| Reputable professional carpet cleaners really work | | | | hoses, sprayers and a multitude of cleaning agents to |
| hard to provide the finest possible service for their | | | | remove the myriads of spots and stains. While we |
| clients. They spare no expense when it comes to the | | | | were busy getting ready, a curious tenant wandered |
| cleaning agents purchased or the equipment that is | | | | up and started to talk with the property manager |
| used. It's not uncommon to pull up to a client's home | | | | who had just let us into the apartment. |
| in a rig that costs over $60,000. Some even bring | | | | It was during the course of their talking that we |
| 100 gallons of softened water with them to each job | | | | heard the above-mentioned phrase by this |
| to provide a more thorough rinse that assures no | | | | well-meaning neighbor: "Just rent a Rug Doctor, |
| residue is left behind to attract soil. | | | | clean it yourself and save the money". |
| I mention these facts for a particular a reason. It | | | | And it got me to thinking. Why do people think they |
| was prompted by a conversation I overheard one | | | | can do the same quality job with a machine that has |
| beautiful late summer day last year. | | | | a fraction of the cleaning power we use? |
| We occasionally clean apartments for an apartment | | | | Here's my theory: Because most people think, |
| complex. The property manager normally cleans the | | | | "Anyone can clean carpet - what's so |
| apartment after a tenant leaves, including the | | | | complicated about it?" You go to the store, |
| carpeting. However, she knew that in this instance, | | | | rent a machine and... 'Poof'... you're a carpet cleaner. |
| she knew that there was no way she would even | | | | Because you CAN do it yourself, many feel they can |
| come close to getting the carpeting clean again using | | | | also get the SAME RESULTS that we do. Ah... if only |
| her little machine. | | | | it were that easy. |
| The apartment was a wreck. I've been in the | | | | Can you wire an entire house? Can you repair or |
| cleaning industry for many years. And it never ceases | | | | install plumbing? Can you build a pole barn? Then, by |
| to amaze me how inconsiderate and downright | | | | golly, you can clean carpet, too! NOT! |
| destructive people can be with property that doesn't | | | | Even the largest carpet manufacturer in the world |
| belong to them. In this apartment, the previous | | | | (Shaw) will tell you: Don't do it yourself! They tell you |
| tenants had really outdone themselves: Spills and | | | | to hire a certified professional cleaner. In fact, |
| stains abounded. In some places, you couldn't even | | | | beginning in 2008, they will INSIST that you hire only |
| tell what color the carpet was. It was so bad, the | | | | certified carpet cleaners to clean their product or you |
| property manager had called the owners to say that | | | | will void part of your warranty. |
| the carpet would most likely have to be replaced... it | | | | By the way, the carpet was saved and it cleaned up |
| was that bad. | | | | beautifully... but, hey, that's what pros do! |
| So, we get there and begin to set up; getting out | | | | |