close up of a vacuum performing carpet cleaning service meridian id

Q. How long do you have to stay off carpet after cleaning?
A. While it is completely safe for people and pets to be on the carpet after cleaning, we highly recommend staying off the carpets for 3-5 hours to let it dry. This doesn’t allow dirt and grime to stick back onto the carpet as easily. However, if you decide to add our Carpet Protectant, then the carpets can NOT be walked on until they are completely dry.

Q. Do you need to vacuum after carpet cleaning?
A. We recommend vacuuming common areas once a week to help keep your carpets in top shape in between cleans. Vacuuming often helps keep dirt and fur from getting stuck deeper in the carpets in between professional cleaning.

Q. Do you have to move all the furniture for carpet cleaning?
A. No. We will go around big furniture items and can move some of the smaller items out of the way. If you wish to clean under larger items like dressers and TV stands, we ask that you have these out of the way before your scheduled cleaning.

Q. Do carpets get dirty faster after cleaning?
A. If you’ve experienced this before, then you may have used the wrong carpet professionals. Some companies will pre-spray the carpets with a soapy detergent but not wash it out properly with an after rinse. This chemical imbalance leaves a soapy residue that attracts dirt like a magnet, while also making your carpets feel crunchy.
We use a light pre-spray without any harsh chemicals or sticky soapy residue and then wash it out thoroughly with our Hot Water Extraction method mixed with an after rinse. This leaves your carpets chemically balanced, completely safe, and best of all – clean!

Q. Why does my carpet look worse after cleaning?
A. For 17 years we have experimented with various methods to achieve the best cleaning process possible and have seen amazing results. However, there may be three instances where your carpets look worse after cleaning.
1. Carpet Protectant Wearing Off. Every new carpet installed comes with a layer of protectant to help resist spills and stains. This wears down over time and can be sped up by having the carpets cleaned. Fortunately, we also offer a Carpet Protective Treatment which will completely restore this layer.
2. Wicking. This term refers to stains or spills that were left untreated which then penetrated deep into the backing of the carpet and maybe even into the pad underneath. Sometimes after a deep professional cleaning, these stains can be brought back up to the surface as the carpets dry.
Luckily for you, these stains can be removed as quickly as they appeared. This doesn’t happen very often, but if it does, give us a call and we’ll come take care of the spots in no time.
3. General Wear and Tear. Over years of walking on them, eventually carpet fibers break down and lose their original shape. This can be especially true of polyester or blended carpets commonly found in apartments or tract homes. As we clean the carpets, we’ll pull dirt and grime out but the wear remains, and because the dirt is no longer there making it look uniform it appears to be dirtier than it was originally. This will be more commonly noticed in hallways, in front of commonly used couches, or around beds.

Q. Why Should I Have My Carpets Cleaned?
A. There are several important reasons why you should have your carpets professionally cleaned on a regular basis. First, carpets can be one of the biggest sources of contaminants in your house, along with air ducts and bathroom spaces. A lot of what is stuck on your family’s shoes or your pet’s paws will get pulled off onto your carpets, trapping all the dirt and bacteria with it. Professional cleaning can help remove these and keep your home clean.
B. Second, replacing carpets can be expensive, so it is important to protect one of the most noticeable aspects of your house. As dirt and grime get onto the carpet from people and pets walking over it, it actually starts penetrating and destroying the carpet fibers themselves. It will start to look rough and matted and lose its soft touch. Cleaning it can help revitalize them and extend the overall lifespan.

Q. How Often Should I Have My Carpets Cleaned?
A. Every 6-18 months. Standard recommendations would be to have your carpets cleaned once a year, however, this can vary on lifestyle. Do you have kids, pets, and a busy home? We’d recommend cleaning more often, even as often as every 6 months. Is it just you and maybe a significant other? Do you vacuum often and take your shoes off? Then it’s possible to stretch the frequency a little longer.

Q. What Method Of Carpet Cleaning Is Best?
A. There are 5-6 methods out there for cleaning carpets, some with various advantages and disadvantages. After thorough research and experimenting with them, we chose the Hot Water Extraction method paired with some of the best professional grade Prochem carpet cleaning machines on the market. With this method we pre-treat all the soiled areas first, then come through and extract it with hot water and vacuum suction. Our machines get the water to around 230-240 degrees to properly remove dirt, grime and bacteria. The only downside to this method that we’ve seen is that it typically takes 3-5 hours to dry, but there won’t be any chemicals or soapy residue left and you can be sure that your carpets are cleaned all the way through.

Q. What Should I Do To Prepare For The Carpet Cleaning?
A. There are a couple options to help get your home ready for your professional cleaning.
B. First would be to move any furniture you want out of the way. We can help move some smaller items but, due to liability reasons, we cannot move large items like bed frames, TV stands, book shelves, etc.
C. Next, would be to vacuum all the main areas. We will also come through and vacuum but it always helps to pick up extra dust, fur, or bigger items that won’t be sucked up by our machine.

Q. Will All Of The Stains Come Out?
A. Over 17 years we have come up with an incredible cleaning process and have learned how to take out most of the toughest stains. However, there are some types of stains that will not come out. Bleaches, certain dyes or colorings, and some urine stains won’t always disappear. Also, some areas that see heavy traffic like hallways and in front of couches can wear down the carpet fibers to a point where they won’t come back to their original form. We will walk the house with you and try to point out any areas of concern beforehand so you’re aware of any areas that may not be perfect again.