Things to consider:

The longer your carpets remain dirty, the sooner they'll wear out.

Carpets can hold up to one pound of dirt per square foot before you can notice a difference. Dirt is abrasive and it wears down the fibers and can substantially shorten the life of your carpets. Many warranties require at least an annual cleaning by a professional. Check your warranty on time and also on the type of cleaning required.

Also, in considering how often to clean your carpets consider that pollen, fungus, pet odors, mold spores, dust mites and chemicals hide in your carpet. If your objective is a healthy indoor environment it is essential to hire a professional and not just the lowest priced carpet cleaner. The quality of service can vary greatly in this industry. In shopping around for a cleaner, you'll find out there are many different cleaning methods. Obviously, each cleaner will be biased and each method may have advantages. Check your manufacturer's warranty to see if they require certain methods and select the company and method that best meets your objectives.

Questions to ask when selecting a company in this industry: 

1. What method of cleaning do you recommend to meet my needs?

2. What type of equipment to you use and what is the cleaning process?

3. What type of chemicals do you use and are they safe?

4. How often should I clean my carpets?

5. Are you a member of any Trade or professional organizations?

6. Are you and your technicians certified by IICRC or ASCR?

7. Do you guarantee your work?

8. Can you show me proof of insurance?

9. Do you have references of clients who I can call?

10. Do you vacuum high traffic and open areas where soil accumulates?

11. Do you move furniture? Unless clearly specified, moving of most furniture to clean underneath should be considered part of the job within reason.

12. What's your policy on Spot-cleaning? Attention to spots should be included in normal job performance. However, time-consuming specialized spotting may incur an extra charge.

13. Do you charge extra for preconditioning? This should be utilized in heavy traffic and soiled areas and should be included in the price. However, it's normal to charge more for excessively soiled carpets or certain types of harder to clean carpets. It's also possible and reasonable to expect to pay more if the cleaner has to move a lot of furniture.

14. How long will it take to dry my carpets? Under no circumstance should it take more than 24 hours with proper ventilation.

15. Do you do criminal background checks on your workers?

What to avoid when selecting a company in this industry:

1. A company that does not show you their business license. There are many companies that act like real businesses, but in reality they are not operating legally.

2. A company that does not show you proof of insurance. If someone is injured on your property you may be liable.

3. Choosing a company based on price. Low price can mean the cleaner has cheap equipment or untrained technicians who won't do a good job. This industry is full of bait and switch tactics offering low prices to get in the door.

4. Companies that will not provide you a written detailed estimate on company stationary.

5. Companies that apply pressure to do it today.

6. Avoid choosing a cleaner on one phone call. Invite the person to your home and ask for a written quote. This will let you know exactly what you're getting and it will relieve you of high pressure tactics when the technician comes to clean.

7. Companies that will not give you referrals with phone numbers.

8. You get what you pay for. If you want qualified and insured professionals, you may need to pay a little more, but in most cases it is money well spent.

9. Companies that make guarantees that appear too good to be true.

10. Companies that do not guarantee their work.

11. Companies that do not check to determine that they are cleaning the carpets according to manufacturer specifications. In many cases your warranty will be voided.

12. Under no circumstances is it wise to have a person clean your carpets that is not IICRC or ASRC certified.

13. Companies that give you a "one price fits all" whether your carpet is Berber, polyester/olefin, nylon or wool. There are different cleaning methods/procedures depending on your type of carpet or situation. This is why your technician should be educated in all types of carpet.

14. Beware of some companies that use "small portable carpet cleaning units" out of the truck of their vehicle. These individuals are usually uneducated to do the proper & effective carpet cleaning procedure and lack the power in their equipment; therefore leaving a layer of residue on your carpet that will attract soil causing your carpet to get dirtier much quicker. 

After interviewing and running an extensive background check the National Association Against Consumer Fraud has awarded the following business a listing in The Business A-List:

To our valued customers. Our company is designed to meet your needs. Our technicians are fully trained and certified for all innovative cleaning methods. We are a IICRC Certified Firm as well as all of our technicians. We comply with all major carpet cleaning requirements, including those pertaining to the new generation of stain-resistant carpeting. We are involved in the industry and are up-to-date on all the latest cleaning advances and techniques. We use the best and safest cleaning solutions available and follow internationally recommended standards and procedures for cleaning. I have structured my business so that we can take whatever time is necessary to carefully work in your home.

Why use Supreme Steam Carpet & Tile Company? We take great pride in our cleaning to have your home or office look its best. We pledge our support in establishing and maintaining a professional attitude in the conduct of our daily business at all times and provide the consumer with the highest degree of professionalism possible. We continue to maintain education courses to better serve our customers. I guarantee that your cleaning needs will be met both professionally and correctly by Supreme Steam Carpet & Tile.