Frequently Asked Questions

What type of cleaning system do you use?
Cumberland Carpet Cleaning offers powerful truck mounted steam cleaning, portable cleaning units where security of location dictate or low moisture cleaning for commercial carpet where appropriate. We use a ten step cleaning process that can be seen here.

How long will my carpet take to be completely dry?
Low moisture cleaning dries in one to two hours. Carpet that is steam cleaned dries in six to twelve hours. Carpet that has been protected dries in 18-24 hours.
*Drying time varies according to soiling conditions, amount of airflow, and humidity.

What is carpet protector and how does it work?
Protectors are a fluorochemical emulsion applied to carpet and upholstery to affect the surface properties so that carpet and upholstery look cleaner and newer, longer. Almost all carpets today have protector applied at the mill. Soil, staining, traffic and chemical spotting will wear off the factory-applied protector. After market protectors are like waxing your car. The invisible shield on your carpet prevents fibers from being damaged by dirt, dust, and liquids.

Can you walk on cleaned carpet before it is dry?
After cleaning, the carpet will be slightly damp. Any soil on shoes that come in contact with damp carpet will stick on the fibers. Also, protector that is not completely dry can be "walked off" into other areas such as vinyl floors. Carpet should be completely dry before being put into normal use.

What should I do before Cumberland Carpet Cleaning arrives?
We will remove and return all empty furniture (with the exception of pianos, china cabinets, multimedia equipment, grandfather clocks, aquariums, etc.) to its original position. We do ask that you remove breakables from inside on top of furniture to be moved.

Can pet stains and odors be removed?
There are many variables involved with pet stains and odors. After determining the clients' level of tolerance our qualified technicians will recommend a minor, moderate, or major odor treatment. We have an 80-90% success rate of removing pet stains. Unfortunately because of the many variables we cannot guarantee complete stain or odor removal. For more information on our deoderizing services, look here.

Can you clean upholstery?
Upholstery unlike carpet has thousands of combinations of fiber, colors and construction. Cumberland Carpet Cleaning's trained technicians will pre-inspect the fabric to be cleaned and decide which method of cleaning will satisfy the needs of the upholstered fabric and the needs of the customer. Upholstered furniture may be cleaned using either standard, delicate or specialty processes.

How do you clean ceramic/porcelain tile ?
Cumberland Carpet Cleaning uses the newest technology in cleaning agents to suspend ground in soil from your tile and grout. The floor is then machine or hand scrubbed. Finally, the Turbo floor cleaning tool, connected to a truck-mounted hot water extraction system utilizing 200+ degree water, pressure washes the floor surface while at the same time vacuuming up the soiled water. This process allows for maximum soil removal, and leaves your floor dry in minutes.

Can you clean my loose carpeting or area rugs?
Whether its a piece of spare carpet used to track off soil at entry ways or antique oriental rug, technicians at Cumberland Carpet Cleaning are trained to identify the fiber types and soiling conditions present. Many times synthetic fiber rugs can be cleaned on premises, while in most circumstances it is better to pick up your oriental rugs and clean them at our shop.

Do you clean commercial carpet?
First immpressions are very important , it says a lot about you and the service you are providing. Whatever the size of your business, let us help keep your business looking right. Call us today and at no cost to you we can design a maintenance program tailored for your needs. We can also provide janitorial services to fit your business needs.

Pet Odor FAQs

Can pet stains be removed on carpet or upholstery?
We have a high success rate, however our success depends largely on how long the stain has been in the fiber. When urine is first deposited on a capet of fabric it's in a neutral state. It's a lot easier to remove when its fresh. Once the urine is allowed to dry it turns to alkaline (thus the ammonia odor), if left for months, depending on the fiber type it could change the dye structure of the fabric. To prevent permanent staining, clean urine spots immediately.

Do you have a 100% guarantee on pet odors?
Unfortunately there is no way to completely guarantee odors of any type. The reason is that the odor may not be only in the carpet. It may be under the padding beneath the carpet.

What can be done about urine odor?
We normally use enzymes or a professional grade deodorizer to treat urine. There is a small extra charge for each quart. First, we use a special urine detector to pinpoint exactly where the urine deposits are. Then we spray enzymes only on the affected areas. The enzymes actually eat up urine bacteria. These enzymes are also for sale for you to use between cleanings. Urine is one stain we cannot have any guarantees on. The stains could be permanent, although we usually have a very good chance of removal.

What do you do to remove severe urine odor?
If the odor is severe, the padding beneath the carpet may need to be replaced and the sub floor treated. We also treat the face fibers with enzymes, allow time to dwell, and then extract the enzymes. If the urine is covering over half of the carpet, it may be more cost effective to replace the carpeting in the room. We normally only recommend this procedure if the pet is no longer in the home.

Is vomit removable from carpeting?
Yes, normally. However, the chances are reduced if an improper spot removal solution has been applied to the stain before our arrival. Also, some cat food has a red dye that permanently stains some nylon carpets. This dye is similar to the kool aid type of dye. If this occurs, we have a red dye removal system that can remove most cat vomit stains.

What can you do for recurring urine spots?
First we use our urine probe to determine exactly where the spot is. Next, we flood the area with one quart of Bi-O-Kleen enzyme mixture and allow the mixture to dwell for at least 20 minutes. Last, we use our "water claw" spot lifter to pull the urine directly from the padding. This process eliminates 90% of all urine problems. If you have us do this and the spot does return, we'll come back at no charge to attempt removal again (we can only guarantee no returning spots with this process).

Do you have a 100% guarantee on pet odors?
Unfortunately there is no way to completely guarantee odors of any type. The reason is that the odor may not only be in the carpet. It may be under the padding on the cement or wood beneath the carpet. It may also be on the baseboards, drapes, walls, etc. Furthermore, one cleaning may not be sufficient to take care of a severe urine odor. Sometimes return trips are necessary.