Furniture Removal | Atlanta Carpet Cleaning Shop

May 25, 2009

Preparing for Carpet Cleaning

Filed under: carpet cleaning — Tags: accessibility, carpet cleaning, closets, draperies, furniture removal, pets, preparation — benq @ 6:17 pm

Before having a professional carpet cleaning service come to your home, there are a few things that should be done in preparation to make things go as easy as possible for everyone involved. The reasons for this type of preparation is for safety, speed, and to improve the overall quality of the cleaning.

Before the service truck arrives, all furniture items on the carpet should be removed off the carpet so that the cleaners have easy access. In the same way, the removal of smaller items such as magazines, toys, and so on will make everything easier. In order for the carpet to be cleaned, access to all areas must be made. However, removal of large items such as beds or desks is not necessary. Carpet cleaners will work around such items to access the carpet underneath them as well as possible.

Fragile items and any breakable items should be removed and placed in a safe spot for protection.

Cats and dogs should be partitioned off in a safe space which is well ventilated (an open window works well), and in which does not contain any carpet that will be cleaned. The animals will need to remain here for many hours. (It is not possible to clean the carpets and then put animals right back on the carpet due to the length of time it takes for carpets to dry.)

This one is a bit ironic, but nevertheless, it is recommended that you either make certain that the carpet cleaners will do a pre-cursor carpet vacuum with a traditional vacuum cleaner before applying the stronger cleaning methods, or simply vacuum your own carpets before they arrive. Carpet cleaning definitely starts with a simple vacuum to remove free debri, dirt, and hair that is at the top level of the carpet fibers.

If the carpet extends into the closet and this area is to be cleaned as well, be sure there are no hanging clothes which touch the carpet. For instance, skirts and suits might need to be pinned upward or hung from a doorway in another part of the house while the carpets are cleaned. This should be done to protect clothing and make the carpet accessible. Additionally, if your carpet extends into your kitchen, all kitchen furniture should be removed as well for easy access to the carpet.

Draperies and curtains often hang down and touch the carpet. These items will need to be pinned upward or otherwise made so that they are not touching the carpet in order to protect the draperies and make the carpet underneath them accessible for cleaning.

photo credit: Paragon Apartments

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May 23, 2009

Carpet Cleaning FAQ

Filed under: FAQ, carpet cleaning — Tags: carpet cleaning, dry time, FAQ, furniture removal, jute, pets, shrinkage, vacuuming — benq @ 6:49 pm

Do I need to remove my furniture and other items before having the carpets cleaned?

Yes and no. Furniture containing easily breakable items (such as a china cabinet) needs to be removed or cleared out. Other furniture items can be worked around. Items such as couches and loveseats should be removed if possible. Carpet cleaners will assess this before starting, so the best thing is to do what you can before they arrive and then they will let you know if anything else needs to be removed or is otherwise a concern.

How long does it take the carpets to dry?

Usually it only takes about 3 hours for the carpets to dry after a thorough cleaning. In some more humid environments it can take a much longer time (up to 15 hours), but for most, the average is just around 3 or 4 hours.

What do I do with my pets?

Pets will need to be taken out of any rooms with carpets while they are being cleaned and until they are fully dried, which takes anywhere from 3 to 4 hours but sometimes even up to 15 hours depending on the type of cleaning and the humidity of the home/environment.

Is it true that some carpet cleaning methods eventually cause shrinkage in the carpet fibers?

This was once true, however it is no longer a concern. A material called jute used to be regularly used as a backing inside the carpet. When jute becomes wet, it shrinks – and certain carpet cleaning methods caused enough wetness to make this happen. The good news is that nearly all carpets made today (and for some time now) no longer uses jute, instead the carpets have a synthetic backing.

If however, you are in the market for new carpets, take a look at this recommended Atlanta Carpet Installation company.

Do I really have to vacuum my carpet before paying for someone else to clean it?

Some carpet cleaning companies include a pre-cleaning vacuum service as part of the procedure. And likewise, some do not, and will ask the homeowner to vacuum before there arrival. It is important that the carpets be vacuumed before any intense cleaning in order to remove the upper layers of dirt on the carpet. The cleaning will then target the lower levels or embedded dirt, dust, etc.

How often should I have my carpets professionally cleaned?

This is a great question! We recommened for long-lasting, healthy, clean carpets that you get them cleaned every 12 months. You can’t go wrong getting the carpets cleaned once a year! And in the long run, your carpets and your home will certainly reap the most benefit!

What about my wood floors?

Cleaning wood floors is a whole different ball game than carpet cleaning, but the good news is that most carpet cleaning companies also offer the services to clean your wooden floors. Ask and find out! You might qualify for a discount if you use more than one cleaning service from the same company!

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