ADVICE TO
MIRACLE
CLEAN
ENTERPRISES,
LLC
WE  PERFORM  VISUAL  MIRACLES !
52909 E. Sylvan Way                 Sandy, OR  97055

Office Hours:  Monday thru Thursday  9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Fridays, Evenings, Holidays & Weekends by appointment only
"The disappointment of poor quality lingers  long after the sweetness of cheap price is forgotten."
CARPET
CLEANERS
AFTER ALL OF THIS, IF YOU ARE STILL INCLINED TO CLEAN THE CARPET YOURSELF, HERE IS THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF WORK THAT YOU MUST DO IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE
SEMI-DECENT RESULTS!

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(1)  Use only 1/2 of the soap listed in the instructions.  If you follow this rule-of-thumb, then you shouldn't need to use defoamer.  Unless, of course, you've been putting foaming or soapy type spot removers on the carpet. Then defoamer may become a necessary evil.  Just remember that the red rental machine company is in business to make money.  And one of the ways to do that is to sell you more products than what you realistically need to accomplish the job.

(2)  Get -- and keep -- the water as hot as possible.  If this means that you have to clean your carpet in stages to allow enough time for the water heater to recover, then that's what you must do (most of those red rental machines do not have heating capacities).

(3)  Keep in mind that the store-brand carpet cleaning machines do not have a rinse capability.  Therefore, after you have cleaned and extracted your carpet the first time, it is imperative that you go over it again using only clear, HOT water (no soap, no defoamer, no other chemicals or cleaning agents).  If you decide to skip this extra rinse, you may find that your carpet will be either sticky or stiff when it finally dries.  (Remember the hand-washing example in Part #1?)

(4)  After you have thoroughly rinsed your carpet, go over it once more.  Only this time, slowly move the red machine over the carpet to extract all of the remaining moisture that it can pull out.  DO NOT put down any more water, cleaners or anything else.  In professional cleaning terms, this extra step is called "double-wanding".

(5)  Next ... open the windows just a crack (2 fingers wide)
PART #2
to give the humidity somewhere to escape to.  It may also help to turn on the exhaust fans in the bathrooms or on the range hood in the kitchen, plus all of your ceiling fans. Turning up the furnace in the winter or the A/C down in the summer will also help to pull excess moisture out of the air.  Do you have a de-humidifier?  That would be extremely helpful.  Just don't forget to empty the container every time it reaches maximum capacity.

(6) Gather up as many fans as you can find (beg, steal or borrow from all of your friends, family and neighbors).  Strategically sit them directly ON the carpet in the various rooms.  While oscillating fans would be ideal, if they are not available, it will be necessary to reposition your stationary fans periodically to ensure that all of the carpet is exposed to air flow so that it will dry as quickly as possible (air movement aids in the evaporation process).

Just for argument's sake, did the red machine rental agent bother to tell you ANY of this?  For that matter ... did he / she even KNOW any of this?  Hmmm ... just wondered.


As you work, please keep these things in mind

»   You have put a tremendous amount of liquid into the carpet;
»   If the carpet doesn't dry quickly enough, you run the risk of a musty smell developing;
»  If the carpet doesn't dry quickly enough, you run the risk of "wicking" (pre-existing stains that are typically not noticeable, will work their way up the wet carpet fibers and become quite visible);
»   If the carpet takes too long to dry, you run the risk of delamination (glue holding the carpet together begins to dissolve, thus allowing the carpet fibers to become separated from the webbing or backing);
»  Because household fans are not nearly as powerful as a professional's equipment, it will take quite a while for them to accomplish their task.  While the constant whirring and humming and windiness may be annoying, it's certainly better than the alternatives!
NOW LET'S ENVISION A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SCENARIO:

A PROFESSIONAL CARPET CLEANER ARRIVES AT YOUR HOME AT THE APPOINTED TIME, NEATLY DRESSED, IN A CLEAN TRUCK AND ARMED WITH A FULL ARSENAL OF PRODUCTS, EQUIPMENT AND EXPERIENCE THAT HE OR SHE WILL USE TO MAKE YOUR CARPETS LOOK THEIR VERY BEST:

♥ Professional equipment that has been specially engineered to do the very best job;
♥ Special cleaning tools not usually available to non-professional cleaners;
♥ Knowledge gained from years of experience;
♥ Classroom training in the chemistry of spots and soils, as well as the physics of cleaning;
♥ Reading trade journals and on-line research to keep abreast of the latest trends and available products;
♥ Specialized spot & stain removers -- each one created for a specific purpose;
♥ Powerful, professional cleaning agents (including higher or lower pH level products to use depending upon the carpet fiber, condition of the carpet, and cleaning method required);
♥ Much hotter water than the standard household water heater can generate to thoroughly and completely clean your carpets without soaking them (truck-mount equipment usually runs between 190° and 220°);
♥ The ability, knowledge and proper equipment to quickly & safely move most furniture;
♥ Foam blocks & plastic tabs to prevent stain & moisture transfer between furniture legs & carpet;
♥ Products & proper equipment for applying soil retardant (temporary, protective coating to replace the factory-applied protector that has worn off over time due to daily use and previous cleanings);
♥ Quality products, knowledge & confidence to support that soil retardant with a written guarantee!
♥ Powerful air movers to flash dry your carpet;
♥ Leave-behinds such as informational brochures and free bottles of neutral pH spotters;
♥ Expertise, knowledge and years of experience that allows the cleaning company to back up their work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!
♥ Expertise, knowledge and years of experience to accomplish the task much better -- and far faster -- than you will ever be able to do it yourself!

IF YOU HONESTLY CONSIDER WHAT IT COST YOU TO CLEAN THE CARPETS YOURSELF (including your time & labor, gas for driving back & forth to the store, machine rental, product purchase, potential risk of damage to your carpet, furniture or vehicle, etc.) COMPARED TO WHAT IT WOULD COST TO HAVE YOUR CLEANING DONE BY A PROFESSIONAL, YOU SHOULD CONCLUDE THAT IT'S CHEAPER -- AND EASIER -- TO HAVE YOUR CARPETS CLEANED RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!