Don’t Be Taken in by Carpet Cleaning Scams

Getting your carpet professionally cleaned on a regular basis is a smart move for a number of reasons.  Not only does regular cleaning keep your carpet looking new now and in good condition in the long term, but it also enables you to stay in compliance with your carpet warranty.  So we would encourage you to stay on a regular schedule of carpet cleaning.  But not all carpet cleaning providers are equal.  In fact, there are some shady characters in the carpet cleaning industry who do not want to provide you with a fair service in exchange for a fair price.  Instead, they want to scam you.  The best way to avoid these scams is to know the characteristics of a quality carpet cleaning company and recognize the presence (or absence) of these characteristics as you evaluate a carpet cleaning company.  (Visit the IICRC website for additional industry advice to help consumers avoid carpet cleaning scams.)

1. Quality Carpet Cleaners Employ Workers Who Are Knowledgeable and Well-Trained. When you are approached with an offer from a carpet cleaning company, you should never be afraid to ask questions in order to assess the trustworthiness of the company.  You may want to ask about the training the technicians have received.   Well-trained technicians should also be able to answer your basic questions regarding the care and maintenance of your carpet.  If technicians seem unwilling or unable to answer your questions, this may be a red flag.
2. Quality Carpet Cleaners Have Industry Certification. Beyond some basic questions, the ordinary consumer may not have specific knowledge about the details that contribute to a quality cleaning.  Many of us would not even know what questions to ask to evaluate the competency of carpet cleaning technicians.  The good news is that we don’t have to because there is an industry certification system that provides education, testing, and certification for workers within the carpet cleaning industry.  As you consider hiring a company to clean your carpets, you are entitled to ask to see proof of their certifications.
3. Quality Carpet Cleaners Will Be Experienced and Professional with a Solid Reputation in the Community. When you are approached with an offer from a carpet cleaning company, you may feel like you are alone in making your decision to buy or not.  In reality, though, you live in a community and you should rely on other members of your community who may have experience with this company.  One way to do this is to ask for references.  Legitimate companies should be happy to provide these to you.  Another good practice is to check with the Better Business Bureau or other local business organizations who can let you know what kind of reviews or complaints have been reported.
4. Quality Carpet Cleaners Charge a Fair Price. Finally, remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  There are real costs that are incurred by reputable carpet cleaners.  In addition to the vehicles and equipment they use, these companies must pay for their employees (including training and certification costs), other materials (like the cleaning solutions that are used), and administrative costs.   Quality carpet cleaners are worth a fair price and will not be able to operate if they don’t charge enough to cover their expenses as well as make a profit.  So if someone offers to clean your carpets for an absurdly low price, you can be sure that they are cutting corners somewhere.  When that happens, you will not be happy in the end.  Either the price will increase once you are hooked or the work will be shoddy.

When you choose to make the investment in your home of having your carpets cleaned, you want to make sure that you are investing wisely by hiring a company that will do quality work.  Langenwalter Carpet Cleaning is not afraid to answer your questions or give you references or proof of our certifications.  We have been in this wonderful community for over 20 years and have proven ourselves time and time again.  Our outstanding reputation is a reflection of our excellent work as well as our involvement in our community.  Schedule online with us today or give us a call at 317-876-9944.  We’ll show what it’s like to get your carpets cleaned by the experts!