First, do not just hire the least expensive company in Gainesville. With a service, less expensive isn't necessarily better. Chances are, the cheap price cleaners use cheap equipment, inexpensive chemicals, and inexpensive labor. This is a recipe for disaster. In several cases, these "inexpensive " cleaners can do more damage than good for your carpet.

Here's the deal : anybody with $50 can start a carpet cleaning business in Gainesville.

The main problem is that more than 1/2 of the carpet cleaning companies started this year are started with faulty equipment, wrong chemicals, and little to no training.

The right equipment should consist of, at bare minimum, truck-mounted carpet cleaning machine. This type of machine typically ranges in the area of $10,000-$30,000. Almost all of the start-up or "inexpensive " valpak based carpet cleaners use a portable carpet cleaner. Often they use machines rented at the local Home Depot. Portables cannot do what truck-mounted gear can.

The right chemicals are vital. Cheap rug washing chemicals are high in residue and cause soil to draw in to the carpet after cleaning. Additionally, the best cleaning agents for spot removal are never inexpensive. To get things done right, a cleaner must have the more up-to-the-minute spot removal agents in his arsenal. If he does not, you will be left with a poor job.

And what about the fellow cleaning your carpet? If the company he's employed for is inexpensive, it's improbable there had been ever a background check done on the fellow cleaning in your bedroom. It is also doubtful much, if any, coaching was done for speciality spot removal. And for his company to make any profit, he is made to rush thru your cleaning at break neck speed. He would not be ready to do a good job whether or not he knew how.

If spots return after the cleaning, you'll probably get a run-around. The inexpensive firms never guarantee their work. If a company charges inexpensive costs, they can not afford to offer you the best service.

If a company is cleaning with the right tools, chemicals, and qualified cleaning technicians, they can not stay in business charging low prices.

When it comes to hiring a carpet cleaner, you get what you pay for. Do not be mislead with the inexpensive vouchers. The corporations that charge inexpensive costs can not afford to supply anything except an inexpensive service. When talking about something as valuable as carpeting, saving a couple of dollars on hiring a service may cost thousands over time.

There is one trick to removing pet stains that can save you tons of aggravation. It's pretty easy when you think about it. But most pet owners just don't get it.

Here's the biggest mistake you can make. When Fido has a little tinkle or when Killer makes a huge puddle, the first course of action should NOT be towels or paper towels. This only mashes the urine down into the padding. It makes the urine harder to get out. Sure, some of the urine is absorbed in the towel, but not nearly all of it.

The second biggest mistake is grabbing for the spotter bottle first. Think about what you are doing. If you have urine in your carpet and spray some spot remover on the urine, you now have a puddle of urine with spot remover in it. This does NOT equal clean. The spot remover doesn't make the urine evaporate. Sure, it may make it smell a little better, but the urine is still there and in a big way.

Here's an important concept you should know: Spot remover is made to remove what left behind after you clean up the bulk of the mess. It isn't designed to make urine evaporate. So having said that, what do you use to remove the bulk of the urine before treating with a spot remover?

Here's the trick:

Use a wet vacuum or a shop vacuum as soon as you find urine on your carpet or rug. You can get one at any hardware store and most department stores. When used on a fresh urine spot, the wet vacuum will remove a majority of the urine. Then whip out your favorite spot remover and treat the remaining urine left behind.

It's really that easy. If you use this tip you can save your carpet, rugs, and your relationship with your pet.

• Use mats — Outdoor and indoor mats or runners can reduce the amount of dirt that enters the house.
• Take off your shoes — You can save wear and tear on carpet by asking everyone  to take off his or her shoes before entering your home.
• Change your air filters — Change air filters in your heating and air-conditioning systems as recommended by the manufacturer’s directions. The more dust and particles removed by the filter, the less that fall on the carpet.

How to vacuum

On carpet, use slow, repetitive front-to-back motions in an overlapping sequence. A quick once over doesn’t do much.  On the other hand, don’t press down or make too many passes over the same spot. Instead, move slightly to the left or right about every four strokes. To get the most out of your vacuuming regime, remember these few easy tips:

• When vacuuming, don’t ignore those corners and crevices where dust builds.
• “Top-down” cleaning saves you the step of vacuuming again after dusting. Dust blinds, windowsills, and furniture surfaces first and then vacuum away any fallen dust.
• Remember to remove and replace or empty vacuum bags when they are half to two-thirds full.

Understanding the attachments

Attachments allow vacuums to do more than clean carpets.  They can tackle many other projects, such as cleaning bookshelves and other items that tend to collect dust.  Your particular vacuum may feature some of the following attachments:

• The all-purpose or universal brush works well on books and shelves.
• The crevice tool (long and thin) reaches into narrow slots and corners.
• The dusting brush details items that need a softer touch.
• The radiator brush cleans radiators and narrow spaces.
• The upholstery nozzle is good for vacuuming chairs, sofas, cushions, drapes, mattresses, and fabric furniture covers.

Setting the right vacuuming frequency

As a rule of thumb, you should vacuum at least once a week with a CRI Seal of Approval/Green Label vacuum cleaner.  However, the more foot traffic over your carpet, the more you need to vacuum. The general formula is:

• Vacuum daily in high-traffic or pet areas.
• Vacuum twice weekly in medium-traffic areas.
• Vacuum weekly in light-traffic areas, using attachments at carpet edges.

Vacuum care tips

For the best cleaning results, periodically inspect your vacuum keep it in tiptop shape and functioning properly:

• Keep the instructions that came with your vacuum and refer to them periodically.
• Keep hoses and attachments free from obstructions. Most vacuums that are discarded as nonfunctional often are only clogged somewhere in the unit. Learn where these likely places are from the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Grip the handle, not the hose.
• Keep brushes clean (for example, remove tangled hair) and replace them when worn. Typically, worn brushes are stiff, and they cause surface texture change on carpet.
• Empty containers or replace bags when half full. (Just as you would not top off a car’s gas tank until it overflows, you would not want your vacuum bag to spill over.)
• Look for rough edges or bent metal on your machine that can snag carpet.

• Be careful of any company that contacts you by phone or that advertises a cleaning price by the room.  Room sizes vary and charges should be based on the total area cleaned.
• The use of brand name cleaning products does not necessarily suggest an affiliation with those companies or added credibility for the cleaning service. Make sure that you select a cleaning professional with certification from an organization that certifies professionals.

Ask Good Questions

Do not be afraid to ask questions! Here are a few questions to keep in mind:

• “How long have you been in business?” The answer can speak volumes about a company’s reputation and experience.
• “What formal training is required for the company’s management and cleaning technicians?” A reputable company should require that employees receive training certifications.
• “Do you vacuum before deep cleaning the carpet?” All professional cleaners should vacuum before they deep clean the carpet. This critical first step makes a huge difference in the end result.
• “Do you use Seal of Approval cleaning solutions and equipment?” Seal of Approval products have been independently tested and certified to effectively clean carpet without causing any damage.

Get an in-home inspection and estimate

Never go strictly by television advertisements or newspaper inserts or jump at the lowest bid.  And don’t accept quotes over the phone.  Have the cleaning representative come to your home for an inspection to determine the type of cleaning method that is most suitable, as well as to inspect your carpet for problem spots or extremely soiled areas.  Obtain a written agreement before any work is done.  Usually they will not charge for furniture removal, routine spot removal or preconditioning.  Make sure you are not charged for any extras. Get a written contract with the total price and statements of guarantees that the cleaning company offers.

Get your money’s worth

The following tips will help you get the best results from hiring a professional carpet cleaning service provider:

• Show the cleaning professional any problem areas and spots or pet stains that need special attention.
• To prevent voiding warranties, contact the carpet manufacturer before allowing additional treatment, such as re-applying stain treatments or antistatic treatments.
• Wait for the carpet to dry completely before walking on the carpet or moving the furniture back into the room. If you replace the furniture too quickly, rust or stains from paint or finishes could mar the carpet permanently.