Seasonal cleaning projects...

Salem Oregon rains usually sneak up on us and somehow keep coming. Next thing you know, the dry sunny days are few and far between. As a cleaning company the workload usually moves from outside pressure washing jobs to inside tile and grout cleaning work. Throw in an occasional carpet cleaning package to the mix as well. That is the way it is for residential services. More cleaning is done at or around the holidays, for those who want their company to know they are clean. During this time of year we tend to balance these residential customers with commercial cleaning accounts. For us it isn't a high volume business model. We are not looking for tons of clients. We are a bit more focused on quality of work matched to quality of client. This is the only way we gave insured repeat business. Before we got into the business for ourselves, we learned a valuable lesson. Every year we hired a carpet cleaner from the weekly paper add with a whole house special.  Usually it was around the $100--150 price range. We always took the cheaper deal advertised. What we didn't know is what we were not getting in the deal. Now, before I get into it, let me say we were never unhappy with the work that was done.. Visually it looked good and we always felt like we were taken care of after the job finished.

Fast forward to being in the business, I now realize I hired the cheapest price company who basically did a splash and dash. And every year we repeated the process, and it was with the next cheapest add listed in the paper. We never used the same company twice as far as I know and never had a real reason to remember.

In order to make any sense I had to explain the above real scenario as this is the type of company that Fast Finish did not want to become. In order to not jump in that "me too" arena we had to have specific marketing plans in place. We also had to have the expertise and services to match those plans. We had to make sure that there would be clear cut measurable differences that a client could understand and clearly see. This involved relationship building at the highest possible level. It also required a very focused market. Yes, there are jobs we actually turn down if it does not meet or exceed a preset expectation. It does not mean we are elite cleaning snobs. It means we have elite clientele that expect the best and get it. 

Every once in a while we get a client who expects the best for nothing, but not many. And usually they become our biggest cheerleaders for the business if handled properly.

We are entering our fourth winter, and business is growing. We are always looking at adding services that make sense. Services that bring value to the customer. Our type of cleaning is an art. It brings surfaces back to new or even better than new often times. There is a huge market in Salem Oregon that requires cleaning and maintenance constantly. Fast finish has carved out a niche market catering to the discriminating client. 

Cleaning carpets

http://www.angieslist.com/articles/6-signs-you-need-replace-your-carpet.htm?CID=SocialCarpet_New_080315

Clean it or replace it? 

Here is a great Angies list article on what to look for. 

We clean carpets because we have awesome tools that get it done right. It is not our company focus do we usually only do it as a package for existing customers. We rarely go out just to clean a house carpet. We will refer it to one of our carpet cleaning friends who need the business more than we do.. ( Carpet cleaning companies struggle) It's our way of giving back and supporting the industry.

How Much should carpet cleaning cost?

From an Angie's list Contributor...

How much should carpet cleaning cost?

Date Published: May 20 2013

by Doug Bonderud, Angie's List contributor

Hiring a professional carpet cleaning service is a great way to deal with general wear and tear or to remove a particularly tough stain. Homeowners often wonder, however, what to expect for a carpet cleaning cost and how to know if they're being overcharged.

The two common pricing types

Every carpet is different and every home a different size, which means there's no "one size fits all" carpet cleaning price. There are, however, two common ways companies determine cost when you hire a carpet cleaner.

The first is "per room," meaning they offer a flat cleaning rate for each room in a home. There are typically size caps on this method, and rooms over the maximum square footage are treated as two rooms. This lets companies offer quotes over the phone, but can artificially inflate the price to compensate for inaccuracy. It's also important to consider just how low a rate may be: anything under $20 per room probably won't come with quality service. Moving furniture is often an extra charge on top of this rate, meaning homeowners need to move couches, entertainment centers and other large objects if they want to keep costs down.

The other estimation method is per square foot. This is more accurate but requires a visit to your home before work can begin. If you own a smaller home, you will typically pay more because the company needs to offset travel and material costs; those with larger homes will pay slightly less per square foot because equipment set up and material requirements are fixed. Average rates run between $0.30 and $0.50 per square foot, and should include all labor, products and a guarantee about the standard of clean - for example, in compliance with the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) guidelines.

Different types, different costs

The type of carpet cleaning you choose also affects the cost. Hot water extraction cleaning, known as "steam cleaning," is the most popular method. This kind of cleaning doesn't actually use steam but instead uses high pressure to push very hot water, along with a cleaning solution, into carpet. The resulting moisture is then removed via suction, and the carpet needs at least 24 hours to fully dry. This is the method recommended by most carpet manufacturers for deep cleaning and is often required of homeowners to keep the warranty on their flooring valid. Companies may use either portable electric cleaners or vehicle-mounted equipment for more powerful suction.

Dry cleaning, also known as "low moisture" or "encapsulation" cleaning, uses a chemical solution and minimal water for a quicker clean, but can't reach as deep as powerful wet cleaning methods. Homeowners don't need to wait as long before walking on their carpet, but are often asked to vacate the home during cleaning to prevent accidental chemical inhalation. Dry cleaning typically costs less than wet cleaning, as it doesn't require as much labor or equipment.

Considering extra costs

While most carpet cleaning services now offer an upfront fee that covers all basic costs, it's still possible to incur some add-on costs. The first is for targeted spot cleaning: in some cases, a standard service won't be able to remove a stain completely and will require further followup. This may be covered under an initial contract, but homeowners need to know exactly what they're paying for and what requires an added cost. Many companies have also added extra services, such as color repair and dyeing, as well as dry and steam cleaning services. For a cost, typically assessed at an hourly rate, the company will correct carpet discolored by a stain or restore portions of a carpet to its original color. Always ask for references and guarantees if you choose to use this kind of service.

Carpet cleaning costs depend on the way a company determines rates, the type of cleaning requested and the number of add-ons purchased by a homeowner. No matter the final total, however, homeowners should always receive a transparent, easily understandable invoice detailing what they owe and exactly what it covers.

 

Cleaning Carpets for Health Reasons in Salem Oregon

 REASONS WHY

YOUR CARPET needs cleaning right now!

Reason # 1. Each day Fast Finish removes pounds of dirt, which is very fine sand, from carpet. It is in yours too! Look at the way the carpet lays and notice the look and feel of your fiber. The small amount of dirt and sand that is being carried in each day is abrasive to the fibers resulting in a dulling and even cutting away of the fiber itself and is filling up your vacuum bag. The longer you wait the more damage is being done. 

Reason # 2.While you are taking a closer look at your carpet, touch it and feel the slight sticky surface which attracts dirt and locks onto it. This happens from the normal coming and going daily, plus when we go bare foot or in stocking feet, we shed body oil through our feet onto the carpet. Through a natural process called “Oxidation”, soils bond with the carpet fiber, causing color damage, and can become permanently attached. Waiting too long is throwing away the key that unlocks the dirt and oil from traffic lanes. It is important to always clean your carpet before traffic lane damage starts showing! The longer you wait between cleanings the less assurance you have of removing soil before the damage is permanent. 

Reason # 3. Carpet is great to have in your home because it acts as a filter trapping pollutants in the air so you don’t have to breathe them over and over again. But what happens when the filter becomes full? The air in your home will begin to be a little stale and your family will start breathing in dust mite debris, pollen, pollutants, fungus, spores, bacteria and a long list of other really gross things. Once your carpet’s natural filtering ability gets full, it is time for a thorough cleaning for the health of your family. The truth is, when carpets are cleaned frequently, especially when traffic lanes first show signs of soiling, they last longer and will look better, plus your family will stay healthier too. 

Reason # 4. 

Having your carpets cleaned, for Salem Oregon residents exposes them to other great services that Fast Finish provides. Fast Finish is one of very few companies that has a patent process when it comes to cleaning. Add in a contractors license for decorative concrete overlays and epoxy floors, you have one of Angie's list best companies  in which to do business.  You may call to have your carpets cleaned and find that after they are done you are looking at having your house washed or your concrete sealed or stained.  Fast Finish is into surface restorations taking clean to a whole new level. Visit www.fastfinishor.com and become a raving fan today. You will be glad you did!

Pet & Smoker Odors in the Home you want to sell?

HOME ODORS

REVIEWS YOU CAN TRUST CLICK HERE    about Fast Finish Services

Home buyers don't want houses that stink. Sellers must identify and remove odors that make prospective purchasers hold their noses and run for the exits.

A buyer's market is a tough challenge for sellers, says Patti Ketcham, owner of Ketcham Realty Group in Tallahassee, Fla.

"If you're selling," she says, "your house has to look a little better, smell a little better and be priced a little better than the other houses the buyer will look at that same day."

Unfortunately, it's not always easy for sellers to identify familiar smells that might be problematic, says Neeraj Gupta, director of product research and development at Service Master Clean, which performs major cleanups and post-disaster restorations of residential and commercial properties.

"There is no 'odor meter,'" Gupta says. "People get used to the odor of their house and may not notice that something is not pleasant."

Outside sniffers

The best way to find out whether a house smells OK is to "ask someone who doesn't live there to come inside and give an opinion," Gupta says.

The obvious "someone" would be the real estate broker hired to sell the home. But not all brokers will point out that a house smells bad, even if they're willing to offer other helpful suggestions.

Ketcham, for one, says she's not outspoken about odor issues. Instead, she offers to pass along any unfiltered "brutal truth" comments she hears from her colleagues who bring buyers to see the property. That way, the message gets delivered with less risk to her cordial relationship with the sellers.

"I will never be the kind that will come out and tell you that your house smells like cat litter or mothballs," she says. "I would rip my tongue out first."

NOTE: This is very common practice. They almost never tell you anything so that the homeowner is not offended.

Pet odors

The two most common sources of difficult and offensive odors are pets and cigarettes; neither of which, Gupta says, is easy to remediate.
The point might seem obvious, but the first line of defense in any smelly situation is to remove the source of the problem, even if that means a beloved pet must board elsewhere for a while.
"It's kind of cruel," Gupta says, "but if the pet is in the house, you're introducing new odor every day. For people who have pets, over time, it's a losing battle to get rid of the odor."
Cat urine, among the worst of the bad odors, can seep into carpet fibers, carpet padding, concrete and wood floors, upholstery fabrics, and furniture cushions and pillows.
"Oftentimes," he says, "you have to remove the carpet, remove the pad and seal the floor, and then replace the carpet and the pad."
Cleaning the carpet might help. But Gupta warns that any humidity will raise the odor from the padding or floor beneath.

No smoking

Cigarette smoke can cling to furnishings, drapes and other window coverings and work its way inside walls. Some topically applied solutions can help to reduce the stench, but an ozone generator,  or air scrubber should be more effective, Gupta says. These approaches are "very effective in absorbing odors," he says, though there is no guarantee that an odor can be eliminated completely.
One more tip: If someone suffers a long illness or dies in a home, a good airing may be adequate to remove any odors. In the case of a violent death, however, professionals who handle what's known as "trauma cleanup" should be called to do the job. The cost could be $1,000 or more depending on the type of remediation and the square footage.
"It's not like buying glass cleaner in a store and cleaning your windows," Gupta says. "If you have that type of situation, it's probably best to call a professional. It may be traumatic for you to do it yourself."





 

Carpet Warranty Information for Salem Oregon Residents

Do you know your carpet brand? Most people do not, so here is a short list of the most popular for the Salem, Dallas and Independence areas that we have found while cleaning. Did you know, most carpet manufacturers require regular, professional carpet cleaning in order to validate your carpet's warranty every 12-18 months with Hot Water Extraction? Click the links below to find out more about your carpet manufacturer's professional cleaning warranty and what they need to meet their requirements.
 Mohawk
Shaw
 Stain Master
 Bliss

Salem Business Cleans Floors like no other!

   

Salem Oregon Hard Surface Cleaning.

Fast Finish has put together several great videos of how our patent equipment cleans to better than new.

Browse through our blog for several great articles, tips, and advice for Salem area residents.
Our unique process removes the grime that other methods move around. For a more complete and sanitary way of cleaning we apply heat, vacuum and an emulsifier that suspends the toughest greases and organic materials so they can be extracted with our powerful truck mounted vacuum system.

Pet Care and Cleaning Carpets in Salem Oregon

We have 4 dogs in our household. Two of them compete freestyle. We also have 4 kids with two of them being the freestyle trainers with titles for two of the dogs. Two of the dogs are schnauzers and don't shed hair and that is great from a cleaning perspective. The other two however, shed more than enough to cover all four dogs. After having our own carpets professionally cleaned over the years prior to being in the business, we noticed how little care and concern was given to the household in regards to the family pets. The problem?-The family pet has exponentially more surface contact time with the carpet and their sensitive K9 receptors in their nasal passages exposed to the common pre-sprays that are used by every carpet cleaning company.
The solution?- the obvious solution is no pre- spray at the expense of diminished cleaning results or removing the pets for an extended length of time. As neither one of these options are practical in the culture of the day, Fast Finish has come up with the best solution available, ( that is until Star Trek transporters can beam the dirt particles away daily..... Hmmm?) Fast Finish uses a live enzyme based cleaning solution. The solution is mixed right before cleaning to activate the live microbial cleaning agents. The enzymes have a maximum 24 hr life span then become inert in their effectiveness. The processes costs a little more as there is always small unused amounts left over and it always has to be prepped for the job beforehand instead of just stored on the shelf. But the trade off is no harsh chemical residues left behind for our favorite friends and a true all natural smell. Isn't it time for something a little better than good? We think so...

To Many Carpet Cleaners

When Anna & I approached our business, we did not have a lot of interest in cleaning carpets.In fact, when I started researching what could be done with our equipment, I did not even look at how many carpet cleaners there were in our area. The reason being is that we had a different niche in mind with hard surface restorations and refinishing of those surfaces.(CHECK IT OUT)

The other reason is that carpet is just plain nasty and can only get so clean. If you have ever had your carpets cleaned, the cleaners will most likely tell you that your carpet is the largest filter in your house or business. And you know what..., it is very true! There is no way around it. The carpet accumulates and holds onto all the worlds filth. That is why they need to be cleaned constantly. The irony is that in spite of this, 75% of America's homes and business still have carpets! Carpet Cleaners around the world Thank You for having carpets...

So, the best carpet in our opinion is no carpet. But if you have it as most of us do, get it cleaned often. Yes, there are lots of carpet cleaners where we reside in Oregon, and I am sure a few of them will do as good a job as the wand & chemicals will allow. And since the world has so much carpet, we purchased in 2012 the best equipment available, to make sure that if we are going to clean carpet, it has the potential to be cleaner and more noticeable than any of our competitors out there. We do not want to be a "Me Too" company or a "we clean carpets too" company. We are striving for a Finish that we can be proud of....A Fast Finish