FAQ's
& Tips
Tips for Fire, Smoke and Water Damage
Do you know what to do when an emergency happens or a natural disaster
strikes? Action Cleaning and Restoration is here to help you through those
trying times when natural disasters strike! In addition to the tips below,
we can also help in cases of vandalism, sewage back-ups, flood damage
and furnace damage.
These tips are provided by Action Cleaning and Restoration and the National
Institute of Disaster Restoration:
Fire and Smoke Damage:
DO:
Blow off or brush vacuum loose smoke articles from upholstery, draperies
and carpets.
Open windows weather permitting.
Remove pets to a safe environment.
Pour antifreeze in toilet bowls, tanks, sinks and tub drains to prevent
freeze damage if the heat is off in the winter.
Retain contractor for board ups to windows, doors, roofs and other areas!
DO NOT!!
Wipe or wash fire residuals from walls or other surfaces. Use food items or canned good exposed to heat. Turn on any electrical devices including computers, TV's or stereos, until they have been cleaned and checked. Use carpet or upholstered furniture that has been impacted by smoke and debris.
Water Damage:
DO:
Ventilate areas by turning on air conditioning in the summer and open
widows and heat (in alternate cycles) in the winter months.
Freeze valuable books and documents to retard mildew growth until proper
drying can be performed.
Fold aluminum foil into squares and place under furniture legs to avoid
carpet staining.
DO NOT!!
Leave wet fabrics or carpets in place, remove them or space them apart
and dry ASAP!
Operate electrical equipment of appliances while on wet carpet or floors,
especially concrete, serious injury may result!
Use heat to dry closed interiors, mold and extra moisture damage may result.
Action Cleaning and Restoration is here to help you through those trying
times when natural disasters strike! We can also help in cases of vandalism,
sewage back-ups, flood damage and furnace damage. Please call us for more
information so we can help you clean and shine! Action Cleaning and Restoration,
837-1470!
Do you clean carpets?
We sure do! We clean all types of floor coverings as well as fine upholstery fabrics and other interior textiles.
Are the carpets wet after cleaning?
Usually your carpets will be "damp" after deep extraction cleaning. Depending upon what your Carpet Cleaning Inspector discovers during your Pre-Inspection we usually suggest the hot water extraction method, sometimes referred to as steam cleaning. This is the method recommended by most carpet manufacturers. Certain carpets require this method to fulfill their warranties. Besides doing the best job of cleaning, hot water extraction is also recommended for improving the indoor environment.
When we leave the carpet will be damp for several hours, usually from 4 to 6 hours, depending on the weather. If we need to really deep clean the carpets to get out all the soil your carpets may be damp overnight.
While our cleaning crew is in your home, we do speed dry the carpet with special air movers to get it as dry as possible before we leave.
As a general precaution we suggest keeping small children and pets off the carpets until they are totally dry.
I have a cat and a dog that have "occasional" accidents. Can you remove the odors and stains?
We do specialize in the removal of pet stains. As long as the carpet dye has not been damaged, we should be able to remove the spots and deodorize to remove most of the odor. Your Carpet Cleaning Inspector will be able to test the rugs to determine the degree of damage and give you an idea of the degree of restoration you can expect.
Do I have to remove the furniture?
Don't worry about a thing! Your cleaning crew will carefully move your
furniture and replace it on foam blocks or foil tabs.
Of course, some items we find it is better to leave in place and clean
around, like very full bookcases that we can't move loaded. If you do
want us to move a book case or a china cabinet we ask that you have it
unloaded. But frankly most of our clients leave them where they are and
we edge clean around them.
If possible, we would like for you do what we call "clearing the decks for action" or remove any small breakable items from the furniture you want us to move. Then we'll move your furniture out from the wall, clean under it, and then put it back in place with protectors underneath it.
Your Carpet Inspector and you can map out a "plan of attack"
as far as to what you should move and what we will move for you.
Do I have to have the whole room cleaned?
No, we can clean traffic areas or open areas, if you prefer. But even though there may be parts of the room that do not receive heavy foot traffic, these areas receive soil build up deposited by air currents and are attached to the fiber by cooking oils and so on. We can clean just the open areas, but for the small additional charge, we recommend that you have the whole room cleaned.
The carpet salesman told me to hold off cleaning my carpet as long as possible because it re-soils quickly. Is this true?
Well ... yes and no! At one time, yes, your carpet re-soiled quicker after cleaning. But that was over twenty years ago! When on location cleaning first began, shampooing was the most popular method. The shampoos left a sticky residue that caused re-soiling. Just imagine if you shampooed your hair and then didn't rinse it!
But today's equipment, especially the hot water extraction method, and the rinsing agents we use have been refined so that your carpets are left nearly residue free. Frequent cleaning actually extends the life of your carpet and is recommended by most manufacturers and the EPA.
Why shouldn't I rent a machine at the hardware store and clean it myself?
That is a valid option for you to consider. If you decide to clean your carpets yourself, we'll even give you ideas on how to do it. We really do want to help you keep your carpets clean, whether we do the work right now or not. And we're confident sooner or later you'll need our services!
But before you go through the ordeal of cleaning your own carpets here's something to consider. Rental machines can do an acceptable job IF they have been maintained, IF the chemicals have been approved by the fiber producers, and IF you spend enough time and effort. Unfortunately, those are some pretty big IF's!
You have a large investment in your carpet, and if you use the wrong chemicals or techniques, you may void the warranty or damage the carpet. Frankly, most people who have cleaned their own carpet seldom do it again. But if after our Inspector tests your carpets, you still want to try it on your own, he'll be happy to give you some tips on do-it-yourself cleaning.
Your price is too high compared to the ads I see in the paper!
I can understand why you feel that way. Many of our customers felt the same way at one time. Some of them even tried what we call the "cut rate cleaners." And if you want to give them a shot, we understand and want you to feel free to give us a call for your next cleaning.
But what many of our customers have found is that the old saying is so true, "You get what you pay for." The reason they always came back to us is we really do give better value for the dollar.
Ask yourself what expense the "cut rate operations" have eliminated? Insurance, bonding, high quality chemicals, or maybe they save money on inadequate employee training? We really do keep our customers for life, and we can do that only by being profitable. This allows us to use the best technology and attract the best employees. Once you have tried our service, you will see the difference and if you don't feel our services are worth the money- We cheerfully refund every penny- no questions asked!
My carpet has special stain protection built in. Will your cleaning take that off?
Absolutely not, our Specialists have been trained in the proper techniques and use approved chemicals so that your carpet warranty is upheld. The use of improper chemicals will void your carpet warranty. Then if you wish to renew any carpet protector that has worn off from foot traffic, we have Cleaning Packages available that provide an extra level of protection.
I read an article that stated that carpet cleaning could cause illness in children.
The illness that you refer to is called Kawasaki Syndrome. Although many studies have been done, they have not been able to isolate the cause. Carpet cleaning is just one of the many possibilities they have studied. As a matter of common sense, we recommend that children stay off the carpet until it has dried. If you wish, I can send or fax you a pamphlet detailing the latest medical information concerning Kawasaki Syndrome.
Do I need Scotchgard on my carpet?
Scotchgard IS an excellent investment. Besides protecting your carpet against spills and soil, Scotchgard gives you an additional excellent stain protection warranty. Scotchgard also makes the carpet respond better to future cleaning.
Should I vacuum before you clean?
You really can't vacuum your carpets too much so it certainly wouldn't hurt to vacuum them well before we come. However, we include a very powerful vacuuming that exhausts all particulates, allergens, etc. to the outside in all of our Cleaning Packages so don't worry about it if you don't have time.
How often should I vacuum?
Vacuuming is the most important element in keeping your carpet in good shape. Traffic areas should be vacuumed twice a week and the other areas weekly. Feel free to ask either our Inspector or Specialists for more ideas on maintaining your carpet while they're in your home.
I have wool carpeting, and I was told that I should be careful how it is cleaned.
You are right to be concerned. Wool carpets are beautiful and expensive. It does require specialized chemicals and cleaning. That is why we do fiber testing before cleaning. We enjoy cleaning wool or any other natural fibers because it gives our Specialists the opportunity to really shine.
We have just bought a house and the previous owners smoked. Can you get rid of this smell?
Very possibly yes, but be sure not to move any belongings into your home until after the cleaning. We can clean and deodorize the carpets. The drapes should also be cleaned and deodorized. The furnace filters should be replaced. If the problem is severe, we may need to fog the house with special products. Our Inspector will be able to advise you after his inspection and testing.
Can your people tell me if the carpet is worth cleaning?
Absolutely! Even old and worn carpets can benefit from cleaning if you
are not ready to replace them. And yes, our experienced Inspectors and
Specialists can give you a very good idea as to how much life is left
in your carpeting, if any.
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Do I need to do anything to get ready for the cleaning?
I'm going to send you a checklist of items that will help you prepare
for our visit on Saturday. But let me go over them now with you as well:
We suggest that:
- If you have pets, for their protection and ours you put them somewhere where we won't bother them.
- You move all the items off of any furniture you want us to move and clean under.
- If you have furniture that is loaded very heavily, such as bookcases or china hutches, you have two choices. We are happy to move the item, if you can have it unloaded. On the other hand, if you don't want to bother, we can edge around it and leave the piece in place. In fact, if it has legs and is a few inches off the floor, we can probably clean some way underneath it without moving it.
- Please pin up any full length draperies so they are at least 6" off the floor. Or if it is more convenient, you can remove them. Also please pin up any skirts on upholstered furniture that are touching the carpet.
- If you can have an outside water faucet working that would help us.
Action Cleaning and Restoration, serving you since 1974 with Innovation, Integrity and Excellence.