Frequently Asked Questions

I have a child that suffers from allergies, does your cleaning process use chemicals?

All carpets and some upholstery/curtain fabrics can be cleaned with water only. But then you can also wash your hands, take a bath or shower, wash your dishes and put your clothes in the washing machine all without chemicals. You would also know that water is not effective on its own. Detergent washing up liquid or shower gel or basic soap or washing powder helps as do hot water, agitation and detergent contact time.

With few exceptions, all chemical solutions in the carpet and upholstery that are water based are fit for purpose and will be safe to the vast majority of the population, although there will always be someone who may react when exposed to a particular substance. But then that is true of peanuts and milk and pollen etc. etc. etc.

All carpet cleaning methods involve the use of water based chemical solutions. Non-water based “dry solvent” methods for delicate fabrics are more hazardous and some specialist treatments such as (rust removers) require that your carpet cleaning technician uses appropriate personal protective equipment and advises you to keep your distance.

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Otherwise, you should fear basic carpet and upholstery cleaning solutions as no more harmful than the soaps and detergents you use in your home for your skin, clothes or cooking utensils.

How long will my carpet/upholstery take to dry?

Drying of your carpets and upholstery depends on the following factors:

• The method of cleaning best suited to get the best results without damage
• The absorbency properties of the fibres in the item (wool, nylon, cotton, polypropylene etc.)
• The degree of soiling the item has suffered
• The level of sophistication of the equipment being used
• The competence of the cleaning technician
• The ventilation provided
• The humidity conditions
• Whether artificial drying systems are added to the process e.g. air movers

Regardless of all the above, based on published standards, drying of soft furnishings must be achieved within 24 hours or the technician may be deemed to be at fault.

However, with all conditions at their most favourable, carpets can be dry in as little as 30 minutes to 2 hours.

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My carpets are wool, will they shrink?

If you consider that this problem doesn’t appear to worry sheep, why does it worry us? The truth of the matter lies more in the construction techniques of the item being cleaned than the fibre alone.

Yes, it is possible to shrink a wool carpet in the same way as it is possible to shrink a synthetic one, IF the carpet cleaner fails to recognise the risk potential of the carpet construction. A trained technician will be able to recognise the carpet construction, switch to an alternative method of cleaning if necessary or manage the moisture more carefully.

On the other hand, the riskier your carpet is to clean in terms of its construction and its sensitivity to moisture, the more often you need to have it cleaned to prevent it getting to the point where it looks dirty. As a rule, the dirtier your carpet, the more moisture you need to “carry” the detergents needed to clean it effectively!!

Valetek do not shrink carpets.

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I heard that once you clean your carpets the first time they get dirty faster afterwards. Is this true?

This was once true many years ago when oils such as coconut oils were used in cleaning. Today’s synthetic detergents have eliminated that problem. This may only happen now if an incompetent carpet cleaners fails to observe manufacturers instructions and doesn’t understand how the solutions work and interact with each other or with soil and fibres.

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Only my lounge and hall carpets need cleaning . . . My bedroom carpet doesn’t need cleaning does it?

The lounge and hall carpet may look a little grubby, but it is almost guaranteed that your bedroom carpets are a less healthy environment even if at first glance they look cleaner. Look at the dust levels under your bed!!

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Does the room have to be empty?

No, but it would help if it was tidy. Removing valuable vases and picture frames to another room would also help. Otherwise we move any item of furniture if it is safe to do so and then we put it back placing protector pads underneath to prevent staining the carpet with rust or unstable furniture dyes and varnishes.

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Will the stains come out?

The process of routine cleaning is a process which is about the removal of soil and particle contaminants. Most spots and marks will therefore come out as part of the cleaning process although a little encouragement from some special “spray and go” type of treatments may be necessary. However, stains result from transfer of dyes and may need specialist treatment to remove them. A major factor is the absorbency properties of the stained fibre. More absorbent fibres will stain more readily. Stain removal using skilled technicians with a good understanding of the chemistry of cleaning is more expensive and may be charged on a time and materials basis.

If we know the carpet/upholstery fibre and if we know what the stain is, we can usually predict the outcome. Otherwise it would be complete guesswork.

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How often should I have my carpets cleaned?

This depends on your own comfort levels. Your comfort levels may be based on being blissfully unaware of the health issues of failing to clean your soft furnishings often enough. Over the years, various surveys from reputable organisations like WHICH? have arrived at conclusions that our floor coverings are as much as 7 times as dirty as the pavement outside.

Let us also not get confused with allowing a little dirt to build up in our soft furnishings which enables us to build up some natural resistance with the build up of allergen like dust-mite faeces.

Carpets and upholstery need to be cleaned regularly. Some need to be cleaned more often than others. Based on what we know, you need to consider having bedroom carpets, upholstery and mattresses cleaned at least once per year together with your lounge suite. Lounge/diner and hall and stair carpets need to be cleaned more for appearance and to protect your investment.

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We recommend that you clean for health first and foremost.

Then comes the secondary consideration of appearance.

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