In September we are attending yet another IICRC carpet cleaning certification course (CMT – commercial carpet cleaning and maintenance). Also scheduled, a tour of Bridgepoint (large manufacturer of carpet cleaning equipment and supplies), a tour of Aerotech (manufacturer of industrial carpet cleaning machines) and the SpotMaster Championship – the annual spot and stain removal competition for professional carpet cleaners.

We are then headed to an Advanced Commercial Floor Cleaning and Maintenance training program.  Advanced training on commercial carpet cleaning, low moisture carpet cleaning, stone cleaning & polishing, and wood floor cleaning & recoating.

Then we will be attending the annual Carpet Cleaners Conference and Trade Show  as well as a LMCCA (Low Moisture Carpet Cleaners Association) Board of Directors meeting.

EcoClean will be closed for a few weeks and referring any incoming regular carpet cleaning to other cleaners in our local carpet cleaners network and/or scheduling any work that requires a “Master” (us) for October.

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We see them both online and in stores. They are being sold as silk (some don’t know Art Silk or Faux Silk means artificial silk or FAKE silk…) – We are seeing BLENDS of viscose with wool coming from reputable brands like Karastan.

DO NOT buy rayon rugs – we DO NOT want to clean them!

• Rayon / viscose is an extremely weak fiber. In strength tests, wool fibers can be bent up to 10,000 times before breaking. Silk is also very strong at 2,000. Rayon is very weak at 70
• Rayon rugs shed, break, distort.
• Rayon rugs are rarely colorfast. Very poor dye quality and bleed very easily.
• Rayon rugs fade.
• Rayon rugs show soil quickly.
• Rayon rugs yellow with time and/or moisture

Why would manufacturers use a fiber so unsuitable for a rug ?

Simple. Because it is CHEAP. Rayon looks like silk at a fraction of the cost of silk.

They want the look of silk, but they do not want to actually use silk. They decide against the more expensive but far superior fiber that will last a century, and instead opt for one that might have ONE solid year of looking good.

As professional rug cleaners, we are trained to identify rayon/viscose rugs and to run from them. Rayon rugs are one of the few rugs that end up looking worse after cleaning than better. They distort, yellow, the dyes can bleed, they fade, and they look shaggy over time. They are by far the worst fiber ever chosen for feet to walk on. I’d own an olefin rug before I would a rayon rug!  In fact, it is not unheard of for a spill of plain water on a rayon rug to dry looking like a big pet urine stain.

For rug buyers, if you want the look of silk, I would suggest buying a lower grade silk rug over anything made of rayon or viscose.  High quality silk rugs have very low nap and a high knot count. A taller face fiber height means a lesser quality silk rug.

Viscose rugs are what we  label as “disposable rugs” because they have a short life under normal foot traffic. Then they end up in the landfill and you have to go buy another rug.

If all you want is a disposable rug, then I guess you could go buy a cheap rayon rug.  But because of their inherent fading, wearing, soiling, and cleaning problems, rayon is a rug fiber that I would never recommend a client to buy no matter what the intended use of the piece. We recommend wool rugs, which are fantastic for the floor and will not give you any of the headaches of rayon or viscose. And a real wool rug  will last you much, MUCH longer.

Spread the word – Viscose / Rayon Rugs suck!

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Depending upon the location and traffic your rug is subject to it should be rotated from every six months to two years to insure even wear.

Vacuuming is recommended on a regular basis to remove dirt and restore life to the fibers. Be careful not to vacuum the fringe. Vacuum lightly each day and thoroughly each week. Its very important to catch the sand and soil on the surface of the rug before it can become deeply embedded in the rug pile. Padding is suggested under your rugs. This helps protect it from dirt, wear, slippage and acts as a shock absorber for your rug..

A professional rug cleaner should be the first choice for cleaning your rug because they have the materials, experience and expertise. Here are some suggestions for caring for your rugs between professional cleanings.

Wool rugs: Vacuum your wool rugs at least once a week. Get a professional cleaning every one to three years. Blot spills as quickly as possible with a white cloth; then spot treat. Spot removal tips further down this article.

Silk rugs: Vacuum weekly on low suction without a beater bar. Have your silk rug cleaned every year by a professional who specializes in silk or antique rugs. Blot spills with a towel, but never rub. Blot with damp towel if necessary. Repeat until the stain is gone. Be very careful attempting spot cleaning silk rugs.  Do not use chemical spot cleaners.

Other natural fiber rugs: Vacuum the rug weekly, vacuuming the underside, too, if possible.  Blot spills immediately with a clean towel. Professional cleaning yearly. Do not allow heavy soils to accumulate.

Synthetics rugs: Vacuum regularly and care for synthetic rugs following the same guidelines as wool rugs.

For Professional Rug Cleaning Contact EcoClean @ 257-7791

Rug Cleaning – Spot Removal Kit

• Clean cloths / sponges,
• Soft bristle brush,
• Mild detergent (no bleaches or alkalis),
• White vinegar,
• Dry cleaning fluid,
• Weak ammonia (7% solution),
• Alcohol

Spot Removal Procedure – Rug Cleaning

It is always best to attack spots and spills immediately. When a spill occurs dilute with plenty of water. Working quickly with a clean dry cloth, blot the edge of the spill toward the center to prevent spreading or causing a “ring” when using solvents.
Do not rub the area.

For a solid spill take a spoon and scoop up carefully.
On old dry or stubborn stains; saturate, blot, and then brush. Repeat this operation as often as necessary to remove the spot completely.

Pat with paper towels or dry cotton towel; dry with a fan or hair dryer. Restore pile with soft bristle brush.

Always proceed with caution and only after pre-testing each cleaning agent.

Due to the wide variety of spotting agents and fibers they are used on, we can assume no responsibility for any damage occurring.

Carpet and Rug – Spot & Stain Removal Guide

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Oriental and hand woven rugs must be hand cleaned, or their value may be diminished or even ruined. Valuable rugs are damaged everyday by untrained cleaners. To protect your investment, please call EcoClean @ 800-882-4695.

*Minimum Service Charge Applies. Coupons for residential use only. Not valid with other offers or senior discount. Offers Expire 08-31-2009

EcoClean Carpet Care provides residential and commercial rug cleaning services to all of Lake County, Geauga County, and parts of Cuyahoga County and Ashtabula County. Got Dirt ? Call EcoClean! 800-882-4695

Got Dirty Rugs?  Get them in now and take advantage of National Rug Cleaning Month.

This year we will be closing the rug cleaning spa (full immersion cleaning for heavily soiled or urine contaminated rugs) in early Sept.  We will only offer in home rug appearance maintenance cleaning (surface cleaning) from OCT until spring 2011, when the rug cleaning spa will re-open for the season.

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Pembertons hosted an informative seminar on Pet Odor Decontamination, Deodorization and Stain Removal at Pembertons Cleaning and Restoration Learning Center in Pittsburgh PA.

Hours of information with hands on instruction with the best equipment and techniques, how to effectively locate and treat urine contamination in carpet, pad, sub-floor, as well as sofa cushions! Although this is not the first Pet Odor Decontamination, Deodorization and Stain Removal course we’ve attended, we always learn something new at each and every one. Each instructor (and classmates) have something new and interesting to add.

Always striving to be the best trained and most dedicated carpet cleaners in the industry and especially for you, our valued customers in Mentor, Painesville, and all of Northeast Ohio.

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There are literally millions of logos out there and chances are, many logos are going to look similar to another but whether or not it was copied is what is up for debate. They say imitation is the sincerest of flattery, but that doesnt make it legal, or right though. There is a very thin line between coincidence, inspiration, and plagiarism.

‘Copycats’, ‘look alikes’ and ‘me-toos’ sound so much more innocuous than ‘forgeries’, ‘counterfeits’ and ‘fakes’ but they can be just as damaging. Not only do they steal potential customers but they undermine the value of the real thing and cheapen its image.

While I am all-for emulating good marketing ideas: if something works in another industry or for another company, apply it to your own and see how it works for you. But there’s copying a concept – and then there’s…stealing.  Using a VERY similar concept in the SAME industry , and in the SAME service area is very questionable at best.

What do you think about these logos?

Our Dries In Minutes Carpet Cleaning Logo TM 2004 - There are only a handful of companies nationwide that are authorized to use this logo.

Dry In Minutes Logo 2009 by MD Carpet & Oriental Rug Cleaners

What do you think when you see logos that look alike? Comments welcome.

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This conference is specifically designed for carpet cleaners seeking new research and useful tools to help distance their company from the competition.

We also attended the LMCCA Board of Directors semi annual meeting. A lot of the discussions revolved around the momentum gathering with “green” related issues and “health” related issues. Both of which are greatly enhanced by low moisture carpet cleaning systems. Now that it appears the world is beginning to recognize the potential “green” and “healthy” benefits of low moisture cleaning, it is thrilling to know that the LMCCA is leading the pack.

The LMCCA has grown to become the world’s largest international trade association for carpet cleaners, with more than 1,300 member locations.

It is incredibly exciting to be a part of an organization that is progressively growing by effectively working towards a meaningful mission. That mission is “to increase awareness and knowledge of low moisture carpet cleaning systems to gain world-wide acceptance of the viability of low-moisture carpet cleaning systems used by professional carpet cleaning technicians in order to provide the best possible carpet cleaning system as dictated by the carpet itself and the unique environment in which it is in service”.

It is both thrilling and inspiring to be part of this association.

Mark Cermak serves as LMCCA VP, chair of the  E-Media Committee, Executive Committee and Andrechelle Cermak on the Board of Directors.

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Atlas Carpet Mills
Phone: 800-372-6274
Website: www.atlascarpetmills.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Barrett Carpet Mills
Phone: 800-241-4064
Website: www.barrettcarpet.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Beaulieu Group, LLC
Phone: 800-227-7211
Website: www.beaulieu-usa.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Bloomsburg Carpet Industries, Inc.
Phone: 800-233-8773
Website: www.bloomsburgcarpet.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Dry Compound Extraction/Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Blue Ridge Industries, Inc.
Phone: 800-241-5945
Website: www.blueridgecarpet.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Contact Manufacturer/website
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Brintons U.S. Axminister, Inc.
Phone: 662-332-1581
Website: www.brintonsusax.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Contact Manufacturer/website
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Burtco Enterprises, Inc.
Phone: 800-241-4019
Website: www.burtcocarpet.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Constantine
Phone: 800-308-4344
Website: www.constantine-carpet.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Contact Manufacturer/website
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Creston Carpet Mills LLC
Phone: 800-899-7776
Website: N/A
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Daltonian Flooring, Inc.
Phone: 800-788-1408
Website: www.daltonian.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Dry Foam/Dry Compound/Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Dixie Group, Inc., The
Phone: 866-695-2470
Website: www.thedixiegroup.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Contact Manufacturer/website
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Fortune Contract, Inc.
Phone: 800-359-4508
Website: www.fortunecarpet.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Interface, Inc.
Phone: 800-336-0225
Website: www.interfaceinc.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Dry Compound Extraction/Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: Contact Manufacturer

J & J Industries, Inc.
Phone: 800-241-4585
Website: www.jjindustries.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: IICRC Certified Firms and Technicians

Langhorne Carpet Company, Inc.
Phone: 215-757-5155
Website: www.langhornecarpets.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Lees Carpet
Phone: 800-523-5647
Website: www.leescarpets.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Mixture of Systems Based on Situations
Recommended Service Providers: Lees Total Lifecycle Carpet Care (PDF 229 KB) Need help with PDF?
Service Providers Phone Number: 800-862-6528

Mannington Carpets, Inc.
Phone: 800-241-2262
Website: www.mannington.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: Contact Manufacturer

Merida Meridian, Inc.
Phone: 800-345-2200
Website: www.meridiameridian.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Dry Compound Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Milliken & Company
Phone: 800-241-4826
Website: www.millikencarpet.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Residential Carpet. – Dry Polymer Compound-Capture
Recommended Service Providers: Contract Carpet – Dry Polymer Extraction performed by MilliCare Comm. Carpet Care.

Mohawk Industries, Inc.
Phone: 800-622-6227
Website: www.mohawkflooring.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: CRI Seal of Approval Products & Service Providers that use Seal of Approval Products

Monticello Carpet Mills
Phone: 866-287-7847
Website: N/A
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction/Bonnet Cleaning
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Northwest Carpets, Inc.
Phone: 800-367-2508
Website: www.northwestcarpets.net
Deep Cleaning Method: Call Manufacturer
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Royalty Carpet Mills, Inc.
Phone: 800-854-8331
Website: www.royaltycarpetmills.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Shaw Industries, Inc.
Phone: 800-441-7429
Website: www.shawfloors.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: IICRC Certified Firms and Technicians

Tai Ping Carpets America, Inc.
Phone: 800-433-2440
Website: www.taipingusa.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Hot Water Extraction
Recommended Service Providers: IICRC Certified Firms and Technicians

Tapis Venture Carpets, Ltd
Phone: 819-477-4117
Website: www.venturecarpets.com
Deep Cleaning Method: Call Manufacturer
Recommended Service Providers: N/A

Carpet & Rug Institute Approved Service Provider

EcoClean Carpet Care, has been recognized by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) (www.carpet-rug.org) as a Seal of Approval Service Provider – the carpet cleaning industry’s most important certification. This prestigious designation is reserved for only those firms using carpet cleaning systems and products that pass the industry’s highest standards of excellence.

EcoClean is proud to the first Northeast Ohio carpet cleaner and one of the first 100 companies nationwide to be awarded “APPROVED SERVICE PROVIDER” status for all the major brands of Carpet manufactured in America including Mohawk, Shaw, and Beaulieu.

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SPECIAL CARPET CLEANING SPRING SAVINGS COUPONS – ONE MONTH ONLY – ACT FAST

*Minimum Service Charge Applies. Area defined as single use area under 150 sq ft. Open Areas / Traffic areas only. Stairs, berber and wool carpets extra. Furniture moving additional $20 per room. Coupons for residential use only. Not valid with other offers or senior discount. Offers Expire 04-23-2010

EcoClean Carpet Care provides residential and commercial carpet cleaning services to all of Lake County, Geauga County, and parts of Cuyahoga County and Ashtabula County. Carpet got dirt ? Call EcoClean! 800-882-4695

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It’s that time of year again – Spring Cleaning

Why do we have this urge every Spring to turn the house upside down and do a thorough “spring cleaning”? Probably because that is what our mothers/grandmothers (parents/grandparents) did every March/April.

But modern spring cleaning presents challenges your grandmother never imagined.

Much larger homes, delicate and fragile upholstery, exotic fabrics and fibers, and infinite cleaning chemicals from which to choose.

Bathrooms

Many people choose to start in the bathroom when its time to start spring cleaning. But you dont need to wage chemical warfare to remove mineral deposits and rust from toilets. A pumice stone and rubber gloves can be used to erase stubborn stains.   Mixing baking soda and acidic vinegar can be used if you need more scouring power. This is a very effective cleaner, with no toxic fumes to inhale.

Porous grout surfaces on tile floors require extraction to remove the accumulated deep down dirt and grime.  Mopping drives the dirt and grime into the grout rather than removing it. Instead, apply tile & grout cleaner and let dwell for a few minutes, then use a wet/dry vac to extract the contaminants out of the grout.

More stone cleaning, tile cleaning and grout cleaning recommendations

Grout still dirty?  We can help.  We offer professional tile & grout cleaning, and sealing as well as color sealing.  Put a smile back on your tile!

Kitchens

You prepare your food in the kitchen, so we recommend using only green cleaning products, or mix your own vinegar and water solution. While strong cleaners may remove the dirt, they can also leave some nasty substances you don’t want in your food!  You can clean and disinfect almost every surface in your kitchen with a microfiber cloth, vinegar and baking soda, and at a fraction of the cost of conventional store bought cleaners. 

Living area

You still need to use your vacuum, even if you plan to get your carpet professionally cleaned.  Your carpet is a large filter for the air in your home, keep the filter clean, and it will help keep your breathable air cleaner. Vacuum as often as possible.

Keeping your carpet clean is essential for clean indoor air and your overall health. Good carpet cleaning is not cheap and cheap carpet cleaning is not good. Expect to pay $40 – $80 per room for premium professional carpet cleaning.

Another surface you should consider professional cleaning is your living room / family room upholstery. It can be tricky to know exactly how to deep-clean different types of fabrics yourself, especially if there are stains you can’t quite identify. Costs vary widely depending on the size of the furniture piece and the quality and state of its covering, but a typical sofa might run $75-125 for a thorough professional cleaning.

Fabric protector re-application is recommended after cleaning to protect your investment and is generally about half the price of cleaning.

Daily use of rugs can leave them dirty and dingy, in need of a good cleaning. Cleaning a dirty rug can rejuvenate and freshen a room. Vacuum both sides (if possible) of your rugs regularly.

When you have determined its time for professional rug cleaning, please trust us with cleaning your precious rugs. Each rug is unique and receives specialized cleaning and care at our Rug Spa. Treat your rug to the very best in rug cleaning and care. Rug cleaning prices vary by rug type, and services requested, but average $1.50 to 4.50 per sq ft.

Bedrooms

Homeowners should rotate and flip innerspring mattresses, and store out-of-season sheets and clothing.  For carpets and mattresses in your bedroom, consider using a professional cleaning service. A typical mattress will cost about $75-$150 to clean, a bargain considering how much time you spend in bed. Breathe easier tonight, get your mattress professionally cleaned today!

Cleaning the house is a necessary part of life. Most people dread having to do it and look forward to getting it over with. That doesn’t mean it has to be bad for the earth. It also doesn’t mean you have to do it all yourself. Should you Do It Yourself or hire a professional cleaner? I prefer to focus on what I know and do well and to hire others to support me in the other areas.

If we can be assistance in your spring cleaning, whether carpet cleaning, rug cleaning, tile & grout cleaning, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to the privilege of serving you.

NorthEast Ohio Service Area

Providing premium professional cleaning service (carpet cleaning, furniture cleaning, and rug cleaning) to the finest homes and businesses in Northeast Ohio. Lake County, Geauga County, and parts of Cuyahoga County and Ashtabula County.

Lake County : Eastlake, Concord, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, Lakeline, LeRoy, Madison, Mentor, Mentor on the Lake, Mentor Headlands, North Madison, North Perry, Painesville, Perry, Timberlake, Waite Hill, Wickliffe, Willoughby, Willoughby Hills, Willowick, (complete Lake County carpet cleaning service area click here)

Geauga County – Aquilla, Burton, Chardon, Hunting Valley, Middlefiled, South Russell, Auburn, Bainbridge, Burton Township, Chardon Township, Chester Township, Claridon, East Claridon, Hambden, Huntsburg, Middlefield Township, Montville, Munson, Newbury, Parkman, Russell, Novelty, Thompson, Troy, (complete Geauga County carpet cleaning service area click here)

Ashtabula County – Ashtabula, Austinburg, Geneva, Geneva on the Lake, Geneva Township, Harpersfield, Jefferson, Plymouth, Rock Creek, Saybrook, Trumbull, (complete Ashtabula County carpet cleaning service area click here)

Cuyahoga County – Chagrin Falls, Beachwood, Moreland Hills, Hunting Valley, Gates Mills, Mayfield, Mayfield Heights, Highland Heights, Lyndhurst, Pepper Pike, Woodmere, Orange, Euclid, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, (complete Cuyahoga County carpet cleaning service area click here)

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