HOW TO AVOID 4 CARPET CLEANING RIP-OFFS

RIP-OFF #1: UNBELIEVABLY LOW PRICE.

To some degree, all of us are attracted by low price because we want to work within a budget.  But some carpet cleaners use price as the bait for their false and misleading advertising.  They offer a cheap price–ususally between $4.95 and $9.95 per room, and then, once they’re in your home, they pressure you into buying “extras.”  It’s as if you were buying a car and found that the dealer was charging you extra for the tires and steering wheel.  Carpet cleaning is not as cheap as some unethical companies would like you to believe.

RIP-OFF #2: BAIT AND SWITCH.

Dual process carpet cleaning describes the process of applying a detergent or heavy preconditioning, followed with hot water extraction or rinsing.  Unfortunately, unethical carpet cleaners often use dual process as a bait-and-switch technique.  Here’s how it’s done:  First they “bait” you with a basic cleaning  (single process) at an unbelievably low price.  Then, when they arrive, they try to “switch” you to more expensive dual-process cleaning.  If you don’t fall for their switch and choose their basic service, you’ll likely receive poor workmanship using little more  than plain water and they will not guarantee their work.

RIP- OFF #3: UNSUPPORTED CLAIMS.  “THIS CLEANING METHOD IS THE BEST.”

You’ll read this in almost every ad.  You’ll hear this from virtually every carpet cleaner.  Remember this:  the method that’s best for you is the method that achieves your goal.  If you want a method that dries quickly, then a method that takes a long time to dry isn’t the best for you.  So before you choose a carpet cleaner, identify your objectives.  Then select the method that best reaches those objectives.  Making sure the company stands behind their work with a 100% money-back guarantee lets you know they’re serious about doing the job right.

RIP-OFF #4: OUTDATED BELIEFS “CLEANED CARPETS TAKE DAYS TO DRY.”

Years ago many people believed you had to soak your carpets with lots of soaps and water to get them clean.  But today we know this is false.  Over wetting and sticky soaps can cause mold and bacteria problems as well as damage the carpet and floor beneath.  Obviously each carpet cleaner will be biased towards his own method, and each method does have advantages.  I suggest a good place to start is by making sure the company you choose is a CRI (Carpet & Rug Institute) accredited firm with trained, certified technicians who know how to properly clean all types of carpets and perform advanced spotting.