Steven Borchert's Blog

Avoid Water Damage

Steven Borchert (Chem-Dry of Lafayette) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:21:47 -0800

I'm a carpet cleaner and I provide service to those who have water damage. I have seen several causes of water damage that can be avoided. The most common one is when a home owner leaves a garden hose attached to an outside faucet all winter.

These faucets are designed to drain when turned off. If a hose is attached, it will not drain. In cold weather it can freeze and break, but this does not cause a leak. At least until spring when the water is turned on. Usually when this happens the home owner doesn't know it is leaking, and filling their basement with water until after much damage is done. I get called and clean up the mess, but it can be avoided by disconnecting the hose in the fall.

If you think you might have a cracked faucet, check it as soon as you turn the faucet on and see if you have a leak. Leave a hose attached with a nozzle on it so the hose can reach full pressure and you can see if you have a leak.

Choosing a carpet cleaner

Steven Borchert (Chem-Dry of Lafayette) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:08:36 -0800

Clean carpet can greatly add to the value of your home. Not all carpet cleaning companies provide the same service. Several questions you may ask are:

How long have you been in business?
Are you rated by the CRI (Carpet and Rug Institute)?
How do you clean?
Do you have any references?

References and time in business speak volumes.

The CRI is kind of a Consumer Reports of carpet cleaning. They have 4 classes, gold, silver, bronze and no rating. Your best hardware store rental unit does not come close to a bronze rating. The gold is trueley gold, not like credit cards where every one is at least gold.

As far as how they clean, most carpet manufactures recommend or even require extraction to keep the warranty. Rotary, extraction is a plus over regular extraction, as it involves a "power wand". Natural, green, safe, non-toxic products are much better in the long run and they clean very well.

We have been in business since 1993, have plenty of satisfied customers, use truck mount rotary extraction, and use natural, safe non toxic CARBONATING, cleaning. Carbonating cleaning is where the cleaning solution is carbonating, like soda water. This adds one more element to a superior cleaning. This is unique to Chem-Dry until the patent runs out. We only serve Tippecanoe County, Lafayette area, Indiana

You can find a Chem-Dry near you by going to www.chemdry.com and selecting on find a local Chem-Dry. No matter who you hire, you want to do a little background work.

Cigarette, Cigar, and Smoke Odor

Steven Borchert (Chem-Dry of Lafayette) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:28:59 -0800

Smoke odors can be effectively removed completely from carpet, not just covered up.

Chem-Dry has developed a very effective process to remove this odor in less than a day.

This will be much less expensive than carpet replacement. This will remove other odors, such as dirty sock odor, or spices such as curry.

Skunk odor

Steven Borchert (Chem-Dry of Lafayette) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:24:37 -0800

If a skunk gets inside a home and sprays, there is an alternative to replacing all the carpet.

Chem-Dry has developed a product that can effectively remove the odor in 6 hours.

This will be much less expensive than carpet replacement. This will remove other odors, such as dirty sock odor, or spices such as curry.

Maximize home value for minimal cost

Steven Borchert (Chem-Dry of Lafayette) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:21:02 -0800

Home improvements can increase your home value.

One of the least expensive ways to greatly improve your home value is to have your carpets professionally cleaned.

Not all carpet cleaning is the same. There is a "Consumer Reports" of carpet cleaning now, that is the Carpet and Rug Institute, or CRI. They have 4 ratings, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and no rating. Anything you rent, and most professionals for that matter cannot earn the Bronze rating, and have no rating.

Chem-Dry's Hot CARBONATING Extraction has earned the Gold Seal of Approval. The cost of cleaning all the carpet in your home is fairly small compared to the impression it will give your buyers.

We also have solutions for pet urine odor and "permanent" stains.

Removing Stains in Carpet

Steven Borchert (Chem-Dry of Lafayette) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:26:07 -0800

Stained carpet can reduce the value of a home.

We have an arsenal of specialty stain removal products including:

Red Dye Removal
Coffee and Tea Removal
Shoe polish, lipstick, mascara, gum
Dyes
Pet Urine Stains
Wax
Ink
Others

If we are not able to remove the stain, chances are nobody else can either, but it can be much less expensive than carpet replacement.

Pet Urine Odor Problems

Steven Borchert (Chem-Dry of Lafayette) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:18:56 -0800

Pet urine odor problems can be the only reason an otherwise nice home does not sell.

If you want urine odor out of the carpet and out of the house, we have a solution.

We use 3 methods of detecting urine in carpet.

Smell
Probe Sensor
Long wave ultra-violet light

We reconstitute the concentrated urine crystals and sub-extract the carpet and pad.

We apply Chem-Dry's pet urine odor elimination product which chemically breaks down the remaining urine within 24 hours, completely removing the source of the odor. This is NOT a cover-up.

An added benefit is the spots are usually removed as well.