Frequently Asked Questions

Freephone: 00800 083 9337

Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs page). Below, we have tried to answer the most common questions visitors to this Web site may have. If you find that your question is not answered on this page, please email us info@spic-n-span.co.uk  or call us during BUSINESS HOURS at 0800 083 9337.

 Carpets & Upholstery

SECTION ONE

Question 1:
I have never had either carpets or upholstery cleaned before, mainly because I have heard people say that my carpets will shrink, take weeks to dry out and they will smell damp for ages. Are these stories true ?

Answer 1
The Bad News is that yes, some of these stories are true. However, most of these problems are caused by:

1. Use of inferior equipment  
2. Incorrect use of cleaning solutions  
3. Lack of proper knowledge and expertise by the cleaning operative.   

The Good News is that if you choose a company like ours, which has been established for many years, you are very unlikely to experience any of these problems. We actually Guarantee  you will be pleased with our service and the results and our work is fully insured. So you have nothing to lose.

Question 2:
There are some really bad stains on my carpets as I have 2 small children spilling drinks and food. Will you remove all of these stains ?

Answer 2:
We never promise that we will remove all stains. We always advise our customers that there is a possibility that all stains or marks may not be removed. There are a number of reasons for this, it depends on: What the stain is from, the type of carpet and the age of the stain. However, we find that usually at least 90% and in many cases 100% of stains or marks are removed in the cleaning process.
Note: We try to offer an honest assessment regarding stain removal and a very high percentage of our customers are happy to accept the above proviso.

Question 3 :
What type of cleaning system does your company use, as I have heard of Chemical Cleaning and Steam Cleaning ?

Answer 3 :
We use a cleaning system called “Hot Water Extraction”, which many people refer to as “Steam Cleaning”. The “Hot Water Extraction” system is hot water based, using hot water at varying temperatures, a cleaning solution and powerful vacuum motors. There are separate storage tanks for clean water and waste water. The hot cleaning solution is sprayed onto the carpet or upholstery and then either a floor tool or hand tool is used with the vacuum motors to lift any dirt and soiling from the bottom of the pile. This is a “Deep Cleaning System”. We use this system because it is based on the best cleaner available - WATER.

“Chemical Cleaning” is basically a carpet maintenance system developed in the U.S.A. Whereas “Hot Water Extraction” cleans to the bottom of the pile ( Deep Cleaning ), Chemical Cleaning cleans just the surface of the pile. It was developed as a system that could be used to enhance carpet appearance for a limited amount of time until the next scheduled “Deep Clean” . Some companies using this system try to present it as a deep cleaning system, which it is not. In its own right, it can be a good cleaning system, but only on a temporary basis.

Question 4 :
We are a property management company with a portfolio of property throughout the U.K. What sort of areas do you cover, do you operate an overnight or weekend service as we have many properties such as offices, factories and shops which cannot be cleaned during the daytime as they are in use. If so, would we have to pay a premium to have work done at these times. ?

Answer 4 :
As you will see from our address, we are based in the Midlands and as such we are able to cover the majority of England & Wales. We welcome contracts from companies like yourselves who require cleaning operations to be carried out on a night or weekend. We are able to clean offices, conference centres, Pubs, Clubs, Hotels, Shops and Restaurants etc; as and when you require.

As far as cost is concerned, we are very competitive and can negotiate deals to suit most clients. Our prices are in fact less than any national franchise operation and we do our best to match, if not better quotes from any reputable cleaning company and no, we do not charge a premium to work overnight or weekends.

We also operate a special maintenance program for larger companies, which maintains your carpets and upholstery on an ongoing basis FREE of any extra charges for extra work during a contract period. Ask for details of our “Corporate Care Plan”.

Question 5 :
In your advertising, I see references to “Protection Treatments”, what are they exactly and are they expensive ?

Answer 5 :
We will try to explain this as simply as possible, but if you require more technical information, please ask. The Carpet and Fabric protector we use is called “Du Pont Teflon Carpet and Fabric Protector”.
What is “Teflon” ? “Teflon” is the name of the soil and stain repellent made by Du Pont to protect home furnishings, carpets and fabrics from soil and stains.

How does it work ? “Teflon” is a topical fluorochemical finish for fabrics that forms a protective shield around the fibres, making them significantly more resistant to oil and water based stains and to dry soil.
I have a frying pan coated with “Teflon”. How can the product be used on a metal pan and a beautiful decorative fabric? There are many formulations of “Teflon”, engineered by Du Pont chemists for specific jobs. Basically, “Teflon” bonds with the surface that it is applied to, so foreign matter cannot adhere.
Does “Teflon” change the look or feel of a fabric? No, “Teflon” is invisible and does not change the beauty, the colour or the feel of a fabric.

Is “Teflon” toxic ? No, “Teflon adds nothing to the fibres that is harmful.
Why do I need carpet and fabric protection ? Accidental spills and stains happen in the best run homes and businesses. But if your carpets and fabrics are protected by a top-quality soil and stain repellant, it’s easy to clean up spills.

What happens when a spill occurs ? Both thin, water based spills and thicker oily spills bead up on the surface of the fabric. The invisible barrier of “Teflon” actually repels the spills and keeps them from soaking into the fabric.
Is it expensive ? We apply treatments per sq. yd from a top figure of £2.50 down to around £1.50 depending on the area to be protected.

Question 6 :
How often do my carpets need cleaning ?

Answer 6 :

That will depend on a number of things. How much traffic, whether it is a main walkway, if it regularly suffers from food and drink spillage's, the makeup of the carpet and whether it has been protected. So, basically, the more use, the more often the need for cleaning. We offer free advice on carpet and upholstery maintenance that would be suitable for your situation.