Thursday, March 19, 2015

Why hire a professional carpet cleaner


Why hire a professional carpet cleaner?


Eliminate the need to rent a machine
This is probably the biggest reason to hire a professional rather than go at it yourself. When you add up the cost of the carpet cleaning machine, the cost of the cleaning chemicals and the additional tools you may need to do stairs or upholstery you are not saving all that much and the rental or homeowner cleaners are no where near as powerful as professional carpet cleaning systems.
Different types of carpet
There are many different types of carpet on the market, nylon, berber, wool and so on. Professionals have the skills and knowledge to determine what type of carpet you have and what type of cleaning agents will work best without damaging the carpet.
Sanitizing
A true professional will be using powerful  equipment capable  of high pressure that is needed to get a deep clean that will remove germs, dust mites and other contaminates found deep in the carpet pile.
Difficult spots and stains
There are many different types of stains, some can be very challenging such as urine,  dyes found in lots of chilcrens drinks  the types of specialty spottersneeded to remove these are just not available to the public.
The physical aspect
Carpet cleaning is very strenuous work, just lugging the machine to and from the store is enough to cause back pain and the actual cleaning is even harder work.
Inferior cleaning
The  equipment available for rent is with out a doubt leaving dirt and soil behind. The vacuum motors in this type of equipment are no comparison to the what the pros use. Not only is dirt being left behind but usually too much water and cleaning agents are left behind as well. Over wetting can cause mold, mildew and odors. Leaving chemicals behind will cause faster re soiling from sticky residue.

Cleanbright the Dublin carpet cleaner www.cleanbrightcarpet.eu


Sunday, October 12, 2014

Chicken curry stain removal

We all love Chicken curry but what if we leave a stain on our sofa or carpet heres a good article i found on the web                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        If the curry stain is on upholstery or the carpet, you have a bit more work cut out for you since you can’t exactly fit your sofa in the washing machine.
However, the effort required to remove curry stains from carpets or furniture is not all that tough. Curry is organic material and does not contain harsh staining chemical ingredients. As such, it can be curry stain removal is relatively easy with the right effort.
Scraping off the excess of the spilled curry should be the first step as it should always be the first step anytime you spill something. Once you have scrapped off the excess, you will need to apply a cleaning solution to it. What type of cleaning solution should you use?
Basically, you will want to mix cold water, a teaspoon of dishwashing fluid, and a tablespoon of white vinegar. This new curry cleaning solution will be dabbed onto the stain allowing the cleaning liquid to absorb into where the stain is present.
Keep doing this over and over until the stain is removed. Wash away the cleaning solution with cold water and the dry the spot. If you notice there are traces of the stain still present, you will want to dab the area with rubbing alcohol. This should help make your carpet or your upholstery look as good as new and as if no stain ever occurred in the first place. Just be sure to also dry up the area you added the alcohol in with a dry cloth after it has been rubbed into the stain.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

why cut corners on carpet cleaning

this is a great article by Kevin loomes he really knows his stuff
 
PAY ONCE , PAY TWICE


So what on earth am I talking about - what does this pay once, pay twice mean? Well it's an expression commonly used when someone tries to cut corners. Let me explain.

We all want a great deal right? - yes! But sometimes actively seeking out the cheapest quotation for a service that we believe will be the exactly the same as a more expensive option, can (and usually does) lead to all sorts of issues. In this industry it's actually quite common for someone to hire a cheap clean, because seeing the word 'carpet cleaning' convinces them that no matter where they go - it must be the same service wherever they go. Of course this is ridiculous but some people are convinced of this.

What happens is that after the customer/client has been very disappointed with the service (because they have gone for the cheapest option), they fall in to despair and then seek out a 'proper' professional company to re-clean the carpets (or upholstery etc) to a standard they thought they were going to get originally!

So you can see, that after paying for a cheap clean, they then have to pay AGAIN for it to be done properly/correctly. This is where the term 'Pay Once, Pay Twice' comes in because this is exactly what has just happened. So by trying to cut corners on cost, has actually cost MORE than if they went to a proper company in the first place.

It's a tough lesson to learn, but there is always an expression that overrides all expressions and that is 'You Get What You Pay For'. So don't waste more money that you need to - get it done right in the first place!
 
At Cleanbright we could not agree more, the amount of times our new clients are amazed by the time and effort we put in to get their carpets cleaned compared to previous less than professonal cleaners , why waste your hard earned money
 
www.cleanbrightcarpet.eu   the Dublin carpet cleaner

Monday, May 26, 2014

Carpet cleaning cowboys

Here is a really good article by kevin loomes this man knows his stuff
 
We have all heard the expression 'cowboy traders' and it's probably one of our worst nightmares - allowing someone in to your home that you thought you could trust, to carry out a good job and they then proceed to rip you off.

It's something we hope that doesn't ever happen to us - and we like to think that we are switched on and be able to spot these cowboys and stop them in their tracks.

But what if you can't spot them - and risk them coming in to your home?


Well before they even get near your home, you need to ask them 7 easy questions to determine whether they are genuine professionals or 'after a quick buck' cowboys. So, here are the things you need to ask:

1). Have you been professionally trained?
I know it sounds a bit daft right - training for just a bit of carpet cleaning? I mean you can hire a carpet cleaning machine - with no training, so it can't be that important right? Unfortunately this is very WRONG. You see, it is very very technical indeed and not as easy as you think.

Let me ask you a couple of questions: What is the ideal ph value that a carpet should be left in? What is 'off gassing', what is the construction process of nylon or bonded flocks? Ok, your not going to know the answers but it is these and HUNDREDS of others that we ask ourselves every day when carrying out our tasks. It's this critical knowledge of chemistry, manufacturing and cleaning that parts a proper professional to a chancer and a guesser. Even after 30yrs, a professional still learns something new every day.

2). Are you certified by any trade associations?
A trade association like the National Carpet Cleaners Association is a governing body that has specific training and industry news that really any professional should be part of. There are even in depth industry exams just to pass. Also part of the criteria are having the correct insurance, and all members must carry out industry standard processes and run an ethical ship.

3). Do you use the most powerful cleaning systems available?
This is a contentious issue, as most companies will say that 'their' system is the best, so it's bound to get confusing. It is an industry fact, that if the most powerful system is used that it will clean a carpet much better and leave it much drier. But how do you know what 'the most powerful system' really is? It's quite easy.

You see, the most powerful systems are NOT what is plugged in to your home's electric socket (despite what the company says). The most powerful ones are either run on petrol, diesel or LPG. They generate much more suction, pressure and heat than any electrical machine - this is a 100% fact. We call it a 'mobile cleaning plant' because it is independent and even contains the waste tanks so nothing is poured down your sink or toilet - filling it with grit particles.

4). Do you offer a full money back guarantee?
If they don't offer this - then run a mile! It means they want to take your money and run. Any genuine professional will say to you - 'we can pre clean an area for you and if you don't think there is any difference, then we will not charge you a penny and walk away. If you are happy then we will carry on'. But even if the job is completed and there is a clear issue, and you are not happy for whatever reason, then they should refund all your money. Real professionals only want to please people and have clients who recommend their services.

5). Do you have proper insurance?
If the cleaning company say nothing - then they haven't got any! It costs money of course, but is critical in not only covering them - but also you. You see, if there is no cover, and an issue arises - what are they going to do? Yes, they are going to run like the wind, and leave you with a big bill. THIS IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.

BUT, even if the cleaning company say 'yes' to having insurance - have they got the right one? You would be surprised to hear that there are a large amount of cleaning companies who DO NOT have the right insurance. They may say that they have 'liability insurance', well guess what? That's not going to cover you. Yes it will cover your home - but it will not cover your furnishings that the cleaning company are 'cleaning'.

This type of cover is called 'Treatments Risk' insurance. This is what covers you. Unfortunately, for the cleaning companies that actually do have insurance and think this is enough are completely oblivious to the huge risk that they are taking. These companies are usually domestic cleaning companies - who 'add on' a service of 'carpet cleaning' etc to their list of services - without even realising that they have no cover. This usually goes hand in hand with no training too - but we have already mentioned this above!

6). Is your price fixed, with no hidden extras?
Some companies are quite unethical (what's new right). What can happen a lot is a system called 'Bait and Switch' an illegal practice indeed. First they advertise an incredibly cheap price (let's say £10 a room), to bait you in to ringing them. You ask 'is that all I am going to pay' and they say yes of course. What happens next is quite shocking, but when they get to your home they 'demonstrate' a so called clean, then demonstrate another clean (slightly different processes) which is much better. BUT if you want the better clean then you are pressurised in to going for the MUCH more expensive clean. Terrible isn't it? But it goes on EVERY day in the UK. Here is a Watchdog special on this very subject...more

A genuine company will give you a fixed price promise guarantee - that means you will be given written/printed clear costs - and no pressure selling to a different service. You would normally recieve the best possible service without underhand practices.

7). Do you carry out free surveys?
Not all companies like to visit prior to cleaning, but guessing isn't in the remit of a professional outfit. Not only is it good to see what we are actually cleaning, but also to go over any issues or concerns you may have. This would always be a free service and it really is of great benefit to both parties. If they won't visit or want to charge, then you have to ask why. Do you really want them in your home if you feel uneasy about them?

If after having asked your cleaning company these simple questions - and they do not respond positively to ALL of them, then you need to ask yourself - who really are these people?

Is it worth the risk? Don't forget, if after getting a problem through hiring a 'cowboy' and you try to contact them to sort the issue - they will traditionally ignore your calls and never return.

So the moral of the story is, you don't have to be sucked in by the gift of the gab, persueded by slick sales and consequently taken for a ride. It's easy to weed them out - just try the 7 questions above - and see if they can answer any of them - or dismiss them as irrelevant!
 
Cleanbright the Dublin carpet cleaner

Monday, February 3, 2014

Cleanbright- the Dublin carpet cleaners: red wine removal

Cleanbright- the Dublin carpet cleaners: red wine removal: Red Wine Removal Tips Posted on February 21, 2012 by admin How to Remove Red Wine Stains Everyone that drinks wine has, at one po...

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Why get your carpet cleaned

Just as the clothes we wear need regular washing to keep them fresh and hygienic, our carpets and upholstered furniture require periodic cleaning. Accumulated soil and grit are major causes of reduced carpet and fabric life, and enable destructive and health harmful mites and bacteria to work unchecked. Cleaning costs are minimal when you consider the replacement cost of carpets and furnishings, so regular cleaning makes economic sense too.

Little do most of us realise that what we are seeing is only a tiny fraction of the soil that a carpet contains. The visible grime we notice is only the tip of the iceberg; up to 85 per cent of the dirt the carpet holds is buried deep within the pile. And when you consider that a carpet can eventually trap its own weight or more in soil - as much as 150 lbs for an average-sized living-room - you'll agree it's no trivial matter.

Regular professional cleaning can ensure:

Increased life expectancy - Eliminating many of the problems that may lead to carpet and soft furnishings needing to be replaced before their time.
Stain Removal - No longer worry about concealing those discomforting spots, marks and dried in spillages, professional cleaning can ensure removal of most stubborn stains.
A more hygienic environment - Complete removal of general dust, soil and accumulated debris.
Improved appearance - Even the oldest of carpets and furniture can look brand new following professional cleaning.
Elimination of mites and bacteria - Reducing the risk of allergies, mould and many other potential problems.
Deodorisation - Most odours can be eliminated by general professional cleaning and a professional carpet cleaner can offer specialist treatments to ensure a fresh, clean smelling carpet.

Why is just vacuuming not enough ?

Regular vacuuming is a necessity to keep your carpets clean and hygienic, and some of you will use other equipment to help maintain and preserve your valuable floor coverings. However, most domestic vacuum cleaners, shampooers and steamers, even the more powerful ones, haven't got what it takes to get rid of that deep-down dirt or nasty germs. This is one of those jobs for the professionals, with their highly sophisticated equipment and the training and experience to know how, when and where to use it.

For your local Dublin carpet cleaner call cleanbright  www.cleanbrightcarpet.eu


Sunday, January 19, 2014

Stain removal tips

Some stain removal tips are well worth knowing, always remember however best practise is to completely avoid rubbing and over wetting by simply applying the solution to your clean cloth and press from the outside in to avoid spreading. Scrubbing any carpet or upholstery stain is always tempting but it will only penetrate the undesired colouration further. Be patient!

Here are some of our favourites:
  • Pen ink - Apply hairspray and absorb with dry kitchen roll, repeat as necessary and then rinse gently with tepid water and blot dry.
  • Coffee and Tea - Mix a liquid detergent such as Ariel Excel with an equal amount of white vinegar and apply gently using a blotting tecnique without any rubbing pressure. Finally rinse gently with weak vinegar solution and blot dry. This method is also used for alcohol, urine and soluble food stains.
  • Best practise is to completely avoid rubbing and over wetting by simply applying the solution to your clean cloth and press from the outside in to avoid spreading. Scrubbing any carpet or upholstery stain is always tempting but it will only penetrate the undesired colouration further. Be patient!
  • Chewing gum - Use crushed ice in a plastic bag to make the gum brittle without dampening the carpet fibres whilst scraping off gently with a knife. Any excess can be treated with nail varnish remover.
  • Candle wax - Firstly remove what you can by scraping very gently so as not to damage the fibres using a blunt knife. Next, place a plain piece of paper and apply pressure with an iron on its lowest setting repeating until all the wax has been melted and absorbed by the paper.
  • PVA or Craft glue - This is best removed with the gentle application of very hot but not boiling water, if a large quantity of the glue has set you will need to repeat the process several times for as long as it takes, use rubber gloves to withstand the heat.
  • Super glue - Depending on your carpet, nail varnish remover with acetone is best but test it on an inconspicuous area first as it may cause discolouration or even melt carpet fibres.
  • Blood - As soon as possible use a gentle salt+non alkaline soap solution (not washing up liquid) then blot. Bear in mind that for organic stains, enzymes found in biological soaps take time to work but are extremely effective. However if this does not remove the entire stain then use Resolve carpet cleaner as a failsafe method.
  • Engine oil and grease - 'Surgical spirit' or 'rubbing alcohol' can be purchased from Asda or Boots and is usually the best method. Again, do not rub but blot the stain from the outside in. Sometimes general dirt (water soluble) will also be engrained in this stain type and should be removed in a secondary process with water based detergent (fairy liquid + warm water). Apply alcohol treatment again if necessary.
  • Red wine - Blot the wet stain initially and then add just water to dilute the stain. After thoroughly blotting the stain again mix up a paste of water and baking soda and apply with gentle rubbing motion. Once dry, vacuum the remainder away.
  • Furniture stains (wood varnish) - The best solution for this type of stain is often liberal application of WD40 then blotting. This can cause discoloration so always test a coloured carpet first. If however, this does not remove the entire stain give Resolve spot carpet cleaner dual power with oxi stain a try.
  • Urine - For fresh urine stains apply wet paper towels to an area larger than the stain itself, use as heavy a weight as possible and leave for 30 minutes. Next apply an enzymatic cleaner found in most pet stores and use in accordance to the directions, finally, dry using paper towels and heavy weight method. Dry urine stains are more tricky, start by using above method for wet stains, next mix a teaspoon of bleach with a litre of distilled water and execute the same method with this solution. (An ultra-violet torch in a dark room will pinpoint any urine stain).
If in doubt consult a professional Cleanbright the Dublin carpet cleaner www.cleanbrightcarpet.eu