• Please bring to your technician's attention any spot or stains that may require special attention.

• Please vacuum your carpet before we arrive.

• Any small pieces, such as dining room chairs, magazine racks, floor plants, etc. which you can remove from the carpet to be cleaned will shorten processing time and return the carpet to normal use sooner.

• For your pet's peace of mind (and our's) please put them in a safe, quiet, place where our cleaning won't disturb them.

• China cabinets, sectional sofas, entertainment centers, antiques, large TV's, electronic equipment, computers, pianos and fragile furniture cannot be moved. Our standard cleaning includes moving any coffee tables, chairs, couches and smaller items that you would like moved. Beds, dressers, desks and other such heavier items may be moved upon request at an additional charge. Please inform us prior to your cleaning if you want such items moved.

• PLEASE DO NOT MOVE YOUR FURNITURE PRIOR TO CLEANING AS WE NEED TO PRESPRAY THE WALKWAYS. IF YOU DO MOVE FURNITURE, PLEASE MOVE IT OFF CARPETED AREAS.

• Remove all breakable items from the furniture which will have to be temporarily.

• Walk on carpet at your own risk until completely dry. Floors may be slippery when wet, especially walking from tile to carpet. Please advise all occupants of this hazard.

• Infants that are crawling must remain off the carpet for 24 hours.
  Keep children and pets away from hoses, equipment, cleaning products and work area.

• Odors: we do everything possible to reduce or eliminate urine odors. However, due to depth of contamination, 100% success may not be attainable. In severe cases, the carpet and pad must be replaced and the sub-flooring sealed. After our treatment, a stain may reappear which is not due to our negligence but occurs because of the depth of contamination. If this happens, please call our office and for a nominal fee we will return to eliminate the stain.

• Please pin up any full length draperies so that they will be at least 6 inches off the carpet.

• Also, please pin up any skirts on upholstered furniture which may be touching the carpet.

• MOST IMPORTANTLY, IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THIS EXPERIENCE A BETTER ONE FOR YOU, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

What carpet cleaning method is best?
Allen’s DRY-N-CLEAN is experienced in all methods of cleaning, including Hot Water Extraction, Bonnet cleaning (commonly known as the Chem-Dry™ method), Encapsulation, Dry Powder cleaning among others. However, virtually every carpet manufacturer recommends Hot Water Extraction for cleaning residential carpets because it offers the most thorough cleaning.

How often should I clean my carpet?
Most carpet manufacturers recommend that your carpet be cleaned every 12 to 24 months. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests even more frequent cleaning, depending on your carpet's use and traffic. Carpet subjected to extreme soiling or heavy use, pets, particularly high traffic areas, or carpet installed in homes occupied by persons with allergy or respiratory problems require greater cleaning frequency. Carpet receiving limited traffic needs less frequent cleaning. Regular vacuuming and immediate attention to spots and spills will keep your carpet cleaner longer.

Do Soil Retardants/Protectants really work?
Absolutely, if they are a high quality protectant and properly applied. Protectants not only prevent spills and spots from becoming permanent stains, but also make your regular vacuuming more effective by creating an invisible shield around each fiber. Allen’s DRY-N-CLEAN uses only the finest carpet protectants available.

Will my carpet need cleaning more often once it is cleaned?
Years ago carpet cleaning detergents left a sticky residue that could cause carpets to resoil. Some inferior carpet cleaners still use that type of product. Allen’s DRY-N-CLEAN uses only the finest, custom formulated non-residual cleaning solutions that will help your carpets stay cleaner longer.

How should I clean spots and spills?
AVOID GROCERY STORE SPOTTING AGENTS. They typically use harsh chemicals that can discolor and damage your carpets, are high pH and strip off the factory stain resistant coating, and leave a residue that resoils very quickly. We recommend our Spotter Blotter as a mild, residue free spotting solution or see our Spot and Spill Removal Guide.

Can you clean Berber carpets?
Absolutely, Berber is a weave, not a particular type of fiber. Berber is simply a type of loop construction that my come in olefin, nylon, wool or a blend. Berber requires a more thorough cleaning than other carpets because the "flushing" action needs to take place to get under, around and through the loops. Other companies that are not as thorough as we are have a lot of problems with Berber because they leave soil behind that can “wick” back to the surface.

Can you clean Wool carpets?
Yes, we have special products that we use for wool. We use lower pressure, lower temperature and take special drying precautions for cleaning wool.


Pet Odor

Can pet odors be removed?
In most cases, yes. For more information please see our Pet Odor Removal page (link) or call one of our Customer Care Coordinators for the best way to address your specific situation.


Upholstery Cleaning

How long after cleaning can we use our furniture?
For most fabrics Allen’s DRY-N-CLEAN uses our exclusive DrySteem™ system. This system leaves very little moisture in the fabric when we are completed. Typically the furniture will be dry to the touch in less than one hour; however fabric type and soiling condition can extend drying times. Fabric Protectant will dry very quickly, but will take approximately 24 hours to completely cure.

How can we best maintain our upholstered furniture?
Regular cleaning and maintenance is the key:
• Vacuum the upholstery monthly using the upholstery attachments on your vacuum.
• Rotate your cushions monthly if possible. If not, fluff them regularly
• Treat any spots or spills quickly. Be sure to test for colorfastness before applying any cleaning solution. If in doubt, call us first!
• Have your upholstery cleaned regularly.

How often should I clean my upholstery?
The best answer is “It Depends.” It depends on fabric, construction, use, even how much cooking is done in the home. A good rule of thumb for pieces used regularly is every 12-18 months. Since upholstery fabrics are more delicate than carpet, mild soiling conditions can leave permanent discoloration. If there is visible soiling, act quickly and have it cleaned as soon as possible.


Oriental & Area Rugs

Can my Oriental or Area Rug be cleaned in my home?
Yes and No. If the rug is a machine tufted carpet similar to normal wall-to-wall carpet; yes. However, if the rug is hand tufted, woven, has fringe or made of natural fibers such as wool, cotton or silk, in-plant cleaning is your best option. For more information our Oriental Rug page(link) for more information on our Rug Spa™ process.

How can I best care for my Oriental Rug?
With proper care Oriental Rugs can last for several lifetimes. A few tips to prolong your rug are:
• Vacuum regularly over the entire rug, avoiding the fringe.
• Rotate your rug – Rotating your rugs will allow them to wear more evenly, maintaining their original appearance and value. Also, rotate your rugs according to the amount of direct sunlight. Over time direct sunlight can fade the dyes of your rugs.
• Use a high quality pad – Padding will stabilize your rug and absorb much of the impact from foot traffic, making your rug last longer and safer to walk on.
• Clean your rug regularly – Gritty, dry soil can cause your rug to prematurely wear from abrasion, while sticky, oily soils attract airborne particles and can cause permanent discoloration. Since most wall-to-wall carpet cleaning companies lack the necessary equipment, training and skills to properly clean fine rugs, seek out a company with the proper experience.

Can I vacuum my Oriental rug?
Yes, but be careful to avoid the fringe.

Does cleaning remove the natural oils from my rug?
This is a common misconception. Lanolin, the natural oil in wool, is completely removed before the raw wool is spun into thread. If it was left, the rug would attract soil like a magnet. Wool, though extremely durable, can be damaged by harsh cleaning agents; therefore Wools of New Zealand, who tests wool cleaning products, recommends that only Wool Safe products be used.

Can you clean sisal, seagrass, or grass materials?
Yes, dry-clean only, unless last resort spot cleaning. Spot cleaning and extraction can cause discoloration or water rings on sisal.