By Ross Morrell
Some homeowners may choose to clean their own carpets and upholstery with either a heavy-duty vacuum, home steam cleaners or other portable cleaning units.

These options, however, may not have the power necessary to remove deeply imbedded soil, dust, spots, and pet odors, and they may lack proper water extraction. Furthermore, portable units that use water may not achieve the temperature needed to properly care for your carpets and upholstery.

The best alternative is to hire a professional carpet cleaning company that uses truck-mounted equipment and hot water extraction to remove the deep down dirt.

Pet Stains

By Ross Morrell
Owners of even the best-trained pets will occasionally encounter pet accidents. Often, the urine is not discovered until long after the accident. The types of damage from pet stains can be diverse and are dependent upon the makeup of the urine. Urine content will change over the pet’s life because of the pet’s diet, medications, age, health, sex, and reproductive cycles. Because of these variations, some urine stains may not be removable.

Urine can affect the dyes used in carpet, although not all occurrences will result in a permanent stain. Success is dependent upon the content of the urine, the dyes and finish used, and the time elapsed after the deposit. Some urine spots may be immediately noticeable, while others may take weeks or months for a reaction. The dyes may change color immediately after contact with urine.

When urine spots develop slowly and are noticed after much time has elapsed, the dyes and carpet fibers may be permanently damaged. In beige carpet, blue dyes are attacked by pet urine, leaving behind the red and yellow dyes with a resulting stain appearing red, yellow, or orange.

Pet urine, left unattended, can damage carpet in several ways. Moisture can weaken the layers of the carpet, allowing separation or delaminating of the backing material. Seam areas can be particularly damaged and can separate.

Another problem, especially with cats, is odor. Unless the cat urine can be completely removed, complete odor removal is unlikely. A number of products are available to combat odor, but may simply mask the odor, and, in times of high humidity, the odor may reappear. Recently, enzymes, available at pet stores and veterinary offices, have been developed that are more effective; but a carpet cleaning professional may better use them. If odor cannot be removed, the damaged area of the carpet can be replaced with a piece from reserved scrap. If carpet replacement is necessary, then replacement of cushion and even sub flooring may also be necessary.

Some carpet manufacturers have developed backings that resist spills and even prevent the spillage from penetrating the carpet into the carpet cushion and, perhaps, the sub floor. Check with your carpet professional about what will be best for you.

Carpet and UpholsteryCleaning

Your carpet and upholstery represent substantial investments in design, function, and image. Like other investments, they require careful, knowledgeable maintenance to provide lasting service and beauty. We maintain your carpet and fabrics for a year-round new appearance whether it's a special fabric, a football field of carpet, or a valuable Oriental rug

Think vacuuming your carpet gets it clean? Think again. Even the best vacuum cleaner collects only a fraction of the dust, dirt and other allergens in your carpet, including pet dander and dust mites. Dust mites? You bet. There are billions of these tiny insects that thrive on the stuff your vacuum cleaner doesn't—and can't—get out of it. Ask any pro, and they'll tell you that the only way to rid your carpet of these pests is high pressure steam cleaning.

Why Choose Fire and Flood  Carpet & Upholstery Care?

Our two-step deep clean process is the carpet cleaning system recommended by America's largest carpet manufacturer.
Courteous, professional technicians trained on the latest carpet cleaning equipment to make sure you’re 100% satisfied with our service
Convenient appointments to fit your busy schedule - including Saturdays and Sundays
Extra attention paid to trouble spots and heavy traffic areas
Truck-mounted equipment, for more powerful extraction and quicker drying
Specialized carpet protectors and deodorizers
Your carpet is groomed, allowing it to dry faster and distribute the carpet
protector and deodorizer evenly
FREE carpet and upholstery cleaning estimates
No hidden charges

Leftover carpet cleaning solutions can act as a magnet for dirt. That’s why our two-step carpet cleaning system includes an essential extra step - a specially formulated pH-balancing fiber rinse that removes carpet cleaning solution residue right along with deep-down dirt. So all that’s left behind is cleaner, softer, more beautiful carpet.

Here’s how it works:
When our professionally trained, insured carpet cleaning technicians arrive at your home, they start with a pre-inspection to identify problem areas. Then the  Two-Step Deep Clean goes to work:

A special heated carpet cleaning solution is sprayed deep into the carpet fibers to loosen imbedded dirt. It’s followed by a high-powered extraction and pH-balancing fiber rinse to remove the dirt and cleaning solution, leaving your carpet as clean as it can be.

Carpet Protectors & Deodorizers 

We then recommend an application of Carpet and Upholstery Protector (optional) and/or Carpet Deodorizer (optional). Reapplying the carpet protector helps restore protective properties to your carpet, making it easier to care for.

Post Inspection  After we finish cleaning your carpet, we review the entire job with you to make sure everything is done to your satisfaction. If not, we'll fix it right then. We want you to be completely satisfied before we leave your home.

Guidelines For Choosing A Carpet Or Upholstery Care Service:

Consider the company’s reputation. Make sure its technicians are trained and experienced. Ask for references from previous customers and call them. Make sure your satisfaction is guaranteed

The Importance Of Regular, Professional Carpet Cleaning

Many homeowners make the mistake of assuming their carpet and upholstery are clean just because they look clean. What they may not know is that, over time, even the most spotless looking carpets and upholstery collect germs, dust and soil below the surface. To increase the useful life of your carpets & upholstery, most carpet manufacturers recommend you have them cleaned regularly every 12-18 months - and that could be before you even recognize they’re dirty.

Do It Yourself Or Call A Pro?

Some homeowners may choose to clean their own carpets and upholstery with either a heavy-duty vacuum, home steam cleaners or other portable cleaning units. These options, however, may not have the power necessary to remove deeply imbedded soil, dust, spots, and pet odors, and they may lack proper water extraction. Furthermore, portable units that use water may not achieve the temperature needed to properly care for your carpets and upholstery. The best alternative is to hire a professional carpet cleaning company that uses truck-mounted equipment and hot water extraction to remove the deep down dirt.