Some of the most frequently asked quetsions can be found below. If you don't find what you are looking for, give us a call: 410-747-2447

Q: I've heard that once you clean a carpet it will become dirty more quickly. Is that true?
 
A: If you hire a company that does not take the proper time or care in cleaning your carpeting, this may occur. This condition is called rapid re-soiling and is caused by not fully rinsing out the detergent residue from the carpeting. By leaving a detergent residue in the carpeting, it creates a sticky film that attracts soils more rapidly.

Here at Carpet 1st, we guarantee against rapid re-soiling and we cure this condition by using a pH balanced rinsing agent that fully rinses and neutralizes any detergents used during the cleaning process. When you use Carpet 1st to clean your carpeting, you will NEVER have to worry about this issue.


Q: Will the padding or sub-floor get wet?
 
A: No. Although we use the some of the most powerful and technologically advanced cleaning equipment available, it will not force moisture below the backing of the carpeting. Also, due to our procedures and quality of our equipment, your carpeting will dry rather quickly as well.


Q: How long will it take my carpet to dry?
 
A: Many factors such as indoor humidity, type of fiber being cleaned and whether protector is applied can affect the drying times. However, it is not uncommon to experience drying times of between 30 and 60 minutes without protector and 2 to 4 hours with protector. You will be able to start using your home again as soon as we are complete and we will even leave a couple pairs of shoe covers for your convenience as well.



Q: Does Carpet Protector really work?
 
A: Absolutely. There are two main benefits that you will gain by having carpet protector applied at the time of your professional cleaning:

1. Spot & Spill Protection: Everybody is probably most familiar with the commercials of the glass of spilled wine on the carpet that sits on top of the carpeting. This is the first way that carpet protector will help you. If an accident does occur, carpet protector will give you additional time to clean up the mess before the spot or spill becomes more difficult to remove.

2. Fiber Abrasion Protection: Even more important that the first benefit is that of fiber abrasion protection. The barrier that the carpet protector lays down between the carpet fiber and any dry, particulate soiling will allow you to more easily vacuum the dry soiling away. It is the dry, particulate soiling that actually makes a carpet wear/ugly out before its time. When dry particulate soiling is present in your carpeting and you walk across it, the dry soiling acts as sand paper on the carpet fibers which in turn scratch them. It is the dry soiling that actually creates permanent traffic lanes if you do not have the carpet protector applied and vacuum your carpeting on a regular basis.

**Ask to see a demonstration of our carpet protector. Sometimes 'seeing is believing' and once you experience what carpet protector can do for you in protecting your flooring investment, you will be glad that you did have your carpeting protected.

Q: Why is vacuuming important?
 
A: The most important thing you can do to keep your carpet looking great is to vacuum it thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high-traffic areas. Vacuuming helps remove dirt particles which dull the carpet's appearance and damage the carpet fibers. Along with vacuuming, we also recommend the use of entrance mats (either nylon or wool fiber) just inside each entrance to your home.

 
Q: I know regular vacuuming is important. What type of vacuum should I use?
 
A: A good vacuum is dictated by how much dry soiling that it will remove. The CRI, Carpet and Rug Institute, has a program of testing vacuums and rates them to the amount of soiling that they remove. There are some vacuums that are not listed on the list, but if you give me a call, I can help you in your vacuum search based upon the amount that you are willing to spend on a vacuum.

The vacuum that I recommend the most is the Riccar Brilliance Deluxe. This vacuum is gold rated through the CRI, has HEPA filtration, and is simply one of the best vacuums that I have ever come across in the $650 price range. If your budget is more or less, give me a call and I would be more than happy to help you in your search.


Q: How can I maintain my new carpet warranty?
 
A: There are three key things to do to maintain your new carpet warranty:
 
 1. Vacuum frequently
 
 2. Clean spills promptly
 
 3. Have periodic professional carpet cleanings



Q: How often should my carpet be cleaned?
 
A: The simple answer: When you START/BEGIN to see soiled traffic areas in your home. For a more in depth answer to this question, here is a chart that can assist you in setting up a regular professional cleaning schedule:

Traffic Soil Rating	Carpet Owner / Maintainer		Professional Carpet Cleaner / Restorer
	Vacuuming	Spot Cleaning	Heavy-Use Area Cleaning	Restorative Cleaning
Light Soil	1 x per week	Daily or as soon as spots are noticed	Traffic areas every 12 to 18 months	Every 2 years or per manufacturer warranty
Normal Soil (families with children, elderly)	1 to 2 times per week	Daily or as soon as spots are noticed	Traffic areas every 6 to 12 months	Annually
Heavy Soil (Families with pets, smoking)	2 to 4 x per week	Daily or as soon as spots are noticed	Traffic areas every 3 to 6 months	Semi-annually (2x annually)
Extreme Conditions (Large families, multiple pets)	Daily	Daily or as soon as spots are noticed	Traffic lanes every 2 to 3 months	Quarterly (4x annually)

 
Q: I've heard it's best to put off having your carpet cleaned as long as possible, is this true?
 
A: No. Your carpeting is no different than the clothes that you wear in the manner that they are made out of the same synthetic or natural fibers (ie: nylon, polyester, cotton, wool, etc.) and if you wait too long to have your carpeting cleaned, you will start to create permanent damage through fiber abrasion. In order to keep your flooring investment looking GREAT for a lifetime, you should be on a regular vacuuming schedule as well as a regular professional cleaning schedule with a professional cleaning company.

If you have additional questions that have not been answered here, please feel free to contact us by:

Calling: 410-747-2447
or
Email: service@carpet1st.com

We are more than happy to help you with any question or concern that you may have and we would also LOVE the opportunity to add you to our list of happy client's.