Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my carpets take to dry?
Your carpet will be slightly damp to the touch after your cleaning. Most carpets typically need 6-10 hours to dry completely when using our faster drying process. However, it could take up to 24-48 hours to completely dry depending on the time of year your carpets are cleaned, and the air circulation, humidity and temperature in your home.
To minimize drying time during the winter months, raise your heat to 70 degrees Fahrenheit or more. You can also turn on dehumidifiers and any fans you have such as ceiling or floor fans. Even the fans in your bathrooms and the vent above the stove will increase air circulation and help carpets dry faster.
In the warmer months, air conditioning will work better than heat as it helps to remove moisture from the air. Opening windows and doors to increase air circulation is also helpful.
Why was I given an "arrival time"?
Because we service such a large area, we provide you a two hour window in which our techs will arrive at your home, giving them adequate time to drive between jobs.
What areas do you service?
We service most Denver Metro areas! Areas include Highlands Ranch, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Sedalia, Larkspur, Parker, Roxborough Park, Ken Caryl, Littleton, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Centennial, Stonegate, Aurora, Lakewood, Morrison, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Westminster, Boulder, Broomfield, Thornton, Northglenn, Commerce City, Marshall and Lafayette. Please call or text if you have any questions concerning our service areas. Anything outside of current service area may incur an additional charge.
How far in advance do I need to make an appointment?
Same day appointments are often available. It is recommended to call or text for same or next day appointments.
It's freezing outside, will Carpet Doctor still come out?
Because our truck-mount mainly utilizes water to operate, our machinery becomes inoperable if the outside temperature drops below 32 degrees. In this event, we will contact you as soon as possible and work quickly to get you rescheduled.
What payment methods do you accept?
While we prefer check or cash, we do also accept all major credit cards. There is a small 3.5% fee added to cover the processing fee.
Why is my carpet wavy or rippling after my cleaning?
Sometimes after cleaning, the wet carpet temporarily stretches causing these ripples in the carpet. Most often, these waves dissipate once the carpet is dry- sometimes carpet stretching may be necessary on older carpet.
I live in an apartment/condo, can you still clean my carpet?
This is very tricky and the answer has a lot of components to it. The short answer is "it depends" on many different circumstances. In order to properly clean your carpets we absolutely must have the following:
Access to an outside water source - Our machine runs on water, so we need plenty of it. Most apartment complexes do not offer outside water access, and due to the possibility of a leak we cannot hook inside buildings.
Access to adequate parking - Our van is large, so we need enough space to park it without blocking other residents' parking spots, garages, or streets. We cannot park anywhere a "No Parking" sign is posted. Also, if your apartment faces an area that isn't a road (somewhere we can't drive or park such as a ravine or grassy area), if our hoses are unable to reach you- we will be unable to complete the job.
Must be on the Ground level or Second-floor. - We have a limited length of hose that we can utilize for each job. So for this reason, we are unable to clean anything above the second floor.
If you have any questions or concerns about cleaning apartments or condos, please shoot us a text or give us a call. We will do everything we can to assist you.
My carpet has a lot of pet urine, does cleaning it remove it all?
Another tricky one. Pets definitely keep us in business! The answer is actually more scientific than you would expect. As the pet urine dries, it leaves behind crystallized particles which could be extremely difficult to remove if it sits too long on the carpet. When your pet urinates, it puts the carpet through a process extremely similar to the original dying process- so in most cases the urine actually changes the color of your carpet and is unable to be removed.
After you get your carpets cleaned and the carpets begins to dry, the urine can actually "wick" back up toward the surface from the pad. So a stain that seemed to have disappeared, may reappear once the carpet dries. Depending on the amount of urine in the carpet, cleaning it alone may not solve the issue. In some cases, the carpet fibers as well as the backing need to be cleaned and the pad completely replaced before the smell and urine go away.
We are happy to clean any house with urine stains and odor, and will do all we can to clean to the best of our ability, but we do not offer any guarantees on pet odor or stain removal.
Why did brown spots appear after my carpet cleaning?
If brown spots that weren't there before appear after your carpet cleaning, call to let us know within 72 hours of your cleaning. In most cases we can fix these spots, and we'll happily return to your home to treat them at no extra cost to you - that's our guarantee.
Brown spots appearing is a common phenomenon with Hot Water Extraction, and they usually occur for one of two reasons:
Wicking: Wicking is the reappearing of old spots and stains. This occurs when there are spills that have penetrated the carpet backing and have been laying dormant underneath the surface. They are sometimes pulled back up to the surface of the carpeting during the Hot Water Extraction process. You'll usually notice these stains after our technician has left your home, because the carpet can look clean when damp but the spots reappear once its dry.
Browning: Browning is when the tips of the carpet turn dark. This issue is different than wicking and usually shows up as large, brown, blotchy spots. Browning occurs when there is high alkalinity in the carpet, sometimes from things that have gotten spilled into it. When properly diagnosed, this issue is easily resolved with a treatment that reduces the alkalinity in the carpet.