Carpet Cleaning Tips/FAQs

How often should I have my carpets cleaned?

Carpet manufacturers recommend that you get your carpets professionally cleaned at least once a year, but that depends on your lifestyle.  Do you live in the country with lots of dirt being tracked in?  How about children’s spills? Got pets?  All of these should be taken into consideration and maybe you should consider cleaning more often. Remember that deep down dirt that can not be removed with a good vacuuming is your carpets worst enemy.

What cleaning method do you use?

We use the highest quality truck mounted hot water extraction system, commonly referred to as steam cleaning.  This is the preferred method of most carpet manufacturers.

Is cleaning safe for my family and pets?

Yes, it is perfectly safe for all your family members including the four-footed ones. We use only high-quality cleaning agents that are soap free and non-toxic.

How soon can I walk on my carpet?

Keep regular traffic, children and pets off the carpet as much as possible while drying.  If you must be on the carpet, please use extreme caution when walking off the carpet onto another flooring type to prevent slips and falls, as the carpet will be damp.  Also, don’t track “new” dirt on the damp carpet with your shoes.

How long will it take to dry?

Usually 6-12 hours, depending on the humidity levels, room temperature and air movement over the carpet.  Use of ceiling fans and the AC will help drying times.

I noticed black lines around the baseboards that did not come up last time my carpet was cleaned – what are they?

This line is called filtration soiling. While it is usually found around baseboards and under doorways, it can also occur where plywood subflooring has been joined. It comes from air passing through the carpet as it is attempting to get through the crack between the carpet and baseboard or under the doorway. As the air passes through the edge of the carpet, dust, smog, and other airborne pollutants deposit there. The carpet “filters” out these pollutants and gradually becomes discolored. This occurs over a significant period of time and is not noticed until a build up has occurred.

This type of soiling is difficult to remove because the soil particles are so fine that they penetrate deep into the carpet pile, sometimes into the backing of the carpet. Can it be removed?  Sometimes. With time, effort and special products reasonable results can be achieved.

To help prevent filtration soiling, vacuum and wipe the edges of the carpet on a regular basis.

Can all of the stains in my carpet be removed?

Please let the technician know about particular areas of concern.  They will exhaust all the tools they have to remove these stains, but please note that if the stain has been there a long time, or if various types of ineffective cleaners have been used, removal will be difficult if not impossible.  If the stain simply cannot be removed, consider another alternative such as patching, which we can provide.

Can cleaning my carpet remove those yucky pet odors?

We all agree that a pet can be a great asset to your family.  They quickly become a part of our lives and we wouldn’t trade them for anything.  But they tend to leave bad odors in the carpeting and upholstery fibers with dander and unsightly messes.  Some pet odors can be eliminated with Best-Way’s deep hot water extraction cleaning system. But for those little surprises that sometimes happen, other actions need to be taken.

When pets urinate on floors or fabrics it can cause an unhealthy indoor environment.  When urine is first deposited, it is in an almost “neutral” state which means it is easier to remove when it is fresh. Once it dries, it turns “alkaline” and becomes more difficult to remove.  If left for days or weeks, depending on the floor type or fabric, it can permanently change the dye structure, therefore causing permanent staining.

There are two sources of odors associated with urine.  The first comes from bacteria that grow abundantly in dark warm places with a never-ending food source.  This bacteria growth and breakdown of urine creates amino acids.  The waste materials and gases from the decomposing urine create an unpleasant odor.  When the dried urine is remoistened; it gives off an ammonia gas, the smell of which is seldom forgotten.

The second source of odor is chemical odor that is present even when the bacteria has been killed. When pets urinate on carpeting it can seep through to the backing and even the padding.  The salts and crystals that are left behind, as the urine dries are hydrophilic and draw moisture to them.  Dried urine is often easy to smell in the humid months because the salts attract the moisture, the moisture evaporates putting out a greater proportion of odorous ammonia gas. You must get rid of the salts and crystals under the carpet to get rid of the odor.  That’s why cleaning existing urine spots will not remove any associated odor or staining.  In fact, it could increase the odor for a temporary period of time.

Using chemicals and deodorizers to cover the smell is a short-term fix.  To properly eliminate pet contamination, Best-Way’s trained technicians will remove and dispose of the affected carpet and padding thus removing the salts and crystals, disinfect the area with enzymes thus killing the bacteria and install carpet and padding.  The whole room does not have to be replaced, only the affected area using carpet from a closet or scrap you may have to match.

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