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 the price as bait for their false and misleading advertising. They offer a cheap price,
usually between $9.95 per room to $4.95 per room, then once they're in your home, they pressure you
into buying "add-ons". It's as if you were buying a car and found that the dealer was charging you extra
for the tires and steering wheel. Good carpet cleaning is not as cheap as some unethical carpet
cleaners would like you to believe.
RIP-OFF #2: BAIT AND SWITCH.
Dual process carpet cleaning describes the process of shampooing or heavy preconditioning, followed
with hot water extraction cleaning. 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 you call, they try to "switch" you to the 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 or no chemical and they will not guarantee their work. (See Home page
"How to Clean a Carpet")
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 is best for you is the method that achieves your goal. If you require a method that dries
quickly; then a method that takes a longer 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.
RIP-OFF #4: OUTDATED BELIEFS. "HOT WATER DAMAGES YOUR
CARPET."
Years ago, many people believed this was true because their carpets were damaged by "technicians"
who didn't know how to properly clean using hot water. For this reason people will be sold on different
methods of cleaning and spend money a method that doesn't do the job they require.
But this is a false belief. By properly washing and then rinsing your carpet with hot water, your carpet is
thoroughly cleaned - in the same way as the person who showers and then rinses off the dirt and soap
will be much cleaner than the person who takes a sponge bath.
Obviously, each method does have advantages. So I suggest you look to what carpet manufacturers say.
Shaw Industries, the largest carpet manufacturer in the world, recommends only hot water extraction
cleaning with a truck-mounted unit used by firms that are IICRC certified.
RIP-OFF #5: IMPROPER APPLICATION OF CARPET
PROTECTION.
This is a spray that is usually applied immediately after cleaning. The more common ones are 3M
Scotchgard and Dupont Teflon. When properly applied, an invisible film is left around the carpet fibres,
which prevents or inhibits soil from sticking to the fibres. It also repells water and oil based liquid spills,
giving you a chance to blot them up before they penetrate the carpets or upholstery. This means your
vacuum will remove soil more efficiently, spills will clean up easier, your carpet will stay cleaner longer
and will last longer. This protective layer will be effective for 6 months to one year in the main traffic
areas. Proper methods of cleaning will not remove this layer but it will wear off.
However, some unethical cleaners will oversell you on the benefits and then apply it improperly, usually
by over-diluting the mixture. Technicians that work by commission may even over-inflate the price of the
protectant so that they will make more profit. They pocket your money and you are left thinking that carpet
protectors don't work and are a waste of money. You never make the investment again and your carpet
wears and soils much faster than it should, costing you more money in the long run.
RIP-OFF #6: "WE ONLY USE FRESH WATER OR THERMAL-RINSE
TO STEAM CLEAN OR RINSE YOUR CARPET."
At first this sounds very impressive. What it means is that they use plain untreated hot water to rinse your
carpet. Nothing special! It is just another way that a cleaner can cut a corner on proper cleaning.
Plain water is a very poor rinsing agent for steam cleaning. That's why "professional" cleaners follow the
IICRC recommendations of adding rinsing agents to enhance the removal of the emulsified solids as
well as the soap residues. It costs more to do this but the end result is far superior!!
Another implication is that the rinse becomes one more thing to sell you. It implies "bait-and-switch"
methods. They may not even use any soap in a "basic" cleaning unless you are willing to pay extra for it.
I've heard of cleaners "up-selling" the pretreatment, spot treatment and rinsing agents. This is why they
can offer such low prices. The truth is that they need the pretreatment, spot treatment and rinsing agents
if they are going to "ethically" clean your carpet and the Carpet Cleaning Standard states that it should
be included.
It is important to know what a cleaner will specifically do for the price they are offering you.
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How to Avoid 6 Carpet Cleaning Rip-Offs
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