Soft Surfaces Maintenance Services Press Kit

120 Oakmeadow Blvd, Toronto, ON M1E4G7
Phone: 416.283.3512   Fax: 416.283.1670
email: falleyne@soft-surfaces.com   website: www.soft-surfaces.com/

Soft Surfaces Maintenance Services Company Summary

Soft Surfaces Maintenance Services, a full-service Cleaning and Restoration Company, is owned by Fred Alleyne of Scarborough, ON. Allenye comes from the health care industry where he was in charge of maintenance services at a major local hospital. In 1999, he left the health care services industry to pursue his dream of owning his own Carpet Cleaning and Flood/Fire Cleaning Company.

Says Alleyne, “While working in the maintenance field at the hospital, I saw a terrific need to find better resources in the carpet care and restoration industry. I was continually disappointed with the results and customer care that I, as a customer, received and knew I could do better. Soft Surfaces was founded out of my love for making people happy with my work.”

Soft Surfaces can be reached via web at http://www.soft-surfaces.com or by phone: 416.283.3512

Soft Surfaces Maintenance Services Fields of Expertise

==> Commercial and Residential Carpet & Upholstery Care
==> Water Damage & Fire Restoration
==> Mold Remediation
==> Tile & Grout Cleaning and Sealing
==> Leather Conditioning and Restoration
==> Stain and Odour Removal
==> Cleaning of Silk Plants
==> Power Washing

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Fred Alleyne Owner – Soft Surfaces Maintenance Services

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Soft Surfaces Maintenance Services Credentials and Endorsements

==> IICRC Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technician
==> IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician
==> IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician
==> IICRC Water Restoration Technician
==> IICRC Odor Control Technician
==> IICRC Carpet Repair and Reinstallation Technician
==> IICRC Fire and Smoke Technician
==> IICRC Applied Structural Damage Technician
==> IICRC Stone, Masonry, and Tile Technician
==> IICRC Journeyman Textile Cleaner

==> IICRC Journeyman Water Restorer
==> IICRC Fire and Smoke Restorer

==> Ontario Hospital Housekeeper’s Association - Member in Good Standing

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Soft Surfaces Maintenance Services Tip Sheets

==> Consumer’s Guide to Carpet Cleaning (3 pages)
==> Consumer’s Guide to Oriental Rug Cleaning (3 pages)

Clean Carpet Made Easy – A Consumer’s Guide By Fred Alleyne

Carpet is a relatively low-maintenance soft flooring surface that has many beneficial qualities. Some of these benefits include: a soft surface for safety and comfort, a filter to control indoor air pollution, aesthetical qualities in color and texture, and convectional warmth.

However, some consumers perceive carpet to be difficult to maintain. By following a simple routine of care, carpeting will look great and last many years. Below are some suggestions to ensure years of beautiful carpet use.

Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum!
One of the best maintenance actions a consumer can make is to vacuum their carpet often. It is important to select a vacuum that meets or exceeds the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Green Label Seal of Approval program. This Certification ensures that the vacuum has surpassed indoor air quality testing as well as safeness of use on modern carpeting. Believe it or not several popular vacuums on the market are too aggressive on carpeting and can cause premature wear. Using a vacuum approved by the CRI Green Label program alleviates this concern. To find a CRI Green Label approved vacuum, visit the following link: http://www.carpet-rug.org/commercial-customers/cleaning-and-maintenance/seal-of-approval-products/vacuums.cfm

A popular question is how often should one vacuum? Truth be told with a CRI Green Label approved vacuum, the answer is as often as needed. Factors such as carpet use, pets, children, transitional soil (i.e. dirt driveway or walkpaths to the entry of the home), and other factors matter in the decision on how often to vacuum. A loose rule of thumb is to vacuum a couple of times a week, unless factors above come into play. It’s not uncommon for some consumers to vacuum once or twice a day to control pet hair and dander. Conversely if a room of carpet receives little or no use, vacuuming only a couple of times a month may make more sense. The short answer is one can not vacuum too frequently.

Treat Spots and Stains Immediately
Modern carpet has an amazing ability to hide dry soil. Above I noted that vacuuming frequently controls much of the loose dry soil, but vacuuming does not address spills, spots, and stains caused by liquids. Combating liquid spots is a fairly easy task and the sooner a consumer addresses the fresh spot the better. Modern carpeting is made with soil-blocking chemistry, but it is not bulletproof. Over the course of time this soil-blocking chemistry wears off of the carpeting and the carpet will not resist soil as well as it did when it was new. Also, some over-the-counter spotting products and home-made spotting solutions are too harsh on the carpets’ soil-blocking chemistry and will cause the chemistry to be compromised.

The best way to address spots, spills and stains is to follow this 3 step approach:

1) Determine the source – attempt to discover the source by sight and smell. Please note: If the spill is corrosive or hazardous, do NOT attempt to clean it up yourself. It’s best to call a professional who is trained in specialty carpet cleaning to protect yourself, family, and pets if it’s dangerous or you aren’t sure how to address the spill. If you have any concerns whatsoever, call the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification for a referral of a local professional. Their toll free number is: (800) 835-4624. One may also access their 24-hour referral service online at: www.certifiedcleaners.com

2) Scoop/blot/extract – if the spill is large, using a Shop-Vac in “wet extraction mode” will make it easier to remove the bulk. Smaller spots can be blotted up with a white cotton terry towel or microfiber cloth. It’s important to use a white fabric for blotting to ensure there is no transfer of color from the cloth or towel to the carpeting.

3) Treat – All spots fall into 2 types (or sometimes a combination – such as some kinds of ink): oil-based and water-based. Oil-based spots are caused by fuel, oil, some inks, grease, paint, nail polish, etc. Water-based spots are caused by urine, vomit, feces, food and beverages, fertilizer, etc. It’s important to treat each according to their type. Water-based spills, spots, and stains need to be treated with water-based spotting solutions and oil-based need to be treated with oil-based spotting solutions. For a comprehensive spotting chart with instructions, please visit http://www.andrechelle.com/spot_guide/spotintro.htm.

Carpet Cleaning
Vacuuming is effective for dry soil removal, and spot cleaning is an excellent way to keep carpeting looking fantastic between cleanings. Like any textile, such as clothing, a deeper system of cleaning is needed when the carpet becomes uniformly soiled. The Environmental Protection Agency and carpet mills alike recommend frequent cleaning between 3 months and 18 months, depending on use and types of soil. As noted above, carpet has an amazing ability to hide soil. Hoover Vacuum Company commissioned a study and determined that modern carpet can completely hide 1 pound of soil in 1 square foot of carpet! Over time carpet “traffic lanes” can become permanently etched if deep soil is not removed. It’s best to clean your carpeting before soil shows because once it accumulates; permanent damage has likely already started.
Which Method is Best?

There are 5 recognized methods of cleaning carpet – Hot Water Extraction, Foam Adsorption, Shampoo, Rotary Absorption, and Dry Powder. Each of these methods has benefits and drawbacks. Hot Water Extraction, sometimes referred to as ‘Steam Cleaning”, is the most popular method of cleaning and is the only method that rinses carpet fibers. However, any of the 5 methods are effective under the care of an experienced professional technician.

Do It Yourself or Choose a Pro?
For minor spots, spills, and stains, consumers can usually address them by using the spotting techniques and chart above. But when it’s time to clean larger areas of carpet, either for maintenance or because of large spots, spills or stains, consumers should consider the following questions:

1) Should you do it yourself? If so,
a. Should you rent or buy a machine?
b. Which machine should you use?
c. Will you be able to clean to my satisfaction?
d. Is the perceived lower price of rental or doing it yourself worth it?

2) Should you hire a professional? If so,
a. Which method should you choose?
b. Which company should you choose?
c. Is the perceived higher cost worth it over renting or buying a machine?

Only you can answer these questions, but consider this. The typical professional carpet cleaner often attends carpet cleaning classes to keep up with new trends, methods, techniques, and chemistry; a typical professional carpet cleaner also successfully cleans thousands of square feet of carpet a year. Some professional carpet cleaners also choose to become a Certified Firm, which also means they have agreed to a Code of Ethics, possess 3rd party verification of insurance and license requirements, and also have a formal complaint policy instituted, should there be a problem. One last consideration; the Carpet and Rug Institute have recently instituted a Seal of Approval program for cleaning companies who agree to use Seal of Approval equipment and chemistry. To view this list, visit http://www.carpet-rug.org/about-cri/cri-signature-programs/service-providers.cfm

By following this guide, your carpeting will last longer and will look great year-round. For more information on professional cleaning and restoration, visit: www.soft-surfaces.com.

About the Author- Soft Surfaces Maintenance Services, a full-service Cleaning and Restoration Company, is owned by Fred Alleyne of Scarborough, ON. Allenye comes from the health care industry where he was in charge of maintenance services at a major local hospital. In 1999, he left the health care services industry to pursue his dream of owning his own Carpet Cleaning and Flood/Fire Cleaning Company. Says Alleyne, “While working in the maintenance field at the hospital, I saw a terrific need to find better resources in the carpet care and restoration industry. I was continually disappointed with the results and customer care that I, as a customer, received and knew I could do better. Soft Surfaces was founded out of my love for making people happy with my work.”

Soft Surfaces can be reached via web at http://www.soft-surfaces.com or by phone: 416.283.3512

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A Consumer’s Guide to Oriental Rug Care By Fred Alleyne

As of this writing (Jan 2007) area rugs have gained significant market share over the past decade. As more consumers remove carpeting in favor of hard surfaces such as wood, ceramic tile, laminates, and stone, rug ownership in Canada has skyrocketed. Retailers are still selling plenty of carpet, but hard surfaces, complimented with a nice Oriental Rug, have certainly become extremely popular as of late.

Considerations
With more rugs in homes and businesses, cleaning and maintaining them has become a growing concern amongst consumers. Before delving into proper care, it’s important to identify the basic construction of the rug. There are two main categories of rugs: Synthetic and Natural. There are also rugs which are created with both synthetic and natural materials and these are referred to as “Blends”. Cleaning and caring for synthetic rugs is very similar to cleaning and caring for installed carpet, so for purposes of this Consumer’s Guide to Oriental Rug Care we’ll stick with Oriental-style rugs constructed of natural materials.

When discussing synthetic and natural rugs, it’s important to understand that the face fibers (the “up” side of the rug) or foundation/backing may be synthetic, natural, or both. For example, a “Wool Rug” usually describes the face fibers; however the backing may be synthetic or natural. Both the backing and face fibers are of equal concern to the Oriental Rug cleaner. It’s safer to clean any rug with the cleaning solution and method designed for the most sensitive part of the rug. Generally speaking, synthetic materials aren’t as sensitive as natural materials. Therefore in the “Wool Rug” example above, even if the rug has a synthetic backing, it’s safer to treat the entire rug as a wool rug. More about cleaning solutions and methods below.

Natural Construction
Wool is the most popular naturally-constructed material found in the face fibers of Oriental style rugs. Other natural rug face fiber materials consist of cotton, silk, grass (sisal, jute), animal skins, and even obscure materials including leather and paper. If you are the owner of an animal skin, silk, grass, leather, or paper rug, I highly suggest you send your rug to a qualified Oriental Rug Cleaning company for proper cleaning. These rugs are extremely difficult to clean by consumers and permanent damage will occur if cleaned improperly.

Dry Soil Removal
A high quality Oriental rug should last a lifetime and the best way to help it last a lifetime is by vacuuming often. How often depends on usage. Generally speaking once a week is often enough, however if pets walk on the rug or the rug receives a high amount of foot traffic, vacuuming once or twice a day may be required. Dense Oriental rugs have a tendency to hide micro-soiling and sand that builds up in the foundation. Over time these fine dry soils will prematurely wear the rug.

Lesser quality rugs, especially some hand-tufted inexpensive rugs, (usually made in China, Pakistan and India) may shed face fibers quite a bit during vacuuming. This is normal for this type of rug. Unfortunately these inexpensive Oriental rugs will probably not last a lifetime unless not walked on.

Fringe Care
If your rug has fringe, please do NOT use a vacuum with a beater bar attached to it. Instead either gently brush the fringe with a brush designed for fringe, or use an attachment on your vacuum without a beater bar to remove dry soil from fringe. As the owner of a rug cleaning company with well over 10,000 rug cleanings successfully completed, the number one complaint we see from consumers is premature fringe wear caused by the consumer vacuuming the fringe with a beater bar.

Spot and Spill Cleanup
Inevitably there will come a time that you spill something on your Oriental rug or notice a spot from something that was tracked in on it. It’s best to immediately blot or scoop up the excess spot or spill, if possible. I recommend using a dry WHITE cotton terry towel or white paper towels to remove the majority of the spot or spill. If you choose a towel that is not white, there is a strong possibility the color of the towel will transfer to the rug.

Before using ANY spot cleaner on a rug (including merely water), it’s best to test in a small and inconspicuous area. Unfortunately there may not be an inconspicuous area to test, especially on a smaller rug. If this is the case test it near the edge of the rug since it’s usually less noticeable than the center if the test reveals color loss or texture change. If you notice a color change, bleeding, or texture change, STOP and call a professional qualified rug cleaning company for assistance.

After blotting and testing according to the instructions above, first attempt to remove any remaining spot with tap water. Do not soak the rug. Simply dampen a white terry towel or paper towel with water and blot, never rub. If you don’t notice any improvement, the safest solution to use as a general spot cleaner is to mix 32 oz of tap water and 1 teaspoon of liquid Dawn or Ivory hand dishwashing soap. Do NOT use automatic dishwasher soap or laundry detergents as many of these products contain optical brighteners or harsh chemicals that may ruin the rug.

Cleaning
Dry soil and spot removal are important maintenance steps to take between thorough cleanings, but Oriental rugs do need to be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. Generally speaking cleaning the entire rug once a year is sufficient, but if the rug has a lot of foot traffic, is susceptible to spills and spots, or pets and kids use the rug often, the rug may need to be thoroughly cleaned every 3 to 6 months. There are several ways to clean a rug and it’s well beyond the scope of this Consumer’s Guide to determine the best method in every case. Having said this, the most thorough cleaning is accomplished by the Immersion Method. Immersion is accomplished by scrubbing the rug under water and safely wringing out the excess water and soil with a roller system, speed drying the rug, and addressing the fringe. I do not suggest consumers attempt to Immerse their Oriental Rugs due to the many complications that can arise including bleeding, foundation shrinkage, degradation from being wet too long, and many other concerns. Please check online at http://www.iicrc.org to locate a qualified professional Rug Cleaner.

Rug Padding
High quality Oriental rugs are built extremely strong and can endure many years of use. To help rugs last even longer, help make them softer on the feet, and to provide in-place stability, the use of a high quality rug pad is highly recommended. There are several types of rug pads to consider and the selection of the right pad is dependent on the surface the rug will cover and thickness of the rug. Please consult your local Oriental rug dealer or professional rug cleaning company to help you choose the correct pad.

Conclusion
When properly maintained, high quality Oriental rugs provide a lifetime of beauty and use. By following the steps above your Oriental rug should last forever. If you have any questions about proper Oriental Rug care, please contact me via email: falleyne@soft-surfaces.com.

About the Author- Soft Surfaces Maintenance Services, a full-service Cleaning and Restoration Company, is owned by Fred Alleyne of Scarborough, ON. Allenye comes from the health care industry where he was in charge of maintenance services at a major local hospital. In 1999, he left the health care services industry to pursue his dream of owning his own Carpet Cleaning and Flood/Fire Cleaning Company. Says Alleyne, “While working in the maintenance field at the hospital, I saw a terrific need to find better resources in the carpet care and restoration industry. I was continually disappointed with the results and customer care that I, as a customer, received and knew I could do better. Soft Surfaces was founded out of my love for making people happy with my work.”

Soft Surfaces can be reached via web at http://www.soft-surfaces.com or by phone: 416.283.3512

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©2008    Soft Surfaces Maintenance Services Press Kit phone: 416.283.3512