• Schooled and Trained Professionals. Carpet cleaning is an ever-changing field. Good PROFESSIONAL carpet cleaners keep abreast of such changes and constantly improve the services they offer. Make sure the carpet cleaner you choose is professionally schooled and trained and ask whether that schooling is updated on a regular basis. The finest equipment alone does not guarantee results.

• Association with Professional Organizations. Affiliation with professional trade associations goes a long way. All members of the carpet cleaning company then have access to technically correct and unbiased information on cleaning and restoration. The carpet cleaning company will possess high professional standards and will abide by the Code of Ethics of the organization. If a problem develops during cleaning, expert advice can be obtained from the association's technical personnel. Therefore, the logo of a trade association, displayed proudly in the carpet cleaner's advertisements, trucks, etc., should mean a lot to you. It should generate confidence in the carpet cleaner. Look for such affiliations in the cleaner you choose.

• Customer Reviews & Recommendations. Ask the carpet cleaning company for names of previous customers. Gauge how reluctant or eager they are at granting your request. Call or text the references, if possible, and find out about their cleaning experience. Ask about the cleaner's appearance, manner of presentation, condition of equipment, ability to answer questions, etc. Find out if the overall cleaning experience was pleasant and would they go back to the same firm. Don't forget to go online to review sites such as Google, Yelp, etc. for more information.

• Watch Out for the Low End. Misleading (often fraudulent) advertising and glib sales tactics leave those cleaning companies who offer quality service at a disadvantage. Advertisements promising carpet cleaning at unbelievably low prices are prevalent these days. If you think they are too good to be true, you are probably correct. Have you been left with an over wet and still dirty carpet? Have you ended up paying several times more than what you thought you would be paying? If yes, then you have had first-hand experience with such cleaners. Quality service requires investment. It is not possible to offer good service at ridiculously low prices. Do not fall victim to low pricing or 'bait and switch' tactics. At ABC, we stand behind the quality of all areas of our services. We want you to feel comfortable enough to call us again when your wall-to-wall carpets need cleaning. We will remind you each year to assess whether you need a thorough cleaning or a cleaning of just the major traffic areas in your home or business.

• You Can Contribute to the Success of a Cleaning Job. Cleaning compounds and procedures can be altered to fit the specific needs of the carpet being cleaned and the home or business owner. Describe the use conditions of the carpet and all previous home and professional cleanings to your professional cleaner. For example, if the carpet has been cleaned with a shampoo process several times before, it is reasonable to expect the presence of some detergent residue. With this information, your cleaner may change the cleaning solution to compensate for this. If your carpet has spots and stains, point them out to the cleaner. Tell the cleaner how long they have been there and what may have caused them. Some spots and stains like those from bleaches, urine, mildew, etc., may be impossible to remove even by the most proficient cleaner. Knowing about them will prevent disappointments resulting from unrealistic expectations. Do not remove furniture protectors placed under furniture legs until the carpet is completely dry. Mahogany, redwood, and other kinds of wooden furniture can bleed permanent color stains onto carpet. Metal legs may rust if placed on floor coverings that are still wet.

• Protect Your Investment. Carpet and upholstery are probably among your most precious possessions. Chances are you have spent a good deal of money acquiring them. Protect your investments and take the time to find the right cleaner. You would be surprised at the number of problems that can develop from a poorly performed cleaning job. Even though choosing the right cleaner won't guarantee the complete absence of problems, it will greatly reduce the chances. Selecting a good and reputable carpet cleaning firm will ensure the highest level of satisfaction.

• Our technicians are schooled and trained in every facet of cleaning and they attend schools to update their learning on a regular basis.

• We are members of ARCS (Association of Rug Care Specialists).

• We subscribe to all the major service magazines.

• All of our cleaning equipment is constantly maintained and updated according to the latest developments in the field.

• We can provide you with a list of satisfied customers in your area upon request and would be happy to do so.

• We appreciate any opportunity to visit with you and look forward to serving you.

• Carpet cleaning is an intricate process. Carpet cleaning by 'do-it-yourself' methods may not enhance the appearance to the desired level. Consumers, in most cases, have had little or no previous experience operating the machines.

• There is a good possibility of misuse and/or overuse. Machines that can be rented for 'do-it-yourself' cleaning, such as shampooing and/or hot water extraction or 'steam' cleaning, can leave some residue on the carpet. If the carpet is shampooed many times, the residue can accumulate, leading to various problems, such as severe foaming on later cleanings, stickiness, an increased attraction to soil, etc.

• Successful cleaning by rental machines is largely dependent on the experience of the operator. Improper use can leave the carpet overly wet, causing possible backing delamination, odor from development of mold/mildew fungi, cellulose browning, color run, shrinkage, and other related problems. This can happen, especially in areas of repeated high volume use, or 'traffic areas.' One or two passes of the cleaning wand may not be sufficient to enhance the appearance of such areas. Attempts to clean them over and over again can cause over wetting and its attendant problems.

• 'Do-it-yourself' cleaning by the dry-absorbent compound method will not cause such problems as over wetting, color run, shrinkage, etc. But it, too, can mean some headaches. If the final vacuuming operation is not thorough, some of the powder will be left in the carpet pile. With repeated cleanings, enough cleaning compound can accumulate to cause some discoloration by its own presence.

• The obvious conclusion is that carpet cleaning by 'do-it-yourself' methods is not a substitute for professional cleaning. It can, at best, merely postpone the need or reduce the frequency of professional cleanings. Rental units lack adequate power and consumers usually lack the expertise to succeed in properly maintaining carpet and prolonging its attractive life.

• 1555 - Olaus Magnus, a Scandinavian bishop, was the first known person to make a reference to the unique shapes of snowflakes.

• 1591 - English astronomer, Thomas Harriot, first identified the six-fold symmetry of snowflakes.

• 1611 - Johannes Kepler, a German astronomer wrote about the six-cornered snowflake.

• 1885-1931 - Wilson Bentley, a meteorologist from Vermont took the first detailed photos of snowflakes. He photographed over 5000 snow crystals so well that hardly anyone else bothered to photograph snowflakes for almost 100 years. His claim that each snowflake is unique has held up to scientific scrutiny.

• Snowflakes can be found as traditional seasonal images or motifs, especially around the Christmas season in Europe and North America, where snowflakes symbolize purity. During this part of the year, children often make paper snowflakes to hang on Christmas trees or in windows.

• Snowflakes are used as symbols representing winter or cold conditions.

• Snow tires are often labeled with a snowflake.

• A stylized snowflake has been a part of the emblem of many of the Winter Olympics.

• A six-pointed stylized hexagonal snowflake has come to symbolize the northern heritage and diversity of Canadians.

• Snowflakes can be found on several Coats of Arms as well.