The most important thing you can do to keep your carpet looking great is to vacuum it. Do this thoroughly and regularly, especially in high traffic areas.

For best results, use a vacuum with a beater bar or rotating brush and plenty of suction. Change bags and filters routinely, and keep recovery tanks clean. Studies show that even a well maintained vacuum can lose 80% of its "pick up ability" when the bag is 25% full.

Set adjustments according to recommendations for your type of carpet. Heavy traffic areas like entryways should be vacuumed regularly, daily if possible. Walk off mats at entrances can dramatically reduce tracked dirt. Less heavily used areas can be vacuumed less often, perhaps weekly. Vacuum three passes for light cleaning and up to seven passes where there's been heavy soiling or traffic.

Why is vacuuming so important? That's because pets and people track in most of the "dirt" found in our carpets. This insoluble "dry particle soil" consisting of mostly sand, clay, and quartz is easily removed through regular vacuuming. If this dry soil is left to build up underfoot, the grit constantly rubs against your carpet fibers like sandpaper.

First it removes the stain resistant coating on the fibers. Next, it permanently scratches the fibers smooth surfaces, dulling the carpet's color. At this point, you can clean the carpet, but the beauty of your carpet in those areas in damaged beyond repair.

That's why it's also a good idea to periodically rearrange your furniture. By changing the traffic patterns, you can even out the wear on your carpet.

There's another compelling reason for regular vacuuming. Carpet is beautiful and beneficial, but it also collects pollutants very efficiently. This unhealthy material enters our homes in the air or clings to clothing, fur or feet. It settles into our carpets and onto upholstered surfaces just like a furnace filter collects dust and airborne particles. Once saturated, our furnishings start "spilling" contaminants back into our indoor environment. The fact that our homes today are tightly closed, highly insulated environments adds to the problem. We then end up breathing higher concentrations of these unhealthy contaminants.

Industrial-type materials deposited in carpets include motor oil, acids, carbon, asphalt residue, lawn fertilizer, industrial gas residues, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides.

In addition, there are also organic materials that can affect those of us who suffer from allergies. Organic deposits found in our carpets can include food crumbs, beverage spills, dead skin cells, hair, dead insects, insect droppings, residues from heating and cooling, pet soil, and other "biogenic" wastes.This biological debris provides a breeding ground for microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, dust mites, mold, etc.... Regular cleaning reduces and controls biocontaminants.

Today's carpets resist stains better than ever before. But prompt clean up of spots spills and accidents is still a must. The longer you wait, the harder they are to remove. Plus, with time some spills can cause permanent staining.

Here's what most warranties say about professional cleaning:
"Routine maintenance is essential to maintaining your warranty. Over time, normal foot traffic and soiling will cause a change in any carpet's appearance. Professional extraction is required to maintain your warranty. The service must be performed by a trained professional occasionally to refresh the texture and rejuvenate the fibers in your carpet. Please retain your receipts for proof of maintenance should a warranty claim arise."

It makes sense that regular vacuuming and prompt clean up of spills is important for routine carpet maintenance. But why do manufacturers' warranties also require annual deep cleaning by a professional carpet cleaner?

That's because of two destructive forces that normally affect every carpet - "soiling" and loss of "texture".

Soiling is the build-up of dirt particles and other similar materials that cling to your carpet's fibers. Despite regular vacuuming, these particles and materials accumulate within the carpet pile and result in a gradual dulling of the carpet's color.It takes deep extraction cleaning with powerful equipment and quality cleaning solutions at least annually to remove this accumulated material. An important aspect of professional carpet cleaning is that it leaves no residue.

Over time, foot traffic also causes a change in the appearance of your carpet by changing its texture. Hot water extraction refreshes the texture of the carpet by "resetting" the twist of the fiber. Texture retention warranties recommend hot water extraction performed by a trained carpet care professional at least once a year.

Today's carpets are made mostly from yarns of nylon, polyester and polypropylene - tightly twisted little plastic tufts of high technology that present new cleaning challenges. Professional carpet cleaning today calls for a thorough understanding of, among others things: fibers and fabric types, carpet construction and proper installation techniques, soil types and degree of soiling, carpet location and "traffic" patterns, the use of professional cleaning equipment and correct application of advanced pre-treatment, cleaning, rinsing and post-treatment solutions.

Our services are among the most affordable. When requested, we provide written estimates in advance of our performing any cleaning related services. We don't believe in high-pressure sales or hidden charges. We are always pleased to explain our cleaning methods and how we charge for them. Additional services like deodorization and protectors are always your option.