Rugs

New and old carpeting begins to soil over time.  As people walk in the house with shoes on, pets come inside after romping in the yard, and everyday pollution settles, the carpets gets dirty.  To keep your rugs looking brand new, while also eliminating dirt and extending their life, one of the best options is to hire a professional rug cleaner.  While some companies are reputed, and operated by highly trained individuals, others are not.  Therefore, to ensure clean carpets that are not damaged, learning all you can about a company is imperative.

Remember, not all carpet-cleaning companies are equal.  In fact, most of the companies that provide rug cleaner services send out workers that are not certified or properly trained.  The result is inappropriate cleaning products or improper methods used that actually cause slight or even permanent damage.  Here are some tips to help you make the right choice.

• IICRC Certification - One of the most important things to look for when hiring a rug cleaner is an IICRC certified company.  These companies are 100% dedicated to providing both cleaning and restoration services using the highest industry standards in existence.  These companies work with professionalism and integrity, carry liability insurance, and use special programs to ensure every customer is given quality service.

• Carpet and Rug Institute - Another tip for choosing the best rug cleaner is finding companies that hold current membership to the Carpet and Rug Institute.  In addition to having the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval, the companies must use only the most innovative equipment and approved cleaning products on the market.

• Research and Comparison Shopping - As mentioned, unless the rug cleaner chosen is a  well-known one, there is always the risk of the person showing up to do the job not possessing the right skills.  For this reason, you want to spend a little time researching top choices, weighing pros and cons of each, and asking specific questions.  For instance, you need to ask whether the person doing the work is an actual employee or a sub-contractor.  The reason is that an employee would be a dedicated part of the team whereas a sub-contractor may or may not do a good job since the same level of commitment would not be in place.  Unfortunately, some companies market themselves as being carpet cleaning professionals but often hire sub-contractors that submit the lowest bid.

• Steam versus Dry - In addition, understanding the differences between steam and dry processes, as well as other techniques is important.  Interestingly, when it comes to choosing the rug cleaner method, they are all good but each technique works for specific fiber types.  In some instances, carpets may need to be cleaned with more than one technique.  For this reason, we strongly recommend you choose a company that offers several purifier options and provides guidance to what you need based on your flooring type.