What method of carpet cleaning do you use?
We use a dry foam VLM (very low moisture) encapsulation method of carpet cleaning. Our method was rated #1 by consumer report testing and leads to less resoiling than other methods of cleaning. Our shampoo is scientifically designed to encapsulate dirt and soil particles making them easier to remove from the carpet fibers. We do use water, but on average only 1 to 2 gallons in each home, which is a fraction of the amount of water used by steam cleaners. Because we use less water, your carpets are typically dry within 1 to 2 hours and not left soaking wet for days!
Do I NEED TO VACUUM BEFORE YOU ARRIVE?
No, we do all of the vacuuming for you using our commercial strength vacuum! It's part of our full service system included with every cleaning! Just make sure the areas being cleaned are vacuum ready - meaning any small items or debris that cannot be vacuumed, i.e. loose change, safety pins, bottle caps, paper pieces etc.., is removed prior to our arrival and we will handle the rest!
Do you move furniture?
We move basic pieces of furniture like couches, chairs, ottomans, lamps, coffee tables, end tables etc.. at your request. We do not move large pieces of furniture such as beds, entertainment centers, china cabinets or dressers. You are welcome to move the large pieces before we arrive if you would like to have the carpets underneath cleaned. If you would like us to move basic furniture pieces, please point out those items during our initial walk-through.
How long will the cleaning take?
Most homes can be done in a 2 to 3 hour window, depending on how much area is getting cleaned. We are rarely in a home for less than an hour to an hour and a half or longer than three to three and a half hours.
How long will it take for my carpet to dry?
Your carpets will typically be dry within 1 to 2 hours! Areas that were more soiled may take up to 3 hours, whereas most areas are dry within an hour or so.
How much will it cost?
Our pricing is all inclusive and priced per area. This means every carpet cleaning includes Vacuuming, Pre-treatment of spots/spills, Cleaning with our non-residue VLM method including deodorizer/sanitizer and carpet protection, and the Final Grooming. For exact pricing, just give us a call with a list of areas you need cleaned and we can get your customized quote ready over the phone. All pricing is discussed and agreed upon before we start the cleaning and we NEVER change the pricing after the cleaning is completed.
IT SEEMS MY CARPET RESOILED FASTER AFTER I HAD THEM CLEANED BY ANOTHER COMPANY, IS THIS NORMAL?
Depending on what method was used, some types of carpet cleaning can cause faster resoiling than others. Resoiling can be caused by many factors but the most common culprit is residue left behind by different chemicals and cleaning agents. All of our cleaning solutions are non-residue which generally means your carpets will stay cleaner for longer.
Do you guarantee removal of all spots and stains?
While we do everything we can to get your carpets looking as great as possible, it is not possible for any carpet cleaner to guarantee that every spot or stain will be removed. Many different factors come into play when determining whether a spot can be removed or will be permanent, including: the age of the carpet, the fiber type, the substances that caused the spot and whether or not they have dyes or permanent color changing additives. When we arrive for your cleaning we start with a walk through to discuss areas of concern during our Carpet Audit. We gather as much information as possible about the carpet and the particular spots and can usually give a good estimate as to how permanent they are (or are not). In the end, there are some spots we may think will be permanent that end up coming out completely, while there are some that appear to be removable but don't come all the way out. In those cases, we do offer Carpet Repair like carpet patching and dying. Details about those options can be discussed with your technician.
Do you match competitors prices or coupons?
We do not match competitors pricing or coupons as we find those offering lower prices do not offer the same quality of work as you will get from us. While we are not the cheapest cleaners you will find, we are confident we are the best quality and clean you will find! All of our cleanings get the same high quality of work and are all inclusive, while many companies offering low prices do so by skimping on the important things like vacuuming, pre-treating spots, spills and traffic areas and fast drying times. They often rely on "upsales" in the home - where they make up for their initial low cost by talking you into purchasing pet treatments, deodorizers, spot treatments and carpet protection. With Benchmark, you never have to worry about high pressure sales tactics because we include everything in our set per area pricing.
When comparing prices, make sure to ask a lot of questions. Find out whether the prices being offered include pre-treating spots and spills, vacuuming, furniture moving, final grooming or a satisfaction guarantee. Find out how long it will take for the carpets to dry after the cleaning. All of these are important in gauging the quality of work you will receive.
Keeping all of that in mind, because we are an owner/operator business, we do try to work with our customers as we understand that everyone is working within a budget and deserves the best service they can get for their money! Our goal is to become your go to carpet, upholstery and floor cleaners for years to come!
When comparing prices, make sure to ask a lot of questions. Find out whether the prices being offered include pre-treating spots and spills, vacuuming, furniture moving, final grooming or a satisfaction guarantee. Find out how long it will take for the carpets to dry after the cleaning. All of these are important in gauging the quality of work you will receive.
Keeping all of that in mind, because we are an owner/operator business, we do try to work with our customers as we understand that everyone is working within a budget and deserves the best service they can get for their money! Our goal is to become your go to carpet, upholstery and floor cleaners for years to come!
Do you offer a satisfaction guarantee?
Yes! Your satisfaction is our number one priority, so we have a 14 day satisfaction guarantee. If you have any concerns about your cleaning, please give us a call within 14 days of your cleaning and we will come back out to reclean any areas of concern. This may include hand cleaning a spot or recleaning an entire area. Whatever it takes to show you we have done everything to get your carpets as clean as possible!
CAN I PAY WITH A POST DATED CHECK?
We cannot accept post dated checks, however we are happy to setup a time to clean for you that is aligned with your pay period or when funds are expected to be available.
DO I HAVE TO BE THERE DURING THE CLEANING?
We do need someone home initially to make decisions on the cleaning, do the walk through with us and agree to pricing before we begin the cleaning. Once price is agreed upon you do not have to stay during the cleaning process. Many of our customers choose to leave and run errands while we are cleaning. For empty houses, whether they are move in or move out, we require payment before you leave the property.
WHAT PAYMENT METHODS DO YOU ACCEPT?
We accept cash, local checks and credit/debit cards that are Visa, MasterCard or Discover.
when can we walk on the carpet after cleaning?
You can walk on the carpet immediately after cleaning with bare feet or socks. We recommend letting the carpet dry completely before walking with shoes on or allowing pets back into the area. We can also provide you with shoe covers before we leave if you would like to walk with your shoes on throughout the areas that have been cleaned!
WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY PETS DURING THE CLEANING?
Because you know your pets better than anyone, it is up to you whether or not you confine your pets to another part of the house, in the backyard etc... We have made many pet friends over the years and love to interact with our clients furry members of the family! We do ask that any pets that may become aggressive be put into a safe area during the cleaning. It is also advised that any pets that have a tendency to run away when a door is open be put into a safe place. While we do not leave doors opened during the entire cleaning process, we do have to open and close the doors often while bringing in our equipment and taking the equipment out.
Do you have set appointment times and arrivals?
All of our appointment times have a built in window of arrival of 30 minutes. For example, an appointment time will be scheduled as 9 to 9:30 instead of just 9:00.
Because we want to ensure that every client gets the same experience with attention to detail and quality work, we may have to adjust your appointment time based on how long it takes at the job scheduled before yours. If we believe we will be later than the time scheduled in addition to the 30 minute window, we will send you a text message to give you a heads up of our new arrival time. We are usually able to gauge how long a home will take when customers book appointments, but occasionally we do have clients add additional rooms, services or just have more square footage than they thought when they booked with us which can affect arrival time. We rarely run into any cases where we need to move back appointment times more than 30 minutes. As always, we will keep you in the loop if arrival times will need to be extended.
Because we want to ensure that every client gets the same experience with attention to detail and quality work, we may have to adjust your appointment time based on how long it takes at the job scheduled before yours. If we believe we will be later than the time scheduled in addition to the 30 minute window, we will send you a text message to give you a heads up of our new arrival time. We are usually able to gauge how long a home will take when customers book appointments, but occasionally we do have clients add additional rooms, services or just have more square footage than they thought when they booked with us which can affect arrival time. We rarely run into any cases where we need to move back appointment times more than 30 minutes. As always, we will keep you in the loop if arrival times will need to be extended.