Fredericksburg City

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Tile & Grout Cleaning

 

Do I have to seal my grout?

Yes!

The two main types of grout are sanded and unsanded, sanded is used in larger grout joints and unsanded in smaller joints. The sand is added to the grout to give it strength, but also leaves a rough texture. This porous rough texture absorbs spills, dirty mop water, outdoor soil and so on, making it difficult to clean. In no time the grout will be stained, discolored, and just plain ugly. Using a quality sealer on the grout will help prevent permanent staining, as well as make cleaning easier. The misunderstanding is… people think sealer will keep their grout clean. The fact is sealer will only provide a barrier, thus making cleaning easier and permanent damage less likely, soil will still find its way to the floor, if I had the answer to preventing that, I would be a hero, and probably out of business. The unsanded grout ussually found on walls, and in showers, is much less porus, but still can benifit from sealer especially in a shower. There are often minerals in the water that can even leave unsanded grout stained after time, especially white grout.

 

Carpet Cleaning Tips & FAQ’s

What’s that ugly black line in my carpet around the base molding?

Quite often a black line will form in the carpet around the perimeter of a room., this is most noticeable in white carpet. The condition called filtration takes several years to become noticeable. The term filtration comes from your carpets acting as a filter. When air flows through the carpet it slowly deposits very fine, electrostatically charged particles in the carpet fibers. Once this black ring has set in, it is super difficult to remove. Filtration forms along the wall for two reasons, the padding ends at the tack strip which allows the air to flow through the carpet,  The second reason is that the vacuum just can’t get that close to the wall.

How can I prevent filtration from happening?

Frequently vacuuming your carpet is key… remove it before it sets in. You will however, need to use the slim crevice too that came with your vacuum to get close to the base molding. It is also important to vacuum the rooms that “no one ever goes in” that is where I see the worst of it. Leading carpet manufactures recommend professional deep cleaning of the carpet every 12-18 months. This varies with every home, as homes with high traffic, pets and children seem to take a bit more abuse.

If  I have a stain resistant carpet do I need to re-apply the protectant?

Yes!

 Many higher end carpets come with stain protection, however this does not last forever, normal wear and vacuuming can compromise the protector over time. We always advise applying new protector every couple of years. We at Pristine, here in Fredericksburg, Va., use either Scotchguard or Dupont’s advanced stain protectant. The best time to apply this is right after the carpets have been professionally deep cleaned.

Are all carpet cleaning compaines the same?

No

Like any other industry, carpet cleaning companies vary tremendously. First, there are different types of carpet cleaning. Two of the most common are hot water extraction or steam cleaning and the other is dry chemical cleaning. Both have their advantages, however, the leading carpet manufactures say that steam extraction is the best for cleaner, longer lasting carpets. Then, there is the quality of the equipment being used. There are many reputable carpet cleaners out there, but there are also a lot of guys that buy cheap portable extractors and call themselves professional carpet cleaners. You would be better off renting a rug doctor than hiring one of these guys. Some of the higher end portables that have good power and heat can do a decent job.

The best carpet cleaning machine in the world is only as good as the operator. Carpet cleaning is a skill that comes with training and experience. When you hire a big company, it can be hit or miss, has the tech been cleaning for 5 years or did they start yesterday? Inexperienced can do more harm than good, if too much residue or water is left behind it can cause problems such as re soiling, and very slow dry times which in extreme cases can trigger mold and mildew to breed.

Tired of bait and switch?

The Stafford Virginia area has some great carpet cleaning companies, but as with any industry there are a few bad apples. Be very careful of companies that offer lowball pricing! Many companies will offer deals that sound too good to be true, because usally they are. Some compainies will give a low quote over the phone just to get in your house, once there they will tell you that it is going to be more for one reason or another. To run a reputable carpet cleaning company there are many cost factors to consider… equipment cost, repairs and maintenance, licensing, insurance, continuing education, advertising, cleaning chemicals, and gas is now approaching $4.00 per gallon! So, any company offering carpet cleaning for a ridiculously low price is either cutting corners, increasing the price upon arrival (bait & switch), not using the proper cleaning agents or procedures, or they will be out of business in a hurry. Pristine has been cleaning carpets as well as tile & grout in Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania Virginia for many years. We take great pride in cleaning the right way, for a fair price, and never increasing the price after we show up. But don’t take my word for it, visit our Home Advisor Ratings and you will see we have held a 5 star rating for the last 4 years!