before hiring a carpet cleaning company in Orange County CA

before hiring a carpet cleaning company in Orange County CA

Not all carpet cleaning companies are created equal. While most companies promise quality service for a low price, you may not always get it.

Using the tips below and asking the right questions will help you select a professional carpet cleaning company that will provide the most value for your dollar.

Training and certifications

Ask what types of professional training a company’s technicians have received. A professional carpet cleaning company should employ people that hold the Carpet Cleaning Technician certification by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

This is the most common and well-known training school for the cleaning and restoration industry. Other certifications to look for include Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning Technician, Rug Cleaning Technician, Carpet Repair and Reinstallation Technician, and Water Damage Restoration Technician.

Experience and customer feedback

Knowledge comes not only with education, but experience. Ask how long a company has been in business and check social media sites, search engines and places like Angie’s List for customer feedback.

Also, ask your friends and neighbors who they have used in the past and their experiences with the company. One or two bad reviews do not necessarily mean you shouldn’t use a company, but many poor reviews should raise a red flag. You can also ask the company for references if the information is not available online.

License and insurance

In many cities, small cleaning companies come and go rapidly. Ask the company you call if they are licensed with the state you live in. You can also check for this online on local government websites.

A cleaning company should also carry insurance related to the services they offer. It is also a good idea to ask if the company runs background checks on all their employees.

Price

If a price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Typically, you get what you pay for, and price should never be the main reason for choosing a carpet cleaning company. Always read the fine print on advertised specials.

Cleaning Method

The IICRC defines the five main principles of carpet cleaning as:

Dry soil removal 

Thorough vacuuming helps to remove dry soils from carpet fibers.

Soil suspension 

The application of the proper pre-treatment agent to loosen soils from carpet fibers. There are four characteristics of soil suspension: application of chemicals, use of heat or temperature to speed up chemical reactions, agitation of carpet fibers to aid in distribution of chemicals and dwell time to complete chemical reaction.

Soil extraction

The most common method from removing soils from carpet is the hot water extraction method, also known as steam cleaning.

Grooming 

Grooming of carpet helps eliminate matting of carpet and distribute cleaning agents.

Drying

With normal temperature and humidity conditions, carpet should take no longer than 24 hours to dry. Use of air movers, ceiling fans and, with the right conditions, the outdoor environment (opening windows) can speed the drying process. The ideal dry time for carpet should be around six to eight hours.

A professional carpet cleaning company should follow these steps, at a minimum, on all cleaning jobs.

Other important questions to ask

What is included with the cleaning service? 

At a minimum, the cleaning should include the five principles of carpet cleaning listed above.

Does the price quoted include specialty treatments? 

This includes treatments such as enzyme for pet stains, high traffic area treatment and carpet protection application. Many times these are done at an additional cost.

Will you move my furniture? 

Typically, furniture moving is not included in the price of carpet cleaning unless you ask for it.

Will you finish the cleaning with a low or neutral pH treatment? 

Many companies use high pH cleaners on carpet. While they clean well, it makes your carpet a magnet to dirt, allowing it to re-soil easily, and can have a sticky or crunchy feel. This can damage the carpet’s fibers and shorten its useful life. Ask if the carpet’s pH will be lowered or neutralized following the cleaning to help it stay clean longer.

Do you guarantee your work, and for how long? 

A good carpet cleaning company should offer some type of guarantee. Sometimes stains come back or other issues occur, so you want to know if you have options should this occur. Also, ask about the time frame for the guarantee so you can be sure you call in time if there is a problem.

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Is carpet protection worth it? offered in Orange County CA

Is carpet protection worth it? offered in Orange County CA

Well, that depends. Do you think it’s worth spending extra money to make messes easier to clean and carpets last a little longer?

When you spill something on most unprotected carpets, the fibers absorb the mess, causing stains or odors. Carpet protection works by repelling dirt from the carpet fibers and preventing them from absorbing the spills.

Carpet protector also helps prevent wear, and provides ultraviolet protection to reduce fading in sun-exposed carpets, says Gabe Matthews, president of highly rated Christian Brothers Cleaning & Restoration in El Cajon, California.

It can be especially helpful in high-traffic areas and in homes with children and pets, says Gary Hanson, owner of highly rated G. L. Hanson Carpet Cleaning in Palm Harbor, Florida.

Some carpet warranties include specific instructions on whether to add protector, Matthews says. Some may instruct the owner to add carpet protection when the carpets are cleaned, he says, while others restrict it altogether.

Need to hire a carpet cleaning company? Read this before you do.

Unless your warranty says otherwise, you shouldn’t need to add a protector until the carpet is at least four years old, Hanson says. New carpets come with protector infused into the fibers, so homeowners don’t need to add protection until a few years later after the fibers have worn down. Most homeowners choose to add carpet protection every 12 to 24 months, he says.

Matthews says his company generally charges $30 per room that measures about 300 square feet, averaging about 10 cents per square foot. Hanson says his carpet protection fee averages 10 to 12 cents per square foot.

Don’t want to hire a carpet cleaner? You can always do it yourself with a bottle of protector and a carpet brush. Protectors cost about $8 for a 17-ounce can to up to $80 for a gallon. A gallon can cover up to about 1,500 square feet, depending on which brand you use and how heavily you apply it.

Keep in mind that not all carpets require protector. For instance, Matthews says pouring a water-based protector on polyester, a plastic-based fiber, does absolutely nothing. Hanson says a few solvent-based protectors exist, but most protectors — like Scotchgard, which he uses — are water-based.

While certain types of carpets don’t need it and some warranties could be voided if you add it, choosing carpet protection comes down to individual preference.

“In general, there’s no real reason to put a carpet protector on it, unless they want that assurance that it will clean up better,” Matthews says. “It’s almost like an insurance policy for your carpet. If you want it to last as long as possible, do everything you can.”

 

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Do you REALLY need those carpet cleaning extras? Orange County CA

Do you REALLY need those carpet cleaning extras? in Orange County CA

When you pay a professional to clean your carpet, you probably expect him or her to remove any stains and pet odors that inspired the call for help.

Then come the dreaded words, “That’s extra.”

It may sound like the technician is trying to upsell you, but it’s customary for a carpet cleaning company to recommend sanitizing carpets when technicians smell heavy odors; or they might suggest a special spot remover for stubborn stains, says Hugh Lobban, owner of highly rated Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning in Orange County, California.

“It takes a long time to get [powdered juice stains] out because they are dye-based,” Lobban says. He adds that removing urine odor is just as difficult. “I have to use an enzyme [solution] to kill that live bacteria that is causing the odor.”

Member Isabelle Bauvir of Springfield, Virginia, says she paid Lobban’s company $185 to clean carpet in her living room, basement and 27 steps. She says adding the $3 per step and a fee to remove grease stains from the carpet in her family room was worth it. “The old stains have disappeared,” she says. “Previous carpet cleaners could not remove them.”

If the stains and odors bother you, it makes sense to invest in certain upgraded services to make your carpet look and smell clean. However, don’t wait until the technician arrives at your home to learn your options, says Mark Wils, vice president of operations for highly rated Quality Carpet Cleaning in Los Angeles. He recommends telling the technician before you schedule the appointment how many rooms you want cleaned and what you want accomplished in each. You should also ask about fees for services not included in the cleaning you requested; and if the technician will move furniture or require you do so for a more accurate estimate.

Regardless if the company charges per room or by square footage to clean your carpet, expect reputable technicians to first vacuum the area they will clean, then pre-treat it with a solution to dissolve grease, Wils says. Angie’s List members who had similar jobs done in 2013 reported paying an average of about $46 per room, not including services in which providers offered discounts exclusive to Angie’s List members. Average rates for carpets cleaned by the size instead of the room ranged between 30 and 50 cents per square foot.

Carpet cleaning guide for extra services

Use the following guide to help you decide if you need to upgrade your service the next time you get your carpet cleaned.

Staircases: They handle a lot of foot traffic, but are not included in a standard cleaning. Because you’re likely to notice the dirt when you go up or down them, you might want to spring for this upgrade. Fees average about $3 per step or $45 for a staircase that has up to 16 steps, based on the 2013 Angie’s List data.

Stain removal: These services target grease and residual soap buildup left behind from spot-cleaning products and home carpet cleaners that attract dirt. Prices start around $25, but can be significantly higher depending on the type and size of the stain.

Carpet sanitizing: This helps remove bacteria and allergens that can make you sick. Prices start around $25 per room..

Carpet deodorizing: Minimizes odors, but may not remove the cause of the smell. Prices start at about $20 per room.

Stain repellent: It helps the carpet resist soil from dried dirt, water and some oil-based spills by covering the carpet’s fibers in a liquid coating. The protection gives you more time to clean up spills before they soak in. Prices average about $35 per room or $40 for up to 150 square feet.

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Which carpet cleaning method is best for my floor? Orange County CA

Which carpet cleaning method is best for my floor? in Orange County, Los Angeles CA

When it’s time to have your carpet cleaned, it’s important to know your options. There are five different methods of carpet cleaning for you to choose from: shampooing, dry cleaning, foam cleaning, bonnet cleaning and hot water extraction. Before you schedule a service appointment, make sure you know what you’re getting and how effective it will be in your home.

1. Shampooing

This is probably the least effective method of cleaning. The reason why is that special detergents are applied to the carpet, given a little “scrub” and then the shampooed carpet is vacuumed.

The detergents have brighteners and deodorizers that leave your room smelling good and making the carpet seem brighter. However, much of the dirt remains in the carpet.

It’s the equivalent of you shampooing your hair without water and hoping a breeze takes away all of the dried shampoo and dirt. You will quickly notice that the dirt and stains quickly reappear.

2. Dry cleaning

Dry cleaning and foam cleaning are very similar to shampooing. However, dry cleaning is often considered preferable because there is no need to wait for the carpets to dry.

Instead of a wet product or foam, a special cleaning powder that is designed to attract dirt is applied to the carpet. Once the powder is worked into the carpet, it is thoroughly vacuumed away.

3. Foam cleaning 

This method works the same way as dry cleaning, except it uses a minimal amount of water and foam detergent. Either one of these methods will only clean the top third of the carpet. These can be good choices for interim cleanings. However, badly stained areas of carpet won’t be affected by either of these two types of cleaning.

4. Bonnet cleaning

This method is used in office buildings as they have commercial/industrial grade carpeting. Most home carpet would be damaged with this method of cleaning. Bonnet cleaning entails applying a chemical detergent and then using an absorbent pad on a rotary shampoo machine to rid the dirt.

5. Hot water extraction

This is also be known as “steam cleaning.” There are the portable machines that you can rent, but the most effective are the industry, truck-mounted systems. Newer or well-maintained systems can remove up to 95 percent of the water used in the cleaning process.

Professionals that buy used equipment to save costs may not be any more effective than a portable machine. Make sure you hire a company that keeps their equipment current.

Hot water extraction entails using a powerful machine that injects a solution of very hot water and detergent into the carpet. The mixture is then powerfully extracted by the machine, leaving the carpets looking and smelling like new.

Most importantly, this method removes as much of the ground-in bacteria, dirt, soil and stains as possible. Once again, make sure you hire well-trained carpet cleaning technicians. If they over-wet your carpets, the moisture left in carpet can encourage mold growth.

When it’s time to have your carpet professional cleaned, make sure you understand what type of cleaning they provide and how effective it will be on your soiled carpet.

Shampooing, dry cleaning and foam cleaning companies will be able to provide a large square footage of cleaning for a much lower cost than a reputable hot water extraction company, but the quality of the cleaning will be much lower, too.

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Travertine Sealing & CLeaning – Orange County CA

Travertine Sealers

All travertine is highly porous – a tablespoon of water on a travertine surface will be absorbed in seconds, although it does vary in porosity from piece to piece. Porosity is also affected by its finish – highly polished travertine with all the holes filled is less porous than travertine with a honed (matt) finish.

 

About Travertine

Travertine is a sedimentary rock. When pure, travertine is quite white, but usually it at least partially patterned and coloured in shades from light yellows to browns, from impurities in the stone. Travertine is also full of pits. These can be left or filled with a sutiable colour-matched putty.

Travertine is typically formed from mineral deposits (usually calcite) in mineral springs or hot springs, or streams saturated with calcium carbonate. When it is very porous, Travertine is known as calcarious ‘tuff’.

 

 

Sealing Travertine

All travertine is highly porous – a tablespoon of water on a travertine surface will be absorbed in seconds, although it does vary in porosity from piece to piece. Porosity is also affected by its finish – highly polished travertine with all the holes filled is less porous than travertine with a honed (matt) finish.

Due to its high porosity it is particularly important for travertine to be sealed with a high quality impregnating sealer which will not affect its slip resistance or look. It is very difficult to seal travertine against acid attack. Travertine is used both outdoors and indoors, and Dry-Treat’s premium impregnating sealers will seal travertine equally well in either.

 

Protection from Acid Etching

Travertine, and other calcite based stone such as marble and limestone have an additional vulnerability – they are prone to acid etching. Travertine will be immediately ‘etched’ (eaten / corroded) by any acidic material immediately on contact – including lemon juice, cola, wine and champagne. For this reason the honed (matt) look is popular, as it doesn’t show etch marks as much as polished travertine. In any case, acidic substances should be cleaned up as soon as possible, and travertine should not be used outdoors in areas where there is acid rain.

 

Which Dry-Treat™ Sealer is Best for my Travertine?

STAIN-PROOF Original™ or META CRÈME™

Permanent, invisible, fully breathable impregnating sealer for water and salt, PLUS premium oil stain protection.15 year warranty when sealing is performed by an Accredited Applicator.

DRY-TREAT 40SK™

Permanent, invisible, fully breathable impregnating sealer for water and salt protection, plus surface consolidation. particularly popular for sealing limestone in a saltwater environment – such as around a salt water swimming pool.

ENHANCE-PLUS™

For colour enrichment PLUS water based stain protection. 5 year warranty when sealing is performed by an Accredited Applicator.

Plus STAIN-PROOF Original™ or META CREME™ for additional oil protection at least 24 hours after ENHANCE-PLUS™.

 

Pre-sealing Preparation

 

1) Any surface to be sealed should be clean and looking just as you want it before it is sealed – it may be impossible to remove stains after sealing.

2) The surface must be freed waxes or other topical coatings. Any such existing coating must be removed prior to treating with a Dry-Treat sealer.

3) Ensure the material is thoroughly dry before applying any Dry-Treat sealer.

HANAFINN Oxy-Klenza™ is a highly effective, heavy-duty cleaner which is safe to use on most types of porous surface. HANAFINN X-Duty Graffiti Kleena™ may also be used for stubborn stains.

PLEASE NOTE:

1) Always test any cleaning chemical or sealer on a small, inconspicuous area of the surface 24 hours before doing the project, to check that it will produce the desired result. This is especially important with ENHANCE-PLUS™ to ensure the colour enhancement is what you want.

2) Always ensure the surface is completely dry before proceeding with sealing.

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Cleaning & Sealing Travertine – Orange County CA

Cleaning & Sealing Travertine in Orange County

Sealing travertine has been debated among us in the stone and tile industry for many years.The reason for the discussion has to do with the porosity of the travertine stone.Travertine is very dense and polished travertine may not be as porous as honed travertine.With that being said, what if a staining agent was to absorb into your travertine tile.Now you would have a problem, and not just any problem, but possibly an expensive problem.sealing travertine tile

Our recommendation would be sealing travertine when it’s first installed and depending what sealer you use, sealing regularly every year or every other year.One thing about travertine you should be aware of. Travertine is a calcium based stone like marble and is susceptible to etching by any acidic liquid.Sealing travertine will not protect it from etching, so caution should be used with any acidic liquid (orange juice).

How to Seal Travertine

Sealing travertine is not very complicated and if you take your time and clean it properly before you seal it, you shouldn’t have any problems.

  • First, you need to know if there are any topical coatings such as wax or polyurethanes on the travertine, and if there is, it requires a stripping process, that’s different than what it is described below.
  • Clean your travertine thoroughly with a neutral cleaner or if it’s badly soiled, you can use an akaline stone cleaner to break down dirt and grease build-up.
  • Once the travertine surface is clean, dry it with a cotton or microfiber cloth. It’s very important the travertine is dry before any sealer is applied. In some cases, if the travertine is more porous, it may need 24 to 72 hours to dry before applying a sealer.
  • If you’re sure the travertine is completely dry, you can apply the sealer evenly using a lamb’s wool applicator or any soft cloth. Honed or textured travertine will require more sealer due to it being more porous than a polished travertine.
  • Not all sealers behave the same and if you’re using a water based sealer, it will take longer to dry compared to a solvent based sealer. It’s important not to let the sealer puddle up as any unwanted residue can dry up and even stain some stones.
  • After applying a second coat of sealer, dry buff with either a microfiber or cotton cloth, making sure to remove all excess sealer. You don’t want to see any streaks left by the sealer
  • If you do see streaks left by the sealer, re-activate the sealer with some more sealer, and then buff off.

sealing travertine tile

Maintaining travertine can be easy, as long as you know what cleaners are best and how to use them.When cleaning travertine we recommend using a neutral floor cleaner. Neutral meaning neautral pH or pH of 7 on the pH scale.For daily cleaning, use a microfiber mop, with warm water and your neutral cleaner. Mop your floor and dry with dry mop.When it comes to cleaning and sealing travertine or cleaning ceramic tile and grout, we strive to help educate our customers on the best protection they can have, helping them save time and money in costly restoration costs down the road.

Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning of Orange County, CA preforms Steam Carpet Cleaning, Tile Floor Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning, Marble/ Travertine Floor Polishing and our new service, Wood Floor Refinishing.  Pacific Has been servicing the Orange County, ca area for over 25 years and we offer the most Affordable Carpet, Tile & Upholstery cleaning in Orange County and the Los Angeles area. Check out our Up-Front Pricing!  Our BBB A Rating and customer references speak for themselves.

 

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Carpet Cleaning And Indoor Air Quality – Orange County CA

In November of 2009, Eileen Wosnack, a Canadian interior designer and author who specializes in “green interiors,” made this suggestion: “Tear up that old unhealthy carpet and paint your floor.”

In fact, she so strongly believed this to be good advice, she even used this recommendation as the title of an article.*

Among the reasons for her position, Wosnack stated that carpet harbors “dust mites, mold, mildew and fleas.”

Further, she wrote that debris gets trapped in the carpet fibers and underlay, which is usually not removed by normal vacuuming.

Additionally, she said, “deep cleaning,” which typically refers to hot-water extraction, “will only remove [surface-level] dirt, [all of which contributes] to the problem of poor air quality.”

This view is not uncommon.

In fact, going back nearly 40 years, entire school districts and many administrators involved in facility management believed carpeting negatively affected indoor air quality (IAQ).

We know that carpet absorbs contaminants like a sponge, but once saturated, they can become airborne with use and foot traffic.

However, according to Werner Braun, former president of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), these beliefs are based on old data.

He agrees with Wosnack that carpet by its intrinsic nature does hold and trap settled materials such as dust particles and other allergens.

However, he says, “This has long [been] considered a good thing. If these particles and allergens are in the carpet, they’re certainly not being inhaled to aggravate allergies and asthma.”

As far as use and foot traffic releasing these trapped contaminants, Braun says that studies indicate that once they are in the carpet it actually takes a “tremendous amount of subsequent activity to re-suspend materials in to the air … [and that] several more current studies link the use of carpet to reduce asthma and allergy symptoms.”

This would imply that carpet actually protects human health and indoor air quality instead of contributing to the problem.

Where The Truth Lies

Both Wosnack and Braun have their share of supporters.

Many of the people who, like Wosnack, oppose carpeting, do so mainly because of the way some carpet is made and because the majority of carpet, once removed, ends up in already-crowded landfills.

And even those who cite studies that prove the health benefits of carpeting might still take Braun’s view with a grain of salt.

After all, he formerly was the head of an organization that represents the carpet and rug industry, which advocates the benefits of carpeting.

So who is right, and is there even a right or wrong?

Fortunately, a January 2014 study conducted at Airmid Healthgroup appears to offer answers in this debate.

The 200-page report concluded that “effectively cleaned carpet have the capacity to trap allergens and microbial particles, making these particles less available to become airborne and thus maintaining [enhanced] indoor air quality.”

To perform the study, Airmid Healthgroup created different chambers in which new and used carpet were installed.

In addition, one chamber contained a hard-surface floor.

Each section of the carpet was individually laid under controlled temperature, relative humidity and air changes per hour.

The new carpet was contaminated by introducing aerosolized house dust mite and cat allergens into the chambers.

“The introduction of allergen test dust was not necessary for the used carpet,” according to Vivienne Mahon, Ph.D., from Airmid Healthgroup, one of the researchers involved with the study, “because they contained ‘natural’ levels of house dust mite and cat allergens.”

After this, the researchers then created “room disturbance” in the chambers, with the goal of making the now-settled contaminants airborne.

Finally, airborne contaminant counts were taken in all of the chambers.

These were the findings:

  • The types of floor coverings and even the different types of carpeting do have a significant impact on airborne particulate concentrations.
  • In general, these airborne concentrations “were lower with carpet as opposed to the hard surface floors.”
  • One of the carpet, a 100 percent nylon, medium-pile broadloom carpet, consistently performed best in trapping contaminants.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nylon is the most popular fiber used as the face fiber in commercial carpet in the U.S.

As to the validity of the findings, while the study was carried out under test conditions (such as controlled temperature, relative humidity and air changes per hour), “they replicated those found in real-world setting,” said Mahon.

One More Crucial Finding

This debate is not over without discussing one further finding.

According to the report, carpeting can help protect health and indoor air quality; however, that is dependent on regular and proper cleaning.

This is because the researchers also concluded that should the carpet become saturated with contaminants, the positive benefits reported will be reduced.

For proper cleaning, regular vacuuming with high-performance, high-quality, air-filtered vacuum cleaners is the first step to remove dry top-surface soils.

However, to remove soils that have been pounded deeper into carpet fibers, the researchers recommended the use of hot-water extraction.

As opposed to using cold water, hot-water extraction, according to the researchers, was able to more thoroughly clean carpet and remove deeply embedded soils and contaminants, helping to prevent them from becoming airborne.

The study indicated that proprietary hot-water extraction cleaning — which typically refers to heating water/solution to 212-degrees F when using portable extractors — is highly effective at reducing allergen levels in carpet.

Who’s Right?

In a sense, both Wosnack and Braun are right in their beliefs and conclusions.

Braun rightly believes that carpet prevents contaminants from becoming airborne.

And Wosnack is right that, unless they are properly cleaned and maintained, there is a possibility that carpet will become saturated and foot traffic and other disturbances will cause dust and allergens to be released.

However, ultimately the conclusion of the study is that carpet does help protect human health and indoor air quality … it simply has to be properly maintained.

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Carpet Cleaning Pricing And Production Rates – Orange County CA

On one hand, the pricing of a carpet cleaning job appears to be a simple mathematical calculation.

However, you may realize that there are numerous variables involved that will impact how long the job takes and which processes, chemicals and equipment will obtain the best results.

You also have to consider the condition of the carpet and the customer”s expectations.

In this article, we provide many different price and production rates.

Variables That Impact Time And Cost

Here”s a short list of some variables that should be taken into consideration when pricing a carpet cleaning job:

  • Is the work you are doing residential or commercial?
  • Is it a big job or a small job?
  • Is there anything special, out of the ordinary or unique about the job that will take more time?
  • Are you doing interim cleaning or deep/restorative cleaning?
  • What is the soil level and are spots present?
  • Are pre-vacuuming, pile lifting or pre-spraying and agitation required?
  • Are you hiring employees or using sub/independent contractors?
  • Is it a one-time job or a repeat job you can do several times per year that will likely lead to additional work?

Are There Hidden Profit Opportunities?

What can you do to make the job more profitable than the cleaning itself that may allow you to be more competitive in your pricing?

This includes such things as: Repairs; spot removal; odor removal; furniture moving; topical treatments; disinfection or sanitization; inspection/consulting services; mini blind cleaning; ceiling cleaning; upholstery cleaning; and window cleaning.

Beyond carpet, are there opportunities for hard floor maintenance?

Evaluating Your Costs

Examine your costs for the following:

  • Profit: 20 to 400 percent or more for markup on labor and supplies
  • Overhead: 10 to 40 percent for markup on labor and supplies — 15 to 20 percent is common
  • Labor and staffing: 40 to 75 percent
  • Chemicals: 2 to 5 percent
  • Fuel: 2 to 6 percent
  • Equipment: 2 to 8 percent
  • Supplies: 2 to 3 percent.

Bidding And Estimating Strategies

  • Cost per square foot:
    • Commercial: 4 to 25 cents for wet extraction; 3 to 15 cents for low-moisture interim processes.
    • Note: Larger commercial work is often bid at a cost per square foot that is half or less than rates charged for residential jobs of 1,000 to 1,200 square feet.
  • Time and materials:
    • Set rate per hour and cost of supplies, $20 to $65 or more per hour, $100 minimum.
  • By the hour:
    • $25 to $65 or more per hour.
  • Computerized bidding:
    • Per program or user-definable, commercial and residential programs are available.
  • Difficulty factor approach:
    • A systematic approach to pricing involves tracking the production time for every job. In addition, the following difficulty factors can be assigned a weighted score to arrive at a composite score. With some tweaking, the total score can be totaled and divided by two. This computation then becomes your price per square foot.
  • Soil load
  • Stain removal
  • Furniture to move
  • Color of carpet
  • Total square feet
  • Obstacles to go around
  • Carpet cleaned on a regular schedule
  • Numerous small rooms to clean (congestion level)
  • Pre-vacuum necessary
  • Rake cut pile when finished
  • Setup and put away time
  • Total score (divide by two to arrive at your final price per square foot).

Production Rates

Listed below are average production rates for various systems and processes.

  • Hot-water extraction (using a truckmount with wand): 600 to 1,400 square feet per hour
  • Hot-water extraction (using a truckmount with rotary wand): 800 to 1,500 square feet per hour
  • Hot-water extraction (using a portable/box unit with wand): 600 to 1,200 square feet per hour
  • Hot-water extraction (using a pull back/self-contained unit): 800 to 1,800 square feet per hour
  • Hot-water extraction followed by bonnet cleaning: 400 to 500 square feet per hour
  • High-flow extraction rinse (with auto dump and fill): 1,500 to 2,500 square feet per hour
  • Encapsulation (with an 18- to 20-inch planetary head): 1,500 to 2,000 square feet per hour
  • Encapsulation (with an 18-inch cylindrical brush): 1,000 to 1,250 square feet per hour
  • Encapsulation (dry foam with a 24-inch cylindrical brush and vacuum): up to 12,000 square feet per hour
  • Encapsulation (with walk behind 12- to 15-inch machine with a cylindrical brush): 500 to 1,200 square feet per hour
  • Walk behind extractor: 1,800 to 4,000 square feet per hour
  • Riding extractor: 5,000 to 15,000 square feet per hour
  • Rotary shampoo (with a 17- or 20-inch/175 revolutions per minute (RPM) machine): 1,000 to 1,500 square feet per hour
  • Rotary shampoo and extract (with a 17- or 20-inch/175 RPM machine): 400 to 500 square feet per hour
  • Spin bonnet (with a 17- or 20-inch/175 RPM machine): 1,500 to 2,500 square feet per hour
  • Dry absorbent powder: 750 to 1,500 square feet per hour at 2 to 7 or more cents per square foot for materials.

Vacuuming:

  • 12- to 14-inch upright: 2,000 to 3,000 square feet per hour
  • 16- to 18-inch upright: 3,500 to 4,500 square feet per hour
  • 24-inch upright: 4,000 to 6,000 square feet per hour
  • Backpack: 4,000 to 11,000 square feet per hour
  • Edging: 2,000 to 7,000 square feet per hour.

Wide-area vacuum:

  • 28- to 32-inch: 5,000 to 12,000 or more square feet per hour
  • 48-inch: 10,000 to 15,000 or more square feet per hour.

Pile lifting (16- to 18-inch):

  • 1,500 to 2,500 square feet per hour
  • 3 to 4 cents per square foot.

Repairs And Spot Removal:

  • 1,500 to 2,500 square feet per hour
  • 3 to 4 cents per square foot.
  • Small, medium to large spots: $20 to $250 or more
  • Red stains: $20 to $60
  • Urine: $50 to $1,000 or more
  • Loom oil: $65 to $600
  • Adhesive: $50 to $85
  • Roll crush: $50 to $300
  • Other specialty spot removal: $30 to $250 or more
  • Repairs (re-stretch, seam repair, burns, patch, re-burl, etc.): $45 to $150 or up to $85 or more per hour.

Carpet Dyeing:

  • Spot: $30 to $100 or more per hour
  • Full room: 20 cents to 45 cents per square foot — minimum charge of $100
  • Side match/feather blend correction: $15 to $25 per linear foot — minimum charge of $250.

Topical Chemical Application:

  • Pre-spray (prior to cleaning): 1 to 3 cents per square foot at 4,000 to 6,000 square feet per hour
  • Deodorizer: 10 to 30 cents a square foot
  • Disinfectants and sanitizers: 10 to 20 cents a square foot
  • Anti-stats: 7 to 10 cents a square foot
  • Stain/soil repellant: 12 to 25 cents a square foot
  • Remove carpet: 15 to 30 cents a square foot
  • Sell carpet, cushion and install: Markup of 30 to 40 percent
  • Install carpet: $4 to $6 a square yard
  • Mini blinds: $4 to $10 each
  • Draperies: Check local services rate per pleat, per linear foot or per pound
  • Upholstery: $20 to $220 or more per item; $15 to $45 a linear foot
  • Ceiling cleaning: 10 to 35 cents per foot
  • Window cleaning: $35 to $55 per hour or per unit or job
  • Hard floor maintenance: 5 cents to $1.35 a square foot
  • Tile and grout cleaning/sealing: 75 cents to $2 a square foot
  • Stone polish: $1.50 to $2.50 a square foot
  • Stone restoration: $2.50 to $15 or more per square foot
  • Inspections: $75 to $1,000 or more
  • Consulting: $85 to $250 per hour
  • Specialized cleaning services: $100 to $250 or more per hour or per job.

Specialty Rug Cleaning

Area Rugs:

  • Woven, Oriental, specialty and machine-made: $2 to $3 per square foot
  • Handmade: $2 to $3.50 per square foot
  • Specialty rugs, furs, hides, silk: $4 to $5 per square foot
  • Domestic area/designer rugs: $1.58 per foot
  • Pickup and delivery: $150 within 25 miles
  • Repairs: $40 to $60 per hour.

Sales Commission

For cleaning technicians:

  • Hourly pay rate: $9 to $15 per hour, plus 5 to 7 percent of billable amount as commission
  • Commission only: 15 to 30 percent of billable amount, with company providing and paying for everything, except technician labor.

Sorry, No Magic Answer

There are many factors that enter into determining the final pricing for any job, carpet cleaning in particular.

Things like discounts for a large account, regularly programmed service schedules or traffic lane maintenance versus a one-time job are all factors that need to be taken into consideration when pricing each job.

As a professional, it is also good to discuss with each customer the value and importance of prevention as it relates to cost, re-cleaning and production.

Such things as adequate entry matting, topically-applied protectants, pile lifting, vacuuming, spotting, repairs and the need for a regular maintenance program are things that will benefit the customer and make your work easier the next time you clean the customer”s carpet.

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How much should carpet cleaning cost? Orange County CA

How much should carpet cleaning cost? Orange County CA

Hiring a professional carpet cleaning service is a great way to deal with general wear and tear or to remove a particularly tough stain. Homeowners often wonder, however, what to expect for a carpet cleaning cost and how to know if they’re being overcharged.

The two common pricing types

Every carpet is different and every home a different size, which means there’s no “one size fits all” carpet cleaning price. There are, however, two common ways companies determine cost when you hire a carpet cleaner.

The first is “per room,” meaning they offer a flat cleaning rate for each room in a home. There are typically size caps on this method, and rooms over the maximum square footage are treated as two rooms. This lets companies offer quotes over the phone, but can artificially inflate the price to compensate for inaccuracy. It’s also important to consider just how low a rate may be: anything under $20 per room probably won’t come with quality service. Moving furniture is often an extra charge on top of this rate, meaning homeowners need to move couches, entertainment centers and other large objects if they want to keep costs down.

Members who had similar jobs done in 2013 reported paying an average of $45.68 per room with a general range of $43.18 to $48.18, not counting discounts many service providers offer to  List members.

The other estimation method is per square foot. This is more accurate but requires a visit to your home before work can begin. If you own a smaller home, you will typically pay more because the company needs to offset travel and material costs; those with larger homes will pay slightly less per square foot because equipment set up and material requirements are fixed. Average rates run between $0.30 and $0.50 per square foot, and should include all labor, products and a guarantee about the standard of clean – for example, in compliance with the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) guidelines.

Different types, different costs

The type of carpet cleaning you choose also affects the cost. Hot water extraction cleaning, known as “steam cleaning,” is the most popular method. This kind of cleaning doesn’t actually use steam but instead uses high pressure to push very hot water, along with a cleaning solution, into carpet. The resulting moisture is then removed via suction, and the carpet needs at least 24 hours to fully dry. This is the method recommended by most carpet manufacturers for deep cleaning and is often required of homeowners to keep the warranty on their flooring valid. Companies may use either portable electric cleaners or vehicle-mounted equipment for more powerful suction.

Dry cleaning, also known as “low moisture” or “encapsulation” cleaning, uses a chemical solution and minimal water for a quicker clean, but can’t reach as deep as powerful wet cleaning methods. Homeowners don’t need to wait as long before walking on their carpet, but are often asked to vacate the home during cleaning to prevent accidental chemical inhalation. Dry cleaning typically costs less than wet cleaning, as it doesn’t require as much labor or equipment.

Considering extra costs

While most carpet cleaning services now offer an upfront fee that covers all basic costs, it’s still possible to incur some add-on costs. The first is for targeted spot cleaning: in some cases, a standard service won’t be able to remove a stain completely and will require further followup. This may be covered under an initial contract, but homeowners need to know exactly what they’re paying for and what requires an added cost. Many companies have also added extra services, such as color repair and dyeing, as well as dry and steam cleaning services. For a cost, typically assessed at an hourly rate, the company will correct carpet discolored by a stain or restore portions of a carpet to its original color. Always ask for references and guarantees if you choose to use this kind of service.

Carpet cleaning costs depend on the way a company determines rates, the type of cleaning requested and the number of add-ons purchased by a homeowner. No matter the final total, however, homeowners should always receive a transparent, easily understandable invoice detailing what they owe and exactly what it covers.

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Commercial Carpet Cleaning Specialists Orange County CA

Keeping your commercial space presentable is one of the best first impressions you’ll make. If your space could use some tidying up, commercial carpet cleaning could be just what you need.

We take our commercial jobs very seriously and understand that when we are on site that we are representing your professional image. It is our desire to not only maintain your professional image, but to ENHANCE IT!

Even beyond keeping keeping your carpets, cubicles, and upholstery fabrics looking and smelling professional, another advantage to commercial carpet cleaning is that it can extend the life of the carpet. Dirt and other contaminates increase wear in the material, and can even eat away at the fibers over time. Regular cleaning keeps your carpets free of these contaminates, looking fresh and vibrant for many years.

We understand that it can be tough to schedule these types of services around customers and deadlines. That’s why our special process is a big win for businesses: we don’t have to soak carpets like traditional carpet cleaning methods, so your carpet will be dry in hours and not days.

Our commercial carpet cleaning solution is made naturally from oranges, grapefruit, and lemons. There are no harsh chemicals to worry about, so no matter what kind of carpet you’re working with you can rest assured we’ll have it looking and smelling fresh safely.

Request a quote today and get ready to see the citrus difference!

Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning of Tustin, CA preforms Steam Carpet Cleaning, Tile Floor Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning, Marble/ Travertine Floor Polishing and our new service, Wood Floor Refinishing.  Pacific Has been servicing the Tustin, ca area for over 25 years and we offer the most Affordable Carpet, Tile & Upholstery cleaning in Tustin and the Los Angeles area. Check out our Up-Front Pricing!  Our BBB A Rating and customer references speak for themselves.  Our company has over 25 years of experience in the carpet and tile cleaning industry. We provide customers with reliable solutions for all of their carpet cleaning and tile & grout cleaning needs. Our company also offers upholstery cleaning, marble/travertine floor polishing, and wood floor refinishing services that our customers can count on. Our BBB rating is an A, and we are happy to have over 12,000 satisfied customers. Our customer reviews are positive, and we always believe in offering quality services. We have powerful industrial strength cleaning equipment that we use for all of our services.Carpet Cleaning

If you need our carpet cleaning expertise, we are ready to assist you. We will pre-vacuum, pre-condition, and offer spot treatments so that your carpet looks as good as it did when you first bought it. Our steam extraction process is done by highly trained personal. Our technicians know what type of cleaning products and supplies should be used on each carpet or rug material. We will safely clean one room of carpet or an entire house or building full. We understand the importance of having clean and deodorized carpets to help your building look its best.

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