CERTIFIED CARPET CLEANER
Does it mean anything?
Would you be surprised to learn that most carpet cleaning companies have no formal training? Some are not companies at all - only one person with a van, cleaning equipment and call themselves a company? That they are not required to be licensed? That there are no requirements to have any certification whatsoever?
Is training and certification important? After all, isn’t carpet cleaning a “menial task” that anyone can perform?
Actually, a carpet cleaning professional is working with one of your most valuable assets. Should it be trusted with just anyone? Unfortunately, our industry is full of “rogues” that only care about how much money they can get from you, and nothing about the life of your carpeting. They do not care about the industry in which they work.
Have you ever noticed that in many states, air conditioning companies, plumbers and pest control companies are required to be licensed? Not so for carpet cleaners. Unfortunately for you, and for me, there are many fine people in the carpet cleaning industry that realize that the standard must be raised. Those of us in that process help to police our industry. In order to do this, associations and certification organizations were created.
One such organization is called the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification). This organization provides certification courses and exams for the carpet cleaning industry. By attending these courses, carpet cleaners are taught about fiber identification, carpet construction, cleaning chemistry, cleaning methods and professionalism. There are several levels of certification. Certified technician, Journeyman technician and Master Cleaning technician.
So, the question remains - “Does it mean anything?” Yes, Yes, Yes! It means alot! It means that the certified firm is on the cutting edge of technology and change in our industry. It means that a certified firm knows the right way to apply cleaning procedures and chemistry. It means that the certified firm is working together with other certified firms to raise the standard of carpet cleaning, in general, therefore providing you with a higher quality product.
Considering having your carpets cleaned? Curious as to if the company that is coming to your home is a certified firm? You can check for yourself at www.iicrc.org