Frequently asked question How long will it take my carpets to dry after cleaning? Usually your carpets will be dry to the touch in less than 2 hours, but we recommend leaving the blocks and tabs under the furniture for 24 hours in case there is any lingering moisture at the base of the carpet. Why do spots sometimes return several days after having my carpet cleaned? The phenomenon that causes spots to reappear is called wicking. This happens when a spill has made it"s way to the backing or the padding of the carpet.As the carpet dries the substance will follow the fibers back up to their tips. This can be removed by a very light low moisture spot cleaning with a damp cloth. Then place a dry white towel over the spot. Then place something heavy like a book on top of the spot. As the spot dries again any remaining residue will be absorbed into the towel. We do however use as little moisture as possible to get the carpets cleaned and we never get the padding wet unless we are doing a padding flush to remove pet urine. I have dark lines around the edges of my carpet where the carpet meets the wall. What is this? This is called filtration soil. It is caused by air seeping in between the floor and the wall. The carpet acts as a filter and catches the dirt and dust in the air. In some cases it can be removed or lightened so it is not as noticeable. To help prevent this condition from becoming permanent, be sure to vacuum the edges of your carpet with a crevice attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Does having carpet protector applied after cleaning really help my carpets stay clean? Absolutely. When carpet is manufactured the mills do an excellent job of applying protector to the carpet. It does eventually wear off, especially in high traffic areas. Having the protector reapplied after cleaning keeps dirt and soil from attaching to the fibers so that it can be vacuumed easily and it also helps prevent spills from becoming permanent. We prefer to use a product made by Dupont called Bridgepoint Maxim which has acid dye resistors in it. This protects the carpet fibers from the inside out instead of just coating the outside of the fiber. How often should I have my carpets cleaned? It really varies depending on how many people you have living in the house as well as pets. The carpet mills recommend having the carpets professionally steam cleaned at least every 12-18 months. Most mills require going no more than 2 years to keep the warranty valid. The tag on my furniture says "dry clean only." Does this mean it can"t be steam cleaned? The informational tags on furniture are there to keep homeowners from attempting aggressive cleaning themselves. Most furniture can be steam cleaned, but it is best done by highly trained professionals. There are things that must be taken into consideration such as the PH of the cleaning agent. Dyes in some fabrics must be tested for stability. Many cotton fabrics should be cleaned using a dry foam method to prevent shrinkage.