What actually is carpet cleaning
Every Property Manager has a reason to contemplate carpet cleaning, for some the reasons may be just part of a normal vacate checklist and for others there’s often a pressing reasons such as flooding, stains or damage. Either way we all begin with the same sorta questions, it’s usually “How much” and most often you’ll get a quote and compare it to others and make a decision, often on price.
Why do we ask for a quotes anyway?
The answer is simple, we often don’t know what else to ask for or you just want something rectified or claim the tenants bond money back. You see we are accustomed to asking price and that happens because we are vague on the process or we lack information and understanding.
The truth is most cleaners aren’t professionally trained and don’t know how to educate or report on the science of cleaning, think about that for a moment.
“most cleaners don’t know how to help educate or report on the science of cleaning“
V.C.A.T & Science Reports
The science is all important, anytime you need to go before VCAT or apply for the Bond having science based reports and quotes means you are properly prepared to advocate on behalf of your Landlords.
Understanding your why?
Theres no point getting a quote if you don’t know what the process is. So lets begin with your cleaning needs and see what resonates.
● Vacate clean ●Bad Smells 
●Stained ●Greasy ●Oily ●Cooking Odours ●Urine Smells ●Flooding ●Damaged ● Heavy Vacuuming● Pet Odours● Repair or replacement
These are the most common reasons property managers want the carpets cleaned, and if you resonate with one or a bunch of reasons then it makes understanding the process so much easier.
So lets begin with…
What is carpet?
Carpet is something we literally come in contact with everyday, it’s the fibre and padding that covers your floors including- broadloom, carpet tiles, stick on, area rugs, offices, restaurants, hotels and anything that’s covered in fibre.
How is carpet cleaned?
There are 3 methods to clean carpet
1: Dry Vacuuming
Power head extraction tool, removes loose contaminants and pet hair
Dry vacuuming using a domestic or commercial grade vacuum, preferably with a power head designed to beat the fibres removing human or pet hair, dead skin cells, dust mites and eggs, dust, pollen and loose debris. Ideally this should be done bi-weekly and can be achieved by owner or best by a professional.
2: (VLM) Very Low Moisture
Encapsulation very low moisture cleaning
(VLM) commonly known as dry cleaning either uses a shampoo or as we recommend Encapsulation Solution by applying a liquid solution that has a crystallising polymer with mechanical agitation. Simply this method attracts and encapsulates dirt in a crystal bead that makes dirt easy to remove.
Advantages: It dries really quickly allowing use often within 60-90 minutes, perfect quick turn around time allowing new tenants in quickly.
Suitability: For light to medium soiled fibres. Perfect for wool, nylon, silk, sisal and polypropylene fabrics. With our premium product it also contains antibacterial agents and a mild fabric protector.
3: (HWE) Hot Water Extraction
Hot water extraction using an carpet extraction wand
(HWE) commonly known as steam cleaning is the process of using warm to hot water to extract pre-spray cleaning solution along with dislodged and dissolved dirt and contaminants.
Advantages: It is the deepest most restorative clean, fibres have that fresh and clean feeling just like bed sheets after they have come off the clothes line.
Suitability: Deepest clean removing odours, body oils, spilled liquids, surface contaminants and topical stains. Perfect for wool, nylon, carpet tiles and polypropylene fibres.
The cleanliness scale
So how do I know which service to pick? Well we’ve provided a simple scale from 1 to 10 that’ll help you evaluate where the carpets sit.
Simply select the cleanliness levels the carpets are currently at.
Levels 1 to 4
If you feel the carpet sits between 1 to 4 then you can choose between VLM Encapsulation Cleaning or HWE Espresso Steam Cleaning.
Levels 5 to 7
You require medium spa steam cleaning, this is best suited to medium soiling and some topical marks, it’ll also refresh the fibres.
Levels 8 to 10
You require heavy spa deep cleaning, fibres are heavily soiled and require deep penetrating cleaning, often requires anti bacterial treatments and neutralising solution.
Level 10+
You require a full restoration clean, typically this includes urine decontamination, vomit, faecal matter, removal of blood, penetrating odours and stain treatment where possible. It would require often the use of biocides to sanitise the fibre.
Understanding Stain Treatment:
Topical Stains: These marks will come out with a heavy duty carpet clean, in other words these are marks that sit on top of the fibre but haven’t damaged the yarn or colour pigmentation.
Penetrating Stains: These are stains that have penetrated the carpet yarn or fibre, typically these are caused by wine, coffee, bleach, certain food groups and coloured drinks.
Steam cleaning will not remove these marks, they require Stain Treatment, this is in fact a restoration service that requires specialised chemicals and a forensic methodology to reduce the impact of staining.
We do not guarantee all marks will 100% be removed often a 50% reduction makes it virtually impossible to see, this service is charged in 15 minute increments.
Urine Decontamination
Urine contamination typically happens from young children, frail citizens, cats and dogs, it usually penetrates the carpet, underlay and impregnates the flooring and it never disappears. At it’s worst the smell of urine permeates the home attaching itself to soft furnishings, walls and heating and air conditioning units.
Can steam cleaning or deodorising remove urine?
NO, in fact steam cleaning on it’s own energises the uric salts and makes it worse, and deodoriser is a masking agent and wears off quickly. The only way to remove urine is a decontamination service, we are happy to supply a detailed quote after inspection.
What’s the next step?
Now that you understand what carpet cleaning is and what level of service may be required and how important it is to VCAT hearings and getting the Bond released.
Simply call or email for a free carpet condition audit and cleaning quote, we will determine your leasing dates and confirm a service appointment.
Electronic Reports, Quotes & Invoicing
We will supply you with a full electronic condition report, quotes and invoice that you can keep for your own records and email to your Land Lord and Tenant.
What other services do we provide?
● Vacate Cleans ●Window Cleaning ●Tile and grout cleaning ●Upholstery cleaning ●Pressure washing house and driveways ● Curtain cleaning ●Wall washing ● Also handyman and painting services ●Removalists
Peter is the Principal Presentation Technician and Strategist with 30 years of training, he’s an educationalist to the real estate and property management industries. His many clients are international companies, health institutions, vendors and tenants.
He can be contacted for a free audit and quote on
0413 656 994 or info@rentsellbuymove.com.au
peterkaraoglanis 