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FAQ

Carpet cleaning Frequently Asked Questions

Carpet manufacturers recommend having carpets cleaned by the hot water extractions method (steam cleaning) every 12-24 months to maintain the life and performance of the carpet.

On average, carpets will take between 4-12 hours to dry following steam cleaning. Factors such as soiling levels and humidity can affect drying times.

Warm, dry air can help speed up drying times. If possible, turn on the furnace and turn up the temperature, use a dehumidifier, and use fans. A common misconception is opening windows will help dry the carpet more quickly.

Due to the nature of stains, their removal cannot be guaranteed. We will pre-treat stains and high traffic areas to achieve the best result, however factors like; what the stain is caused by, how long the stain has been there, what colour the stain is all impact the ability to remove stains. Our guarantee is; if we are not able to remove the stain without damaging the carpet, no one can!

Pet stains are among the hardest to remove as they often go beneath the carpet fiber. If the pet stain is only in the surface fiber of the carpet, carpet cleaning should improve the odour however the discolouration may not improve. If there is severe damage to the carpet fibres, the underlay, or the subflooring from the pet stains, there isn’t anything or anyone that could resolve the issue. 

Hot Water Extraction (steam cleaning) cleans the surface fiber of the carpet. Carpet cleaning does not penetrate through the backing of the carpet or penetrate the underlay.

The term for this is called Wicking. Wicking happens when soil or a stain below the carpet fiber in the padding or subflooring is drawn to the surface fibers as the moisture from the cleaning evaporates and dries. A carpet stain is like an island. Wicking is the visible tip of the island that indicates the stain is still present below.

To prevent wicking, it is essential after a spill to ensure that carpet, pad, and subfloors are completely rinsed and dried. Address a wet spill immediately. Use an appropriate spot cleaning solution for carpets, rinse heavily, and then remove as much moisture as possible with a wet/dry vacuum. Thoroughly go over the area several times after the visible stain is gone, then use a fan to dry the area.

For spills that have already dried when you get to it, thoroughly vacuum the area to pull up as much dry material as possible. Then treat the area, allowing time for your cleaning solution to break down the stain, rinse, clean and dry as outlined above.

Paint, nail polish, glue, or anything that hardens and creates a bond when it dries is called a hard stain. Unfortunately, these types of stains bond with the carpet fiber and carpet cleaning will likely not result in the stain being removed.

Carpets stretch over time from high foot traffic, moving furniture, and day to day living. Improper installation also causes carpets to wrinkle and ripple. Manufacturer guidelines outline carpets need to be power stretched into place, and then “tacked down” to a tack strip, which holds the carpet in place. If this is not done properly, in time and after cleanings you will notice the rippling or buckling. To correct this, carpets will need to be professionally restretched or reinstalled. Carpet cleaning can expose that your carpets are loose or improperly installed, but does not cause the stretching. Rippling will typically settle after the carpet has fully dried following the cleaning, but the underlying issue will still need to be addressed.

Dust, dirt, and spills live under your carpet in the underlay and subflooring as well as in the carpet fiber. When the surface of the carpet is wet while cleaning, odours from this dirt, dust and old spills can be drawn to the surface. This odour typically dissipates when the carpet is fully dry. It is best not to walk on damp carpet following the cleaning as this can draw odours upward.

Dark lines often seen around the edges of carpet, tucked in closely to the baseboards or in the tight corners and crevices, are known as dust filtration or filtration soiling. Dust filtration is also found under doors, along the edges of stairs, near HVAC vents and in areas where plywood subflooring is joined. Dust filtration occurs because your carpet acts as a filter to dust and other airborne pollutants. It collects on carpet fibers where there is concentrated air flow over the carpet and from tiny cracks or other open areas in the subfloor under the carpet. It is also caused when these tight areas are not vacuumed as often as the large easy to reach space of our carpets. Dust filtration can become a permanent discolouration and often cannot be corrected. 

Carpet protector is a protective coating that is applied to carpet or upholstery to help minimize the fibers ability to absorb spills, be penetrated by dirt, and helps reduce wear by acting like a shield. Carpet protector is applied to carpet fibers during the manufacturing process, but like anything else, the protection wears down over time, especially in high traffic areas, and needs to be reapplied to offer ongoing protection. Carpet protector helps safeguard your investment allowing you to address spills before they really set in and allowing cleaning to lift dirt away from the carpet more efficiently.

Areas to be cleaned need to be thoroughly vacuumed to remove dust dirt and debris. Breakables should be removed from the area(s) and furniture should be moved out of the room prior to your technicians arrival. Technicians may be able to move light items such as a small sofa or loveseat, however they will not move; sofa beds, china cabinets, entertainment units, beds, dressers, antiques, or anything that holds breakable items. Don’t forget to give pets a safe place to stay! Your door will likely need to stay open during the service.

Area Rug Frequently Asked Questions

Not all area rug materials should be cleaned using Hot Water Extraction (steam cleaning). Pure natural fibers such as; Jute, 100% Pure Silk, 100% Viscose and animal hides should not be cleaned using water. Area rugs should have a label displayed on the backside of the rug which indicates the size, materials the rug is made from and recommended cleaning methods.

Flooring such as hardwood, laminate and cork are susceptible to heat and moisture. Area rugs can be cleaned while sitting on these types of flooring however, precautions should be taken. Placing a barrier such as a tarp between the rug and the flooring is the best way to protect your floor while having your area rug cleaned. Alternatively, relocate your area rug to a space where the floor beneath is not susceptible to heat or moisture such as carpet (that is not also being cleaned), tile, linoleum, or clean concrete.

The backing on carpets and area rugs are made up of several layers and held together by latex adhesive. Latex adhesive absorbs moisture. This can cause rippling or wrinkling from the absorption and expansion. The good news is that the rippling is not permanent and typically dissipates once the area rug is fully dry. To help encourage the flattening process, try rolling up your area rug after it has fully dried, let it sit for a few days and voila! Your rug will lay flat once again.

In addition to ensuring your floors under the rug are appropriately protected if necessary, the area rug needs to be thoroughly vacuumed to remove dust dirt and debris. Breakables should be removed from the area(s) and furniture should be moved off the rug or out of the room prior to your technicians arrival. Technicians may be able to move light items such as a small sofa or loveseat, however they will not move; sofa beds, china cabinets, entertainment units, beds, dressers, antiques, or anything that holds breakable items. Don’t forget to give pets a safe place to stay! Your door will likely need to stay open during the service.

Upholstery Cleaning Frequently Asked Questions

Upholstery should be professionally cleaned every 12-24 months depending on use. Manufacturers may recommend more frequent cleaning depending on the material or if you have children or pets who use the furniture often to prolong the life of your upholstery.

Not everything can be corrected with professional upholstery cleaning. Just like our clothing, fabric upholstery wears over time. Wear can look like dirt or grime, but is not. Similar to high traffic areas of carpets, our bottoms, backs and arms gradually wear out the material on our beloved furniture, leaving darkened areas. Dirt contributes to faster wearing on the fabric because the dust and dirt act an abrasive, breaking down fabric from within.

Not all fabrics are recommended for steam cleaning. Linen, Silk, and certain types of viscose would require a different cleaning method. To determine the right cleaning method for your upholstery, refer to the manufacturers recommended cleaning methods. This can often be found on a product label, tucked away under the seat cushions of the sofa or contact the manufacturer directly.

Yes! Leather is cleaned using a cleansing conditioner specially designed for leather goods. Leather needs to be cleansed and conditioned often to prevent drying, cracking and severe early onset wear.

Furnace & Duct Cleaning Frequently Asked Questions

Like any mechanical system, your furnace should be maintained and inspected every year to prevent issues and ensure optimal performance. Ducts should be cleaned every 2-3 years to maintain the air quality in the home. Ducts should also be cleaned following the completion of dusty renovations.

Your duct system is an open flowing system with no restrictions between vents. This means any vents that are not cleaned will recontaminate your clean duct system with the dust and dirt that still lives within the uncleaned vents. 

We use a skipper line in the main duct lines, also known as an air whip, combined with a truck mounted vacuum that pulls at up to 20,000 cfpm (cubic feet per minute). The skipper line creates agitation in the main duct lines which loosens contaminates from the surfaces within the duct lines. Compressed air is used in each individual vent to force the dust and dirt toward the main duct lines where the truck mounted vacuum is connected.

Access holes need to be created for the truck mounted vacuum system to be connected to the duct system for extraction of the dust, dirt and debris. The access holes are 6”- 8” in diameter. Smaller 1” holes are also created for the skipper line. All access points created in the duct system are patched and sealed at the end of the duct cleaning service.

Your duct work is connected to your furnace and they work as a cohesive system however the components are separate. Duct cleaning is the extraction of dust and dirt from the vents and plenums in your home. Furnace cleaning is the removal of built up dust on the mechanical components (blower motor & burners) within the furnace. Furnaces need to be cleaned and maintained annually to ensure performance, reduce safety risks and prevent costly repairs.

Not everyone looking for duct cleaning also requires furnace cleaning. Homeowners often subscribe to an annual maintenance or service plan with their furnace installation company or gas provider. Allowing customers to add services they need instead of charging for service they don’t need offers flexibility to customize their home services.

If you have central air conditioning your furnace houses an air conditioning evaporator coil. A/C evaporator coils need to be cleaned and maintained every year. Air blowing across the coils can contain dirt, pollen, dust, and other particles found in the furnace and duct system. A/C coils become damp from the dehumidification process, making it is very easy for contaminants to stick to them. In a very short amount of time, this dirt and dust can accumulate and impact performance. Problems that result from a dirty A/C coil include; decreased ability to cool effectively, increased energy use, reduced heat transfer, increased operating pressures and temperatures, a buildup of ice on the coil, and increased wear on the system, which can lead to damage, system malfunctions and reduced life expectancy. Exterior A/C condensers units also need to be cleaned often, however this is easily done by the home owner and not a service we provide.

If you or someone in your home has allergies, asthma, respiratory issues/disease, or a compromised immune system, disinfecting your duct system and improving the air quality in your home is essential. Home Depot Services uses a HVAC Fogging Machine to aerolize the disinfectant into tiny droplets that coat the entire duct system ensuring maximum disinfection. We use an EPA registered botanical disinfectant called Benefect.  Using Thymol, this safe, biodegradable, non-toxic disinfectant kills 99.9% of germs, bacteria, viruses, mold and fungal spores while also addressing the causes of allergens and odour causing bacteria. If you are someone who is concerned with the toxicity of antimicrobials typically used to kill germs, this sanitizer has you covered offering no adverse effects on one’s health or the environment. 

Consider sanitizing your duct system if:

  • Someone in the home has health concerns (asthma, allergies, or diseases transmitted by airborne droplets).
  • You have pets in the home.
  • There is an odour in your duct work.
  • You have had a water leak/damage that has impacted your duct system
  • You believe there to be mold, mildew, fungi, bacteria or viruses living in your duct system.

Please ensure there is a clear path to all vents in the home (including hot air vents and cold air return vents) and to the furnace, including moving furniture away from vents, and removing breakable or fragile items from areas near the vents, prior to the technician’s arrival and any pets are given a safe place to stay.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Frequently Asked Questions

Dryer vents are one of the leading causes of house fires in North America. Dryer vent lint is highly flammable and your dryer gets hot working hard to dry your clothes and other items. Dryer vents should be cleaned at least once every year depending on the size of your household and dryer usage to ensure your safety and optimal performance of your dryer. Have you ever noticed your items taking longer and longer to dry? Does your load of towels require additional drying cycles to complete the job? This is an indication your dryer vent has gone unattended for too long. After having your dryer vent professionally cleaned there are still a few steps you need to take to help maintain your clean vent. Check under the dryer, the floor behind the dryer, and the cabinet at the back of the dryer, they also need to be lint free.

Professional dryer vent cleaning is typically done from the exterior of the home. Dryer vents are located on exterior walls and are sometimes found on the roof. First, your technician will locate the vent on the exterior of your home. A special dryer vent cleaning tool, which uses high pressure compressed air, will then be snaked through the vent from end to end, dislodging and forcing the lint and debris back towards the exterior of the home. Occasionally access from the exterior is not possible and the vent would be cleaned by disconnecting the vent from the back of the dryer. Unfortunately, not all dryers can be moved to allow access from this vantage point.

Junk Removal Frequently Asked Questions

We remove electronics (E-waste), appliances, bicycles, carpeting & rugs, renovation waste, furniture, hot tubs and jacuzzis, mattresses and box springs, refrigerators* and freezers*, scrap metals, televisions, tires* and rubber*, household trash, yard waste, garbage and refuse, general rubbish, glass, exercise equipment*, pool tables*, pianos*, computers and notebooks, printers, scanners and copiers, monitors and displays. Some mentioned items may have additional charges due to the requirements for disposal.

We are not able to remove paint cans, batteries, chemicals/cleaners, railway ties, or propane/fuel/gas tanks.

Dragging junk to the curb is a thing of the past! We remove items from crawl spaces, attics, sheds, storage units, basements, garages, and yards.