FAQs

What is the standard drying time when a carpet is cleaned?

Depending on fiber type and the condition of your carpet you can usually expect a drying time of 8 – 12 hours. Sometimes, depending on the weather, it can take longer – up to 24 hours – but this is rare. Note: Avoid ads that promise a 2 – 4 hour dry time as this is impossible even with drying machines. It takes a significant amount of water to achieve a deep full clean. That amount requires some time to dissipate.

How can I get pet odor out of my carpet?

Most consumers without specialized chemicals and extraction equipment may not be able to completely remove pet urine from carpet or area rugs, because many products only provide temporary relief.
Professionals have enzyme deodorants or powerful oxidizing agents that digest or destroy odor causing protein and/or bacteria that are the source of urine odor. More importantly, they have efficient extraction cleaning equipment that is able to flush, suspend or dissolve residues from the carpet to leave it residue and odor free.
Remember that if the animal still resides in the house, he or she will almost inevitably re-mark his or her territory, thereby causing the odor to return.

How soon can I walk on the carpet?

The carpet is safe to walk on in just 3 – 4 hours but try to keep pets, children and heavy traffic off the carpet during the drying process (8 – 12 hrs). Wait 24 hours before removing foam blocks and protective tabs that the technicians have placed under the furniture to protect the carpet.

Why should I have my carpets protected?

3M SCOTCHGUARD carpet protection helps you in two very important ways:
When this protective coating is applied to the carpet fibers, it puts a protective barrier around each fiber. This protective barrier resists moisture. So, when you do have a spill, it gives you a window of time to get it cleaned up.
The other important way this product helps you is in the area of wear. Having this protective coating on your carpet helps reduce the wear and abrasion caused by sand in the carpet. This protects the carpet from excessive matting, and in turn will cause your carpet to perform better.

Can you get out recurring stains?

If a spot returns a day or two after cleaning, it may be due to the nature of the spot. Deep stains tend to surface if they are in the backing of the carpet. I make follow up calls after all of my jobs to check on this rarely occurring condition. If needed I make a return visit at no charge.

How often should a carpet be cleaned?

The frequency of cleaning will vary from one household to another, depending on the number of occupants and the level of usage. At a minimum, you should clean once a year. I have had some clients express concern that once their carpet is cleaned it will resoil more quickly. This concern is usually a result of improper cleanings by other carpet cleaners they have had in the past. Many of these companies, in an effort to cut costs and save time, will buy less expensive cleaning solutions, won’t properly train their technicians, and will not offer a separate rinse step in order to remove detergent residue. If detergent is left in the carpet, accelerated re-soiling will occur. I use a more thorough method of cleaning that uses a rinse step after the pre-spray process. This method removes deep down soil and leaves no detergents to accelerate the re-soiling process. The fact is the best thing you can do for your carpets is to have them regularly cleaned by a qualified professional carpet cleaning company. It is the build-up of soil that promotes wear to your carpet more than foot traffic. Foot traffic grinds the soil against the carpet fibers and causes a sandpaper effect. This will cause the fibers to dull and become worn looking.

Why does my carpet feel stiff after it has dried?

Stiffness is caused by operator error – improper use of solutions creating a ph imbalance resulting in residue. Higens Carpet Cleaning can correct pre-existing problems and restore a balanced ph leaving your carpets soft – cleaner – and without residue.