Residential Carpet Cleaning

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning FAQ's

How can I prolong the life of my carpet?
How often should I have my carpets professionally cleaned?
What do I need to know about upholstery cleaning?
Why should I have my oriental rugs cleaned?
What about Scotchgard™? Do I need it? What does it do?
Will I have to do anything to prepare for my carpet cleaning?

How can I prolong the life of my carpet?

Your carpets represent a sizable investment. It would make sense to take measures to extend their life.

Most carpet is made of synthetic fibers such as: nylon, olefin, polyester, and some acrylic. These synthetic fibers rarely wear out (except on stairs), instead they ugly out. What we mean by that is, the fibers crush, or mat down, or flatten out. They also abrade or get scratched. You see, your carpets are made up of thousands upon thousands of very small thread-like fibers that are twisted together. These fibers are basically translucent pieces of plastic. That means that light can pass through them, like a colored Plexiglas. You know how Plexiglas looks after it gets scratched, dull and dirty. Well, improperly cared for carpet can look the same. What scratches carpet is gritty soil and sand that is left in the carpet and when it is walked on it rubs against the fibers and scratches them. After so much of this scratching, you can clean the soil and sand out but the damage already done is irreversible and you get what we call in the carpet cleaning industry ... traffic lane gray. This is where the fibers are clean, but since they are so scratched up they do not reflect the light back to the eyes and now take on a dull appearance which is commonly mistaken for soiled carpets. This usually happens first in the heavily walked-on areas or traffic lanes.

So the most important thing you can do to improve the appearance life expectancy or your carpet is to:

1. Use walk off mats.

Every entry into the house that is used should have an outside mat that is rough enough to remove mud and other debris and soil, and an inside mat that is absorbent and can remove any moisture.
The outside mat should be able to withstand the elements and have someplace for the dirt to drop into so that it does not get contaminated and start doing the opposite of what it was intended to do.
The inside mat should be heavy enough to lay flat and have a rubberized back to prevent creeping. These mats should be small and light enough to be able to be washed in your home washing machine and should be cleaned regularly - they are the heart of prevention!

2. Other places to put these inside mats would be:

Right off kitchens to prevent cooking oils and food-stuffs from being tracked into the carpeted area of your home.
Any other hard surface areas that adjoin to carpeted rooms.

3. Vacuum your carpets regularly.

At least twice per week and more often if you have children or pets.
Vacuuming your traffic lanes every day will give you the best protection against premature uglying out of your carpet.

4. Have your carpets professionally 'Steam Cleaned' a minimum of once per year, more often if you have pets or children.

Most people wait until the carpet is visibly soiled before they clean their carpets. This is not wise. What causes the most damage to carpets is the abrasive particles that are stuck to the carpet fibers by oil residues. These oil residues are everywhere and are from the burning of hydrocarbons from motor vehicles, factories, power plants and volatilized oils from cooking. They are so small that we usually cannot see them. But they always settle down and land on the largest horizontal surfaces, our carpets!
Once the oil is on the carpet, the soil then sticks to the fibers and no vacuum cleaner can then remove it.
Also regular cleaning helps prevent matting and crushing of carpet by removing the oils that cause fibers to clump together and compress.
When the carpet is so soiled that you can visibly see it then the abrasive soil has been rubbing on the fibers way too long and damage has already occurred.
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recommends that carpet in a residential setting be cleaned a minimum of once per year and every 3 to 6 months if children and pets are present. Their reason for the frequency has more to do with maintaining a healthy indoor environment than appearance but it is still good advice.

5. Maintain your vacuum cleaner.

Most vacuum cleaners in America today are 70% ineffective, because the bag is over 1/2 full. After the bag is 1/2 full, the vacuum efficiency is greatly reduced. Once your vacuum cleaner bag is 1/2 full you should change it.
Check the brushes of your vacuum cleaner, when placing a pencil on the base of your power head, the brushes should just touch the pencil and bend slightly as you turn the brush. If it doesn't you could be losing up to 50% efficiency. Adjust or replace the brushes if needed.

6. Have your carpets retreated with stain and soil resistant products regularly after a through, deep cleaning.

Although you may have purchased your carpet new with some type of soil or stain resistant treatment, all topical treatments like these lose effectiveness over time through wear and in the cleaning process. The only way to ensure the highest level of protection is to retreat after each cleaning.

7. Remove spots quickly

Most spills can be removed if attended to quickly. The longer a spill stays on the carpet, the greater the chance that damage will take place.
Keep a quality general spotter on hand and preferably have a multi part professional spotting kit to cover most spills. (See our Free Spotting Guide for suggestions)
Groom your carpets. Yes, your carpets need to be brushed just like your hair to ensure optimum health. What it does is to pull up or lift the tufts of fibers and make them stand on end. The helps to control matting and crushing, and allows your vacuum cleaner to reach down and get the sand and grit in the base of your carpeting. It has been estimated that grooming prior to vacuuming increases loose soil removal by 23%.

How often should I have my carpets professionally cleaned?

Once a year…every 6 months…every 18 months…every two years...??

Before we answer this question let’s examine how and why you need to clean and then the “how often” will reveal itself.

The “How” Of Cleaning

Some home owners have expressed a fear that cleaning their carpets will only make them get dirty faster. Think about it. Does washing your clothes make them get dirty faster? No. What would cleaning have to do with the carpet re-soiling?

So, why has this happened to so many in the past? It’s a result of receiving an improper cleaning! Some companies, in an effort to cut costs and corners, will skimp on their cleaning process and leave a detergent residue in the carpet. If detergent is left in the carpet or upholstery, accelerated re-soiling will occur. And, your carpet becomes, so to speak, a “dirt magnet”. Rest assured, at JPC Services we use the most thorough method of cleaning that removes the deep dirt along with the detergent. The result? A fresh, clean carpet with no dirt-attracting residue.

The “Why” Of Cleaning

The fact is the best thing you can do for your carpets is to have them regularly cleaned by a qualified professional carpet and upholstery cleaner. It is the common build-up of dirt and soil that will cause more damage and wear to your carpet more than the foot traffic that travels over the surface.

Keep in mind that frequent cleanings will not only preserve the life of your carpet, it will keep your indoor air clean too. This is because carpet acts like a filter, cleaning the air in your home by catching pollens, bacteria, dust mites, dead skin, molds, and other pollutants as the air circulates through it. But that filter (your carpet) has to be cleaned on a regular basis or it becomes full and stops trapping the allergens and pollutants.

In fact, studies have shown that the air in homes with carpet that is maintained on a regular basis is cleaner then the air in homes with only hard surface floors. With hard surface floors, the pollutants are continually kicked around and back into the air. People with allergies many times actually do much worse in homes without carpet. Just imagine what the air in your home would be like if you didn't have a filter in your furnace. The dust would be constantly circulating through out the house for everyone to breathe. Carpet is an even larger filter, and must be cleaned on a regular basis.

So How Often Is Often Enough?

Major carpet fiber manufacturers such as Shaw and Dupont recommend that you have your carpets professionally cleaned every 6 to 18 months. Some of them will not even honor their “wear warranties” unless you can prove you’ve had them professionally cleaned at least that often. So, what’s right for you?

Every one has different circumstances. Take into consideration how many people live in the home. Are there pets? Other considerations may increase the frequency rate: smoking habits, number and age of children, soiling conditions, health status of occupants, allergy conditions, and the amount of time spent indoors, to list just a few. So, if you’ve realized that it’s time for that “regular” cleaning call us at 800-675-5467. We look forward to serving you.

What do I need to know about upholstery cleaning?

Here are some things to be concerned about Furniture fabric care.

Furniture comes in various type of fabrics, it is important that we determine what type it is, This gives us the ability to clean it properly. Even if you don’t choose us. Please be sure when you get a quote the upholstery cleaning quote, make certain that the company is taking this under consideration! Here’s a final note: *If they use the wrong cleaning agents they will ruin the fibers and possibly the entire furniture.

*The IICRC (Institute of Cleaning & Restoration Certification) Upholstery Cleaning Standards Guide declares that there are seven important principles in effectively cleaning upholstery.

1. Fabric Inspection: A simple burn test which involves taking a tiny swatch of the fabric can revealthe fiber content. The flame, smoke and odor are identifying characteristics.

2. Dye Testing: A small amount of upholstery cleaner is applied to an inconspicuous area of the fabric anda towel is pressed to the fabric. This tests the stability of the dye.

3. Dry Soil Removal: In cleaning any textile, the first step is always to remove as much dry soil as possible.This improves the following cleaning steps greatly.

4. Soil Suspension: A preconditioning agent is used on most fabrics to “suspend” the soil for more effectiveextraction.

5. Soil Removal (Extraction): A water or solvent based “rinse” is used to wisk away the suspended soils.

6. Pile Setting/Grooming: Many textiles have a “pile” that needs to be set after cleaning. A special upholsterybrush is used to groom the pile for proper drying.

7. Drying: Getting the upholstery dry as fast as possible is important. High velocity air movers are usedfor faster drying. Ceiling fans and air conditioningalso help.

With JPC Services, you’ll get the most sparkling cleaned upholstery…or it’s free! And why shouldn’t you?

How we will get you the best results:

Each manufacturer recommends a specialized upholstery cleaning method. This means every item must be treated differently. First you and I will evaluate your furniture’s needs. Then we’ll decide the best approach and why. Best of all, you’ll know up front what we can and can’t do. This way there’s no surprises for either one of us!

Why should I have my oriental rugs cleaned?

Fact 1 Each day we remove pounds and pounds of dry sandy soil from valuable rugs. They hold so much dirt because of the way they are made. The typical oriental rug has a woven foundation similar to duck or canvas, and as many as a thousand yarns per square inch. That thick, plush nap that feels so luxurious when you run your hand over it hides a pile of dirt. If you want to see what I mean, grab a magnifying glass, get down on your hands and knees, spread the yarns apart and look for yourself. This abrasive soil is destroying your rug. Each time you step on the rug the harsh soil abrades the fibers, turning them into worthless dust.

Fact 2 Pet accidents and often spills are organic in nature and provide an ideal breeding ground for germs and bacteria in your home.

Fact 3 Handmade rugs (and some machine made rugs) are cons-tructed from natural fibers, primarily wool and cotton. Unlike the nylon and olefin fibers that form the pile of wall to wall carpeting, these natural fibers absorb liquid. That means the rug drinks in the pet accidents, wine, coffee or juice that spills on it and the nasty stuff stays right there. If you’ve ever spilled a drink on a white cotton tee shirt you know what we mean. It doesn’t come out by wiping it off. You have to wash it to get out the soil.

Fact 4 The dyes in rug fibers vary in stability. Spills can degrade the dyes causing them to run or “bleed”. This depends on what the dyes were made from and how they were applied to the fibers.

Fact 5 Like a work of art, hand made rugs have the value intrinsic in the labor spent on them and the beauty of design, materials and composition. Often they carry the emotional value of personal or family history as well. They always require careful handling.

What about Scotchgard™? Do I need it? What does it do?


On treated carpet, the wine beads up, and can be blotted up without a trace.	The wine soaks into untreated carpet and makes a spot that's hard to get out.

Leading carpet manufacturers recommend that all my customers have their carpets professionally cleaned every 12 months, including a re-application of Scotchgard™ Protector. A regular maintenance schedule of cleaning and protecting your carpet offers the following benefits:

Removes ground-in soils that can actually scratch the surface of the carpet fibers themselves, leaving the carpet looking dull.
An application of Scotchgard™ forms a protective seal around each fiber to keep spills from soaking in, keeping them on the surface until they can be blotted up.
Helps to maintain warranty on new carpets
You’ve made a big investment in your carpet. Because carpets normally “ugly out” before they wear out, we recommend the combination of professional cleaning and Scotchgard™ protection to extend the life of your carpet, thus protecting your investment.

Will I have to do anything to prepare for my carpet cleaning?

To assist us with the most thorough cleaning for your carpets, we ask that you prepare in the following ways:
Before we arrive, please remove any breakables from the area to be cleaned. This includes lamps, porcelain, china, crystal, knick-knacks, and basically anything that is not attached.
Please remove drawers, unload china and books from any heavy furnishings you want us to clean under. The technician will be happy to move anything as long as there is no risk of injuring himself, or damaging your furnishings.
Normally, we move light items like dining room chairs, floor lamps and magazine holders off of the carpet into the kitchen while we clean, and leave them there while the carpet dries. We do this because it’s inconvenient for you to remove those foil tabs we place under each leg. However, we will be happy to put them back with tabs under them at your request. Just let us know.
Please give the carpet a quick vacuum before we come, just to get the larger particles, because our equipment is designed for deep cleaning, and ironically, large surface particles can clog it up and disable it. Even our vacuum cleaner is designed for high-powered removal of fine particles and large soil particles tend to damage the filtration system. So if you will get the larger particles with your vacuum, and we’ll take care of the hard, deep cleaning.
Alert our technician if anyone has sensitivity to cleaning agents.
Please remove small children and pets from the cleaning area. We will need to leave the front door open a crack, so if you do not want your pets to go outside, please put them in a safe room and let our technician know not to open that door.
Our truck mount is self contained so we will not need to hook up to your outside water faucet at your home. JPCmakes every effort to be environmentally responsible, so we pump the filtered dirty water into the city sewer system at the shop, where it can be treated properly.
Please reserve a parking space for us in the driveway. Your carpet will dry faster if we don’t have to run lots of vacuum line from our truck.
After we go, take a minute to look over the “After Cleaning Instructions” Marc will give you as you will find useful tips for speed drying and keeping your carpet clean longer.

FREE-RECORDED MESSAGE: If you'd like to learn more, you're invited to call our CONSUMER AWARENESS MESSAGE. This is a recorded telephone message that explains six costly misconceptions about carpet cleaning. Call 1-888-243-3285 Ext. 9001(Carpet Cleaning)

IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS: If you would like a free, written estimate, with no obligation or if you want to schedule for your cleaning please call. We'll be happy to help you in every way.

Request an appointment online

Toll Free: 800-675-5467
Local: 315-252-2953
Syracuse area: 315-252-3107
Ithaca area: 607-697-0088
Office Hours: 8:00am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday