ABC Chem-Dry Frequently Asked Questions

ABC Chem-Dry Experts often get asked a lot of questions about carpet cleaning, care & tips, and the Chem-Dry Process, here are some of the more common questions we hear. If you have a question, feel free to contact us!

1. There are so many companies to choose from. How do I choose the best company for me?

2. If the Chem-Dry process doesn’t use soaps or shampoos, how can it really clean my carpets or upholstery?

3. How often should I have my carpets and upholstery cleaned?

4. What information should I have available to get a price quote?

5. I’ve called around to several places and you seem to be more expensive. Why is that?

6. What if I’m not satisfied with the job?

7. What’s the difference between a spot and a stain and how will I know the difference?

8. If I choose not to protect my carpets or upholstery, will they get dirtier more quickly?

9. What other services does ABC Chem-Dry provide?

10. Are the products that you use safe and non-toxic?

11. How long does it take to get an appointment?

1. There are so many companies to choose from, how do I choose the best company for me?

First off, you should decide on which process to use. ABC Chem-Dry uses proprietary, fast-drying extraction technology that utilizes a unique, carbonating process using a naturally based cleaning solution that is safe and non-toxic. The system employs a combination of heat and carbonation to help breakdown dirt deeply embedded in carpet or upholstery fibers.

Unlike hot water extraction (steam cleaning), ABC Chem-Dry’s process does NOT wet behind the carpet fibers to the pad. Our process will have your carpets clean and ready to use in 2 hours Also, our cleaning solution does not rely on soap or detergent to clean.

Secondly, any carpet and upholstery cleaning professional should first assess the job to be done and do a thorough pre-inspection of the areas to be cleaned. This is done so that they can provide you with an accurate price, estimate the length of time for the cleaning and give you a professional rendering about what would be the best course of action for your cleaning. ABC Chem-Dry is a professional company that employs technicians who are thoroughly trained. Our company is licensed, bonded, fully insured and registered with the Better Business Bureau. You should ask the same of any company you are thinking of hiring.

2. If the Chem-Dry process doesn’t use soaps or shampoos, how can it really clean my carpets or upholstery?

It is just like giving your carpet or upholstery a mineral bath. The process employs a combination of heat and carbonation to help breakdown dirt deeply embedded in carpet or upholstery fibers. Millions of tiny effervescent bubbles lift the dirt to the surface, allowing it to be easily cleaned away rather than becoming further embedded.

3. How often should I have my carpets and upholstery cleaned?

Independent research recommends that carpets be cleaned every six months. We recommend you clean and refresh your soft furnishings every 8-12 months. However, this very much depends on your circumstances, for instance whether your home is prone to heavy soiling because of children or pets or whether anyone in your home suffers from allergies. You can extend the life of your carpets and upholstery with regular cleanings from ABC Chem-Dry, and the more frequently you clean, the longer lasting the results each time. Contrary to popular belief, cleaning your carpets more often will not damage them in any way, if you use the Chem-Dry process.

4. What information should I have available to get a price quote?

Unlike most carpet cleaning companies, we charge by the square foot, not by the room. Your square footage total is determined by the actual carpet that we will be cleaning. You will not be charged for any carpet that is underneath furniture that we will not be moving. For example, suppose your Master Bedroom is 15x18, That equates to 270 square feet, wall to wall. However, if 50% of the room is taken up by furniture, you will only be charged for the carpet that we can physically clean. We feel that this is a much more fair way to charge. When you call for your quote, you need not have the exact square footage of each room. If you know the square footage of your home, one of our Customer Service Representatives can use that information to work up your quote based on a formula that we been using for years. Your phone quote will usually be a range of price, from lowest to highest. Once the technician arrives to clean, he will measure your areas and give you the exact price before he begins service. ABC Chem-Dry takes great pride in providing our customers with an “upfront” way to price. We will never quote you a low price on the phone simply to get your business and then raise the price once we are in your home. This tactic is commonly called the “bait and switch” and it is what has given our industry a soured reputation. Please be assured that this tactic is never used at ABC Chem-Dry.

5. I’ve called around to several places and you seem to be more expensive, Why is that?

There are several reasons you may have this impression. First of all, the advertisements that you see around will advertise an artificially low price in order to get your business. Because the price is “too good to be true,” the quote will go higher once the technician arrives. This tactic is commonly known as the “bait and switch.” Our company does not advertise low prices. Secondly, having been in this business for over 20 years, we can attest to what it takes to offer a customer a high quality job. Cleaning carpet and upholstery takes high quality products and high quality technicians. Our company uses only the best technology, products, and hires and trains the best staff in the area. Being low priced has never been our goal. Our goal is and continues to be to offer our customers the very best cleaning possible at a fair price. In other words, we are a company who has put our efforts into the VALUE of the service. Third, alternative methods of cleaning may appear to be cheaper, but the fact is that, Chem-Dry’s revolutionary cleaning process saves you money in the long-run. That is because it cleans your carpets and upholstery in an entirely different way. Carpets cleaned by ABC Chem-Dry stay cleaner, longer and actually re-soil less than new carpet. So even though regular cleaning is necessary to extend the life of any carpet or fabric, you’ll actually need to clean them less frequently than you would do with other processes. A fair question to ask is why are some companies so inexpensive? What steps are they leaving out of the process? What is the quality of the products they are using? What is the quality offered by their technicians? All of these components, and many more, go into what a company will charge for their services At ABC Chem-Dry, we may not be the cheapest, but we are the best value. Our Customer Service Representatives will me more than happy to discuss our pricing with you Contact Us Today!

6. What if I’m not satisfied with the job?

Tell us. If we don’t know you are not satisfied, we can’t try to put things right. We don’t get everything right all the time, but we are always eager to better our performance. If you are not satisfied for any reason, call our office within 5 days of your cleaning and we will return at no charge to try and fix the problem.

7. What’s the difference between a spot and a stain and how will I know the difference?

Professional technicians will usually refer to a surface mark or substance on the carpet or upholstery as a spot and discoloration of carpet or upholstery fibers as a stain. A stain can be permanent and actually change the dye pocket of the carpet fiber. Stains are common and during your Pre-Inspection walk-through, your technician will be noting any areas on your carpet of concern. Once he starts cleaning, he will have a better idea if the area is a spot (is coming out) or a stain (not coming out or just lightening). You will then be notified. Please keep in mind that stains actually change the color of the carpet fibers and can be deemed permanent. We will do the very best to make an improvement to your stains, but, if something is permanent, it will not come out all the way. However, our technicians will communicate any situation that may arise with you during your cleaning.

8. If I choose not to protect my carpets or upholstery, will they get dirtier more quickly?

Chem-Dry Protectant^TM will lengthen the time in-between cleanings, but to start with, Chem-Dry cleaned carpets will stay cleaner longer than carpets cleaned by other methods. We strongly recommend that you apply our Carpet Protectant^TM at least once per year. Unprotected carpet or upholstery is vulnerable to staining which can become permanent. Protection offers you peace of mind knowing that you have an “umbrella” which can help guard against permanent staining.

9. What other services does ABC Chem-Dry provide?

ABC Chem-Dry is a total floor care company. We not only clean wall-to-wall carpeting, we specialize in the cleaning of your area rugs. Whether you have a rug bought from a catalog or a very expensive rug from a foreign country, we have the facility to treat all rugs with the utmost of care.

Cleaning stone floors, all kinds of tile and stone, has also become a specialty of ours. Our technicians have been trained to utilize the latest in technology and products to clean a variety of hard surfaces including Natural Tile, Ceramic Tile, Porcelain Tile, and many other hard surfaces. We not only clean floors, we clean countertops, showers, walls, and any other area where there is a hard surface.

10. Are the products that you use safe and non-toxic?

Yes they are. Since young children and pets are commonly on your carpets, area rugs, furniture and tile, our solutions are made safe and non-toxic. The Natural® is approved by FDA & Carpet and Rug Institution. To learn more about The Natural® please Click Here.

11. How long does it take to get an appointment?

Not long at all, usually within a couple of days and depending on the day, perhaps same day. Our office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. We try to schedule our appointments for your convenience.

If you have any questions not answered here, please feel free to Contact Us.