Frequently Asked Questions

     Answers to the questions that Michael's receives the most

  1. How safe are your cleaning and protection methods?
  2. Do you guarantee your work?
  3. Are you registered with the IICRC?
  4. Is your staff bonded and insured?
  5. What process do you use to clean carpet?
  6. How long does the carpet take to dry?
  7. I've heard it's best to put off having your carpet cleaned as long as possible, is this true?
  8. Should I have my carpet dry cleaned or steam cleaned?
  9. Does your cleaning process soak the backing of the carpet?
  10. Can you get the pet odor out of my carpet?
  11. What does it mean to "clean the standards?
  12. Does the room have to be cleared!
  13. Will the stains come out?
  14. Will cleaning aggravate my allergies?
  15. What are thoes ugly black lines around the baseboards and under doorways?
  16. Do you clean berber carpet?
  17. Do you move furniture?
  18. Will carpet get dirty faster after it's cleaned

 

1. How safe are your cleaning and protection methods?

We use only the safest, most effective technology to assure not only your satisfaction, but your safety as well. We do not use any harsh chemicals, just pure, high-pressure steam.

2. Do you guarantee your work?

 We Guarantee Absolutely The Most Thorough Cleaning, EVER! Or It's FREE!!! Your satisfaction is our paramount concern. If you are not happy with the work we've done, please let us know. We will do everything in our power to rectify the problem and make you proud that you called us to clean your carpets.

3. Are you registered with the IICRC?

We are registered with the IICRC as a certified firm, as well as many other industry organizations.

4. Is your staff bonded and insured?

Because your safety and confidence mean so much, we bond and insure our staff.

5. What Process do you use to clean carpet?

Most of the carpet cleaning we do is the "hot water extraction" method, also known as "steam cleaning" This process is used by about 80% of all carpet cleaning companies across the country. Most major carpet manufacturers recommend hot water extraction as the preferred method of cleaning.

6. How long does the carpet take to dry?

The normal drying time is anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. With our "Quick Dry" process drying times can be reduced by as much as 50% of normal.

7. I've heard it's best to put off having your carpet cleaned as long as possible, is this true?

No. In fact, many of the major carpet mills today recommend professional cleaning at least once per year. The build up of soil in your carpet in combination with foot traffic creates abrasion that breaks down your carpet's fibers. The higher the traffic in a given area, the more often the carpet will need cleaning.

8. Should I have my carpet dry-cleaned or steam cleaned?

As mentioned earlier, most major carpet manufacturers now recommend hot water extraction (steam cleaning) as the preferred method. Like the laundering of your clothing, steam cleaning is highly effective in removing soil and other contaminants from your carpet. It is one of five carpet cleaning processes that are officially recognized as an industry standard.

To most people "dry cleaning" means cleaning without water. The fact is that most carpet cleaning advertised as "dry" cleaning actually uses anywhere from a little to a lot of water! That's because most of the soil in your carpet is water soluble. For the most part that means better results with a wet cleaning process. On the other hand each cleaning process has its place given the circumstances. For the majority of residential customers steam cleaning will deliver the most effective results.

At Michael's we offer all five of the industry standard cleaning processes. Each process can be effective depending on the right circumstances. For those who prefer a dry cleaning process, we offer "Dri-Vapor." "Dri-Vapor" is a unique and effective process that delivers good results with minimum water use. Drying times are brief with an average of 1 to 2 hours.

9. Does your cleaning process soak the backing of the carpet?

No, although our process rinses the carpet deep down, moisture does not penetrate the backing of the carpet. With our powerful truck-mounted powered equipment, your carpet is thoroughly rinsed, but left only damp to the touch.

10. Can you get the pet odor out of my carpet?

Pet odor is a very common problem. At Michael's we can help you deal with your pet challenges. From minor problems to major headaches Michael's can help find that solution that works best for you.

The problem with pet odor is that it can be much deeper than it first appears. Pet urine can easily soak through the backing of the carpet into the padding underneath. In more severe cases the urine can penetrate into the sub-floor beneath the padding. This creates a problem that is multi-layered.

The urine also provides for the growth of bacteria. This in turn contributes to a worsening of the odor problem and can contribute to permanent color loss of the carpet fiber.

To eliminate this problem the urine must be removed or neutralized from each of the layers affected. If the contamination is limited to only the face yarn of the carpet then the cleaning itself may effectively remove the odor. In more severe cases a urine neutralizer may be applied.

In the most severe cases, replacement of the carpet padding, treatment of the under-side of the carpet and the sub-floor may be required. Even replacement of the carpet, however, can not guarantee complete removal of the odor.

Left untreated over a period of time pet odor can become absorbed into many of the porous materials in your home. Draperies, sheet rock, upholstered furniture, baseboards, even the concrete foundation are just a few of the materials that can absorb these odors.

Michael's offers a range of solutions to help you with your pet odor problems. In the long run, however, it may be more a matter of proper maintenance instead of total elimination. After all, we love our pets and want to keep them a part of our family. Pet ownership adds to the challenge of maintaining a clean and healthy home. At Michael's we can help you meet those challenges.

11. What does it mean to "clean to the standards?"

In 1992, representatives from the carpet manufacturing industry, the carpet cleaning industry, and the federal government all agreed upon a common set of standards for the carpet cleaning industry. These standards are now referred to as the ISO1-92 standards. Michael's offers all of these methods and can select the process that's right for your needs.

It was agreed that each of these cleaning processes should include these common steps.

  1. Pre-Vacuum
  2. Pre-treat spots, stains and heavily soiled areas
  3. Hot Water Extraction
  4. A thorough rinse
  5. Furniture Moving
  6. Complete Drying within 24 hours

Cleaning your carpet in accordance to these industry standards will help assure that you'll get a quality-cleaning job.

Michael's "12-step cleaning service" exceeds these specifications. In addition to these steps we have powerful truck-mounted equipment combined with our exclusive "Quick-Dry" process reduces drying time to only a few hours.

12. Does the room have to be cleared?

No. But it does help if any breakable items (i.e. China, glassware etc.) are removed from the room, including those inside cabinets that will have to be moved. It would also help the technician if small items of furniture are also removed, such as waste paper bins, paper racks etc. The technician will then move the items, clean and put the back in position placing protector pads and foam blocks beneath the item to prevent staining from loose wood dye or rust from metal studs under the legs transferring onto the carpet.
 

13. Will all the stains come out?

Most stains will come out during the cleaning process. Some of the more difficult dye stains may need some specialized treatment to deal with them. Any success at removing these types of stains is often diminished by home remedies that have already been used before the technician is called out to deal with them. The technician will know the fiber content of the carpet/fabric and if the stain can be identified an outcome may be predicted.

14. Will cleaning aggravate my allergies?

 No. We have just the right cleaning agents formulated for those with Allergies. It utilizes natural oxygen released during the cleaning process to brighten textiles and destroy microorganisms. Contains No Solvents, No Butyl, No Surfactants, No Soaps, and No Chlorides.

15.What are those ugly black lines around the baseboards and under doorways?

If you have light colored carpet, you may have experienced these dark lines that appear on the carpet. This soiling is called Filtration Soiling because it comes from air passing through the carpet as it is attempting to get through the crack between the carpet and the baseboard or under a closed door. As the air passes through the edge of the carpet pile, this microscopic soiling is deposited there (hence the term filtration soiling). 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 special tools, products, time and effort, reasonable results can be achieved.
To help prevent filtration soiling, vacuum and wipe the edges of the carpeting on a regular basis. Be careful around the tack strip under the edge of the carpeting, it could nick your fingers!

16. Do you clean Berber carpet?

Yes, we do. Most of our competitors hate Berber carpet because they can’t get them clean let alone get it dry. We use specialized techniques to clean this style of carpet.

 

17. Do you move furniture?

Yes.We move light objects such as couches or chairs and coffee tables. However, we cannot move large items such as  beds, dressers, pianos, curio cabinets, entertainment centers or any electronic equipment. Firearms of any type will not be handled by Michael's staff.

18. Will carpet get dirty faster after it's cleaned?

No. This old wives tale can be traced back to the days when carpets were cleaned with the shampoo method. The shampoo residue did cause rapid re-soiling. Today's modern synthetic detergents and clear rinse methods will not leave a sticky residue behind. Our method uses only soft water and a small amount of very effective cleaning agent. The end result is a clean carpet that will stay cleaner longer and be better able to withstand future soiling. An application of 3M Scotchgard™ is also recommended after cleaning to restore soil and stain resistance that wears off over time.