• 1. Choosing a carpet cleaner based on low prices. Low prices often mean that the carpet cleaner has cheap equipment which will not clean your carpet effectively. Cheap prices also are a recipe for bait and switch. The carpet cleaner will lay the bait, which is the cheap price, just to get inside your property and once inside they pressure people in to more expensive jobs.
• 2. Choosing a carpet cleaner on equipment alone. There is no doubt that your carpet cleaner needs first rate equipment, but he also needs to know how to operate that equipment efficiently. A lot of companies offer a Hot Water Extraction service but do not train their staff to the standards required to operate that equipment.
• 3. Choosing a carpet cleaner based on a single telephone call. Always invite the person to your home and ask for a written quotation. This enables you to know the best treatment recommended by the technician and the exact price you will be charged.
• 4. Choosing a carpet cleaner who does not offer a money back guarantee. Every carpet cleaning company should be fully accountable for its work. If you are not pleased with the standard of cleaning achieved by the carpet cleaning technician, he should offer to clean it again and if you are still not happy then he should give you a full refund.
• 5. Choosing a carpet cleaner who does not use truck mounted equipment. Although portable Hot Water Extraction systems are good they are not nearly as good as Truck Mounted systems. Truck mounted systems are like the Rolls Royce equivalents in the carpet cleaning world. Compared to portable systems they are up to 20 times more powerful. They use hotter water, higher pressure and stronger vacuum suction. Whichever way you look at it you will always get a better clean from a truckmount.

CLEANER, SAFER, DRIER

• 6. Choosing a carpet cleaner who is not a member of the National Carpet Cleaners Association. The NCCA establishes minimum standards within the industry. It provides training for members and keeps members abreast of developments such as new chemicals, equipment and new fibres and materials. They ensure that all members have adequate public liability and treatment risk insurance. They provide an advisory service to assist with problems and handle complaints smoothly and promptly, thus ensuring that all members live up to the association motto

SERVICE WITH INTEGRITY

• 7. Choosing a carpet cleaner who is not a Wool-safe Certified Operator. In order to become a Woolsafe Certified Operator they must be fully trained in all carpet cleaning techniques, have been in business continually for a period of at least 5 years and be a member of a recognised trade association related to the cleaning industry. They must have attended a Wool safe training course, passed the exam and met other requirements relating to their business and professional associations. Certified Operators undertake to use only Wool-Safe products whenever they clean or maintain wool or wool rich carpeting.