10 Important Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Carpet Cleaning Service

There comes a time when you want the carpet cleaning professionals to be standing right next to your door. You can’t wait any longer to get rid of the funky smell or stubborn stains. It is tempting to hire the first cleaning company you see or hear about. It, indeed, is easy but the risks are not worth it.

Carpet cleaning is an art and science that can go horribly wrong. You will be left with no other option but to replace the entire carpet. Some cleaning companies hire people without adequate training and a single mistake can affect the longevity of your carpet.

The best approach is to conduct a short interview of each carpet cleaning company before making the deal. It takes a bit of your time but most likely you will get in touch with reliable carpet cleaning services.

The interview must include the following ten questions. Writing down the details helps you keep tabs on them later. It is easy to contrast and compare different services.

1. How Long Have You Been In Service?

The most important question is about the experience. In general, the longer a company has been in service, the better they get at their job. Years of carpet cleaning provides them with skill and expertise that cannot be achieved by any other means. Hiring an experienced company has another perk. It is very easy to check their reputation among locals.

2. Are Your Workers IICIC Certified?

There may not be a college degree to check but you need to ask about the certification of the employees. Any carpet cleaning company should have adequate certification from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). The certification is the primary proof of the professionalism and dedication of the company.

3. Which Cleaning Methods Do You Offer

There are several different methods used for carpet cleaning. The most popular methods are hot water extraction, steam cleaning, and dry cleaning. Different companies have varying levels of expertise with these conventional carpet cleaning methods. You need to ask about the expertise and preferred method for your needs.  If you are living with kids and pets your preferences will be different from a commercial building.

4. What Equipment Do You Use?

Carpet cleaning is all about the quality of expertise of the professional and the quality of the equipment. Any of these can’t do well without the other. Once you are sure about the certifications and experience it is best to ask the details about the equipment. Your question could be as simple as “Do you use a newer truck-mounted hot water extraction system?” or it may target specificities.

5. Do You Use Safe Chemicals?

Investigating the preferred cleaning method of a company is pretty important but don’t skimp on the chemicals. Nonprofessional carpet cleaners try to cover up their lack of expertise by using harsh chemicals. These may clean the fabric temporarily but reduce the lifespan of your carpet. Harsh chemicals are also unsafe for our environment. Make sure the company is using safe chemicals approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

6. Are Your Employees Insured?

A lot of homeowners do ask questions about the professional expertise of the employees but forget this important question. Prefer a company with insured employees. These basic questions ensure that any of the employee’ injuries or accidents will be covered up by the insurance company. You will not be held responsible for the liabilities.

7. Do You Offer A Written Service Guarantee?

A carpet cleaning company that ticks all other boxes but does not provide a written service guarantee is shady. The best service providers are quite confident about their expertise and back up their work with guarantees. After all, the primary purpose of hiring a professional carpet cleaning company is to ensure quality service with no fear of costly mistakes.

8. What Are The Costs?

One of the most important questions for most of the homeowners is about the cleaning costs. Experts suggest requesting quotes from different carpet cleaners. Study the estimate to check the cost computation methods, cost of the materials, water bills, and service charges. The best cleaners are transparent about their cost estimates. Beware of the too-good-to-be-true offers. They are scams.

9. How Much Time Will You Take?

Carpet cleaning has two main phases, the actual cleaning and drying process. In most cases, drying takes longer than washing and cleaning. Inquire about the typical service hours and drying times. The time estimates depend on the degree of carpet soiling, size of the carpet, and equipment used by the company.

10. Can You Provide References?

Once you have all the information you need, it is best to verify it from previous customers. Request references and contact them to validate the information provided by the company.