CARPET CLEANING TIPS + FAQ

SpotOFF Carpet Cleaners in the Columbus Area

WHY ARE SOAPS AND SHAMPOOS BAD FOR CARPETS?

Sometimes we assume that since we use soaps and shampoos on nearly everything that we clean, it

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s also appropriate to use the same type of cleaner on a carpet. Unfortunately, that

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s just not the case. It is very difficult to remove shampoo and soap from a carpet once it has been used as it almost always leaves a sticky residue that attracts dirt. Simply put, the wrong cleaning products will leave your carpets in worse condition than when you started. This includes most spot cleaners and carpet

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cleaning

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products NOT sold by professionals.

Instead of soaps and shampoos, you should trust in the line of CRI Certified safe cleaning products that SpotOFF Carpet Cleaning uses to emulsify dirt and grime as well as aid in neutralizing odors.

WHAT IS THE BEST METHOD TO CLEAN CARPET?

Simple, Steam Cleaning! We are of course bias, but don

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t listen to just us. The carpet manufactures would agree. We recommend steam clean and powerful extraction when it comes to cleaning a wide variety of flooring. The use of steam combined with our arsenal of certified safe cleaners that emulsify and remove dirt, grime, odors and make your floors look like new.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD CARPETS BE CLEANED?

Most carpets are only cleaned once a year, and that is a long time to build up dirt, grime, odor, and even less appealing things like dust mites. But, of course this answer depends on a variety of factors including the amount of traffic and frequency of stains on your carpet. We recommend, on average, all carpets should be cleaned between 6 months to 18 months. If home has more traffic (i.e. Dogs, Children, large households) then you should probably consider cleaning your carpet at least two or three times a year. When it comes to Commercial carpet cleaning, you may find the need to increase that frequency. Ask your SpotOFF IICRC Certified technician what he/she thinks upon arrival.

UPKEEP AND MAINTAINANCE

Vacuum - This is a very important step in the overall upkeep and should be done with regularity, at least once a week for most homes, possibly more depending on traffic.
Clean Spots and Spills promptly - Be sure to use products that are CRI Certified safe or recommended by your IICRC Certified technician.
Professionally Deep Steam Clean - Be sure to have your carpets cleaned consistently, usually between 6-18 months.

HOW SOON WILL I BE ABLE TO WALK ON MY CARPETS ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN CLEANED?

It is best to keep all pets, children, and other traffic off of your freshly cleaned carpet for a period of at least 6-8 hours after cleaning. This gives the carpet plenty of time to dry.

HOW LONG BEFORE MY CARPETS ARE DRY?

Generally we tell our customers between 6-8 hours but there are a few variables before giving the final answer.

How many passes did your Technician need to take to get your carpets cleaned to SpotOFF’s standards? Each pass can add to the dry time.
What is the weather like? If it’s a hot humid Summer day versus a cool breezy Fall day, you may want to expect a little more dry time.
Air movement is the biggest factor in determining the dry time. In general, ask your SpotOFF IICRC Certified Technician what he/she thinks and how you may be able to reduce your drying time.

HOW SAFE ARE YOUR TECHNIQUES AND CHEMICALS?

We only use certified safe cleaning agents, along with Green products upon request. All products used are completely safe for your family and pets. We never use abrasive chemicals that leave behind harmful residues. Our techniques for carpet cleaning to water extraction are proven to be the safest in the industry.

SPOT REMOVAL

Reference your carpet manufactures warranty information, at the bottom of this page are links to the 3 major carpet mills in the USA.

After referencing the Warranty information you may find it useful to follow instructions given by The Carpet and Rug Institute:

Act Quickly! Most carpet available today has been treated with a stain-resist treatment, so many spills can be removed if immediate action is taken. The longer the delay, the higher the probability of a spill becoming a permanent stain. Remember, staining is influenced by many factors, and no carpet is completely stain proof.
Blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or white (no printing) paper towels.
Do not scrub the area! Scrubbing can cause pile distortion in the affected area. Continue to use a dry cloth or paper towels until the area is completely dry. For semi-solids, gently scrape up with a rounded spoon. Solids should be broken up and vacuumed until completely removed.
If the spot can be identified, locate the substance in the spot removal computer and follow the directions carefully.
Pretest any spot removal agent in an inconspicuous area to make certain the solution will not damage the fiber or the dye. After applying several drops to the testing area, hold a white cloth on the wet area for 10 seconds. Examine the carpet and cloth for color transfer, color change, or damage to the carpet. If a change occurs, another cleaning solution should be selected.
Apply a small amount of the selected cleaning solution to a white cloth, allow to sit for about 10 minutes and work in gently.
Work from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent the spill from spreading. Do not scrub! Blot, absorbing as much as possible, and repeat if necessary.
Continue using the first cleaning solution as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. It is not necessary to use all of the cleaning solutions if the first solution removes the spill. Be patient! Complete removal of the spill may require repeating the same step several times.
After the spill has been completely removed, rinse the affected area thoroughly with cold water, and blot with a dry cloth until all of the solution has been removed. Some cleaning solutions will cause rapid soiling if the solution is not completely removed. Apply a one-half inch layer of white paper towels to the affected area, and weigh down with a flat, heavy object. Continue to change paper towels as needed.
Many fiber manufacturers provide toll-free cleaning assistance and advice.

STEAM CLEANING vs DRY CLEANING

Steam cleaning is useful for a complete restoration of your carpet and extraction of the oily sticky soils that vacuuming and dry cleaning simply cannot get out.

Most dry cleaning methods use a solution that is sprayed down, and using what looks like a large buffing pad, there is an attempt to get the dirt to transfer to the bonnet from the carpet. I relate this to a baseball player “dusting” himself off after sliding into second, it’s not the same as washing.

SpotOFF or Spot OFF?

Share your thoughts but we like SpotOFF over Spot OFF, and since its inception our clients agree.