CONSUMER AWARENESS GUIDE BY

HOMECARE CLEANING SERVICES.

Hello, my name is Philip Vissian, owner of professional cleaning company, Homecare Cleaning Services.

I've been in the carpet and upholstery cleaning business for over 22 years. Within that time, I've learned that carpet cleaning is the subject of much confusion. In fact, people have so many misconceptions about carpet cleaning that I decided to offer the following guidance so that when you select a carpet cleaning company, you can make an informed intelligent decision.

In this document I have listed 6 costly misconceptions about carpet cleaning. There are also 4 recommendations which you should follow, in addition to 9 questions which you should ask before inviting a carpet cleaner into your home.

MISCONCEPTION 1 : YOU SHOULD WAIT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BEFORE CLEANING YOUR CARPET.

No. Dirt is an abrasive - like sandpaper. Every time you step on the carpet, you grind dirt into

your carpet fibres. This cuts your carpet, just as if you had used a knife, causing it to wear out faster. A dirty carpet will not last nearly as long as a clean carpet. Even though vacuuming

helps, by itself it's simply not enough. The longer you wait to have your carpet cleaned, the more damage you do to your carpet and the faster it wears out.

MISCONCEPTIONS 2 : THE ONLY REASON YOU SHOULD CLEAN YOUR CARPETS IS TO REMOVE THE DIRT.

No. As you probably know, outdoor air contains pollens, fungi, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust fumes and hundreds of other chemicals. When you and other members of your family enter your home, you carry those pollens, bacteria and chemicals in your hair and on your skin, clothing and shoes. Not surprisingly, all those chemicals, pollens and bacteria end up in your carpet.

If you have allergies, asthma, emphysema or other breathing problems, one major source of your problem could be the pollens, fungi and chemicals in your carpet.

In addition, tobacco smoke contains over 4000 different chemical compounds, 43 of which cause cancer. Even if you don't smoke, those chemicals get on your shoes and as a result, are carried into your home and deposited in your carpet.

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If you're sensitive to cigarette smoke, you might find that you'll breathe easier after you employ a company to remove those harmful chemicals out of your carpet.

So in addition to removing the dirt, another important reason to clean your carpet is to rid it of pollens, fungi, bacteria, chemicals and the tars and residue from tobacco smoke.

MISCONCEPTIONS 3 : ONE METHOD OF CARPET CLEANING IS AS GOOD AS ANOTHER.

No. You can choose from 2 primary methods : Dry cleaning or hot water extraction. At

Homecare Cleaning services we use both systems- you make the choice. First, I'll explain dry cleaning. Many people believe that dry cleaning your carpets is like dry cleaning your clothing. This is not true. All carpet cleaning methods use water in one form or another

DRY CLEANING METHODS.

When a carpet cleaner uses dry foam, he applies shampoo to your carpet,

allows it to dry, and then extracts the dried shampoo into a vacuum. Can you imagine applying shampoo to your hair, allowing it to dry and then removing the shampoo from your head with a vacuum? This method can leave a residue in your carpet, which is one reason why dry foam is not very effective. For soiled or stained carpets in the home, this system is best suited to regular maintenance cleaning for commercial carpets.

I do not recommend this method, FOR CLEANING CARPETS IN THE HOME, AS RESIDUES ATTRACT SOIL.

The Dry Chemical method is similar to dry foam. The major difference is that the operator sprays a product onto the carpet, then sets a large cotton bonnet on your carpet. Using a rotary machine, the bonnet spins from side to side, absorbing the dirt that's in the carpet. After the bonnet is saturated with dirt, another cotton bonnet is applied. Bonnet cleaning is like trying to use a large towel to rub the dirt out of your carpet. Like dry foam, it's not very effective, especially if your carpets are dirty. It can also fracture the carpet fibres As above I believe this to be a maintenance system which has its place for maintaining lightly soiled carpets.

The dry-compound method spreads an absorbent mixture that looks like wet sawdust all over carpet. Then the machine brushes the mixture into the carpet, Which causes dirt to absorb into the mixture. When the mixture has dried, a vacuum cleaner removes the cleaning substance out of the carpet. This is the HOST Dry Carpet Cleaner System. It is recommended by over 70 carpet mills, and is Europe's No. 1 Dry Carpet Cleaner System. We provide this popular system which leaves carpets dry upon completion.

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HOT WATER EXTRACTION METHOD

The Second carpet cleaning method is called Hot water extraction. This is a short description which indicates that a hot water cleaning solution is forced under high pressure into the carpet and then extracted from the fibres. This method is also referred to as steam cleaning even though steam is not used. Excellent results can be acquired with this system as its deep cleaning action fully penetrates every fibre and extracts over 90% of the moisture from the carpet being cleaned. (We follow the National Carpet Cleaning Associations.Approved 12 step Professional cleaning system). Shaw Industries, the world's largest carpet manufacturer, recommends hot water extraction. As do Wilton Royal. In order to achieve even better results, Homecare Cleaning Services uses a Powerful Truck mounted cleaning machine, these superior Machines extract more dirt & moisture from your carpet, leaving it cleaner & drier. We also use Cleaning products that are Biodegradable.

All Products are safe & non toxic -no soapy residue are left on the carpet.

The most effective way to clean a carpet is with a hot-water extraction unit which thoroughly extracts dirt, harmful bacteria, fungi, chemicals, pollens and tobacco residue from your carpet. There are machines that use cold and even warm water to remove dirt- ,IE Hire machines, but are not as effective as the hot water extraction method. The most powerful machines are truck mounted, Homecare Cleaning Services are the 1st in the county to offer the power of Truck mounted cleaning - once you've tried our system you'll never try another.

Some people believe that hot water damages your carpet, but this isn't true. By washing and rinsing your carpet with hot water, we clean your carpet completely- in the same way that a person showers and rinses off the dirt and soap will be cleaner than the person who takes a sponge bath.

MISCONCEPTION 4 : HAVING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT IS ALL A COMPANY NEEDS TO CLEAN YOUR CARPET PROPERLY.

Not True. Many companies own hot-water cleaners, but a large number of employees/owner operators don't know how to use them. You probably know someone who brought the most up-to-date computer on the market, but didn't learn how to use it for a year or more. The same is true with carpet cleaning machines. The company may own good equipment, but the employees may not know how to use it correctly. This is why it's important that you choose your carpet cleaner carefully.

The best carpet cleaning companies are those that have been fully trained by Prochem Training School or the National Carpet Cleaners Association. A carpet cleaning company cannot buy these certifications, only through study, experience and the successful completion of formal written examinations, Can company's become full members. Cleaners who are certified by the N.C.C.A have, in effect, earned a degree in carpet cleaning.

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The N.C.C.A provides written credentials to companies it certifies. So before you choose a carpet cleaner, ask to see written proof of the company's .N.C.C.A certification. DO NOT EMPLOY ' COWBOY' COMPANIES. Your furnishings are a valuable asset.

MISCONCEPTIONS 5: THE COMPANY THAT OFFERS THE LOWEST PRICE IS THE COMPANY WHICH YOU SHOULD HIRE.

Not true, here are two important points to consider.

Point 1 : The price you see offered may not be for the services you want performed.

Before you select a company, decide what you want to accomplish. If you want the carpet cleaner to remove only some of the dirt, you can choose from hundreds of companies that use shampoo systems or other cleaning methods, or you can even rent a machine if you wish to do the job yourself.

On the other hand, if you want your carpet thoroughly cleaned - if you want to remove the harmful dirt, bacteria, pollens, chemicals and tobacco residues, then you need to hire a company that uses a professional hot water extraction system. This is the only way to assure that your carpet remains healthy and free from dirt, disease-causing bacteria and abrasive chemicals. So , remember that the price you see offered may not be for the services you want performed.

Point 2: The price you see advertised may not be the price you pay.

Many homeowners have learned that the low price they saw advertised was not the amount that they were charged. If you have ever hired a carpet cleaner, you too may have been the victim of false or misleading advertising. You probably learned the hard way that some carpet cleaners offer a cheap price--usually between £8.00 and £12.00 per room and then pressure you into paying a lot more once they get inside your home. Not my company. OUR REPUTATION IS YOUR GUARANTEE.

As in all businesses and professionals, the carpet cleaning industry has its share of bad apples. I take no pleasure in telling you this, but some are unethical-- and, sadly, a few are dishonest. By their misleading advertising and false promises, they cast a dark shadow on our entire industry.

Then you'll find other carpet cleaners-- professional like me who work hard to earn your trust and respect.

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As a way of improving our profession, I've dedicated my business to educating the public. The only way you can make an intelligent decision is to have the facts you need. This is why I have written this message. In order to help promote my efforts at consumer education, I am a full member of both National Carpet Cleaner Association and Proclean. Professional

Cleaners Association, my company is dedicated to raising standards in the cleaning industries.

MISCONCEPTION 6: ANY HONEST CARPET CLEANING COMPANY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU AN EXACT PRICE OVER THE TELEPHONE.

I wish this was true, but it isn't. Consumers often think that if they want to clean 4 rooms and the price is £25.00 per room, then the price will be £100.00. But this isn't always true.

Honest, reputable carpet cleaning companies usually price carpet cleaning by the square foot. So, if you would like me to tell you the exact cost of cleaning your carpet, I need to know the exact number of square feet that you want cleaned. To get an accurate measurement, I have a measuring wheel I use to calculate the exact size of your carpet area. We measure the rooms in question and multiply the square feet by the price ; this is a fairer system.

You'll be glad to know that the carpeted area to be cleaned is not nearly as great as most people think. For example, if you want your entire home cleaned and your home is nearly 2000 square feet, the amount of carpeting to be cleaned might be only 1200 square feet. This is because most home measurements are outdoor measurements. Plus- I deduct the area taken up by walls, room dividers and like. The result is that the actual area to be cleaned is usually only about 60% of the square footage of your home. One must be honest and fair. This has been my

success. COMPLETE A HIGH QUALITY JOB PROFESSIONALLY AT A FAIR PRICE.

So even though I can't give you an exact quotation over the telephone, here are some factors I consider when quoting a price.

First, the type of carpet. Certain types of carpets are harder to clean than others, so before I can give you a quote, I need to know the type of carpet you want cleaned.

Second, the amount of soiling. Carpets that haven't been cleaned for 10 years will take longer to clean than a carpet which was cleaned within the last 6 months.

Third, the amount of furniture that has to be moved.

To recap, I consider, the type of carpet, the amount of soiling, and the amount of furniture that has to be moved. So, as you can imagine every quotation is different.

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If you are thinking about having your carpets cleaned, you should seriously consider the following 5 RECOMMENDATIONS.

RECOMMENDATION 1 : Always ensure the company you employ is fully insured. Professional Cleaning Company's should have adequate Public Liability Insurance Minimum of £1,00,000,00 and very importantly, " TREATMENT RISK" I.E For " goods being worked on. Don't take a carpet cleaners word on this. If he his professional, He'll gladly show you a copy of insurance certificate.

RECOMMENDATION 2 : Make a commitment to yourself to get your carpets cleaned, the longer they remain dirty, the sooner they'll wear out, plus you have to breathe all the pollens, fungi, chemicals and dust mites that live in your carpets.

RECOMMENDATION 3 : List your objectives, do you want only the surface dirt removed, something you could do with a rented machine or do you want the bacteria, fungi and chemicals removed, which will require a professional hot water extraction cleaner, like I use. For a "deep down the pile clean". Do you want to work with an honest, reputable company-- or are you willing to risk hiring a company that offers you the lowest price, knowing that company might not be in business tomorrow. Have inadequate Insurance Cover, or may be damaged your furnishings.

RECOMMENDATION 4 : ASK QUESTIONS : The way you learn about a company is to ask specific questions and listen carefully to the answers. Here are the questions I suggest you ask :

1. What method of carpet cleaning do you recommend?

2. What type of equipment do you use to clean my carpets?

3. What does your equipment remove from my carpet?

4. How often should I have my carpets cleaned ?

5. What training have you had in cleaning carpets?

6. Are you a member of any trade associations and, if so, which ones?

7. Are you certified by the National Carpet Cleaning Association and will you show me your certificate?

8. Do you have Treatment risk Insurance and will you show me your certificate?

RECOMMENDATION 5: Once you're satisfied that you're working with an honest, competent professional, invite this individual into your home and ask for a specific quotation in writing. A written quotation gives you assurance that you know exactly what your job will cost-- there will be no surprises or large bills at the end of the job.

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By following these five recommendations, you'll gain all the information you need to make an informed, intelligent decision. If you want a quick, cheap carpet cleaning job, many companies in the telephone book can help you, or you can rent a shampoo system and do the job yourself. However, your carpets and furniture are probably the single biggest investment in your home, so please beware! If you want your carpets to be completely and thoroughly cleaned- removing the bacteria, fungi, chemicals, pollens and tobacco products, then I invite you to call us.

We'll be happy to answer your questions, provide you with an estimate over the telephone, or come to your home or business premises and give a free written quotation without obligation of any kind. Please contact us on 01933-318289 any time (answerphone after 8pm-8am).

Here's one last point: I know that many consumers are sceptical about carpet cleaning companies. Before I got into the business, I was sceptical too. So in addition to dedicating my business to consumer education, I do one more thing as well. I GUARANTEE MY WORK.

That's right. I FULLY GUARANTEE EVERY CLEANING JOB WE DO. If your not happy with our work, We'll re-clean the area for free, and if you still not pleased, you pay nothing not one penny. What could be fairer than that?

As a matter of fact, add this question to the list. Question 9 " Do you guarantee your work"? Not all companies do-- and it's important that you have this information before you make your decision.

Thanks very much for your interest. I'm grateful for the opportunity of providing you with information about carpet cleaning and choosing a professional cleaning company. I hope you found this consumer message helpful. If you have questions or comments or if you would like to request a free quotation, please call the office and discuss them - Mandy from our staff will be happy to help you.

On behalf of Homecare Cleaning Services, I would like to thank you for your Kind attention.

Regards

Philip Vissian

Proprietor

LIST OF SERVICES

Carpet & Upholstery/Oriental rugs & curtain cleaning

'Scotchgard' Protection of all types of carpets & fabrics. Stain & Odour removal. Including Pet Odour Smoke & Water damage restoration service. (24 hour call out).