Mistakes to avoid when choosing a carpet cleaner

MISTAKE #1:
Choosing a carpet cleaner based on equipment alone. No question, your carpet cleaner needs first rate equipment. But they also need something else. They need employees who are skilled at operating that equipment. Many companies own hot water extractors, but very few companies train their employees on how to use them properly. The best way to know that the carpet cleaner’s employees have been properly trained is to make sure the cleaner has been certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). BEFORE YOU CHOOSE A CARPET CLEANER, ASK TO SEE WRITTEN PROOF OF THE COMPANY’S AND THE TECHNICIAN’S IICRC CERTIFICATION.
 
MISTAKE #2:
Choosing a carpet cleaner based on low price. Low price could be a problem in three ways: (1) Low price can be the bait that attracts your phone call. But once the technician gets into your home, you are pressured into a much more expensive job. (2) Low price can be for single process cleaning. Rarely does the consumer know what this means, and when told, asks for dual-process cleaning instead, which costs
much more. (3) Low price means the carpet cleaner may have cheap equipment, which will not effectively clean your carpet.
 
MISTAKE #3:
Choosing a carpet cleaner who doesn’t offer a money back guarantee. In my view, every carpet cleaning company should be fully accountable for its work. And if you are not pleased with the job in every way, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Period. Not all carpet cleaners offer a guarantee. Or, if they do, the guarantee may ‘limited.’ Ask the carpet cleaner if they offer a money back guarantee and then make sure the carpet cleaner includes this guarantee in their quotation or invoice.
 
MISTAKE #4:
Choosing a carpet cleaner without first getting recommendations from friends, relatives, the HOA/PORA, and even the carpet cleaners clients.
 
MISTAKE #5:
Choosing a carpet cleaner who isn’t certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).
 If your carpet cleaner isn’t a close friend, you may not know whether they have the knowledge or experience to clean your carpet well. If you want to be sure you’re hiring a competent professional, make sure they are IICRC certified. The carpet cleaner must earn that certification through study, experience and successful completion of formal and written examinations. In effect, cleaners who are certified by the IICRC have earned a college degree in carpet cleaning.
 
MISTAKE #6:
Choosing a carpet cleaner who does not use a truck mounted, hot water extraction system.

You might expect this from me, since I use this type of system. But there are several good reasons. Portable hot water systems are good, but they are not as good as truck mounted systems. Truck mounted systems are the Rolls Royce’s of carpet cleaners. Compared with portable hot water systems, truck mounted systems use hotter water, higher pressure and stronger vacuum. So all the way around, you get a much better job. No two ways about it