The carpet cleaning industry is one of the few industries that is not regulated, and also has a very low barrier to entry in that anyone can call themselves a “professional” without any basis for that claim. Yet these are people who come into your home and use cleaning chemicals which can be dangerous if you do not have the knowledge of how to use them properly, and more importantly do not have the right equipment (not a rented shampooer) to remove them properly.
Everyone has heard nightmare stories about crimes committed, about overuse or improper use of chemicals, and exposés on Bait-and-Switch companies who use a low coupon offers to get their foot in the door and hard sell unsuspecting consumers into a bill they are compelled to pay. When you open the phone book you really can’t tell who the great cleaners are, or the ones you would never EVER want to use. The “great” cleaners work hard to distinguish themselves apart from the fly-by-night companies who use unsafe cleaning practices, hard-sell tactics, and sometimes have very unsavory employees.
Their fibers “grab” particulates and contaminants and hold them. But like any filter, it needs to be cleaned because when it gets full it cannot grab anything else… and every time you step on a “full” filter you release contaminants back into the air.
Cleaning your carpet is key to a healthy indoor environment, and the EPA’s guidelines for cleaning very from every four months to every eighteen depending on the number of people and pets in the home, as well as other concerns from allergic sensitivities to how dusty the air is in your neighborhood to whether anyone in the home smokes. A true carpet cleaning professional can evaluate your particular needs, and with the right equipment and cleaning solutions, can fulfill those needs for you and your family.
The following is a summary on how to choose the right professional carpet cleaner. It covers some of the common mistakes made by consumers in choosing a carpet cleaner, and also the four steps you can take to help you in choosing a true “professional.”
IICRC WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION AND CARPET CLEANING SERVICE PROVIDER
“The purpose behind these steps is to empower you with the information you need to make a wise decision in choosing a carpet cleaning professional. The proper care of the carpet in your home (and all coverings in your home for that matter) is essential to creating a healthy indoor environment for you and your family, and this decision should never be taken lightly. These guidelines will help you to locate an ethical and excellent carpet cleaner in your town.”
That’s a really good question, and it’s important that I answer it for you. After all, if I can’t give you a great answer to this important question, you will never hire my company.
My Qualifications: We have been serving the Ashland area for 25 years. My background is in science, I graduated from Portland State University with a BS degree in Biology. In my twenties I was a contractor for the BLM and Forest Service, doing reforestation contracts. Then I started a business in housecleaning, where I became obsessed with indoor air quality and detail cleaning. I simultaneously ran my housecleaning and carpet cleaning business. Now, I no longer have housecleaning clients, as I have phased out that side of the business. I have a passion for providing the absolute best carpet and upholstery care for the wonderful people in Ashland, Talent, Medford, and surrounding areas and I would love for you to become part of our family of happy clients!
I am a Certified MASTER CLEANER with the IICRC. The IICRC stands for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification. The institute is dedicated to assisting and improving the cleaning industry. The IICRC develops and improves upon industry procedures to follow. The IICRC provides continuing education for carpet cleaners and keeps us up to date on the latest technology. Most of the classes involve a lot of chemistry to understand what happens with fibers and cleaning, or fibers and staining. A master cleaner has to be certified in 5 different areas of expertise and have at least 3 years’ experience. I have been certified as a Carpet Cleaning Technician, Odor Technician, Upholstery Technician, Carpet Repair Technician, Color Restoration Technician, Water Restoration Technician, and Applied Structural Drying.
My Ethics: I am also part of Ethical Services. You can go to that web site, www.ethicalservices.com and see testimonials from some of Swept Away’s clients. It is more important to find out what my clients are saying about us than what I say about us. You may even know several of them. Ethical Services does not allow its members to use unethical “bait and switch” advertising. This is also against the law, but very few carpet cleaners are ever prosecuted. You may not know this, but not all carpet cleaners are the same. Not only because some of them use deplorable advertising, but there is a big difference in how they clean and the equipment they use. I use top of the line hot water extraction equipment. This is the method required by Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer.
Google Reviews: I have quite a few 5 star google reviews as well.
I separate myself from other carpet cleaners by not using “chemicals” to clean with. I use safe solutions, naturally derived from plant extracts. I do not want to be exposed to anything that will cause me to have chemical sensitivities for the rest of my life. I do not want to expose you or your families to that either. We have too many chemicals in our homes already. The last thing you want is to have your carpet cleaner adding to the chemical load on your health. I have spent a lot of time educating myself on this topic, and you will benefit from my knowledge.
I’ve cleaned thousands of carpets and my most important objective has always been client satisfaction. We take great pride in our work and make certain we do everything exactly right on every job.
I’ve even satisfied the self-proclaimed “Pickiest Customer in the World,” who prefers to remain nameless. In fact, several of her neighbors have also called my company, because they said,” If you can make her happy, you can make anybody happy.”
If I can please her, I’m confident that we can please YOU. When we get done beautifying your carpet, if you see anything more we can do, just tell us and we’ll make it right. I want to make friends as well as longtime clients. I have clients whose children I have seen grow up and we now clean for them. I’m not like most carpet cleaners who just come clean your carpet, and then as fast as can be, they’re on to the next job. I want to be your personal carpet and upholstery cleaner for years to come.
Is There Any Reason Why You Shouldn’t Have the Cleanest Carpet in Town? Hi my name is Joanna, and I’m the owner of Swept Away Carpet Cleaning. Over the last 25 years, I’ve had the privilege of helping many of your friends and neighbors get the most sparkling carpets and rugs they’ve ever seen. In fact, many tell me they love taking their shoes off and rubbing their toes in the soft, fluffy carpet after they get the most thorough cleaning ever.
They told me they wanted more. . .and I’m giving it to them! Many of my new clients have told me they were sick of the “cheap, top surface cleaning” their carpets were getting from other cleaning companies. I am constantly seeing and hearing the results of these un-educated cleaners.
Don’t be a victim of these un-ethical cleaners! They use harsh, cheap, and even dangerous cleaning agents (leaving toxic amounts of chemical residue in your home.) Some of these residues are not even safe for your pets much less your children. The chemicals that these un-educated cleaners use are so harsh that they strip the life from the carpet fibers adding years to the wear age. Plus, these cleaners don’t even pull out all the embedded soil debris that ends up at the lower part of your fibers which will cause your carpet to wear faster. This means you’re going to need to replace your carpets sooner (big expense) …and that your home won’t be as healthy. These types of cleaners are untrained, unethical, and downright unscrupulous cleaners. So not only will you pay more in the long run by going with “cheap cleaners” … you won’t be enjoying all the benefits of a great looking carpet, and a safe HEALTHY home.
Clients of mine say they feel healthier after we clean their carpets! I’m not only dedicated to giving your carpets & rugs the most thorough cleaning ever… I’m also dedicated to helping to improve the quality of your life by making your home the optimal healthy environment for your family. I don’t think you’ll hear this from any other carpet cleaner!
This is why I give a FREE in-home CARPET AUDIT where I take a close look at your carpet and tell you exactly what we will do to help them look their best, and what you can do to prepare for the cleaning.
This is what you receive when Swept Away Carpet Cleaning Cleans your Carpets & Rugs:
Long Lasting Deep Clean – We extract all the dirt, grime & debris from 100% of your carpet yarns. We don’t just buff the surface like some bonnet or carbonation methods do. (Dry-Chemical Systems) With our cleaning process your carpets and rugs will stay cleaner longer because we extract all the dirt & debris. Kills Germs, Bacteria, and Dust Mites – Our High Powered, Truck-Mounted Steam Extraction process kills and extracts most germs, bacteria, and dust mites from your carpet fibers. 98% of the carpet manufacturers recommend Hot Water Extraction (steam) as the preferred cleaning method.
We Use Safe, Naturally Derived Cleaning Solutions –The cleaning solutions we use are designed for your particular carpet & rug fibers and are safe for children and animals.
No Cleaning Residue Left in Your Carpets – We make sure no cleaning residue is left in your carpet yarns by previous cleanings. By flushing out all the dirt, grime, and cleaning agents we restore your matted traffic lanes to fluffy and soft carpet fibers with no soap residue making your carpets stay cleaner longer.
Fast Drying Time – Because of our deep extraction, high-powered truck mounted equipment, we pick up 98% of the moisture we put down. Only your carpet fibers are barely damp. Depending on the grade of carpeting and the air circulation in your home our drying time is approx. 4-10 hours.
We don’t Cut Corners, We Clean Them – We take all the time needed to clean every square inch thoroughly.
We Move Most Furniture – We move most furniture and place plastic tabs and blocks under the furniture so the carpets will dry properly.
We are IICRC Certified and a Chosen Member of Ethical Services – This assures you that we have been trained and tested. And we abide by a strict code of ethics which results in the highest level of customer satisfaction.
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed or our service is free – There is nothing worse than paying for a service and not being happy or thrilled with the results. You have peace of mind always when you use us to clean your carpets.
25 Years of Experience – As the saying goes “practice makes perfect.” And we have perfected our cleaning methods and spotting techniques to give our clients maximum cleaning results. If it can be gotten out, Swept Away gets it out.
Professional Friendly Service – You will receive friendly, informative, and caring service from your first phone call to the completion of your job. Please call a day or two later to let us know you are thrilled with our service.
What are you waiting for? Give us a call right now, 541-482-3660, so you can have the Fluffiest- Cleanest Carpet & Rugs in town.
The CARPET AUDIT is free, and there’s no obligation. I treat your home the way I would like others to treat my own home. Isn’t this what you are looking for from a professional cleaning company.
Call us today for your free carpet audit at 541-482-3660. I look forward to meeting you.
Joanna
You probably spent a great deal of time (not to mention money) choosing just the right furniture for your home. The look and the feel of new furniture is something we wish would last for a long time. However, most people don’t just keep their furniture as pieces of art. They are well used and well-loved comfortable fixtures in our homes. To make sure the investment is worth it, there are a few things that should be done when it comes to caring for your furniture.
Upholstery Care: One of the best ways to prevent colors from fading is to keep your furniture out of direct sunlight. Vacuum your upholstered furniture as much as possible, at least twice per month. Remember, dust settles on upholstery just as much as it does on a hard surface such as a floor or a shelf of knickknacks. Avoid leaving newspapers on your furniture. Ink can accumulate and is very hard to remove. Don’t cover your upholstery with dark-colored blankets. The dyes can rub off onto other fabric when dry or bleed when wet. For high-use furniture, it’s a good idea to vacuum the cushions (often) and then vacuum under the cushions as well. Do not remove cushion covers for dry cleaning or machine washing even if they have zippers. Remember, all upholstery fabrics are different and can’t be cleaned the same way. Before using a store-bought spotter, check the labels on your furniture. Furniture Cleaning: Furniture makers now attach tags with cleaning codes noted. “W” means it is wet-cleanable, “S” means solvent-clean, “W/S” means either wet or solvent clean and finally “X” means dry vacuum only. No type of cleaning agent whatsoever can be used on this type of fabric. Generally, cleaning should be done every 2 to 4 years depending on the furniture’s location, use and exposure to soiling. The American Furniture Manufacturers Association states that if a fabric is exposed to excessive or heavy soiling, it may be permanently stained.
Our goal is to remove normal soiling without changing the color, texture or finish of a fabric. Before cleaning, you should let us know how old the furniture is, if you have used any spotters or cleaners on it yourself or if the piece has ever been reupholstered. Depending on the type of fabric, different methods of cleaning will be used by us. The upholstery shampoo method is quick & effective and dries quickly. Dry foam cleaning is similar to the shampoo method but it uses less moisture so it dries even faster. Hot water extraction cleaning is the most effective way to remove heavy soils, provided the fabric is compatible with this method. This is also the preferred method for restorative cleaning and for sanitized cleaning.
You’ll Get The Most Sparkling Clean Furniture…Or It’s Free!
How We Will Get You The Best Results: First you and I will evaluate your furniture’s needs. “Every Item Must Be Treated Differently” Then we’ll decide what will be the best approach and why! Each manufacturer recommends a specialized cleaning method,
and best of all, you’ll know up front what we can and can’t do! This way there’s no surprises! Every once in a while, I can’t guarantee the soils will come out, and then I let you know before I start the cleaning.
Here are some things to be concerned about with Furniture fabrics: Furniture comes in various type of fabrics, it is important that we determine what type it is. This gives us the ability to clean it properly. Even if you don’t choose us. Please be sure when you get a quote, the company is taking this under consideration! Here’s a final note: If they use the wrong cleaning agents they will ruin the fibers and possibly the entire piece of furniture
We refer upholstery cleaning of cars, trucks, and SUV’s to Pristine Detailing Services; 541-944-2667. (Pristine recently changed owners and we are looking for another service company to recommend).
Call Swept Away Carpet Cleaning to get your FREE Upholstery Audit, where we will inspect and give a firm price quote.
For The First Time In Pet Odor History, You Can Quickly Get Your Pet Concerns Removed in Less Than 7 Days…Or We Come Back For Free!!
For years many pet owners and carpet cleaners attempted to remove pet odors but with little to no success! It was frustrating and something needed to be done, since the success rate was low most cleaners stayed away from offering this much needed service. At that time the best that could be done was a topical treatment that only covered up and masked the concern for about 2 to 3 months.
Then enzymes came along and they worked wonders, but unfortunately, they were limited to light urine damage. While they did a good job on light pet odors, when a client needed heavy removal, it did little! Even if the cleaner was lucky and got most of the smell out, the stains only lightened. While enzymes helped, the industry still needed more powerful solutions that not only removed the smell but the stains that were left behind.
Have you notice how many of your neighbors’ own pets? When that happened and the demand became greater, cleaners went to their cleaning supplier and said what can be done? The supplier turned to the manufactures and two companies took a closer look! They came up with several new products that really worked. Most cleaners didn’t have a clue that this was going on. Many cleaners had given up on this service due to the low success rate, but a few of us kept trying and now that’s all changed.
Because I never gave up, I’m able to offer you this new technology and you can judge for yourself the result. I will remove your concern in one week or less Or I’ll be back and do another treatment!
Are you sick of urine stains! Do they look like eyesores? Or worse, how about the smells? If you feel they’re getting the best of you and you’re ready to eliminate these concerns and not just mask the smells, I invite you to call me right now.
I’m constantly getting ongoing training, even though I’ve taken on some of the toughest jobs. I don’t want to miss out on any new advantages that I can learn about for my clients, so I figure the more I know, the better I’m able to get you the results you want. That is the secret to my success!
I’m not perfect! I can’t fix everything! Therefore, on occasions I have to turn down some jobs! It’s not that I like doing this, but I’d rather tell someone who needs carpet replacement that that would be their best option. Most people appreciate this and later call me for other cleaning or refer me to a friend. I’d rather tell you the truth rather than do the job and later have them wish they had replaced it! But don’t let this stop you from calling us. Almost 75% of our clients thought nothing could be done, but after an evaluation we were able to help them fix their odor problems for good.
If after my evaluation I discover I can’t help you, I’ll let you know your options! Don’t hesitate, call me right now at Swept Away Carpet Cleaning: 541-482-3660 (my office answering machine) and get the results you deserve.
evaluation we were able to help them fix their odor problems for good.
| Traffic Soil Rating | Vacuuming | Spot Cleaning | Carpet Cleaning | |
| Light Soil | 1x per week | Daily or as soon as spots are noticed | Traffic areas every 12-18 months | |
| Normal Soil (families with children, elderly) |
1 to 2x per week | Daily or as soon as spots are noticed | every 12 months | |
| Heavy Soil (families with pets, smoking) |
3x per week | Daily or as soon as spots are noticed | Traffic areas every 6-8 months | |
| Extreme Conditions (large families, multiple pets) |
Daily | Daily or as soon as spots are noticed | Traffic areas every 2-3 months | |
Did you know that according to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (IIRC) you should have your carpets cleaned AT LEAST 1 TIME PER YEAR depending on the amount of traffic? The IIRC is a professional association that trains & monitors cleaning technicians throughout the United States. To help you decide how often your carpets need to be cleaned, I have included this graph from the IIRC S100 book, 2002. These standards provide the guidelines used by the Carpet Industry to give your carpet the longest life possible.
Dear Friend, There are many unscrupulous carpet cleaners out there that will take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners. There are also many companies that offer extremely poor workmanship. If you’ve ever hired one of these companies in the past, you can relate to what I’m talking about. This site will give you the information needed to find a quality and ethical cleaning company in your area, before you get taken advantage of. My name is Joanna and I’m the owner of Swept Away Carpet Cleaning serving Ashland, Talent, Jacksonville and surrounding areas. Be sure to take full advantage of the information contained in these pages. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, or need more information, be sure to send an email to joanna@sweptawaycc.com so I can be of further assistance. This site is for your benefit and it’s important that you let me know how I can better serve you. If you’re in my service area and contemplating hiring my company, this site will allow you to do in-depth research on us before you ever have to make a buying decision. It’s critical that you do your research before you hire any carpet cleaning company. This will save you many headaches in the long run. You probably heard about this site from a friend, neighbor or family member who told you of my services. (If you just happened to find this site on your own, congratulations.) While most cleaning companies merely focus on carpet cleaning (and they do a very poor job of that), I concentrate on satisfying the carpet manufacturers maintenance requirements for your carpet. I have a BA degree in Biology and am a Certified Master Cleaner with many years of extensive hands on training and testing. I am personally on every job. All of this allows me to give you the most thorough cleaning ever. Excellence in Cleaning Guaranteed every time. I offer these valuable public services, and they’re FREE! If you’d like to get more information, or try out my services this is your opportunity. 1. The “Consumers Inside Guide To Carpet Cleaning.” You can get this in-depth report right from this Website. If you haven’t yet requested it, be sure to do so now. You’ll also want to forward this valuable information on to everyone you love and care about. 2. A Free Carpet Audit. If you live in my service area, this is something that you’ll definitely want to take advantage of. I’ll meet with you personally to offer you this valuable service, and show you how to get the longest life from you carpeting investment. I’ll also show you why maintaining your carpet is such a crucial part of maintaining a safe living environment. I look forward to helping you. Sincerely, Joanna P.S.-Whether you use my services or not, by using all the resources offered here, you’ll find out how to choose a carpet cleaning company that will give you 100% guaranteed service, just like I do.
1. Since Swept Away Carpet Cleaning is a by-referral company, I work for a select group of clients like you that truly care about their carpet and upholstery investment, as well as maintaining a safe and healthy living environment for their families. 2. Since I rely on the referrals of my happy clients, I place high regard on the relationship with my clients and I do everything possible to guarantee they’re pleased with my services. 3. A referral is the best way to hire a new company. My services have been introduced to you by someone you know and trust. 4. Your friend or family member wouldn’t have referred my services if they didn’t trust me to take care of your needs in the most professional and courteous manner. 5. Since you were referred to my company, you don’t have to be skeptical. You know you’ll receive quality workmanship from trained technicians. 6. You know I won’t try to do a high pressure sales pitch on you. The person that referred my services to you has in essence done the selling for me. This allows our first meeting to be a relaxing, enjoyable and informative experience for both of us. 7. A company can say anything they want about their services, but the comments of their clients will tell the real story. You can see comments from12 of my happy clients on this Website. For more please go to ethicalservices.com, then Ashland, Oregon.
The obvious key to keeping spills from becoming stains is to remove the spill as soon as possible. Caution: Natural fibers such as wool, cotton, hemp, etc. turn brown if exposed to excess amounts of water and sometimes they will turn brown with exposure to any amount of water. Before attempting to treat a spot or stain with special chemicals, please contact me. You can be very succesful just using water, the universal solvent. You can find more specific information here, read on. Also call with any questions and I will be happy to help you. I will tell you how to best clean it yourself or I will come out and do it for you. Steps To Spot Removal 1. Remove the spill as soon as possible through the action of blotting, DO NOT rub. Do not use heat to dry the area where the spill has occurred. Using heat to dry a spotted area can actually transform a mild spot into a stain. A spot can be cleaned, a stain is permanent. 2. Try to carefully scrape away any solids first. Then blot the area of the spill with a towel. A white towel is recommended. The goal is to not spread the spot. 3. Apply warm water to a clean white towel and flush the spot working from the outside of the spot towards the inside. This also keeps the stain from spreading. Do not get the carpet soaking wet at any time. Use the water to dilute the spot and then draw the water out with the towel. Now, use a dry towel to absorb as much of the water as you can. Repeat this. (You can also use a flat spotting brush to strike the work area to help break up the spot). 4. When you’ve removed the spill as much as possible allow the area to dry thoroughly. If the spill is still visible, you can use warm water with a drop of dish detergent that has no smells or dyes. I recommend Ecover. After using this spotting solution make sure to rinse with clear water. Blot up the remaining moisture thoroughly using a clean, dry towel. 5. To dry the wet area place a dry towel over the area and press it into carpet using your hands or if you need more leverage, step down on the towel. You may place a clean, thick towel with a heavy object on top of it over night. Remove first thing in the morning and allow to air dry. Make sure the room is warm. Use a brush to re-align the pile of carpet or nap of the upholstery. Never let a spot stay wet more than 24 hours. After 72 hours the moisture can sprout mold and mildew spores. Information For Spots And Stains There are many people on internet providing tips for removing spots and stains, such as blood, carpet burns, candle wax, ink, etc.Most of the information I have read on the internet is risky for the consumer to attempt by themselves, or downright wrong.For example, removing most wax is easily accomplished, as long as it is not red or another dark color.The problem is that if a consumer uses the incorrect heat setting on their iron the dark colored wax now has an excellent chance of becoming a permanent stain.Now, a simple candle wax fix becomes very expensive to properly remove. So, if you need professional attention for a spill in your home, please call Swept Away at 541-821-3664.
