Green. Cleansed. Can these two goals be met in a floor cleaning company? The answer is yes, but you may have to ask some tough questions when searching for a service.

Whether it is a question of ethics and care of the environment or of health due to asthma, allergies, chemical sensitivities, you need to know what people are wearing in your home. Are the solutions dangerous for children or pets? Could they kill your fish? Make your dog vomit? Allow mold or mildew to grow?

These are uncomfortable questions when you need to clean your furniture, carpets, or tile floors. But you need to find out if any of these health or environmental issues matter to you. You know who you are! You are the ones who cannot check into a motel room without asking for permission to not smoke. You can’t just take any old detergent or spray air fresheners. You can’t afford the headaches that wrong materials can cause.

1. Anyone who comes to repair your home must be trained and knowledgeable about what you are using. One company that highlights highly trained professionals is the Chem-Dry® network. Technicians earn stars to represent their experience and knowledge.

They must pass both written and on-the-job tests to show that they know how to use the equipment and solutions. A 5-star technician represents more than two years of experience and five levels of in-depth training in all types of floor coverings and upholstery.

2. Every product used should have an MSDS, a material safety data sheet, which travels with the chemicals when shipped, and should be on hand so you can see if you need to know exactly what is in that spray bottle.

After all, it is YOUR home! Inform the technician of any chemical sensitivity and ask him to use the least toxic solutions possible to do the job. Chem-Dry offers The Natural ®, which is rated 1 on a 1-5 toxicity scale by the FDA. It is classified as “edible”.

3. How will these products affect your pets? Should they be removed from the rooms or home entirely while cleaning is being done? Will the technician cover the fish tanks while using solvents or propellants on the furniture? A tank full of expensive fish that die after having their upholstery treated will not be appreciated.

Pets that have a habit of licking their paws should not walk on freshly protected carpets until they are dry, to avoid an upset stomach.

If you have problems with pet urine (or human accidents), know that this noxious odor can be eliminated. Each case is evaluated with a black light to see where the spots are, as well as the sense of smell. Even past accidents will come to light as if someone has poured bleach into those spots, allowing the technician to treat all problem areas. A Pet Urine Removal Treatment ® can wake up and then remove urine deposits on the pad and carpet. Occasionally, major damage may require removing the affected pad, treating the subfloor and carpet, but it is rarely necessary to replace the carpet.

4. If you already have environmental problems, such as water damage, mold, pet dander, or allergies to dust mites, ask what can be done. Fungi, quick-drying treatments, and dust mites can help. One customer had the most incredible experience – it was actually a new technician who had been sleeping on the hardwood floor in his hallway so he could breathe at night. After cleaning with Chem-Dry, she reported: “I slept in my own room and now everyone can breathe so much better! I’m amazed that cleaning made such a difference!”

Dirt lines along the walls or doors indicate a problem with the heating and cooling system that is dragging dirt to those spots. It is usually a greasy dirt, difficult to remove with the usual methods. Called seepage lines, these stains can be mitigated by frequent vacuuming with an edge tool, aggressive cleaning with Filtration Line Remover ®, and complete caulking along wall and floor joints when installing new carpet.

5. How will the products be disposed of? Most can be flushed for wastewater treatment. Some can be released into landscaping without damaging plants. Others must be disposed of in sealed drums at the shop (dry cleaning chemicals are in this category).
If it is not safe for you to be around, it is not safe for the environment. That’s why Chem-Dry® uses careful testing and FDA oversight to make sure the best processes and equipment are used in your home or office. I would not use any other cleaning method personally, and I was such a happy customer that I jumped at the opportunity to own my own Chem-Dry® business.