Cleaning	Restorative Cleaning
Light Soil	1x per week	Daily or as soon as spots are noticed	Traffic areas every 12 to 18 months	Every 2 years or per manufacturer warranty
Normal Soil (families with children, elderly)	1 to 2 x per week	Daily or as soon as spots are noticed	Traffic areas every 6 to 12 months	Annually
Heavy Soil (families with pets, smoking)	2 to 4 x per week	Daily or as soon as spots are noticed	Traffic areas every 3 to 6 months	Semi-annually (2x annually)
Extreme Conditions (large families, multiple pets)	Daily	Daily or as soon as spots are noticed	Traffic lanes every 2 to 3 months	Quarterly (4x annually)

What about the health affects mentioned in the beginning?

Here is an in depth look at just what is in Carpet "Deodorizers". 

 Carpet Fresh Carpet Refresher  Manufacturer: WD-40, 1061 Cudahy Place, San Diego, CA, 92110.  800-448-9340.  The product is a white powder that is sprinkled onto carpeting, then vacuumed up.  Ingredients: Fragrance oil.  CAS number: Not established.  Hazard data: Not established.  Effects of inhalation overexposure: Possible mild mucous irritation.  First Aid Procedure: Remove to fresh air.

If "Fragrance oil" is the only ingredient listed, then what is the white powder?  What is WD-40 concealing, and why would a product that's listed as a "refresher" possibly cause a consumer to have to be removed from it to fresh air?  Perhaps the following will provide a clue:  

Fragrance - Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients, most of which are synthetic. Many compounds in fragrance are human toxins and suspected or proven carcinogens. In 1989, the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health evaluated 2,983 fragrance chemicals for health effects. They identified 884 of them as toxic substances. Synthetic fragrances are known to trigger asthma attacks. The US Environmental Protection Agency found that 100% of perfumes contain toluene, which can cause liver, kidney and brain damage as well as damage to a developing fetus. Symptoms reported to the FDA from fragrance exposure have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and allergic skin irritation. Clinical observations  by medical doctors have shown that exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes. Fragrance is a common skin irritant.

Carpet Fresh No-Vacuum Carpet Refresher  Manufacturer: WD-40.  Ingredients: Liquefied petroleum gas (CAS # 68476-85-7), Isopropanol (CAS # 67-63-0).  "Inhalation: No adverse effects experienced in an otherwise healthy individual exposed to this product during normal use.  Excessive inhalation can cause headache, drowsiness, nausea and lack of coordination." 

"Otherwise healthy individual."  "Normal use."  Just don't stay in a motel with a frail parent or with an infant where this product was used (or, more commonly, overused by housekeepers). 

OSHA has classified liquefied petroleum gas as an asphyxiant (a chemical -- gas or vapor -- that can cause death or unconsciousness by suffocation) and a narcosis (a stupor or unconsciousness produced by exposure to a chemical).  And isopropanol is classified as a cardiovascular or blood toxicant, a developmental toxicant, an endocrine (glands) toxicant, a gastrointestina or liver toxicant, a neurotoxicant, a reproductive toxicant, a respiratory toxicant and a skin or sense organ toxicant.

Arm & Hammer Foam Carpet Deodorizer Manufacturer: Arm & Hammer  (No Address or phone number found on its website.)  The product comes in a 16-oz. can that sprays out as a foam onto the carpet, and once dried, it's vaccumed up. Although this product is available at practically any retail store such as Wal-Mart for consumers to buy and use in their homes, an Arm & Hammer spokeswoman explained that the company only sends out MSDS's to businesses, not "individuals."  The spokeswoman did, however, read over the phone the three ingredients listed on the carpet deodorizer. These ingredients are "Fragrance, surfactants and baking soda."  
 


Again -- and again -- fragrance can mean anything. While baking soda is certainly a safe product, surfactants are, as the spokeswoman explained, "a detergent compound."   Arm & Hammer's Foam Carpet Deodorizer is simply another perfumed mask to counter foul-smelling carpeting with dangerous chemicals that Arm & Hammer wishes to conceal from "individual" consumers.