Beware of ChemDry's Claims

After reading a recent advertisement from ChemDry in the local paper, I was floored by some of their claims. I know the Hot Water Extraction (HWE often referred to as "Steam Cleaning") is the preferred method to clean carpets and I'm sick of every ChemDry advertisement bashing HWE cleaners. I have never bashed ChemDry on their methods, but I refuse to sit back while they advertise these false claims to the public. So I've compiled some facts for you to ponder, along with sources to see for your self the truth behind their method.

#1: Hot Water Extraction is the only method that the carpet manufactures recommend. Don't you think that the makers of your carpet would know the most about how it should be cleaned. In some cases, if you have your carpets cleaned using ChemDry's rotary bonnet method, it will void your warrantee. That in it self should speak volumes about their method.

#2 ChemDry always claims to be "healthier". The system we use rinses and extracts all the cleaning agents and soil from the carpet. The only cleaning solution we use is in the pre-treat process. When we clean the carpet with our truckmount unit we only run a fiber rinse through the carpet wand. This ensures that all of the cleaning solution used during the pre-treatment process is removed along with all the soil that's in the carpet.

#3 ChemDry also claims to leave no "Sticky Residue". Because of our process explained above, we don't leave any residue. If ChemDry shows up to your house with a rotary bonnet machine, turn them away. This method relies on a pad attached to a scrubber that is rubbed on your carpet at high speed. The theory is that the dirt will magically be lifted onto the absorbent pad, but without any powerful extraction method, how well do you think this is really going to work? This method has actually been scientifically proven to cause damage to the carpet fibers.

#4 Fast Drying time is another one of ChemDry's claims. I am going to have to agree with that one, but I don't agree with their claim that by having your carpets "Steam Cleaned" that it will take days to dry. The average drying time for us is about 4-6 hours. Now we have had some jobs where the carpets were dry in as little as one hour, but some that take upwards of 12 hours. (Never more than 1 day. EVER.) You see, there are many factors that determine how quick the carpets dry. The more soiled the carpet is, the more cleaning solution and more rinsing we have to do. This in turn increases the drying time. If however, you keep up on your routine maintenance and don't allow the carpets to become very soiled, we don't need to use as much solution to clean them, thus the drying time is very short. (NOTE: If you set up a regular cleaning maintenance schedule, we do offer discounts.) There are also external factors that determine drying time such as: The homes humidity the day of the cleaning, the pile of the carpet, and whether or not you have fans to move air over the carpet.

#5 Their specials aren't that special. If you divide the price, by the amount of square footage cleaned you come up with the cost per square foot. Lets use their "Special" of $154 for 6 rooms. Read the fine print and see that these 6 rooms can't exceed a total of 700 sq/ft. Now using the maximum square footage of 700 sq/ft at $154, this comes to $.22 sq/ft. Now our cost varies from $.23-$.28 a sq/ft, but keep in mind, you need their coupon to get this deal, and with everything I just highlighted about ChemDry, it's not a deal at all.

I'm not saying ChemDry is the worst. I just want you, the consumer, to be aware and educated about the carpet cleaning process before making your decision. I do the best job possible at every job I go to and I hope I have provided some of you with the information needed before considering a carpet cleaning company.

Thanks,

Brandon Reilly

(C) Reilly-Coughlin Carpet Cleaning 2010 / Privacy Policy

5064 Ellicott Rd.
Fredonia, NY 14063

Website Design by: TrinixSoft.com