A Word On Area Rugs...

It's been a while since I've posted but now we're back to our regularly scheduled weekly tips and tidbits...

Area rugs should not get the same treatment as your wall-to-wall carpet!

Many area rugs such as fine oriental rugs are very costly and are made from fragile natural fibers, dyes, and foundation materials that cannot be cleaned in the way we usually clean synthetic carpets (such as nylon, olefin, and polyester).

Most professional carpet cleaning systems involve the use of high heat, high water pressure, extreme agitation, and intense chemical activity. Most area rugs cannot be cleaned using these tactics. A more gentle “hand washing” process must be used to safely clean area rugs.

Because more time is involved in hand washing and more complex cleaning products must be utilized to avoid damaging the fibers and dyes, you would expect that area rug cleaning would be more costly than standard carpet cleaning. It is.

WHY AREA RUGS ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO CLEAN…

• Because of the dense pile construction of area rugs, dirt particles work their way down through the fibers - to the backing foundation of the rug where they cannot be removed by ordinary vacuuming.
  
• This loose grit wreaks havoc on your rug’s delicate fibers, causing a cutting abrasive action as you walk on the rug. Abrasion accounts for fiber loss (wear) and embedded soil stains.
  
• Other types of soil including food particles and pet oils “hide” in the dense pile, making your rugs an ideal haven for germs, bacteria, and other nasty creatures such as dust mites!
  
• Dust mites are too small to be seen but are the most common cause of year-round allergy and asthma. They live in mattresses, pillows, carpets, rugs, furniture, bedcovers, and clothes – anywhere they can feed on dead flakes of human skin.
  
• All foreign pollutants in your rugs should be removed by professional cleaning on a regular basis to keep your rugs “healthy”.
  
• We use a unique and thorough high-volume clear water rinse extraction process. You see, the amount of water used to clean area rugs is directly proportional to the amount of soil removed in the rinsing process.

HOW TO GET YOUR RUGS PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED

We can arrange for a pickup and delivery of your rugs for a small fee. Please call 575-623-0993 for an appointment. Your high traffic rugs should be lightly cleaned several times a year and thoroughly cleaned at least once a year professionally. Low traffic area rugs should be cleaned every 2-3 years to rinse away accumulated dust and soil. Even if the rug doesn’t LOOK dirty…it should be routinely washed.

Rich Cleaner Conference, Catching the Flight

We're back from the conference! Boy was it a fun but exhausting time. Before I forget all the details, I have to tell you guys a hilarious story about us catching our flight home....

So Victor, Soco and I are at the Platinum Meeting Lunch eating away and listening to Joe's team. I look at my watch and it's 1:30. They said they were only going to stay 30 min and it's been about 30 min and nobody is making a move to leave. So I go back to eating. I check my watch again. It's 1:45 and I'm thinking I better say something or else we're gonna miss our flight. So I ask Soco what time we're leaving and she says 1:30. I tell her it's 1:45 and she freaks out and tells Victor. So we say our goodbyes to everyone (still didn't get our pic taken with Joe and Lisa) and rush out the door.

[Cut to freeway]

We're driving around trying to figure out where to drop the rental car off. We finally get to the drop off point and begin the process of trying to get all the stuff we can't take in our carry-ons into one bag to check in. Than we literally run through the terminal to the shuttle bus. (I still haven't crammed my books into my carry on so I'm having to run with them)

Now picture this. How many of you remember the part in the Home Alone movies where the family is running through the terminal to catch their flight? Ok, that was us. LOL! It was hilarious. I wish someone had been there to get it on tape. And what's even funnier is I had the exact music they play during those scenes in my head.

So we make it to the bus, which by the way is so crammed full of people we have to stand up.

{cut to airport}

We're running like the McAllister's towards the check in counter only to find out they can't check the bag because we were supposed to have done that 40 min. before our flight was scheduled to leave. So we stand there debating whether to let them chuck our stuff, some of which is expensive, or to take the next flight out at about 6 and not get home till after midnight. (stupid 3oz rule)

{cut to inside terminal}

Yup. We decided to let them chuck our stuff. (Thankfully, they didn't toss my clinique so I'm happy about that. And I'm getting reimbursed for the rest so it's good.) So we're running AGAIN towards the security checkpoint and arrive sweating like pigs and thirsty as camels. (Lovely visual image eh?) and...AND the escalator is broken so we have to drag our luggage up the stairs. (can you say Body for Life?)

After finally making it through security, Soco and I take off towards to gate while Victor stays behind to watch them chuck our stuff.

By now your probably wondering what else could possibly go wrong. Well.....Soco and I were in such a hurry that we weren't paying attention to the signs and went the wrong way. And THAN she thought she heard them paging her for final boarding. So we take off in the right direction a la McAllister yet again. Only Soco can't really run too fast in heels so she yells at me to go ahead of her. So I'm going as fast as I can berating myself for not being in better shape the whole time. I get to the right gate this time and it turns out they've only started to board.

Now keep in mind that by this time I'm feeling like I'm gonna pass out so you can imagine how perturbed I was to learn that we had done all that running FOR NOTHING!!

And all this just to stay as long as possible for the Platinum meeting lunch. You guys should feel reeeeally special. LOL!

Thinking of Getting Your Carpet Cleaned?

This is actually last weeks post. There won't be one this week since we're going to the Rich Cleaners Conference in Phoenix, AZ which is sure to be fun and informative. If you want more information about the conference, visit http://www.richcleaner.com/ruiz . And now on with the show...

Here are 4 things you should consider before getting your carpets cleaned.

1. Recommendation #1: Make A Commitment To Yourself To Get Your Carpets Cleaned.
   Carpets should be cleaned at least annually if not more often for a healthier indoor environment! Take action.
   
2. Recommendation #2: List Your Objectives.
   -Do you want only the dirt removed, something you could do with a rented machine.
   -Or do you want the bacteria, fungus and chemicals removed, which will require a hot water truck mount cleaner, like we use.
   -Do you want to work with an honest, reputable company -- or are you willing to risk working with the company that offers you the lowest price -- knowing that company might not be in business tomorrow.
   
3. Recommendation #3: Ask Questions.
   The way you learn about a company is to ask specific questions and listen carefully to the answers.
   
   Here are the questions we suggest you ask:
   
   1. What method of carpet cleaning do you recommend?
   2. What type of equipment do you use to clean carpet?
   3. What does your equipment remove from my carpet?
   4. How often should I get my carpets cleaned?
   5. What training have you had in cleaning carpets?
   6. Are you a member of any trade associations and, if so, which ones?
   7. Are you certified by the IICRC and will you show me your certificate?
   
4. Recommendation #4: Once You're Satisfied That You're Working With An Honest, Competent Professional, Invite Him Into Your Home And Ask For A Specific Quotation In Writing.
   
   A written quotation (in our case we offer A FREE carpet audit) gives you the assurance that you know exactly what your job will cost -- no surprises. Instead of giving you a low ball rough guess on the cost of cleaning your carpets over the phone just so I can get my foot in the door like so may companies do, we offer an In-Home Carpet Audit.
   Now this is not like a simple estimate, where some guy comes and measures your home and gives you a one size fits all price. No.
   
   Here's exactly what we do: We cover all the problems your carpet has. We check for 'unwanted' stains abd tell you whether or not they can be removed and how. This includes pet stains and other difficult stains.
   

By following these four recommendations, you'll gain all the information you need to make an informed, intelligent decision.

Here's one last point: I know that many consumers are skeptical about carpet cleaning companies. So be sure you choose a cleaner that guarantees their work. For example, our guarantee is that “You will enjoy the most professional, thorough cleaning experience OR we will return and clean any area again, Free! If you still aren’t pleased, we will pay any other competitor in town to re-clean your carpet!”

Attention Homeowners…Three Mistakes Smart People Make When Choosing A Carpet Cleaner. Discover Insider’s Secrets…

I want you to avoid common misconceptions exploited by uneducated, uninformed, & sometimes downright unscrupulous carpet cleaners!

Mistake #1: The Company That Offers The Lowest Price Is The Company You Should Hire.
This is the most common mistake that can lead a consumer into trouble. To some degree, all of us are attracted by low price because we want to work within a budget.
Here are two important points to consider.

Point #1: The Price You See Offered May Not Be For The Services You Want Performed.

Low price can mean cheap equipment, supermarket soaps or detergents and probably a self-taught carpet cleaner. So, if you want to remove the harmful dirt, bacteria, pollens, chemicals and tobacco residues -- so for starters, you need to hire a company that uses a state of the art truck mounted unit.

This equipment is not cheap! I have invested over 75K on my equipment alone for good reason: More and more families want the good-health benefits that come from having fresh, clean carpet.

Secondly, you want to consider the delivery of the service. Meaning…
Have you ever had the feeling that a company doesn’t care about your busy schedule? We see that in all industries. Or that you’re being overcharged for unsatisfactory work or the cleaning takes days to dry? Does the technician’s poor dress and grooming make you feel uneasy? Do you have to take time off to supervise?

So remember that the price you see offered may not be for the services you want performed. Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.

Point #2: The Price You See Advertised May Not Be The Price You Pay.

Some have learned the hard way that some carpet cleaners offer a cheap price -- as low as $9.95per room -- and then pressure you into paying a lot more once they get inside your home.
Some of them may even break the law by using illegal bait and switch tactics. If you don’t fall for their switch and choose their basic service, you’ll likely receive poor workmanship using little or no chemicals, and they will not guarantee their work.

I take no pleasure in telling you this, but some are unethical -- and, sadly, a few are dishonest. By their misleading advertising and false promises, they cast a dark shadow on our entire industry. Then you'll find other carpet cleaners -- professionals who work hard to earn your trust and respect. You can find ethical carpet cleaners by visiting http://www.ethicalservices.com/.

Mistake #2: Any Honest Carpet Cleaning Company Should Be Able To Give You An Exact Price Quote Over The Telephone.

I wish this were true, but it isn't. First, honest, reputable carpet cleaning companies consider several factors when pricing carpet cleaning.

One factor is the exact square footage. So, to get an accurate measurement, a laser device or measuring wheel is used to calculate the exact size of the carpet area. The price is based on at least 3 factors: the type of carpet, the amount of soiling, because heavily soiled carpet takes longer to clean; and the square footage.

Beware that a quote should not be given on the phone.
Read on for Mistake #1... Plus I'll offer four recommendations, and I'll give you seven questions you should ask a carpet cleaner before you invite him into your home.

Mistake #3: The Only Reason To Clean Carpets Is To Get Out The Dirt.
No. As you probably know, outdoor air contains pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust -- and hundreds of other bad things.

When you and your family members come into your home, you carry those pollens, bacteria and chemicals in your hair and on your skin, clothing and shoes. Not surprisingly, all those chemicals, pollens and bacteria wind up -- you guessed it -- in your carpet. If you have allergies, asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problems -- one major source of your problem could be the pollens, fungus, and bacteria in your carpet. If you're sensitive to dust mites (who can lay 60-80 eggs a day!) and their feces, you might find that you'll breath easier after you hire a company to get those nasty creatures out of your carpet. So in addition to getting rid of dirt, another important reason to clean your carpet is to get rid of pollens, fungus, bacteria, chemicals and the tars and residue from tobacco smoke.

For a recent news story on bait-n-switch tactics take a look at the video below.