The Importance Of Professional Upholstery Cleaning Standards – Orange County CA

The Importance Of Professional Upholstery Cleaning Standards

The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, or IICRC, is responsible for managing professional upholstery cleaning standards in the industry. The IICRC’s regulations are respected more than any other institution’s because they are kept up to date and are an excellent source of information. These codes of practice cover multiple topics and provide a foundation of knowledge that a technician can expand on through the Institute’s courses.The BSR-IICRC S300 publication contains the organization’s professional upholstery cleaning standards. This publication can be found through the IICRC’s website, and certified technicians and firms, as well as anyone who has a need or interest can purchase them as useful marketing and informational tools. The information inside the BSR-IICRC S300 was collected from many sources, including chemical and equipment manufacturers, international, national and regional trade associations, allied tradespersons, upholstery and furniture manufacturers, training schools, industry professionals and experienced specialists. This information is constantly reviewed and modified as research and technology in the industry improves.

The IICRC’s professional upholstery cleaning standards are considered important because the of the need for a documented way to clean and maintain upholstered fabrics.  The IICRC organization is accredited through the American National Standards Institute, or ANSI. The ANSI is a non-profit, national entity that strives to improve quality of life and business competitiveness by encouraging respected guidelines in many industries. Many of the IICRC’s standards are approved of through the ANSI, which gives them a national level of backing. The BSR-IICRC S300 is undergoing a major update which is expected to be finished in 2014. This version of the publication will be completely ANSI-approved and will contain the latest in industry knowledge. Technicians and companies in the field that wish to remain relevant in the marketplace will benefit from the new regulations.The BSR-IICRC S300 is a useful document, but it is only a foundational publication. Without further training and experience, a technician will still lag behind certified experts in terms of skill. Because of this, many people in the industry seek certification through the IICRC in a variety of specialties. These certifications range from simple textile cleaning to microbial remediation. They are useful to many industry specialists, including fire, smoke and water restoration experts. Some of the coursework will introduce technicians to the professional upholstery cleaning standards provided through the IICRC.  These classes are taught over a few days by IICRC-certified experts. The institution does not employ instructors to teach the coursework, and instead delegates the instruction to seasoned and experienced instructors. . These instructors are familiar with all of the IICRC’s guidelines and will present them to the student while teaching current trends and technology for upholstery treatment.

The IICRC has certified more than 50,000 technicians and 6,000 firms in 22 countries. Technicians may choose to attain certification in one or more areas, and by becoming a certified firm they would have access to the CleanTrust mark and be included in the IICRC’s online database. The CleanTrust mark signifies that the technician is skilled enough to provide the best possible service to the customer, so homeowners often look for this mark when hiring a firm. The online database only contains certified firms, which adds to a certified technician’s visibility in their area. If a technician wants to expand their knowledge further, they may seek advanced certifications in one of three tracks in addition to learning about the IICRC’s professional upholstery cleaning standards.Armed with these guidelines, a technician will have a solution for any job they may encounter.

The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, or IICRC, is responsible for managing professional upholstery cleaning standards in the industry. The IICRC’s regulations are respected more than any other institution’s because they are kept up to date and are an excellent source of information. These codes of practice cover multiple topics and provide a foundation of knowledge that a technician can expand on through the Institute’s courses.The BSR-IICRC S300 publication contains the organization’s professional upholstery cleaning standards. This publication can be found through the IICRC’s website, and certified technicians and firms, as well as anyone who has a need or interest can purchase them as useful marketing and informational tools. The information inside the BSR-IICRC S300 was collected from many sources, including chemical and equipment manufacturers, international, national and regional trade associations, allied tradespersons, upholstery and furniture manufacturers, training schools, industry professionals and experienced specialists. This information is constantly reviewed and modified as research and technology in the industry improves.The IICRC’s professional upholstery cleaning standards are considered important because the of the need for a documented way to clean and maintain upholstered fabrics.  The IICRC organization is accredited through the American National Standards Institute, or ANSI. The ANSI is a non-profit, national entity that strives to improve quality of life and business competitiveness by encouraging respected guidelines in many industries. Many of the IICRC’s standards are approved of through the ANSI, which gives them a national level of backing. The BSR-IICRC S300 is undergoing a major update which is expected to be finished in 2014. This version of the publication will be completely ANSI-approved and will contain the latest in industry knowledge. Technicians and companies in the field that wish to remain relevant in the marketplace will benefit from the new regulations.The BSR-IICRC S300 is a useful document, but it is only a foundational publication. Without further training and experience, a technician will still lag behind certified experts in terms of skill. Because of this, many people in the industry seek certification through the IICRC in a variety of specialties. These certifications range from simple textile cleaning to microbial remediation. They are useful to many industry specialists, including fire, smoke and water restoration experts. Some of the coursework will introduce technicians to the professional upholstery cleaning standards provided through the IICRC.  These classes are taught over a few days by IICRC-certified experts. The institution does not employ instructors to teach the coursework, and instead delegates the instruction to seasoned and experienced instructors. . These instructors are familiar with all of the IICRC’s guidelines and will present them to the student while teaching current trends and technology for upholstery treatment.The IICRC has certified more than 50,000 technicians and 6,000 firms in 22 countries. Technicians may choose to attain certification in one or more areas, and by becoming a certified firm they would have access to the CleanTrust mark and be included in the IICRC’s online database. The CleanTrust mark signifies that the technician is skilled enough to provide the best possible service to the customer, so homeowners often look for this mark when hiring a firm. The online database only contains certified firms, which adds to a certified technician’s visibility in their area. If a technician wants to expand their knowledge further, they may seek advanced certifications in one of three tracks in addition to learning about the IICRC’s professional upholstery cleaning standards.Armed with these guidelines, a technician will have a solution for any job they may encounter.

Call on Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning in Orange County CA  (949) 545-5205   www.pacificcarpetcleaning.net

Carpet Cleaning Tips of the Week: Orange County CA

How often should you have your carpet cleaned?

Your first answer to this question may be whenever necessary; that can be true depending on your carpet cleaning needs and circumstances. On an average to help maintain a healthy home or business environment, you should have your carpets cleaned twice a year, once every six months. Germs, bacteria, and dust-mites can accumulate pretty fast possibly causing allergies or respitory conditions if left uncleaned. If you happen to have heavy traffic, a full house, three or more children and/or pets, you may need to have your carpets cleaned three to four times a year, once every four months.

Carpet Spills:

If you have a light colored carpet (beige, pink, white, light blue, light green, etc;) and you so happen to spill a dark colored liquid (for example – grape juice, fruit punch, wine, strawberry soda) on your carpet, simply take a clean white towel, wet one end. Using the wet end of the towel, soak up and wipe clean the spilled area. Using the dry end of the towel, blot the area dry. Do this immediately after the spill. If you allow the stain to set, you run the risk of the dark colored spill dying your light colored carpet.

Carpet Cleaning Drying Process:

Deep steam cleaning is a very thorough cleaning process in removing dirt and bacteria from your rugs and carpets. Deep steam cleaning is a widely used and effective method in cleaning rugs and carpets. Done by a trained experienced technician your carpets should dry in two to four hours. There are a couple of things you can do to speed up the drying process.

1. Open a few windows and doors allowing air to circulate through your home or office.Note: Air helps the drying process.
2. Turn on ceiling and floor fans.
3. Never cover your carpet with towels, sheets, etc. after a steam cleaning. By doing so you lock in the moisture making it nearly impossible for your carpet to dry in a timely manner. Remember air helps complete the drying process to allow the fibers of your rugs and carpets to breathe.

After having their carpets cleaned, some customers like to cover their carpets with towels, sheets, or paper so they can immediatety walk on it. Some carpet cleaning companies actually offer paper covers to assist customers with this request. Pacific Carpet Cleaning believes that this is not a good practice because of the negative effect covering your carpets have on the carpets drying in a timely manner. We are one of the leading carpet cleaning companies that use the steam cleaning process. A process, when performed properly, leaves only a minimum amount of moisture. The mist that’s left on the carpet after cleaning drys quicker with air flow from open windows, fans, etc. Covering your carpets after having them steam cleaned only delays the drying time. Remember when we clean your carpet, the drying time is usually only between 2 to 4 hours.

Vacuum Your Carpets and Rugs on a Regular Basis

A healthy tip in maintaining your carpets and rugs is to vacuum them regularly. You’ll be surprised how quickly dust and dirt accumulates in them. It is a good practice to vacuum your home carpets two to three times a week at a minimum and your office or business carpets (if heavy traffic) at least daily. There are two specific reasons why you want to vacuum your carpets on a regular basis:

Remember vacuuming helps in maintaining your carpets, but you ultimately need to have them professionally cleaned to remove hidden dirt and bacteria.

Call on Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning in Orange County CA  (949) 545-5205   www.pacificcarpetcleaning.net

Steam Carpet Cleaning vs Chemical Carpet Cleaning, which is better? Orange County CA

Steam Carpet Cleaning and Chemical Carpet Cleaning, which is better?

This appears to be one of the most frequently asked questions by those seeking to have their carpets cleaned. In a nut-shell, one is not better than the other, there is no difference.  It’s one in the same.  Let me give you one comparable example.  It’s like washing your clothes; you can’t just put your clothes in the washer, and not add laundry detergent and expect them to get completely cleaned.  After the detergent rids your clothing of dirt and stains, it has to go through the rinse cycle in order for your clothes to become thoroughly washed.

The same concept applies to carpet cleaning. There can be stains, dirt, and bacteria in your carpets that cannot be removed simply by steam cleaning alone.  First the stains have to be identified by the cleaning technician. Second, they have to be treated with the proper cleaning solutions that cause a breakdown, which ultimately dissolves or loosens the stains, dirt, and bacteria from the fibers of your carpet.  Finally the steam process is applied to rinse your carpets and extract the dirt, bacteria, and applied solutions.  The end result is a beautiful carpet, free of germs, bacteria, and ugly stains.

Call on Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning in Orange County CA  (949) 545-5205   www.pacificcarpetcleaning.net

Upholstery cleaning services In Orange County, why are they important?

Upholstery cleaning services In Irvine, why are they important?

We spend a lot of money on cleaning our upholstery. It is important to keep your furniture fabrics in excellent condition to prolong the life of your valuable furnishings. It is practically impossible to deep clean your upholstery, even if you use the most advanced vacuum cleaners. In order to complete this task you will require the assistance of a professional upholstery cleaning service provider in Irvine. The money you will spend on a professional cleaning service is your investment in the future of your furniture. Thorough and deep upholstery cleaning will ensure you that your furniture remains better than new for many years. Dust will cause health issues, therefore it is important to keep your upholstery free from dustmites. Health care experts frequently suggest cleaning your carpets and upholstery at the same time, at least twice per year to avoid dust related environment issues.

Regularly cleaning your carpets and upholstery is essential if there are pets living in your home. Pet stains and odors are difficult to remove and will often require professional help. This is where Pacific Carpet Cleaning Upholstery cleaning services can be of help to you. An experienced Orange County rug and upholstery service provider will have a special knowledge of removing stubborn stains and odors from your carpets and upholstery. The cleaning agents used are safe for humans and your pets. Our cleaning agents are environmentally friendly. Hire an Irvine. cleaning service provider that will provide high quality services within your cleaning budget. It is possible you may have to spend a little more to get that sparkling clean upholstery look and feel. Don’t worry about that small extra cost. The results will be more than satisfactory in prolonging the life of your furniture.

Normally furniture manufacturers label their products to help a cleaning company better understand what type of cleaning agents to use on your upholstery. Special fabrics require special care in order to prevent shrinking and color fastening. It is important for the experts to read the label before starting to clean your upholstery. Stains occur when a spillage is not cleaned immediately. Over a period of time the spill is totally absorbed into your fabric. Strong odors are the result. It becomes difficult to remove these spills and harmful oders. This is when the assistance of professional upholstery cleaning services is needed. By using special cleaning methodologies and relevant cleaning agents those harmful stains can be removed permanently.

Clean your upholstery and carpets today. Call Pacific Carpet Cleaning for an appointment.

Call on Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning in Orange County CA  (949) 545-5205   www.pacificcarpetcleaning.net

Five Upholstery Cleaning Myths – Orange County CA

Five Upholstery Cleaning Myths

It”s been said: “It ain”t what a man don”t know that gets him into trouble, it”s what he knows that just ain”t so!”

So, it seems to be with some of the myths that continue to be perpetuated in our industry.

Each of the following myths have basis in fact — as do many cultural myths — but also have flaws in them that can cost you time, customer goodwill and often money if you fall into the trap of believing them.

1. Dry cleaning is always the safest way to go

Since problems related to upholstery cleaning — such as texture distortion, cellulose browning, color bleeding and color fading — are often associated with cleaning with water-based solutions, it seems that dry cleaning with solvents is the logical method to use when there is any doubt as to the possibility of damaging a fabric.

While this is sometimes. true, it”s not often true.

Dry cleaning solvents are the least likely to damage delicate textures like a chenille fabric made from rayon, but there is no guarantee that dry cleaning solvents will not cause color bleeding.

There are several ways to stabilize dyes, some of which use dye setting agents that allow for cleaning with water-based solutions.

While these methods are not 100 percent safe at all times, neither are dry cleaning solvents.

All cleaning and spotting products should be tested on the fabric that is being cleaned to assure that it is colorfast to those materials.

2. Always clean with the hottest water possible

Synthetic fibers, especially oil-loving fibers such as olefin and polyester, release oily soils readily when cleaned with hot cleaning solutions.

The use of hot water speeds cleaning and lessens the need for highly buffered alkaline cleaning detergents that might otherwise cause bleeding or fading of colors.

However, there are two distinct situations where “hot is not so hot:”

• Non-colorfast fabrics: Depending on the cleaning agents used and the dyes that are present, there are times, contrary to popularly held belief, that hot water may contribute to color bleeding when warm water may not.
• Synthetic fiber velvets: Under certain circumstances, such as heat spikes in equipment with poorly regulated heat systems, permanent distortion can occur when a burst of heat contacts some synthetic fiber velvet fabrics. Very warm, consistent temperature is safer on such fabrics than extremely hot water that might not be easily controlled.

3. The tags are accurate cleaning guidelines

There are two tags commonly found on furniture: Fiber content tags and cleaning code tags.

Both can be misleading.

Fiber content tags most always describe the material used for “fill” or “stuffing” in the furniture. If you see a tag that says the material is some percentage of cotton/polyester felt, it”s likely to describe the materials under the fabric you are cleaning. There are cases when you might discover tags that do list the fiber content of the fabric that you are cleaning, but this is very rare.

Cleaning code tags are actually colorfastness code tags used by furniture manufacturers to assist the consumer to determine which products they might use to maintain their fabric. These codes do not eliminate the need for you to do your own inspection and testing of the fabric.

While many cleaners find that the “S” code, which means “dry clean only,” is rarely accurate, you cannot overlook the fact that these codes do create questions and concerns for your customers.

You should discuss the codes, remind your customer that those codes are not a guarantee of cleanability and that, in the end, it is you and your customer who must agree to what method best suits their needs.

Never for a moment should you believe that blindly following these codes will release you from responsibility if you damage the material in any way. These codes are merely guidelines, not guarantees.

4. Fiber ID tests are useless

Many cleaners become frustrated when they attempt to perform burn testing on upholstery fabric.

Because a variety of fibers may be blended when making upholstery fabrics, there are often conflicting results when such materials are burnt together.

In addition to the issue of blended fibers, there is also the fact that many fabrics have material applied to the back of the fabric to stabilize it that also creates false reads when a cleaner attempts to identify a specific fiber.

However, completely overlooking the benefits of understanding at least which fiber family is to be cleaned is not wise.

If your burn test can tell you, at the very least, if the fabric is made of natural fibers, synthetic fibers or blends of both, you have a better understanding of the risks of cleaning such a fabric and what soil removal levels might be possible than if you do not know how to determine the basic fiber family.

5. Synthetics are “trouble-free”

While it is often true that synthetic fiber fabrics — those that contain nylon, olefin, polyester or acrylic — are easier to clean and are very unlikely to experience color or fiber distortion problems, this “rule of thumb” is not always true.

A few examples include:

• Heat damage to synthetic velvets: As described earlier in this article, synthetic velvets may be permanently distorted by high temperature cleaning.
• Color bleeding: Some synthetic fibers, especially acrylic and sometimes nylon, may not be as colorfast as you might expect. Surprisingly, more than a few acrylic fiber fabrics have been found to bleed to dry cleaning solvents and solvent-based protectors.

Debunk the myths

Debunking these commonly held myths is not meant by any means to frighten cleaners away from cleaning upholstery.

Instead, it is meant to protect you from needless and potentially expensive claims and to remind you that the best way to prevent these problems is to rely on your own tests and evaluations and not on some things that “just ain”t so” — or, at least — not so all of the time.

Call on Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning in Orange County CA  (949) 545-5205   www.pacificcarpetcleaning.net