How much does it cost to professionally clean residential carpet?

What does it cost to clean residential carpet professionally?

There are so many ways that companies come up with a cost to clean residential carpet. Unfortunately not all of them are totally up front from the beginning about what there price includes. Carpet cleaning consumers must be aware of the differences. Here are a few of the ways consumers are quoted a one time residential carpet cleaning cost.

Screen Shot 2016-06-17 at 2.50.11 PM

  • over the phone price quote per room or area (LR,DR,Stairs,BR,Basement,etc)
  • over the phone price quote per square feet (Example: 2,000 sq/ft x .25 = $500.00)
  • On location inspection visit followed by price quote
  • or even today in an online quote

All of us are professional consumers so we need to ask good questions when choosing a company. Especially if the company is quoting sight unseen. There are many variables that are associated with doing the best carpet cleaning job the first time. Here are just a few that may influence a price quote

  • training and experience of the cleaner
  • type of equipment and cleaning solutions being used
  • condition and age of the carpet being cleaned
  • color and type of fiber of the carpet
  • are there odors present

Price quotes that are often associated with $99 specials often can be misleading. This may just be a minimum charge. Many time there are up charges to get spots out or pre-treat and scrub high traffic areas. By this time it may be to late and you may have to pay the piper to savor valuable free time.cost to clean residential carpet

So what should you expect from a reputable company?

No matter if you are quoted on the phone or visited in person here are a list of things that should be done as part of the service:

  • pre-vacuum as necessary (many times consumer will do this)
  • pretreat high traffic areas for normal soiling
  • pretreat and remove typical spots
  • clean using high performance carpet cleaning equipment
  • dry carpet in less than 8 hrs ( *just because they say it is a dry cleaning method does not mean it will be cleaner)

These additional charges are typically acceptable:

  1. Scotchguard®/Teflon®/stain protection =Typically 25-50% of cost of cleaning
  2. Pet Odor Removal = Cost can vary depending on severity of odor and damage to carpet,pad and/or subfloor.
  3. Wine & Fruit Juice Stains = $5-25 extra
  4. Carpet Repairs = $75 per hr depending on region of country

So before you begin to search for the best price ask yourself what am I really trying to achieve, Clean,Healthy carpet or a cheap price? You will usually get what you paid for. Look for cleaning companies that are IICRC, ICRA, RIA or CRI SOA Certified Firms. Here is a general guide for a one time cost to professionally clean residential carpet across the country.

Service

North-West

West

South-West

Mt-Plains

Great Lakes

South- East

North-East

Carpet

Cleaning

(1 time)

.20-.40sf

$40-$75 per area

.20-.40 sf

$40-$80 per area

.20-.35sf

$40-$65per area

.20-.35sf

$40-$75per area

.20-.40 sf

$40-$75per area

.20-.35 sf

$40-$55per area

.25-.50sf

$40-$95per area

For More Information Call:410-647-2800

Clean Schools

What is more important than demanding clean schools?

How much time do you, your children or your love ones spend in classrooms, day cares, or universities? This is where most of us have spent big money in taxes or tuition to build our intellect and social being. Children have no choice when it comes down to facility cleanliness. Clean schools is of utmost importance.

20160602_164147Fortunately today we have cleaning scientists from groups like CIRI (Cleaning Industry Research Institute) and the EPA spending time and money on surface cleanliness & contamination and it consequences.

The EPA’s  has Seven Technical Solutions that define the most common issues that schools need to address to effectively manage IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) risks. (EPA pdf click here)

ECO Interior Maintenance understands the importance here and has been involved for many years in various industry studies. If proper funds are not allocated to cleaning & maintenance our children and students are effected. Cutting out or reducing proper cleaning and maintenance negatively effects everything in the school

Screen Shot 2016-06-04 at 8.19.33 AM

So if you are interested in Creating Healthier Indoor Environments for children in our schools, day care centers, universities or even at home here is how the EPA can help guide you. Once you have looked this over, call us and we can help you implement practices, procedures and systems to help keep your floor coverings and furniture healthy and clean. Clean, Disinfect and Protect using eco friendly effective strategies.

 

A Memorial Thanks

IMG_1955

We here at ECO appreciate the opportunity to be able to serve our customers. If it were not for all of those who fought for our freedom this would not be possible. In thoughts we pray.

Thank You & God Bless America! Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Cleaning Wood

There are many different types of wood. Cleaning wood involves knowing:

Cleaning Wood
Water Marking
  • the type of wood it is
  • is the wood manufactured or natural
  • who the mill or manufacture is
  • what finish(s) have been applied to the wood prior to cleaning

Damaged wood, scratches or water marked wood can be tricky to clean. Restorative cleaning procedures and repairs should be made prior to development of a cleaning maintenance plan when possible. Cleaning maintenance plans should include:

  • Proper cleaning frequencies for removal of foreign soils
  • proper use of neutral pH cleaning solution
  • avoidance of abrasive, harsh, high pH solutions
  • use of soft towels,mops and microfibers
  • understanding use of finial finish equipment and solutions

* Note: depending on finish and type of wood, indentations from high heels, deep scratches, heavy furniture or dropped items may require replacement of plank or sanding & refinishing procedures.

nwfacolor-member

Waxing VCT

You would think that stripping and waxing VCT would be a simple process. Think Again.

Waxing VCT can be tricky if you do not know what to use or how to properly prep for the job. Sometimes it may be a new installation but usually layers of old yellowing wax need to be removed first. There are ECO friendly ways to do this.

  • Layers and layers of old coatings can send contractors into overtime hours quickly. IMG_3586
  • The difference between Coatings (wax) is significant:
    • Sealers (preparation for coatings)
    • Acrylic Coatings ( sometimes associated with yellowing)
    • Polyurethane Coatings (longer lasting)
    • Stripping floors can be difficult to do in an eco-friendly way.

Property owners & managers may bid out a strip and wax job, then select the cheapest bidder.  Be careful, you may pay for it in appearance & performance later. New UrethaneManufacturers recommendations for application layers and maintenance should always be followed. Consult a professional at Eco Interior Maintenance for best results!

No Mold no MRSA

No Mold no MRSA– Clean fax Magazine October 2014

Disinfectants

No Mold. No MRSA. No Odor.

Stopping the spread and growth of bacteria with organosilanes.

By Doug Bradford and Dr. Daniel Bernazzani
October 09, 2014

Homeowners, athletes, travelers, hospital patients, senior living occupants and office personnel all have one thing in common: More than ever, occupants are concerned about bacterial infections due to harmful microbial growth and cross contamination.

Staph bacteria are the most prevalent infection-causing germs and cannot be prevented with yesterday’s disinfectants. In fact, over 60 percent of staph infections are now resistant to antibiotics, up from 3 percent in 1974. These microorganisms can survive on inanimate surfaces long enough for them to be transferred from the surface to another person. Mold contamination also is more prevalent than in the 70s.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has started initiatives to outsmart this threat, which has been called health’s ticking time bomb. When microorganisms stop responding to the disinfectants we use to kill them, we are back where we started with inadequate remedies to prevent growth. One of the solutions CDC has identified is to prevent growth from occurring and prevent resistant strains from spreading.

Thirty years ago, Dow Chemical’s scientists developed a nano-sized, non-leaching, biostatic antimicrobial called an organosilane. Studied and tested widely, these antimicrobials are used in the manufacturing process of many products that we use today (i.e., shoes, contact lenses, tee shirts, etc.). They are also used in hospitals, medical facilities and, most recently, professional sports fields with synthetic turf.

Few in our industry realized the potential for aftermarket application and surface protection. Organosilanes bond to clean, hard or soft surfaces, protecting or inhibiting microbial growth. With an origin in quartz and coal, organosilanes provide a sustainable protective barrier against odors, mold and mildew, while also exhibiting hydrophobic (they won’t combine with or dissolve in water) and antistatic properties.

The CDC, FDA and many other government and private organizations are focused on controlling the spread of harmful microbes. Over the years professional cleaning groups (e.g., IICRC, RIA, CIRI and ICRA) have been discussing IAQ problems and mold contamination.  Their goals include learning more about cleaning and what role disinfectants played in preventing the spread of harmful microbial growth.

In a study published in the Journal of Cleaning, Restoration & Inspection, Dr. Priyotosh Chakravarty concluded that commonly used disinfectants used today in our industry couldn’t completely kill all fungi components, allowing dormant spores to recolonize when favorable conditions are available. We had the knowledge to clean and disinfect but, until now, lacked the ability to provide long-term protection.

Cleaning and disinfecting provides the first step for inactivating harmful microorganisms. The next step should be to apply a barrier that inhibits growth of bacteria and mold contamination. Nothing is more efficient and effective than a thorough cleaning and disinfection of a surface followed by application of a surface protecting antimicrobial.

Combining the use of a biocidal cleaning detergent/disinfectant followed by a biostatic antimicrobial surface protector raises the bar. This added step accomplishes what many have been missing for years. Cleaning and disinfecting is well understood; however protecting surfaces from future growth was the missing piece. Its far better to prevent microorganisms from growing in the first place than letting them get a foothold and then trying to remove them. Effective cleaning and disinfection followed by the additional step of surface protection makes sense and becomes a value added service.

Today, our industry can protect surfaces with a scientifically supported, combination of cleaning technologies employing the use of two safe and accepted EPA registered solutions — simple, two-step, innovative, state of the art “standard of care” for the cleaning industry. It is a way of protecting surfaces from a wide range of unwanted germs, odors, mold and mildew that affect our daily lives by reducing direct transfer of harmful microbes using an antimicrobial barrier/coating.

 

Kristopher Page,Michael Wilsonand Ivan P. Parkin, 2009

The most critical factor for transmission of a microorganism from a surface to another person is the ability of that microbe to survive on a surface. If the microorganism is prevented from growing on a surface then transfer cannot occur. As the accompanying illustration indicates blocking that transmission is critical to ending the cycle that causes so many problems in the environments where we live and work. It’s being done in hospitals today.

Adding a protector is an opportunity for professionals who seek to differentiate and separate themselves from the competition. It sets the bar higher by showing a commitment to health and saftey. Chakravarty’s research strengthens the science that traditional cleaning and disinfection techniques are not adequate in controlling contaminant levels.

After cleaning and disinfecting, the application of a safe, odorless, eco-friendly, long-lasting, bonded antimicrobial to a hard or soft surface is the final step necessary in controlling future cross contamination and microbial growth. Clean, disinfect and protect. You’re not finished until you protect the surfaces you have cleaned.

Doug Bradford, CR is BactiBarrier® President, Eco Interior Maintenance Inc. CEO, HexPerformance™ co-founder, and Chair of the IICRC S100 Textile Floor Covering Cleaning Standard.

Dr. Daniel Bernazzani is a principal for BactiBarrier. He is president of Liberty Consulting and a former IICRC president.

IICRC S100 Standard for Professional Cleaning of Textile Floor Coverings

Doug Bradford, one of the founders of the Eco Interior Maintenance chaired the update and revision of the international carpet cleaning standard and reference guide. It was just approved by ANSI last month and is available for purchase. The Journal of Cleaning & Restoration highlights the ANSI/IICRC S100-2015 Standard for Professional Cleaning of Textile Floor Coverings and its accompanying R100 reference guide which are valuable tools used by the industry to reference the proper way to specify, develop and institute carpet cleaning maintenance programs.

It took 9 years to produce with over 100 industry experts. Screen Shot 2015-04-06 at 4.45.40 PM

Eco’s Senior Operation Management and Sales Team , Justin & Aaron Eader have participated in the on going training that makes our company second to none when it comes down to any type of floor coverings maintenance, its installation and production.

  • Natural stone
  • ECO Friendly Floor coverings
  • VCT & LVT
  • Wood

If you have met either one of them, their astute attention to details and caring input to do the right thing for our clients shines through daily. Sean Mooney, our Service Operations Manager,  who has recently attained IICRC Water Restoration Technician certification and has shined recently covering back of the house emergency water damage operations.

Recently Justin Eader traveled to Dalton , Georgia to become a LVT & Resilient Inspector.

Trust Eco for all of your detail, hard surface and textile cleaning needs. Were a step ahead of the rest.

ECO helps write The Carpet & Rug Institute Commercial Carpet Cleaning Guidelines

One of Eco Interior Maintenance founders, Doug Bradford, worked with The Carpet & Rug Institute in Dalton Georgia to help write the update of the Carpet Maintenance Guidelines for Commercial Applications. This document is used and distributed by many of the carpet manufacturers domestically and internationally.

Reviewing the document after purchasing commercial carpet will help end users understand the importance of proper maintenance as it relates to appearance and use life.

IMG_3171

The document also reviews  important factors to consider when building a commercial carpet maintenance program. These factors include specifying the right carpet, cleaning procedures, frequency and choice of cleaning systems needed to achieve optimum performance levels from your textile flooring investment.

Stop Germs from Spreading

Eco Interior Maintenance can stop germs from spreading by Cleaning ,Disinfecting and Protecting surfaces. The removal of harmful microbes can be accomplished by effective and efficient cleaning practices, but often due to budget constraints, improper frequency or human error surfaces stay contaminated.

The BactiBarrier® Cleaning System was developed by the owners of Eco Interior Maintenance and is now marketed nationwide as a “New Standard of Care”. If as Ben Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, why wouldn’t you protect surfaces from harmful microbes after cleaning and disinfecting. Especially if it takes little time and is affordable.

IMG_2211

BactiBarrier Step 1 Detergent /Disinfectant is an EPA registered product that kills 99.9% of germs on hard surfaces. Follow that up with Step 2  EPA registered BactiBarrier Surface Protector that inhibits the future growth of harmful microbes and you have a cleaning and protection system working on your surfaces that is second to none. In today’s world the assurance and insurance that the BactiBarrier® Cleaning System brings to the table just makes sense!

Clean, Disinfect and Protect today!!!

Removing Odors from Basement

Once again Eco Interior Maintenance BactiBarrier cleaning system has removed odors from a basement that sat around for over 4 years without inhabitants. These products are phenomenal. Cleaning, disinfecting and protecting makes so much sense. Cleaners that use it are setting a higher standard. Its our new “Standard of Care”.

Currently our client both commercial and residential are benefiting from BactiBarrier’s superior technology. Do not know why we will ever disinfect and protect any surface any other way. Hope everyone gets a chance to reap the benefits.

Before

After

 IMG_2752