Frequently Asked Questions

Everyone might require a different answer to this question. If you vacuum often, have no pets and take your shoes off when you get home than manufacturers usually recommend every 12 to 18 Months. The more often you clean your carpets the easier it is to keep clean and reduce the chance of having high traffic marks that will never go away due to fiber break down. family with a newborn, toddler or kids might need a 3 to 6 month cleaning. An allergy sufferer or a proud pet owner could need it cleaned as often as there is a situation. Depending on your living situation really makes the difference. If you have pets that shed or lay in a certain spot or soil the carpet once in a while you might want to get them cleaned every 3 months. If you do not take your shoes off when you get home from work and worry about bacteria we recommend every 3 months.

 

How long will it take for my carpets to dry?
Depending on what type of carpet you have the time could vary. On average, dry times are usually between 6 to 24 Hours. Carpets that are woven tend to take more time to dry due to the density of the fibers. Also depending on air movement and the humidity in the air could make a difference. We always recommend opening some windows and turning on ceiling fans or central air to speed up the process. Grooming the carpet after it is cleaned definitely speeds up the drying process because the fibers are vertical which lets air flow through it easier. Our daily fan rental can speed the drying process for a minimal fee.

 

What's the difference between Steam Cleaning and dry cleaning?
Steam Cleaning is done with high pressure and temperatures of up to 260 degrees. With hot steam bacteria and allergens usually are wiped out. We believe the best way to clean carpets is with steam. Chemical or dry cleaning versus Steam is an ongoing question we hear. Steam cleaning is also known as deep cleaning. With deep steam cleaning we can remove at least 99 percent of dirt and bacteria from carpeting, due to It being the only method which will reach all the way down to the lowest layer of your carpet. With Slo Steam it makes it the best method for dealing with deep difficult stains. Chemical cleaning involves the use of a chemical solution to remove dirt from your carpet. These solutions are usually called “dry” shampoos which are not, in fact, completely dry. They do use significantly less water than steam cleaning which means that carpets that are chemically cleaned tend to dry much faster as there is less moisture to evaporate. Usually with chemical or dry cleaning the surface is the only layer that gets cleaned and almost completely ineffective for treating deep stains within the carpet. Sometimes chemical residue is left behind leaving your family or you exposed to chemicals. Make sure you fully understand what chemicals other companys are using. If you are concerned about chemical exposure, steam cleaning might be the best option.

 

How long should I wait before I can walk on my carpets?

It is always best to wait until the carpets are completely dry. We recommend putting furniture back after the carpet is completely dry. Furniture with metal legs can rust the carpet and wooden legs can stain or mold. We usually supply booties to wear after we are done and supply plastic sheets to put under the legs of the furniture. If stains were to reappear within the drying process please call SLO Steam at 1-805-858-9244 as soon as possible. Waiting to long to call could void your warranty.

Why does my carpet lift or have ripples after cleaning?

 

Sometimes after carpet cleaning you might notice that the carpet has a wavy or ripple effect. If your carpet presents ripples and buckles immediately after cleaning, it is possible the carpet is not yet fully dry. Wet carpeting can stretch and form ripples that will disappear once the moisture evaporates
from the fibers. Set up a fan to blow on the carpet, circulate the air and aid in the drying process. No need to worry, it usually goes away once the carpet is dried. The backing of the carpet usually shrivels and takes around 3 to 4 hours to lay back down to normal. Some cases the carpet may have been in need of re-stretching prior to cleaning.

 

Should I turn on my heater or Air Conditioning to help dry my carpets?

Temperature and humidity can determine whether to turn on the AC or Heat. If it is hot and humid outside you might want to turn on the air conditioning to remove the humidity from the air and get good air movement. If it's cold outside and humid turning on the heat would create air movement and dry out the humidity in the air. Make sure a window is cracked open. On perfect days just crack open the windows and turn on some fans.

Does SLO Steam guarantee the removal of all stains or spots?

Some stains or spots may not be removed depending on several situations. High traffic area fibers may be damaged due to continuous friction which can remove the colors of the fibers making them transparent.  Light will reflect different through the fibers giving it that grey appearance and dirty look.

 

Does SLO Steam move furniture?

We recommend picking up and moving most furniture out of the way before we arrive. We do not move heavy furniture such as dressers, beds, cabinets, electronics etc! We are not responsible for breaking furniture if asked to help move furniture. We usually go around furniture and clean under beds and tables if the clearance is high enough. You do not need to move your furniture unless you plan to move out and need it thoroughly cleaned. We go around the furniture and our solution will not damage furniture, wood or fabrics. We do recommend moving small items and knickknacks if possible. We do not slide or move furniture due to insurance liability.