Frequently Asked Questions

torrey pines cleaning 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, rented 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.

 

torrey pines cleaning What Process do you use to clean carpet?

Most of the carpet cleaning we do is the "hot water extraction" method, also known as "Steam Cleaning" This process is used by about 80% of all carpet cleaning companies across the country. Most major carpet manufacturers recommend hot water extraction as the preferred method of cleaning.

 

torrey pines cleaning How long does the carpet take to dry?

The normal drying time is from 4 to 6 hours.

 

torrey pines cleaning I've heard it's best to put off having your carpet cleaned as long as possible, is this true?

No. In fact, many of the major carpet mills today recommend professional cleaning at least once per year. The build up of soil in your carpet in combination with foot traffic creates abrasion that breaks down your carpets' fibers. The higher the traffic in a given area, the more often the carpet will need cleaning.

 

torrey pines cleaning Should I have my carpet dry cleaned or steam cleaned?

As mentioned earlier, most major carpet manufacturers now recommend hot water extraction (Steam Cleaning) as the preferred method. Like the laundering of your clothing, Steam cleaning is highly effective in removing soil and other contaminants from your carpet. It is one of five carpet cleaning processes that are officially recognized as an industry standard. To most people "dry cleaning" means cleaning without water. The fact is that most carpet cleaning advertised as "Dry" cleaning actually uses anywhere from a little, to a lot, of water! That's because most of the soil in your carpet is water soluble. For the most part that means better results with a wet cleaning process.

 

torrey pines cleaning Does your cleaning process soak the backing of the carpet?

No, although our process rinses the carpet deep down, moisture does not penetrate the backing of the carpet. With our powerful truck mounted powered equipment, your carpet is thoroughly rinsed, but left only damp to the touch.

 

torrey pines cleaning Can you get the pet odor out of my carpet?

Pet odor is a very common problem. We can help you deal with your pet challenges. The problem with pet odor is that it can be much deeper than it first appears at first. Pet urine can easily soak through the backing of the carpet into the padding underneath. In more severe cases the urine can penetrate into the sub-floor beneath the padding. This creates a problem that is multi-layered. The urine also provides for the growth of bacteria. This in turn contributes to a worsening of the odor problem and can contribute to permanent color loss of the carpet fiber.

To eliminate this problem the urine must be removed or neutralized from each of the layers effected. If the contamination is limited to only the face yarn of the carpet then the cleaning itself may effectively remove the odor. In more severe cases a urine neutralizer may be applied. In the most severe cases, replacement of the carpet padding, treatment of the under-side of the carpet and the sub-floor may be required. Even replacement of the carpet, however, can not guarantee complete removal of the odor. Left untreated over a period of time pet odor can become absorbed into many of the porous materials in your home.

Draperies, sheet rock, upholstered furniture, base-boards, even the concrete foundation are just a few of the materials that can absorb these odors. In the long run, however, it may be more a matter of proper maintenance instead of total elimination. After all, we love our pets and want to keep them a part of our family. Pet ownership adds to the challenge of maintaining a clean and healthy home.