Frequently Asked Questions: Carpet, Upholstery, and Rug Cleaning

Most professional carpet cleaners typically utilize techniques such as steam cleaning (hot water extraction), dry cleaning, or encapsulation. Steam cleaning is the most effective method for deep cleaning and removing tough stains. We utilize the Steam cleaning method for residential cleaning.

Yes, our truck mount system is the most aggressive and thorough for removing embedded dirt, pollens, bacteria and odors, and is highly efficient at stain removal.  Other methods, like dry cleaning and portable extraction, will get it clean but will not clean as deeply or successfully.

All of our cleaning products are non-toxic.  When we are done, it is only wet with Oregon tap water, no residue is left behind

Our regular pricing includes moving some sofas, chairs, tables, end tables, etc. Beds, dressers, and heavier pieces are left in place under our regular pricing structure.

About 1 hour per 300 cleanable square feet. This varies depending on the soil and the job.

Generally, the carpet is dry to the touch in 4-6 hours, however, we like to get the carpet super clean with added strokes, so it may take a bit longer. 

Keep pets, children, and regular traffic off of carpet for a period of 6 hours. The homeowner may use the carpet lightly immediately after cleaning by wearing white socks or the white booties that we provide.

Wait at least 24 hours before removing Styrofoam blocks and plastic tabs that are put in place to protect the furniture and carpet. Some carpets may still feel slightly damp for up to 18 hours depending on carpet and soiling condition. This is normal and will not cause any problems.

The extraction process will remove all emulsifiers and spotters leaving only neutral water. We do not use masking agents so there will be no odor remaining.  Very similar to how our clothes smell when we pull them from the washing machine.

We advise waiting 24-48 hours before putting furniture on the carpets after cleaning.  We put tabs or blocks under the furniture we have moved after cleaning to protect the carpet and furniture while it dries.

We stand by our work. If you have an issue or are not satisfied with the outcome, we will come back out and address any concerns.

Alameda Cleaners can remove any spot that is not a permanent stain, however, there are conditions in which permanent staining is present. The following are the most common conditions, which may or may not be removable. The percentage listed next to the condition is the PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS that we have of removing it, NOT the percentage of stain that will be removed.  For a more detailed list and DIY method of treatment go to our Blog How to Remove Stains

Urine (50%) – when urine is fresh and has not been cleaned by an alkaline spotter, the chances are good. If the urine has been there a long time, the chances are slim. However, urine will continue to deteriorate the carpet, so it is extremely important to remove the urine deposits even if the spot does not come out. Every day we remove urine spots and every day we find urine spots that will not come out, so it’s unpredictable. It is very important to know that we have a 4-step urine treatment procedure that is included in our specialty spotting: When cleaning a urine spot, we first apply urine pre-treatment that helps to break down the urine and neutralize it. The spot is then thoroughly extracted. If the spot is still there, we use other specialty spotters to attempt removal. The final step whether the spot comes out or not is to spray an enzyme on it that will continue to break it down and help with the odor if any.

Tea/Coffee (70%) – Tannin spots can sometimes cause a permanent stain, but we usually have fair success. Coffee many times is spilled when very hot which can make it more difficult.

Water rings (70%) – We carry special products for water rings and have good success overall, but still sometimes doesn’t come out.

What about recurring spots? If the spot returned within a day or so after the cleaning, then it was either not removed or wicked back or it was not removed but appeared that it was removed. If the spot returned after a week, two weeks, or a month or so, it probably either has some residue from cleaning agents left behind, or the spot was oily or sticky and was not totally removed, therefore collecting soil in that same area again.

My carpet has bleached or faded spots, can you correct that? If there is color loss due in the carpet, we recommend a professional patch. 

Indention from heavy furniture – No guarantee can be made on removing indention from furniture. In addition to the pile of the carpet being crushed, the backing of the carpet is indented. Heat and moisture and hand grooming with our equipment will help tremendously, but it may take time to completely release back to normal IF it comes back all the way. Severe cases do not come back 100%.

Berber – Absolutely. Berber is a weave, not a particular type of fabric. Berber is simply a type of loop construction that may come in olefin, nylon, wool, or a blend. Berber requires a more thorough cleaning than other carpets because the “flushing” action needs to take place to get under, around, and through the loops. Other companies that are not as thorough have a number of problems with Berber because they leave soil behind that “wicks” back to the service.

Sisal, sea grass, grass – Last resort spot cleaning. Spot cleaning and extraction can cause discoloration or water rings on sisal.

Wool – Yes, we have special products that we use for wool. We clean wool often. We use lower pressure, lower temperature, and take special drying precautions for cleaning wool.

Haitian cotton – yes, we have special Haitian cotton cleaner.

Chintz – Yes.