MISCONCEPTION #2: THE ONLY REASON TO CLEAN CARPETS IS TO REMOVE THE DIRT.
NO. As you probably know, out door air contains pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust, and hundreds of other chemicals. When you come into your home, you carry those pollens, bacteria and chemicals in your hair and on your skin, clothing and shoes. Not surprisingly, those chemicals and toxins end up in your carpet. If you have allergies, asthma, emphysema or other breathing problems, one major source of your problem could be the pollens, fungus, smoke, and chemicals in your carpet.

MISCONCEPTION #3: ONE METHOD OF CARPET CLEANING IS AS GOOD AS THE OTHER.
NO. The dry cleaning methods, which are dry foam, Chemical Dry Cleaning, and dry compound, do not rinse your carpet in any way. Instead, they leave a dirty residue. You might say they clean your carpet only halfway. When asked which cleaning method is recommended to maintain the warranty of Dupont Stainmaster carpet. DuPont answers, “Most professionals use Hot Water Extraction…”

Hot water extraction means a hot water cleaning solution under high pressure is forced into your carpet and then vacuumed out of your carpet. Shaw Industries, the world’s largest, carpet manufacturer, also recommends hot water extraction as the primary method of cleaning carpets, along with an IICRC approved firm.

Carpet cleaners use one of two types of hot water extraction. If they use a large unit that operates from a van or truck outside your facility, it’s called truck-mount extraction. If they use a small unit that can be brought inside, it’s called portable extraction. Shaw’s first choice is the truck-mounted unit. They recommend the small, portable unit only in areas where the truck-mount won’t reach.

The truck-mount extraction cleans much better because it heats the water to a higher temperature, which breaks up the dirt, bacteria, chemicals and pollens in the carpet. Then the machine uses high suction to draw the dirt and chemicals out of your carpet. This is the method Conscientious Carpet Care uses to clean carpets.

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 very few companies teach their employees how to use them properly. This is why it’s important that you choose your carpet cleaner carefully. The best cleaning companies are those that have been certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, known as IICRC. Before you choose a carpet cleaner, ask to see written proof of the company’s IICRC certification and also the certification of the technician who is going to do the job. If they aren’t certified, don’t use them!

MISCONCEPTION #5: THE COMPANY THAT OFFERS THE LOWEST PRICE IS THE COMPANY YOU SHOULD HIRE.
NO. I’ve seen so many problems arise from lowest- bid companies that I suggest you NEVER hire the company that quotes the cheapest price. The two most common problems are:

(1) the price may not be for the services you want performed. The company may be equipped to remove only the dirt from your carpet. But you may want bacteria, fungus, pollens, dust mites and tobacco residues removed as well.
(2) the price you see advertised may not be the price you pay. Many homeowners have learned that the low price they saw advertised lasted only until the carpet cleaner got into their home. Then they were pressured into paying a lot more for a variety of add-ons. (Some carpet cleaners break the law by using illegal bait and switch tactics.)

MISCONCEPTION #6: ANY HONEST CARPET CLEANING COMPNAY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU AN EXACT PRICE QUOTE OVER THE TELEPHONE.

I WISH THIS WERE TRUE, BUT IT ISN’T.

Honest, reputable carpet cleaning companies almost never price carpet cleaning by the room. Instead, carpet cleaning is usually priced by the square foot. So if you’d like me to tell you the exact cost of cleaning your carpet, I need to know the exact number of square feet you want cleaned. To get an accurate measurement, I use a measuring wheel to calculate the exact size of the carpeted area.