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Q. Which is the best method to clean my carpets? The skill of the operator is more important than the method of cleaning. A properly trained professional technician will return a better result regardless of the method of cleaning used. All NUCCA members clean carpets to the requirements of Australian Standard AS/NZ 3733:1995 and clean upholstery as per the requirements of AS/NZ 4849.1:2003.
There are two basic cleaning methods - Dry Cleaning: Bonnet Cleaning/Dry Powder Cleaning/Encapsulation - Steam Cleaning: Warm water/Hot water extraction/Steam Cleaning
Dry Cleaning: Carpet is pre-sprayed with solvent, the wet bonnet machine spins on carpet to transfer soil to the pad. This method dries more quickly, on average between 2 – 8 hours and is best used for lightly soiled carpets. It is a maintenance system rather than a deep cleaning method.
Steam Cleaning:The temperature of the water relates to the cleaning power. Steam cleaning is above 100 degrees celsius and gives the most effective deep cleaning and a healthier carpet. Warm water & Hot water extraction methods work at lower temperatures but also provide deep cleaning. Steam cleaning is used for carpet restoration work when carpets have been flooded and for upholstery cleaning. The carpet can take between 4 - 24 hours to dry, dependent upon the length of the pile and the weather conditions – humid or cold conditions will lengthen drying time. Steam Cleaning can be done using portable or truck mounted equipment. Truck mounted machinery uses its own power supply and can dispose of the used water off site whereas portable equipment uses the customer’s power supply and the used water is generally disposed of down the sewer or on a grassed area. It must not be emptied into storm water outlets. Top
Q. Why use a NUCCA member to clean my carpets and/or upholstery? Insist on a professional with outstanding credentials. NUCCA members have gained professional accreditation from IICRC, ACCI or through the Asset Maintenance Competency Standards and are qualified to provide a range of services which can include: - Carpet Cleaning
- Upholstery Cleaning
- Stain removal
- Carpet repairs
- Colour restoration
- Flood and Fire restoration
- Carpet laying & re-stretching
- Carpet protection
- Spot dyeing
- Odour control
- Carpet inspections
- Tile & Grout cleaning
- Hard floor cleaning & maintenance
- Carpet dyeing General cleaning
- Curtain cleaning
- Rug cleaning
- Pest control
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Q. Does Cleaning shrink or damage carpet?
No, Neither method damages carpets is used correctly - this is why you should make sure the carpet cleaner you choose has been properly trained and accredited. Top
Q. Is the carpet left very wet? No, The carpet will feel damp and cold but should be dry enough to walk on, however it is best to restrict unnecessary traffic until the carpet dries. The technician will place plastic or aluminium foil under the legs of furniture to prevent staining. Carpet which has a fibre protectant applied immediately after cleaning will be left wetter than normal to absorb the protectant and will take longer to dry. Top
Q. Will cleaning remove the natural lanolin from my wool carpet? No, There are no natural oils left in the wool fibre when it is made into carpet. The fibre goes through a process known as scouring where all the natural oil (lanolin) is removed by strong chemicals. This is so the carpet can be dyed. The carpet would also soil much more quickly if the oil was in the fibre as it would attract the dirt particles. Top
Q. Why have I got dark grey or brown lines under doors, curtains and along the edges of stairs? Filtration soiling is the accumulation of airborne soil – dust, smog, tobacco smoke and other pollutants - where airflow is concentrated and directed over or through carpet pile. The carpet "filters" out these pollutants and gradually becomes soiled and dark. It is not an indication of a defect in the carpet or low quality. It can appear on any carpet regardless of price, style, colour or fibre. In most cases the airflow is created by heating and air conditioning systems, thermal expansion and contraction of air or natural convection currents in the structure of the building. Filtration soil can be very difficult to remove as it consists of very fine particles, often oily in nature and typically the soil remains on the fibres for months or years. It can take several applications to remove, is labour intensive and therefore can be a costly process. Top
Q. How do I remove indentations from furniture in my carpet? Sometimes these are self correcting or can be assisted with vacuuming and a light brushing. In extreme cases the indentation can be covered with a damp towel and carefully steamed with an iron for a few seconds followed by brushing while warm to bring up the pile, there are however limitations and in some cases the indentation is permanent. Top
Q I have just had my carpet cleaned and there is a terrible odour, where is it coming from? Old pet stains are normally the culprit. It is impossible to remove urine by normal cleaning and while there may be no visible evidence of a stain, the urine oxidises and reacts with carpet to create amino acids which work into the fibres and even into the under floor. When moisture in present, for example after cleaning or in high humidity, the uric acid crystals absorb water and exude an ammonia gas. Professional cleaners have powerful oxidizing agents that can eliminate the source of the odour, which can sometimes involve lifting the carpet and treating the subfloor. It should be noted that if the animal is still in the house it will invariably re-mark it’s territory and the odour will return. Top
Q. I think I may have carpet beetle, what do they look like? Carpet beetles resemble ladybirds but are smaller. The beetle flies in, lays its eggs on the carpet & generally flies out. It is the lava that do the damage by feeding on the carpet. The lava are very small and often unnoticed, they exclusively dine on wool, will not touch nylon or polyester and are generally found around the edges of the room where there is no traffic. Generally speaking wool carpet over 5 years old (where pest treatment is exhausted) or water damage makes the carpet susceptible to carpet beetle attack. A minor infestation can be treated by the householder with a pyrethyrum based cockroach surface spray, but call a technician for a heavy infestation. Top
Q. What should I expect to pay for carpet and/or upholstery cleaning? There is no fixed price for carpet and upholstery cleaning and average prices vary from State to State. Bear in mind that it is a labour intensive job and be cautious about firms who advertise say "3 rooms for $65" - they can hardly pull up at your front door for that, and will onsell products and services to cover their costs. Reputable companies will always give you a firm price before starting the job and provided you have given them accurate information, the cost will not exceed their quote. Top
Q. What should I do if my room is flooded? If safe to do so, turn off electricity to wet areas, unplug and remove any small electrical devices located on the wet carpet. Call a carpet cleaner trained in water restoration to eliminate or repair the water source. Remove small furniture items (including books, shoes, plants etc) if possible to prevent rust or stains and expedite restoration. Remove breakables, moisture sensitive and high value articles. Place plastic or aluminium foil under legs of wood furniture. DO NOT - use any type of vacuum cleaner; it could result in electrical shock and damage the equipment- walk on wet carpets more than necessary- place newspaper in traffic areas, as newspaper ink will cause stainingTop
Insist on a professional with outstanding credentials! 
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