Equipment Questions

Sometimes I get calls asking what kind of equipment I use. I have to ask a few questions to understand exactly what the person is really wanting to know.

This question can imply a few things. I will discuss them over the next few posts.

The first thing people are concerned with is me having a truck-mounted machine.

When I first started out I was using what is called a “portable” machine. This is an electric machine that I actually push into the house and use water out of the sink to fill the machine. The machine weighed about 70 pounds and I would have to pull it up and down stairs. This was hard on my back and was really slow. Don’t get me wrong, I could still do a great job, but it just took forever. As I got busier I had to find an easier and faster way to get the work done.

I purchased a truck-mounted machine and never looked back. It made my job easier and more productive.

The water that comes out of the machine can exceed 230 degrees. It also has a powerful vacuum that can recover a significant amount of water. This helps remove the soil in the carpet, upholstery or tile that is being cleaned.

When people are concerned about me having a truck-mounted machine it is usually because of property manager requirements. The carpet in rentals needs to be cleaned with water that is over 180 degrees so the carpet can be considered “sanitized”. With a portable machine the water can only get as hot as the tap water in the house. So this is why the property managers require truck-mounted equipment.

My equipment and cleaning products meet all state requirements for rental move outs.

Call today for a free estimate.

Charlie

855-5715

Owner Operator

I currently run my business as an owner operator. This means that if you call… I answer the phone. If you have me over for an estimate…. I come over and measure the areas to be cleaned. If you schedule a cleaning….. yes, you guessed it, I show up at your door to perform the cleaning.

Sometimes this can make for a very busy day. But I prefer to have it this way. There are many more advantages to being an owner operater than having  employees.

-My customers are happy to see ME every time and not an employee. I have a long list of repeat customers that call regularly. I am always happy to see them and enjoy the conversations I get to have with them. Sometimes the conversations take longer than the cleanings do. In fact, I am friends with many of them on Facebook.  This is my favorite part of being in business for myself. I would miss this part most if I were to do something else for a living.

-I know I can trust MY own work. I do not have to worry about employees doing substandard work. I am on every job, and I know what is going on with each cleaning. Call me a control freak, but I like to know that every job is performed to the highest standard possible. As an owner operator, I don’t get paid if the business isn’t coming in. If my customers are not happy, they will not call back or tell their friends to call me. Sometimes employees do not see this side of the coin and customer service can be lacking.

-Employees. It is hard to find someone that can be trusted with your business. There is also more insurance costs that have to considered when hiring someone. I would have to charge higher prices to cover these costs. I would lose that hometown “mom an pop” business feel that many people enjoy and look for when calling someone. This is a headache that I will avoid as long as I can. If I ever need help, I usually take one of my sons with me. They have seen that hard work I have put into building this business and they are willing to work hard to help it grow. My customers enjoy meeting my sons too.

As long as I can, I will remain an owner operator. I know that things can change this, But as long as I am healthy enough to do it, I will.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Charlie

208-855-5715

Online Reviews

Customer testimonials are the best way to learn about a company. I have gone for over 3 years without a marketing campaign because my customers have been happy to share our name with their family and friends.

Just recently I started to use the internet as a way to reach new customers. When I started to think about the idea of finding someone on the internet and then inviting them into your home, it seemed kind of scary. So one thing I felt I needed to do was get a good review base out there so people could see who I am and how I conduct myself in people’s homes. I also added a page on my website with a picture of my family so people could see what I look like.

Google places has been a good place to learn about businesses. On my last post I shared some of the reviews I have received. You can click here to go to my Google place and read them in the context of the posts if you would like.

Yelp is another good place to get reviews. If I have an extraordinary experience with a business, I go to yelp on my phone and leave a review. It is a very useful app for your smart phone and can help you find credible businesses.

Mojo pages is a service of KTVB where people can leave reviews for local businesses. I really like this place for small businesses like mine because it is for the local guys.

There are many more places, but this is a good place to start looking to find out about the businesses in your area. Read online reviews before you purchase something or hire someone, it could save you some headaches and some of your hard earned money.

If you have had a good experience with us, please leave a review on any of these pages.

The holidays are quickly approaching, so call today to get scheduled before the company shows up!

If you need a carpet cleaner in Meridian Idaho call:

208-855-5715

Carpet Geek

What is a reputation worth? My Google reviews.

 One of the things I am proud of is the reputation I have worked so hard to get. A referral is the best way to find a service or product. I have built my business with the referrals from many satisfied customers. I strive to give the kind of service that people want to tell their friends about.

This is a few of the online reviews that I have gotten lately:

 Tammi ‎ – Oct 4, 2011

As a property management business we rely on the quality of work from other private companies to reflect on our own. Carpet Geek does an excellent job and I am always proud to refer their services! Charlie is honest, prompt and reliable and I appreciate him and his service. If you want great service and an honest opinion, Charlie is the person you want. We use Charlie for business and for our personal home. I highly recommend Carpet Geek!

Chris ‎ – Oct 3, 2011

The Carpet Geek is the BEST! Talk about personal service! Charlie doesn’t just send someone else to take care of your carpet, he does it himself. He cares about his reputation and works hard to make sure you’re always satisfied. Any time we have our carpets cleaned, we always call Charlie. He does a great job.

Theresa ‎ – Sep 30, 2011

I have had the Carpet Geek out to my house many times. Charlie has been able to remove hard dirt and oil stains and pet accidents. I would recommend The Carpet Geek to anyone. I have recommended Charlie to my friends. And they were very pleased with the results. I will not call any other carpet cleaning company to my home. And the prices are very reasonable. Call the Carpet Geek for fast, friendly and professional service.

Michelle ‎ – Sep 12, 2011

I’ve had Charlie out to my home three or four times now. I am so glad my friend recommended him. Appointments are always easy to make and he is always prompt. When he is done my carpets look FANTASTIC! It is so nice to have the peace of mind in knowing that whatever my family might do to the carpet, I know the Carpet Geek will be able to take care of it!

Gail ‎ – Sep 4, 2011

I highly recommend Charlie, owner and operator of Carpet Geek. Charlie is prompt to answer his phone to schedule an appointment. He has been our exclusive carpet cleaner for several years. Charlie has always been on time, courteous, professional, and detailed oriented each time. The carpet always looks terrific when he finishes. He has also detailed our vehicle and cleaned the grout in our tile. We have never been disappointed with his work.

Debra ‎ – Aug 19, 2011

Charles does an amazing job of cleaning. He is thorough with the carpets and protective of the furniture. You would think it was his furniture. He arrives on time and is courteous, clean and polite. Definitely a go getter! 🙂

Michele ‎ – Aug 18, 2011

Carpet Geek is the best in the business. If you are looking for someone who knows what they are doing and does it right the first time, Charlie is the one to do it. We have also had him clean our upholstery, and stretch the carpet in many bedrooms. VERY highly recommended!

Bryan ‎ – Aug 17, 2011

It is hard these days to find someone that takes pride in their work. Charlie clearly loves what he does and the final product and his customer service are testaments to this philosophy! An honest and fair price. You wouldn’t know that my carpets had seven years of wear, tear, pets and a toddler working them over – they look factory new now. Recommended!

Tamara ‎ – Aug 4, 2011

Charlie is the best! He’s friendly, affordable and always puts in an extra effort. Every time he cleans my carpets he will go the extra mile to make sure everything looks amazing. I had asked him to clean a couple spots on my couch when he was done with the carpets and he didn’t even charge me. I’d highly recommend him!

We would love to add you to our list of satisfied customers.

For carpet cleaning in Boise Idaho:

Call Carpet Geek today!

208-855-5715

If a Spot Comes Back, So Do I

Carpet cleaning Boise Idaho

Satisfaction guaranteed! If you don’t like it, return it for a full refund!

You hear these sales pitches every day, but what do they really mean? Does the product really solve your problems and will it really make your life easier? Will you really wonder how you ever lived without it?

Whenever I hear one of these claims on the TV, I always have to look and try to read the fine print at the bottom of the screen as it flashes faster than I can blink.

When I enter a customer’s home, I want them to know that satisfaction guaranteed really means satisfaction guaranteed. In will inspect the job and thoroughly explain any concerns that I have and let the customer know what they can expect.

After I perform the cleaning, I always let the customer know that if they have any questions, concerns, of are not satisfied, to call me. I will come back as soon as possible (usually that day or the next) and address the problem. I never want anyone to feel dissatisfied with spending their hard earned money on my services.

You can rest assured that I will do the best job that can be done! I don’t cut corners, I clean them.

If you ever have any questions of want me to come out to your home for a free estimate, don’t hesitate to call!

Carpet Geek 

208-855-5715

Professional Carpet Cleaning vs. D.I.Y.

What is the difference between having your carpet professionally cleaned and doing it yourself with a home machine?

To answer this, let me ask a question: would you rather wash your car with a hose or a squirt gun? Sure, you can get the job done with the squirt gun, after all, it has water and can rinse soap off the car. But it will take longer and will not do near the quality job as using a garden hose.

With a home machine, the job will get done, but the quality of cleaning will be less and could actually cause damage to your carpet.

The first problem with a home machine is the machine itself. It does not have a strong vacuum to remove the soil from the carpet. Another problem is that water used is only as hot as your tap water can get.

The process used when using a home machine is also a problem. When following the directions for the home machine, it instructs the homeowner to add the cleaning chemical to the water that is also used to rinse the carpet. The home owner then sprays this water into the carpet and then the machine is supposed to remove the solution with its vacuum. By doing this, the home owner leaves soap and residue in the carpet which can cause re-soiling.

Back to the vacuum part. The vacuum does not have enough power to remove enough soil to do a good job. This makes the home owner go over the heavily soiled areas numerous times and causes over-wetting. Over-wetting the carpet can damage the carpet construction. The backing can separate from the carpet and the carpet will simply fall apart.

The cleaning chemicals that are available to the home owner are also not as effective as professional cleaners. These over the counter products can not clean as good as the ones that a professional has on their truck.

A professional should have the equipment, cleaning products and the knowledge to do the job right.

A professional should start by applying a high quality pre-spray to the carpet. Then they should rinse the carpet with clean water, or if needed, use water with a rinse solution.

Our equipment has a tremendous amount of vacuum to remove the soil and water from the carpet. The carpet should be dry in a few hours after cleaning.

The water that the machine heats up can exceed 220 degrees. This is hotter than boiling and can kill any germs that lurk in the carpet. The high heat also makes it easier to dissolve oil and dirt that has made it’s home in the carpet.

Our professional strength cleaning products are for PROFESSIONALS! A good cleaning technician should have taken a class for carpet cleaning and should have the knowledge of how cleaning products work. Knowledge with the right products will produce cleaning results that will make even the pickiest home owner happy.

At Carpet Geek, we have the training and knowledge to do the job right!

Call today to schedule an appointment!

855-5715

Tile Cleaning

We have just recently added tile cleaning in Boise Idaho to our list of services that we offer. Tile can be a source of headaches for the homeowner. If you have ever tried to clean your grout yourself, then you know what I am talking about.

Grout is a very porous surface that absorbs dirt and oil and does not like to let go of it. Understanding the chemistry of cleaning will help the removal of the dirt and oil. A cleaning chemical that works on the kitchen tile will not always work in the bathroom. This is because of the elements that are bonding the dirt with the surface. For example: Dirt and oil that is on the kitchen floor will be removed easily with a high pH (high alkaline) cleaning chemical. In the bathroom, the dirt and oil is most likely bonded to the grout with water deposits. Water deposits usually are the result of hard water (this causes the spots on your glasses). Hard water needs to be removed with a low pH (acid based) cleaner.

This might sound confusing to you, but when you understand what chemical works where, then you can save a lot of time and money when cleaning.

Let me give you some examples:

Kaboom- this is an acid based cleaner that is excellent in bathrooms. It dissolves hard water build up and helps separate the stubborn dirt and oil from the bathroom surfaces. Most products that are labeled as bathroom, shower, or toilet cleaners are acid based.

Oxiclean- I hesitate telling people to use this product because it is an oxygen bleacher. I see bleach spots in carpets all of the time from Oxiclean. Oxiclean is made with Sodium Per-carbonate. Please do not put this stuff on your carpet. If you did, and it did not bleach it, then you got lucky. I see this ALL of the time. Trust me on this! For hard surfaces, it works great. It is a high pH cleaner. Dirt in itself is an acid, so using an alkaline based cleaner will remove it. Pine-sol, Windex, dish soap are all examples of alkaline cleaners.

Over the counter products have their limitations. These products are sold to average homeowners that have no training with cleaning products. Therefore they have to be safe. Professional products are stronger and are for professionals that have had some training and know how to use them. So when the tile and grout in your home needs some professional TLC, then call Carpet Geek!

I hope this posts helps with some cleaning headaches, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call!

Charlie

855-5715

Carpet Cleaning

Call Carpet Geek for the highest quality carpet, upholstery, and tile cleaning available! 208-855-5715

Carpet Cleaning Boise Idaho