If you want to combat the odors when you are cleaning, add baking soda to your bag. Baking soda will help to neutralize some of the smells that you will get in your bag such as pet hair and old food. This will help you to feel more comfortable and sanitary when you have to dispose the bag.

There are many carpet cleaning companies popping up because of the availability of portable machines, so make sure that you hire someone that is qualified to do the job. The best way to do this is to ask for licensing information, insurance and references. This will help you hire someone that is fit for the job.

You should always find out if your carpet cleaning company offers a money back guarantee. This is very useful since you may not always be satisfied with the job that was done. Most companies that offer this type of policy work harder because they do not want to end up giving out multiple refunds.

Consider having your carpets cleaned with the new water-free method. Water can cause the stains and dirt to only sink deeper into the carpet and even into the padding underneath. This is why many companies are changing their method of cleaning. Look into this service before you decide on which company to choose.

A carpet cleaning company is a great option if you really want to make sure all dirty water is extracted from your carpet. Home cleaning machines often require a large amount of water, and they do not have the suction to get that water back out. A professional company can offer better extraction methods, leaving your carpets feeling clean and dry faster.

The larger the engine for the carpet cleaning machine, the most suction that it has. In order to truly clean carpets, you must have a great deal of suction to pull out the dirt deep in the rugs. If your carpet cleaner uses a machine that they can carry, there is no way they are getting the suction that they need.

Make sure that you check the references of any carpet cleaning company before you consider hiring them. Do not allow cheap prices to blind you to the facts. Ask for references and call each and every one of them. You don’t want to overlook the references and end up with a real problem.

Once you’ve seen the results a professional carpet cleaner can have on your home, you will never go back to doing it the old fashioned way. Think of the time and effort you’ll save yourself by leaving it to the pros: amazing results while you do something else and no aching back at the end of the day! Hopefully this article inspires you to call in the professionals.

If you are having lasagna at home, one thing that you need to be wary of is to avoid spilling or dropping it on your carpet. Sadly, this is one problem that a lot of homeowners face. Spilling lasagna can be really problematic since it will cause a very nasty stain that is very challenging to remove.

Dealing with this kind of mess and not knowing what to do can be very frustrating for any homeowner. To help you with this situation, check out the useful guide below that you can follow in cleaning the spilled lasagna on your carpet effectively.

1. Use a dull knife to slowly scoop up and extract the spilled lasagna on your carpet. Immediately doing this is going to help you isolate the problem to a smaller area of the carpet as well as prevent the sauce from getting deeper into the carpet fibers.

2. Dilute the lasagna stain on your carpet with a few drops of water. This is going to help make the stain become lighter as well as stop it from setting on the carpet right away.

3. Make a cleaning agent that you will be using on the carpet to help remove the ugly stain. Try to combine one part of dish washing liquid with five parts of warm water to make a very inexpensive yet effective cleaning solution. Get an empty spray bottle and then put the cleaning solution inside before moving on to the next step.

4. Spray the stained area of your carpet a couple of times using the cleaning solution. Allow three minutes to pass before using a clean white cloth to blot the area continuously. Do this step until the entire stain is gone. This may take some time but after a while your carpet will be clean and spotless once again.

5. Rinse the carpet with a cup of water to help eliminate any residue that could stay behind on the carpet fibers. Afterwards, use a clean towel to dry everything before using your carpet again.

Lasagna spills can be very problematic but hopefully the guide above will help you in getting your carpet clean and tidy once more.

If you are cleaning a stain, try to focus on working towards the middle. This motion will isolate the stain so that it will not spread on your floor. Try to use a cleaning product that gets rid of the stain without harming your rug in the process for the best results.

Ensure that the carpet cleaning company you’re looking to hire has the experience to do a good job. Is the company able to treat all types of carpet soiling? What types of carpeting can the company clean? A knowledgeable company will be able to give you an estimate of what your carpet will look once it’s cleaned.

Ask people you trust to refer a good carpet cleaning company. Anyone can claim to be able to do a good job, but you do not want to let anyone in your house to do such a delicate job unless you know they will do a great job. Talk to friends and family members to find out if they recommend anyone in your area.

It is important to feel good about the cleaning company you are using. The object is to feel content with the service provided, so make sure this happens. A good company makes sure that you are happy the whole process through.

Choose your carpet very carefully. The color and texture of the carpet should play an important part in your decision but you should also find out more about the cleaning process. If possible, choose a quality stain resistant carpet to get rid of stains easily instead of choosing a high-maintenance carpet.

Always make sure you vacuum a carpet before you use a machine to clean your carpet. You could end up breaking the machine if you do not, costing you quite a bit of money. Make sure you vacuum before you have professional carpet cleaners work in your home, also.

Industrial carpet cleaners can be tricky, so you have to read through the instructions carefully. Depending on reviews from other customers and proof of certification, you may have to do some thinking. These things need to be known prior to using this kind of product.

Ask friends or coworkers for carpet cleaner recommendations. You can ask a doctor, their secretary, a store clerk or anyone you know for some advice. Obviously, their advice won’t be as reliable as that of a loved one.

Cleaning all the carpeting in your home can take all day and leave you with an aching back! Give yourself a break and get amazing results by letting the professionals handle it! Hopefully this article has provided you with all the information you need to hire a great company that will have your carpets looking and smelling brand new!

Reputation is important in the carpet cleaning business. There are quite a few companies to choose from, and there are those that you can depend on more than others. Talk to your loved ones and ask their advice on a company. This is a good way to put together a list of reliable businesses in your area.

A carpet cleaning company is a great option if you really want to make sure all dirty water is extracted from your carpet. Home cleaning machines often require a large amount of water, and they do not have the suction to get that water back out. A professional company can offer better extraction methods, leaving your carpets feeling clean and dry faster.

Take advantage of current promotions and specials being run at the carpet cleaning companies in your area. Sometimes you can find a new company looking to build their clientele base, giving away great deals to first time customers. Doing your research into this can end up saving you money and finding you a great new company.

Be very careful if you use a coupon from a carpet cleaning company that you receive in the mail. They will often list extremely low prices to get the work, but when they actually come, they will hit you with hidden charges to clean the home. Extras they will try to tack on at additional cost include spot treatment, heavy traffic areas and hallways.

Know your options when it comes to the cleaning process your cleaners will use. Consider the drying time, the type of chemicals to be used and if you are looking for eco-friendly products to be used. Once you know the process you want, you will be able to narrow down the companies and find one that offers it.

An important question to ask any carpet cleaning company which most people fail to bring up is whether or not they’ll move your furniture for you as part of the cost of the cleaning. If they come and move it, then charge you a lot for the service, you may end up with a huge bill.

Keep on hand a stain remover to treat stains like sauces and red wine. Call in a professional when things start getting bad. Inform the company to apply this solution to the stain’s surface. Make sure they don’t rub it because the solution needs to sit for five minutes. Spray clockwise for good results.

Locating a great company to clean your carpets should be easy now that you know what to expect. You understand the process, what to look for and what they offer. Take this knowledge to the next level by using it to hire someone so your carpets can be clean and lovely again.

Vacuum and shampoo your carpets frequently: at least once every 5 – 7 days. The majority of dirt and debris that is visible on your carpets is still loose and can be easily removed with a quick run of the vacuum cleaner. The longer you leave it on the floor, the harder it will be to remove.

Before hiring a potential company to clean your carpets, it’s wise to research the reputation of this business. There are many companies that are more reputable than others. Seek referrals from family and friends and read online reviews. This process is a great way to find a professional carpet cleaning firm that suits your needs.

Companies that do carpet cleaning normally charge by the square foot. In order to make sure that you are not paying any more than you should, measure the area you plan to have cleaned ahead of time. If the figure quoted is much higher than you expected, you are probably dealing with a shady company.

There are different ways that professional carpet cleaning companies will clean the carpets in your home. Try to choose one that works well for you. If you choose a company that uses a “wet”� method, keep in mind that there may be significant drying time before you can use the area again.

Don’t assume that because your carpet looks clean now that it doesn’t need cleaning. Modern carpets are designed to be stain-resistant but might still be accumulating dirt and dust causing rot below. Many carpets can hold as much as one pound of dirt per each square foot of floor space!

When engaging the services of a professional carpet cleaning firm, always make sure to read online review sites that provide information relevant to your local area. By taking the time to seek specific discussion of service providers in your town, you will have a much better idea of the sort of company you are hiring, and whether it has a good reputation for solid customer service.

Be very careful if you use a coupon from a carpet cleaning company that you receive in the mail. They will often list extremely low prices to get the work, but when they actually come, they will hit you with hidden charges to clean the home. Extras they will try to tack on at additional cost include spot treatment, heavy traffic areas and hallways.

When your carpets are squeaky-clean, it’s easy to get the rest of your home looking fabulous. Hopefully this article has shown you the best ways to find a great home cleaning professional for your carpets. Hire the best and enjoy the feeling of clean and beautiful carpeting in every room in your home.

What should you do to dry your wet carpet to minimize damage to your carpet and pad?

First of all, there is some general information about carpets you should know that applies to all the myths .

General Information about Water and Carpets

Residential carpet usually has a pad underneath it. The pad can be anywhere from 1/4 inch to almost an inch thick. The pad provides cushioning and gives your carpet that comfortable, soft feel when you walk on it.

Commercial carpet in offices and stores generally doesn’t have pad underneath it.

Carpet pad absorbs water like a sponge: The problem with pad under a carpet is that it is a sponge and can hold many times it’s own weight in water.

Pad is designed to cushion your feet, so it is spongy by nature and will soak up water like the cleaning sponge in your kitchen sink.

Carpet doesn’t stop or hold much water:

Although your carpet may feel very solid under your feet, it offers very little resistance to water passing through it.

Carpet is actually like a sieve to water. A typical carpet will not hold more than a few ounces of water per square foot of carpet before it is saturated. After these initial few ounces of water have entered the carpet, any further water filters straight through the carpet and into the pad.

Water likes to travel:Water doesn’t stay put, it is always on the move. The rule to remember is “Wet goes to Dry”. Water will automatically move towards a dry building material.

Water at the center of a room will flow through the carpet and across the pad to the walls. It will migrate to the edges of the room in a matter of minutes or hours depending on how much water was spilled.

When you touch the carpet at the edge of the room, it may not even feel damp, but the pad could be saturated. This can be seen using an infrared camera. An infrared (or Thermal Imaging) camera is useful in finding the real area that the water has damaged, even if you can’t see or feel it.

In general I would say that the actual wet area in any flood (found with professional water damage meters) is about twice the size of what the home owner reports.

An infrared camera will show how water travels under the carpet through the pad. Even in a ‘small’ flood, water can migrate through walls and end up 2 rooms away within 12 hours.

Bearing the information above in mind, here are some common myths about wet carpets and how to dry wet carpets

Myth #1. The carpet will dry by itself

This is actually true, just like it is true that you could win the lottery with one ticket.

Yes, the carpet will eventually dry by itself. However, will it smell bad or have mold on it by the time it is dry? What other damage will occur while the carpet dries by itself?

Unless you live in someplace like Arizona or the desert where you have high temperature and low humidity, there is VERY little chance that the carpet and pad will dry before mold starts growing or bacteria start creating that wet carpet, damp smell. Typically you have about 72 hours to dry wet building materials before they start growing mold.

Even if the carpet itself dries, does that mean the pad is dry? There is very little chance that the pad is dry. The pad holds more moisture than carpet and is prevented from easily releasing the moisture due to the carpet above it and the sub-floor below it. So even if your carpet is dry, the pad is probably not dry.

Which brings us to another point. What about the wet sub-floor? Remember that carpet is like a sieve, and the carpet will pass water down to the pad very quickly. A saturated pad can then release water into the sub-floor.

Drying Sub-floors

Sub-floors are usually either wood or concrete.

Concrete sub floors are sponges too, except they are very slow sponges. They absorb water surprisingly quickly, but release it very slowly. So even if the carpet and pad are dried quickly, the concrete sub-floor could still release moisture for weeks.

Wood sub-floors hold water too. If they’re made of chip-board/particle board/press-board (small chips of wood held together with glue) and they are wet for more than a few hours they absorb water, expand, and lose their structural integrity.

When wet particle board dries it has almost no strength and you will find yourself stepping through your floor if you’re not careful.

Plywood or OSB (Oriented Strand Board) are much more hardy choices for a sub-floor than particle board. If they get wet, you can dry them, as long as they haven’t been sitting wet for long enough to warp. This falls loosely under the 72 hour rule. Another concern is dry rot which is a bacterial deterioration that takes 21 days to manifest at lower moisture levels.

Determining whether the sub-floor is wet or not can only reliably be done with a penetrating moisture meter. Different building materials have different acceptable levels of moisture, so you use the meter to tell you if the material is acceptably dry or not.

Depending on the region you live in, plywood is dry at around 20% Equivalent Moisture Content (EMC). In as little as 4 days, mold can start growing on wet plywood if not dried correctly.

So, we know that the carpet and pad are unlikely to dry quickly enough by themselves. But even if they did, is that all you have to concern yourself with when your carpets are wet? No, it’s not.

Like I said, WET goes to DRY. What this means is the water keeps spreading outwards from the source.

On one flooded carpet job we did, the carpet first got wet about 12 hours before we arrived. During that time the home owner used her wet vac to suck up as much water as possible from the wet carpet – about 100 gallons.

She just wanted us to dry her carpets. However, using the infrared camera and moisture meters, we found that her walls were wet, in some places to almost 12″ above the carpet.

Wet drywall, is that a problem?

The problem with wet drywall is the usual 72 hour problem.

In as little as 72 hours mold can start growing on that wet dry wall. Mold especially likes dark, warm places with no airflow. That describes the wall cavity – the perfect place for mold to grow.

So that’s the problem – wet carpet creates wet drywall which can create mold. Below is a picture of a wall after water had been standing for a long time.

To summarize. Yes, the carpet will eventually dry by itself. But you’ll more than likely have mold and smells by the time it is dry, and then you’ll be ripping walls and carpet out to fix the problem

Myth #2. You have to remove the wet pad underneath your carpet

There is a myth that you can’t remove water from a wet pad, even with commercial extraction equipment. People who say this are talking about the standard carpet cleaning ‘wand’ shown on the right. It is what is commonly used to clean carpets. It sprays hot water onto the carpet and then sucks it back up again.

The wand is designed to pull water out of the carpet fibers, not the pad and it does a good job at that. So if you have water damage on commercial carpet without a pad, the wand is a good tool to use.

However, on residential carpet with a pad, it extracts almost none of the water from the pad.

So how do you get water out of the pad so you don’t have to remove and discard the pad?

There are a number of new commercial extraction tools that will remove water from the pad. Our favorite is the FlashXtractor. It is a wonderful piece of equipment, probably my favorite tool. (We have no affiliation with the makers of this tool, and receive no compensation for mentioning it)

The FlashXtractor will pull buckets of water out a carpet that has been wand extracted to death!

Before tools like the FlashXtractor came out, there was a technique called “floating the carpet” which was used to dry carpet and pad due to the poor job the wand did of extracting water from the pad.

To float a carpet, you pull up a corner of the carpet and stick an air mover or carpet fan under the carpet to blow air under the carpet and onto the pad. While this method still works it is slower, less effective, and often stretches the carpet so that it doesn’t fit properly when restretched.

Floating the carpet is an old school technique that is unnecessary if you have the right tools, ie a deep extraction tool such as the FlashXtractor.

To complicate matters, bear this in mind. While you can dry wet pad, it doesn’t always mean you should.

If you have contaminated water in the pad you can dry it, but you will be leaving at least some contamination in the pad and over time, it will start to stink and rot. In contaminated water situations you will have to remove the pad because you can’t effectively decontaminate it while it is underneath the carpet. In the water restoration industry, contaminated water is called Category 2 (gray water) or Category 3 (black water).

Myth #3. You can’t dry a wet pad under a carpet

The truth to this myth is the same as for the question above. Basically, you can dry a wet pad, even without floating that carpet, but that doesn’t mean you always should. See the answer above for details.

Myth #4. You have to lift the carpet and ‘float’ it using blowers

The answer to this question is in the answer to question 2 above. To summarize, you don’t have to float carpet if you have a deep extraction tool and know how to use it.

Myth #5. You have to remove and discard wet carpet.

Sometimes.

If you have a black water situation (Category 3 water – contaminated water such as sewage, toilet leak or rising ground water), according to the industry standard IICRC S500, you have to discard the carpet. I believe this is because there is no EPA registered disinfectant for carpet.

However, if you have Category 2 water (gray water such as washing machine waste water, shower runoff,etc) you have to discard the pad, but you can clean the carpet and keep it.

Category 1 water (clean water – toilet supply line, fridge ice maker, etc), and it hasn’t been sitting for more than 48 hours, then you can extract the water and keep the carpet and pad.

The other reason water damage restoration technicians sometimes believe they should discard wet carpet is because the backing of the carpet will de-laminate when it is dried. The backing is the lattice webbing on the back of the carpet that holds the carpet fibers together. It is glued on. If it gets wet and stays wet for a long time it can separate from the carpet fibers and start to disintegrate.

How long is a long time? It’s hard to predict – depends on the carpet, the temperature, how wet it was, etc. Normally by the time the carpet de-laminates you’ve got a black water situation anyway, so the carpet has to go.

Myth #6. Professional Carpet Cleaning will dry your carpet and pad

No. Not unless they use a deep extraction tool that is designed specifically to remove water from the pad. A regular carpet cleaning wand will not remove significant water from the carpet pad.

Myth #7. To remove the wet carpet smell, you should have it professionally cleaned.

Yes, with a ‘mostly’ attached to it. The carpet cleaning machines and methods available to most home owners aren’t very effective. Compared to commercial carpet cleaning equipment, the carpet cleaning machines you rent from the local supermarket are like a moped is to a Harley. They’re the same thing, but not really.

Getting anything other than a light smell out of a carpet requires the high pressure and suction of a commercial machine. It also requires the expertise of a trained and experienced carpet cleaner. There are many causes and solutions to different smells in a carpet and knowing what to do and when to it requires training and experience.

If baking soda and vacuuming don’t work, your best bet is to call an trained and experienced carpet cleaner, preferably one that is also an IICRC certified Odor Control Technician.

Myth #8. If you dry a flooded carpet, you will not get a moldy wet carpet smell

Depends. If a carpet is dried quickly and properly there will be no smell. In fact, if anything, there will be less smell because the carpet has effectively been cleaned.

If the carpet and pad are not dried quickly and properly you will probably have a problem with lingering musky smells and mold.

See myth #2 for more details.

Myth #9. You have to use a truck mount carpet extractor to dry or clean a carpet properly

False. This is an ongoing debate that I don’t think will ever be resolved completely. Portable carpet cleaning machines have the advantage of short hose runs while truck mounts have the advantage of high power.

What it comes down to is really the technician holding the wand. A good technician on a bad machine will get a better result than a bad technician on a good machine.

Summary

If you’ve had more than a few gallons of water spilled on your carpet, you’re better off calling a professional water damage company to properly dry your home if you can afford it, or if you have insurance. As you leaned above, the problem is that if the carpets and walls aren’t dried quickly you could face a mold situation which is much more expensive to fix than drying the carpets.

Be wary of any carpet cleaning service that charges you per room for their services. Every room is not the same size, so it is not logical for them to offer this type of pricing. The only time this is acceptable is if it is offered at this rate as a promotion.

Be wary of any company that only contacts you by phone or bases their prices on a per room basis. Remember that rooms come in many sizes. A good cleaning companies quotes prices based on the size of the room they are contracted to clean.

When looking for a professional carpet cleaning company, always consider the cleaning process. There are different ways professionals use to clean carpets. Dry treatments, wet treatments, steam cleaning and a variety of others are available. Some require significant drying time or could require that you leave the home. Choose the one that works best for you.

Using your vacuum cleaner on a regular basis is the best way to keep your carpet clean. Plan on vacuuming your home at least once a week and replace the filter of your vacuum cleaner at least once a month. If possible, invest in a quality vacuum cleaner for better results.

It is important to understand the fees you’ll be charged for the services rendered. For example, while the basic services may be cheap, there may be issues such as stain removal which will be charged extra for. Have the company send a representative to your home so you can get an accurate quote.

Ask the companies you plan to hire how long it will take for your carpets to dry. If you’re stuck out of your home for 24 hours, you may be very inconvenienced. If the dry time is very long, ask if they have fans you can rent to speed it up.

An important question to ask any carpet cleaning company which most people fail to bring up is whether or not they’ll move your furniture for you as part of the cost of the cleaning. If they come and move it, then charge you a lot for the service, you may end up with a huge bill.

Having the right tools can help you to get rid of carpet stains. If you spill something, like red wine, having a good quality stain remover near at hand can help you to act immediately and prevent the stain from setting in. Later, you can call in a professional cleaner. This solution is important to apply to a stain to get it out immediately. The very best results come when a clockwise motion is used to spray.

Hopefully, the next time your carpeting needs a good cleaning, you will try a professional company. That should be all it takes to convince you to stop doing it yourself, get more thorough results and put an end to your aching back. Use the tips from this article to find the best company for the job in your home.

You can spend less money on cleaning supplies. You never have to decide on only lemon or pine scent with your steam cleaners shark. You just add a few drops of an essential oil (from a health food store) and the aroma is anything you want. No chemicals, no pollutants, and no residue. Just because you have a pet, your home doesn’t have to smell like one. A steamer will eliminate cat and dog smells, sanitize birdcages and aquariums, and clean up the litter box area so you won’t have to hold your breath as you walk by. Infested with fleas? The high-temperature steam kills fleas, their eggs, and their larva. Using a steamer rids your home without toxic chemical.

Bacteria and viruses are not detectable yet they are very dangerous. They can result in infections or irritations. When your steamer is used, hot steam penetrates the cracks and pores of a surface. As steam comes in contact with the cool surface of the pores all dirt, debris, and bacteria are forced to the surface. The steam is so hot it kills 99.9% of germs like e Coli and Salmonella.

Dust mites are in every home, or more specifically, in your mattress, upholstery, rugs, carpets, quilts, pillows, and stuffed animals. They feed on flakes of dead skin shed from humans and animals. An average bed is infested with millions of dust mites. You’re in bed an average of eight hours per day, so you’re side by side with an enormous amount of debris that can make you feel as though you haven’t been in bed for hours. Luckily, in the same way that steam kills fleas, steam will obliterate dust mite colonies in your mattresses and carpets. Regular steam cleaning followed by vacuuming with a HEPA-filtered vacuum to pick up the allergenic debris will make a significant difference in your home’s air quality and most importantly, your family’s health.

Using the steam cleaners shark is a great way to transform your baby’s nursery into a sparkling clean, sanitized, chemical-free baby sanctuary. Toys, especially stuffed animals, trap germs putting your baby at risk. Your steamer will kill 99.9% of germs that are associated with runny noses.

With no airflow, none of the dirt will make it from the vacuum head to the vacuum bag or container. So airflow is just as important if not more important than whether the vacuum claims to have great “no loss of suction” capability. Whether a vacuum is going to pull the most dirt from your carpet or not is really a combination of sucking power plus airflow. Many vacuum manufacturers now make “no loss of suction” claims, but most of them also lose airflow!

What about vacuums that can lift a bowling ball? Don’t they offer the most powerful suction? Won’t they do a better job of cleaning my carpet? Lifting a bowling ball with a vacuum is really a parlor trick. The simple suction of a suction cup can lift weights greater than a bowling ball without any power at all. It is the suction connection and not the suction power that carries the weight. Vacuums that advertise that they can lift a bowling ball are just trying to dazzle you with hype.

If you cover a vacuum’s filter with dust, the vacuum will clog and stop the airflow. So no matter what the claims are about a vacuum’s “no loss of suction” capability, in the end they all clog and stop vacuuming. What you need is a combination of suction power and airflow to insure you get a vacuum that will meet your cleaning needs.

Airflow is an important specification to compare when choosing a vacuum cleaner. Airflow is typically measured in cubic feet of air per minute (CFM) and measures how much air is flowing through your vacuum’s system. All other specifications being equal, a vacuum with a higher CFM will usually do a better job of removing dirt from a carpet.

There are other important specifications that you can use to compare vacuums such as water-lift capability and amperage, but loss of suction power is not something you really need to compare.

Compare airflow in CFM and buy a canister vacuum with a specification of 100 CFM or more or an upright vacuum with 60 CFM or more.

A great airflow coupled with your average 10 to 12 amp vacuum will do the job just fine without any hype.

I took my first class about 19 years ago and took my first test soon after. The material and the test have evolved very since that time. A new addition arrives this year. The CCT community has been working diligently on the new material for the past few years and it looks better than ever before.

These are some items you should know about the test:

Get the manual from your Instructor prior to attending the class (if possible). Read a few pages everyday. Usually the high-quality parts in the manual are extremely important to know and will probably be seen on your test. The test has a total of 160 multiple choice questions. The correct answer is not always the only right answer, but rather the best answer. Currently the answers need to be filled in on a Scan-tron sheet with a # 2 pencil. There is no time limit for you to complete the test. You need to get 75% to pass. It may take up to six weeks to get your results and they are delivered directly to you. It is also available in Spanish if you request to take it Spanish when registering. The certification you get is a personal certification and holds with you regardless of who you work for. The cost of the test is currently $ 50. Cash, personal check, business check and credit cards are accepted. Checks need to be made to the IICRC.

Although I can not tell you the questions on the test, I can give you a good example of what you will see on the test. Answering the questions below will also help you in figuring out how well you'll perform on the test.

IICRC Test Examples:

1) Which of the following fibers are protein based: (A) Olefin (B) Wool and Silk (C) Polyester (D) Cotton and Jute

2) The temperature at which a dry solvent will ignite is called: (A) Explosion (B) Ignite (C) Flash point (D) Emulsion

3) When the primary backing and the secondary backing separate, what is it called? (A) Messed up (B) Delamination (C) Separation (D) Fluffing

4) What percentage of soil is insoluble in water? (A) 43 to 45% (B) 74 to 79% (C) 22 to 26% (D) Varies

5) Where should you empty your waste tank? (A) Storm drain (B) Street (C) Sanitary sewer (D) Your fresh water tank

6) TACT is an acronym for what? (A) Time Act Clean Truck (B) Time Agitation Chemical Temperature (C) Tufted carpet (D) 4th generation carpet

7) The process of drying is called? (A) Wicking (B) Capillary Action (C) A and B above (D) None of the above

The purpose of the test is to make sure that a technician learns as much as possible to do his / her job well. If you need carpet cleaning supplies or just want to talk, you are welcome to contact me. I would be happy to help you in your endeavor to learn. You can also find answers to these questions there under Articles Tab and then Test Answers.