What procedure do you use for a home full of area rugs (inexpensive Kohls, Ikea etc.) on Wood floors? Do you remove them all? Do you clean them right on the wood floor? My question is mainly for Hot water extraction.
If they're placed on the holding pad, i do them right on the wood floor, and then hang em to dry. if they're straight on the wood floor try to place them on the tile, or somewhere where i wont damage the wood.
Depending on what condition the area rugs are in you could do a few things. If they're heavily soiled you could recommend that you take them to clean them at your shop. Reason being is they may need special attention that needs more than one treatment. That sets a whole value on your service, and they know the rugs aren't just getting a quick once over. You can also charge accordingly, but be sure you determine what the client WANTS you to do, and what they're willing to invest in with their rugs. If you determine that they're lightly soiled, and can clean them in place, and that's what the customer wants, then you can do that following: Buy some furniture moving blankets and tuck them underneath the edge of the rug to catch over spray. If the drive way is suitable for cleaning them outside then there is also that option. Sunlight does amazing things for dry times, as well the reaction some chemicals make, such as oxidizers.
I would be careful of cleaning over wood floors. Wood floors are sensitive to water and to many of the products that may be used to clean rugs. Takign the rugs offiste, even if it is to your driveway, give the clinet that impression that they are recieving special treatment - which they should be.
I've discovered that a lot of people have rugs from Kohl's or Sam's, and they'd just like them cleaned in place, so here's what I do: - Vacuum the heck out of them in every direction. - Treat them with a appropriate prespray from a trigger sprayer. - Agitate/clean with a lambs wool hand mit. - Hot water extract with my Drimaster upholstery tool. - Dry with a 360 degree air mover if needed. The rugs clean-up nice, and the client is happy that they are dry or nearly dry by the time I'm done. I was losing rug sales, trying to take the rugs to my shop, etc. It's worked out nicely, and the results have been great.
I never clean area rugs in place at a customers house. You need to vac both sides of the rug, and clean both sides, then hang to dry, thats why I take all rugs back to the shop. You can also get more money for them, If the customer says I want it cleaned here, I tell them, I cant get them as clean as I can @ the shop because of the above procedure.
You are asking for trouble if you clean in place over a nice floor - you are tempting fate, and you also will not rinse as thoroughly as you should that way so you'd do a crummier cleaning job also. Taking the rugs off-site allows you to spend more time to do a great job, and also allow you to charge more for that. If they don't want to pay $4 per sq ft to clean - then simply vacuum very thoroughly at the house and perhaps lightly surface clean with a handtool. The one piece of equipment I like for surface cleaning rugs - not as good as giving them a bath, but close - is the Steemin' Demon. Great rinsing action, and this is what the rug needs ... IF the dyes are stable. If you want to see a video on testing dyes, it's over on my rug chick blog, www.therugchick.com. Just FYI. Lisa
