Answers to many questions our customers have often asked. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please feel free to contact us.
A: Yes we are local and live in the Cowichan Valley. And yes we are fully certified – we have passed all our exams! We strongly believe training is the most important factor determining the successful outcome of your cleaning experience; followed closely by the type of equipment used.
A: As carpets absorb dirt, organics and chemicals they begin to have a life of their own! Adding moisture from an undetected source creates odors, bacteria and eventually an unsightly carpet. Proper training to identify these contaminants is paramount. Certified carpet cleaners such as Fabri-Klean are trained to identify and properly treat each of these conditions and restore your carpets to near new condition for your continued enjoyment and good health.
A: We specialize in environmentally friendly cleaning products specifically designed for carpet, area rug and upholstery cleaning. All our products are sourced from Planet Clean in Duncan who offer products to create healthier, safer and happier environments for people to live, work and enjoy. Planet Clean carries the most advanced and effective cleaning, sanitation and infection control products available today.
A: Typically, it takes between five and eight hours. The drying time will depend on a number of factors such as the type and density of your carpet, room temperature, humidity and most importantly air movement. To speed up the drying time, if possible, we recommend that you keep your windows slightly open for a few hours once the carpet cleaning has been completed.
A: Manufacturers are vague but prudent timing would be to have your carpets cleaned every 3 to 12 months on average. Depending on how many adults, children and pets live in your home a more frequent cleaning schedule would benefit the useful life of your carpets. As a general rule, we recommend that the high traffic areas of your home be cleaned every 6 months with an annual thorough cleaning.
The following link outlines how carpets are actually healthier for your home environment than many other floor covering options. Carpets as floor covering in a healthy home. Additionally, the Carpet & Rug Institute has links to studies on asthma, allergans and hard surfaces such as wood flooring as researched at Shaw Industries Group Manufacturers.
A: Yes we support many local charities. Our customers are great to us here in the Cowichan Valley and our company policy is to give back to that community. We are proud to support our local Rotary Club of Duncan; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cowichan Valley; BC Childrens Hospital.
A: Truck Mounted Steam Cleaning is a process requiring the use of commercial grade suction and water temperature equipment attached and installed to a vehicle delivering the power and deep sanitizing clean recommended by carpet manufacturers. The investment required for such equipment is in the many tens of thousands.
Portable Steam cleaning is a much smaller, less expensive and variable quality process to clean carpets. Portable systems do not have the equivalent air-suction power or required high water temperature to adequately clean carpet or upholstery. Typically used in inaccessible office towers; suppliers that use this equipment require only a few thousand dollars to enter the market. In our opinion, the final cleaning results are simply not comparable.
In our experience, the result is the illusion of reduced prices – the reality is you pay for a far less quality carpet clean.
At Fabri-Klean we insist on only the best technology to do the job – Powerful, truck-mounted, deep cleaning, hot water extraction processes as recommended by all carpet and upholstery manufacturers!
A: We use industry certified, truck-mounted, hot water extraction cleaning methods combined with advanced cleaning products that will return your carpeting, area rugs, tiles or furniture to near new condition.
A: Proper carpet and upholstery cleaning requires a pre-treatment solution. We then run our state-of-the-art, high-powered hot water extraction cleaning system over the entire area. During this process, hot water is injected into the carpet to loosen deeply embedded dirt and (most importantly) remove any residual cleaning solutions. The result of powerful suction leaves your carpets sanitary, clean and free of residue and odor.
A: We charge by the square foot cleaned. You only pay for the areas we clean. Of course the level of soiling in your home determines the energy required to properly clean; this extra effort is marginally more expensive. This pricing is a guideline; an exact price will be given on site prior to starting the job so you will know the final cost of the cleaning before we start.
A: Our technicians are equipped with state-of-the-art truck mounted hot water extraction systems. We have invested considerably in our equipment to deliver you a vastly superior carpet cleaning result. We simply do not believe in the limited results portable equipment offer.
A: At Fabri-Klean, our experts recommend every six to twelve months. Frequency should depend on the amount of traffic you have in your home. Don’t wait for your carpets to smell funny or look bad before having them cleaned – this may negatively affect your health and the investment in your carpet.
A: The Fabri-Klean experts’ recommend that you vacuum your carpets regularly with a HEPA equipped vacuum cleaner. Focus on entrance ways and high traffic areas more often and always clean up spills immediately.
A: Some of the reasons why homes and businesses experience water damage include (but are not limited to):
A: Although walls and ceilings may look dry after a water damage incident, in many cases the water has seeped in behind the walls. Using advanced detection equipment, such as moisture meters, Fabri-Klean technicians will determine if you have moisture behind the walls. If you do, there is a very good chance that you currently or will have mold in the future (possibly as soon as within 36 to 72 hours). Wet insulation is also a breeding ground for odors and mold growth.
A: Yes. Water damage is the leading cause of mold growth. Like other bacteria, animal or plant life, mold needs water to grow. Remove the moisture and water, and you have effectively stopped the mold from growing any further.
A: Dehumidification is the process of removing moisture from the air and away from the areas that need to dry.
A: Unless you have moisture meters and know where to look for hidden moisture, you’ll be taking a chance of not finding mold growth.
A: First and most importantly we extract as much water as possible. Then we remove or place on blocks furniture from the affected area. Next we carefully remove the carpet from your floors, remove any wet padding and dispose of it responsibly. These are only a few of the many parts to the process of restoring your home. Call us if you have any concerns, we’re here to help.
Call us at the number at the top of the page to assist you in water damage clean up. Meanwhile here are some tips on what to do while you are waiting:
A: One of the most important tools we use to professionally combat water damage is our powerful air-drying equipment. Using speed dryers, we can push the moisture off of the damaged carpet, furniture or walls and into the air where our commercial dehumidifier(s) catch it and removes it from the room.
A: Our recommendation is to use a vacuum that has been through CRI’s IAQ program that tests for soil removal, dust containment, and carpet appearance retention.
A: Depending on the number of family members (including your pets) we recommend you vacuum consistently to remove soils on a regular basis. The length of time between vacuums determines how deeply soils can become embedded in your carpet resulting in a more difficult clean, or worse, permanent damage to the carpet fibres. Regular vacuuming slows the embedding process by removing surficial soils before they deeply penetrate the carpet fibres. This maintenance routine will go a long way in lengthening the life of your carpets.
And of course, have your carpets professionally steam cleaned at least once a year by Fabri-Klean Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning!
A: Our recommendation is to look for units carrying the CRI vacuum cleaner testing program label. Many units are not HEPA filter units, yet are still effective in dust containment.
Online Guide located HERE
Most carpets on the market today have been treated with a stain-resistant product, which means that many spills can be cleaned up if immediate action is taken. The longer the delay, the higher the probability of a spill becoming a permanent stain.
In an inconspicuous area, test a small amount of your stain treatment to make sure that the solution won’t damage the fibre or the dye of your carpet. Once you’ve applied several drops to the test area, hold a white cloth on the wet area for several seconds. Look on the cloth for colour transfer, and on the carpet for colour change or damage. If a change occurs, another cleaning solution should be selected. If no damage is detected, apply a small amount of the selected cleaning solution with a dry white cloth and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes then work in gently.
After the spot has been completely removed, rinse the affected area well using cold water, and blot with another dry cloth until all of the cleaning solutions have been removed. To Dry: Apply a one-half inch layer of white paper towels to the affected area and weigh those down with a flat, heavy object. Continue to change the paper towels as needed.
