FAQs

Many independent sources recommend cleaning of carpets every 12 to 18 months. The length of time between cleanings depends upon the type of activities, your health, and appearance requirements. Carpets that are exposed to animals, kids and family gatherings require more frequent cleaning. Occupants that have allergies will want to clean more frequently. If you have a newer carpet, you will want to review your warranty manual so you don’t void the warranty. Many warranties require cleaning every 12 to 18 months.

Diablo Carpet & Floor Restoration (DCFR) offers five methods of carpet cleaning approved by the IICRC. As an IICRC Certified Firm, our technicians are trained and experienced in all methods of cleaning. Although many carpet manufactures prefer hot water extraction/steam cleaning, it is also important to consider the type of carpet fiber, the level of soiling and stains, and the customer’s needs and requirements. This is why DCFR prefers to pre inspect the carpet and interview the customer for their requirements. Methods of carpet cleaning can range from  encapsulation (Host) & bonnet cleaning (Chem-Dry), to hot water extraction, and shampoo scrub with neutral rinsing and bonnet drying which results in zero residue (Zerorez).

A light vacuuming in the traffic areas is recommended but not required.  If needed, the crew can pre-vacuum the area to be cleaned. There is no substitute for vacuuming and preserving the life of your carpet. Vacuuming reduces soiling, the high traffic dingy look and extends a nice appearance between cleanings.

On average, it will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes per room. This time can vary greatly depending on the how soiled the carpet is, and any necessary spot or stain removal treatments.

Yes.  We will move furniture that can be safely moved. There is no added charge to move small movable furniture. After the cleaning is completed, we will return it to its rightful place on protective padding as needed. We do suggest you remove items off of your furniture like electronics, plants, lamps and knick-knacks. There are several items we will not move, including: pianos, electronics, china cabinets, beds, dressers with mirrors, pool tables, etc.

Dry time is affected by how soiled the carpet is, humidity, temperature and air flow to the area. Yes, carpets can be cleaned on rainy days. It can take anywhere between 8-24 hours for the carpet to completely dry, depending on the aforementioned variables. Using fans in any rooms cleaned and turning your air conditioning or heating system on, depending on the time of year, can help accelerate drying time. Be sure to leave the protective blocks under furniture legs and any paper used with upholstered items in place until the carpet and/or furniture is completely dry to avoid any color transfer.

We groom your carpet by raking it. This helps speed the drying process, as the carpet fibers are raised to allow air to flow. Although you can walk on your carpet immediately after cleaning, it may slow the drying process. Our biggest concern is for your safety, especially slip and fall accidents. This is why we recommend you place a walk off mat, towel, bath mat on transitions from the carpet to a hard surface. We also suggest wearing clean soled shoes or white socks.

Although most spots that are removed from carpet do not reappear, some liquid spills reach deep into the carpet backing and possibly the carpet pad/cushion. These substances may wick to the surface after cleaning. If this happens, please contact Diablo Carpet & Floor Restoration (925) 833-0408 as soon as possible so we can attend to this situation. DCFR provides a 30 days service guarantee and will return to re clean those areas at no added charge.

There are substances that can permanently discolor the carpet fibers. The age of the carpet and the type of carpet fibers also plays a factor in this. The technician will try to determine if stains can be removed prior to cleaning, The more information you can provide Diablo Carpet & Floor Restoration about the type of stain/spill, and what you might have used to remove the stain, the higher the likelihood we can reduce or remove the stain. Not all stains can be removed.

Cleaning a carpet relaxes the backing and in some cases ripples will appear. As the carpet dries ripples should start to lay flat again. The age of the carpet and weight of the furniture are also contributing factors. Once dried the carpet will return to its original dimensions and the ripples should be virtually unnoticeable.

This is usually a sign that the carpet is in need of stretching prior to the cleaning. As carpet ages the carpet backing relaxes and ripples or wrinkles will appear. This is especially visible in high traffic areas. Heavy furniture, water damage, and poor installation can also contribute to this condition. DCFR does provide stretching services if needed.

Diablo Carpet & Floor Restoration goes to great lengths to ensure our customers satisfaction. Our employees are background checked and authorized to legally work. As an IICRC Certified Firm, our employees are professionally trained to IICRC Standards. Our employee technicians will treat you, your family and your property and furnishing with respect and not swear or smoke. If we do not perform to these high standards, you may adjust our charges accordingly. We further back this guarantee with Bonding, Workers Compensation and General Liability Insurances. Ask us, if you would like a certificate of insurance issued to your property.

Occasionally spots may reappear in the first 30 days after cleaning. Although there may be several reasons this happens, Diablo Carpet and Floor Restoration will return at a mutually convenient time and make a second attempt at removing the spots. There is no added charge to you. All you need to do is call or email us and we will take care of the rest.

Anyone can make something cheaper by cutting corners and pricing for less. This is why we encourage you to have a written estimate, in hand, before you schedule the work. At Diablo Carpet & Floor Restoration, our floor inspections and written price estimates are guaranteed. No upselling. No surprises to you. Our guaranteed lowest price is that if you can find a comparable floor cleaning service for more than 10% less, we will match their pricing. All we ask is that you provide us with a written “apples” to “apples” comparison.

A soil protectant is applied by most carpet manufacturers when the carpet is made. This is a wear dated product and will walk or rubs off over time with every day traffic. Many carpet manufacturers recommend that you have protector reapplied when cleaning your carpet every 12 to 18 months, and perhaps more often on heavy traffic areas. In order to apply a protectant, the carpet must be cleaned. Realize, most protectants are ineffective against pet damage and heavy liquid spills such as wines. The longer a solution sits on the carpet fiber, the more likely the moisture will seep through the fiber.

If you have a warranty on your carpet, the manufacturer may require reapplication of protectant when cleaning. Many studies show the effectiveness of carpet and upholstery protection and the ability to reduce soiling and staining of fabrics. Protectant products help carpet and upholstery resist soiling from dry dirt, water- and oil-based spills by wrapping each fiber in a protective coating. This extra layer gives you more time to clean up spots and spills before they soak into the fibers, helping you keep your carpet and upholstery looking its best between professional cleanings.

We recommend you secure your animals on cleaning day. Some customers schedule a grooming day for their pet. Others secure the animal, with water, food and waste disposal, in a room where no damage can occur, such as a tiled bathroom, kitchen or garage. To access your areas for cleaning, the Technician will require free access to entries, and the doors will need to be slightly opened when truck mount hot-water extraction method is performed.

Perhaps. Many pet related stops and stains can be removed. These include hairballs, vomit, feces, and urine. Commonly, we find the difficulty is that previous attempts have been made to remove the spot or stain prior to our arrival and the stain maybe permanently set or the fiber is damaged. Diablo Carpet & Floor Restoration provides emergency services and advice (925) 833-0408. Call or email us at Cleancarpets@diablocarpet.com and we will coach you through the emergency and reduce the likelihood of the stain being permanent.

Bleach spots and color loss on nylon and natural fiber carpets can usually be re-dyed to match the surrounding color. Call a Diablo Carpet & Floor Restoration professional carpet dyer before you attempt to correct the color in your carpet. The first steps you take can permanently damage the carpet. At DCFR, we offer free inspection and can advise you of your best options. Call (925) 833-0408 and we will coach you through the emergency and reduce the likelihood of the stain being permanent.