Clean As Can Be Services, LLC

The Cleaner News (TCN)

Carpet Cleaner Traps Family in Basement

TCN has learned that a family was trapped in their basement by a carpet cleaning company for over 36 hours.  According to Mr. Rugg of Berber, Wisconsin the carpet cleaner they hired told his family to hang out somewhere else while until the carpets dried. “So we went to the basement,” said Rugg. What they didn’t know is that it would take from Friday morning until Saturday evening for their carpets to dry.

Friday’s Promised Service

Splash and Dash Carpet Guys arrived at the Rugg home 10:00 Friday morning, 30 minutes after their scheduled time. As mentioned, the Rugg family went to their basement while the carpet cleaning crew worked upstairs.

After about three hours Mr. Rugg peeked out from the top of the basement stairs. He found a collection of fans left behind to help dry the carpets. “The noise of the fans was so loud we didn’t hear them leave. I don’t even know how long they worked," said Rugg. Rugg then stepped onto the carpet and heard a distinct squishing noise. Following instructions, he rejoined his family in the basement to wait for the carpets to dry. That is where his family stayed until Saturday evening. "We repeatedly checked, but the carpets just weren't drying," said Mrs. Rugg.

Saturday’s Reality

By mid day Saturday a neighbor became concerned because the Rugg vehicles were in the driveway and the door was locked. However, no one answered the door. At this point, the neighbor called the police.

After gaining entrance to the home Officer Gotchya found the family in the basement watching static on their television. “We’ve seen this happen before,” said Gotchya, “Our course of action is to provide boredom and frustration counseling to family members and help them reset their furniture. There’s really nothing else we can do.” 

A Faxed Defense

Lotta Wett,  owner of Splash and Dash, refused to comment but he did send this prepared statement.

We have cleaned carpets for a long time, so we must know how to clean carpets. This particular case is not unlike others we have dealt with. I talked to my technicians about the incident at the Rugg home. 

They told me that they arrived almost on time and that other than short smoke breaks they worked really hard and fast so that they wouldn’t be late for their next appointment. 

I’m sure the carpet looked clean when they left because I worked with these guys for a couple days before sending them out on their own.   

Further more, the fine print of our two page contract clearly states that “We cannot guarantee the time it will take for carpets to dry because it takes a lot of water to clean carpets.” After we have a signed contract, and then only as a courtesy to the customer, we send a long and detailed letter explaining how to prepare for our work. 

This letter explains everything we expect from the customer before we arrive such as moving all the furniture, vacuuming, boarding pets, making sure the home has a well maintained dehumidifier, and making plans to spend a couple days away if needed. We cannot be held accountable if customers don’t follow these simple directions.

In light of this, and because Mrs. Rugg signed our contract, we expect the Rugg family to pay the amount they owe us. However, in good will and to show that we fully understand their frustration we have sent them a gift certificate for $10.00 off their next service. 

Sincerely,

Lotta Wett

Better Options

Our own cleaning reporter, Poly Ester Pile, took a closer look at the carpet cleaning industry. Pile talked with Eric Nei, owner of Clean As Can Be Services, LLC of Woodruff, Wisconsin. According to Nei, “There are several carpet cleaning options available to customers that want the best possible cleaning and minimal inconvenience at reasonable prices.”

And Those Options Are…

“Very Low Moisture cleaning and Flush Extraction,” said Nei. He went on to explain that cleaning includes many variables including time, temperature, pressure, agitation of cleaning surface and cleaning solutions. “Adjust any of these and you can adjust the outcomes.”

Nei continued, “When I entered the carpet cleaning business I did my home work. I spent many hours researching customer complaints and solutions. I took a close look at options in the industry. As a result I became the area expert on Low Moisture Carpet Cleaning. This method cleans light to moderately soiled carpets extremely well and carpets are ready for use 60 minutes after we are done.”

What about flush extraction? That sounds awfully wet.

Nei said that Flush Extraction still provides dry times of less than 4 hours. He said it is an excellent option for carpets that are moderately to severely soiled and is excellent when working with dog and toddler accidents or very heavily soiled carpets. It is also excellent for restaurants and high traffic areas in all commercial settings. 

Nei explained, “The trick is that with the equipment we use extraction motors are only 11 inches off the carpet, so carpets are still dry in most circumstances in less than 4 hours and often much faster. That’s half the time of most truck mounts and standard, old fashioned portable carpet cleaning equipment. This modern equipment is way different; small, powerful and fast. Big and loud doesn’t necessarily mean better. And again, we are he only company in the area offering customers this carpet cleaning solution.

In House Research

Pile invited Mr. Nei to clean her carpets to test these statements. Pile warned Nei that her twin toddlers and new puppy would create some challenges in getting their cream colored textured Berber carpet clean. Her assessment when Nei’s team was done?

“All I can say is that Mr. Nei and his employees are very professional. They showed up on time, in uniforms, treated my family well, and did what they said they were going to do. Mr. Nei was more than happy to explain how Low Moisture Carpet Cleaning works. I don’t understand every detail about the 21^st century science behind carpet cleaning, but I now know I have options that don’t include two days in the basement.”

Doubling Back

Pile then called Wett, owner of Splash and Dash Carpet Cleaning to discuss her findings. Wett said he was  frustrated by the continued questions and said that, “I really don’t know anything about other ways to clean carpets, but I’m sure the way we do it is the best way because we’ve been around a long time.”

Article submitted by Hue Getit, Lead Cleaning Editor, Cleaning Network News

All articles on this Blog site under the The Cleaner News heading are intended to be funny, sarcastic, satirical and peppered with facts. Most characters are fictional. Any resemblance to actual circumstances or people is accidental. In a fun way, all articles will point the reader toward better ways of getting their needs met when it comes to cleaning. For more information or to make comment please post on this blog, call (715) 892-4290 or send an email eric@CleanAsCanBeServices.com to  Eric Ne, owner of Clean As Can Be Services, LLS.  

Copyright 2012