So my wife and I are coming out of a Snorkel Shop on Oahu’s North Shore this last week when a man walks by me and does a double take..

“Hey aren’t you from Santa Cruz?, you’re our carpet guy..

By the way did you see the nice article about you in the Sentinel last week?”

Too funny…

I had no idea about the snippet in the paper, but it was cool seeing a familure face while on vacation..

JP Novic who runs Cape animal rescue has been a long standing customer of ours and a fellow vegetarian whom I’m always pleased to help out as much as possible. I’m always blown away by how much effort and love she puts into finding dogs, cats, chipmunks, pigs, ponies and any sort of 3 or 4 legged beast a new home.

thanks JP!!!!!

Scotts Valley Carpet Cleaning

We love all of Highway 9ine!

When damaged carpets lay submerged in water over any length of time woven fibers detach from polyurethane backing leaving no other alternative except replacement. But not all water damaged carpet is so severe. Many instances only small amounts of clean water spill so cleaning, drying and sanitizing are the only requirements for carpet restoration. Knowing a few basic cleaning principles will help any homeowner make confident choices when confronted with wet carpet issues.

The first thing to decide is what type of water has come in contact with carpeting. There are three types of water classifications.

* Category 1 clean water caused from a pipe break, appliance leak or sink overflow and has the least impact of damage to flooded carpets.
* Category 2 water can be caused by a toilet overflow with urine present, hot water heater leak, or any other spill where water carries minor contaminants.
* Category 3 is water containing raw sewage or feces from a drain back up or water that has originated from outside touching the ground first before entering a house and soiling carpets.

Knowing these category types are helpful for determining the initial steps to take after soaked carpet is discovered and who to contact for immediate water damage clean up.

Carpets damaged by Category 1 and 2 water types can be cleaned and restored without replacement if no signs of delamination are present. Removing all standing water with portable or truck mounted extraction equipment while placing dehumidifiers and high-speed air movers in wet carpeted areas quickens the drying process and eliminates the growth of mold and mildew. Your local water damage restoration company can furnish the equipment and experience from start to finish.

Category 3 water carries with it bacteria and pathogens that pose real threats to the health and safety of occupants. Carpets affected by this type of water damage must be removed and disposed of by a trained professional along with the application of an antimicrobial agent to all sub-floor surfaces. No short cuts should be taken and strict adherence to industry guidelines should be followed.

Connoisseur provides help for Cat 1 and 2 damages to our existing customers. For Cat 3 issues we can provide a referral upon request.

I am asked almost weekly to help with the bewilderment of picking out a new carpet. So many choices in fiber types leave the average home owner very confused..

Hope this helps.

Nylon on balance, has the most strengths & the least weaknesses. It will burn, it will fade, (unless solution dyed) can be stained, can become matted & crushed but not as easily as most other fibers, especially if vacuumed regularly and professionally maintained on an annual basis. Dupont’s solution-dyed Nylon is the best Nylon fiber.

Polyester & Olefin (Berbers) are the least expensive & will last, the least amount of time. They’re OIL LOVING Fibers so they absorb no moisture but plenty of oil/grease/soot. Don’t use near kitchen or garage or homes with pets with oily coats.
They do not easily fade from sunlight, bleach or pool/hot tub chemicals.
Great for damp basements, water-based spills from little kids & young pets but terrible for oil based stains. They burn easily, not for smokers/ fireplaces. They crush down quickly – not good for stairs or wheelchairs. In a few years they will look dull & grey in traffic paths. This look cannot be cleaned away as the fibers will become “scratched” or abraded – frieze style will hide that the best.

Wool, the most expensive, will last for decades if cared for on a regular basis. It does not burn easily. It cleans up well but stains more easily.
It does not crush easily. It absorbs a lot of moisture & so is bad for damp basements.
It fades easily & is dissolved by bleach, & other harsh (like pool/ jacuzzi) chemicals .
*********************************************************************************************
Lay carpet samples over Pad, on a hard surface & select carpet by testing with your feet NOT your hands. A Pad that is too thick or soft will shorten the life of your carpet and should be avoided especially in homes with heavy furniture (indents easily formed). They should also be avoided in homes occupied by seniors or drunks as they become even more unsteady.
“Trackless” carpet does not exist ! REPEAT AFTER ME – it does not exist !!
To reduce footprints, brush carpet samples in every direction, stand back to observe & pick samples that exhibit the least amount of shade change when viewed from all angles. We recommend a BCF yarn as opposed to a Staple yarn, carpet especially for pet owners. Staple yarns behave like Velcro in gripping pet & human hair that won’t vacuum away. A high twist count will also help on this issue.
By insisting on an installer who uses a power-stretcher as required by the CRI 104 code, you will get the best installer – See http://www.carpet-rug.com. Knee kickers result in carpet that is more likely to ripple and lose it’s stretch over time. Loose or poorly installed carpet will ripple when wet but in most cases settle back down as it dries.

We like to refer San Lorenzo Floors in Scotts Valley, Mission Floors on the west side, Rainbow Carpet on the East/Live oak area and Floors Etc in Soquel for you new carpeting needs.

270+ voters have spoken!

For Carpet Cleaning in Santa Cruz County you just can’t go wrong with Connoisseur!

They got the Bio Fuel percentage wrong though..

We use the B5 fuel available at USA Gas at the corner of 7th and Soquel

Paula and I have been die hard vegetarians since our early teens and have  lived the “green” lifestyle way before it ever became fashionable.

We choose to run our business the same way we live. As toxin free as possible and choose our products based on the least offensive odors and with no potentially irritating residues. We’re heavily into recycling and composting and we’d always encourage you to keep your old carpet and furniture clean and healthy instead of taking it to the landfill because of a few stubborn spots..

In our cleaning truck we use as much bio fuel as possible and of course run our  routes with as little wasteful driving as we can. Our truck’s shelves are loaded with what we like to call “edible cleaning agents”..

Our cleaning services do not irritate asthma and allergy sufferers. In fact, we have had many customers tell us that their symptoms were actually alleviated after we cleaned their carpets and upholstery!
Dust mites and allergens in your home will be reduced, which means a better night’s sleep for you and your family.
You will have peace of mind knowing that your children and pets are safe while playing on your carpets.
Your can enjoy having a fresh and clean home.

Here are some links to a few of our favorite “green” products.

http://www.bi-o-kleen.com/carpet.htm

http://www.afmsafecoat.com/products.php?page=5

http://www.soapfreeprocyon.com/

And of course, our favorite eco friendly cleaning supply store right here in Santa Cruz..

http://www.greenspacecompany.com/

All pets will make a mistake now and then. Isolated “puddles” are a cinch to clean up with our Water Claw sub surface extractor.

With the "Claw" hooked up to our powerful vacuum, deodorizing is as easy as 123 (456)

If the accident just occurred please refer to our spot cleaning guide @

http://www.connoisseurclean.com/spot.html

Then give us a call if you feel like you did not get it all out. If the damage is from an old accident, make sure to point it out to us when we’re out to perform your normal carpet cleaning.

Don’t fret, we really love your pet!

the real answer is, all of them..

Don’t buy into the “our method is best” advertising you’ll find all over the Internet and Yellow Pages.

Comparison of Carpet Cleaning Methods

There are four basic methods for cleaning carpet:

* Carpet Shampooing
* Dry Powder Method
* Bonnet Cleaning
* “Hot Water Extraction/Steam

Carpet Shampoo Method

The theory in the shampoo method is to generate a lot of foam in the carpet, allow this foam to dry, have the resulting residue attract the soil, and vacuum up the residue and soil the next day.

Because of historical past resoiling problems, carpet shampoos will frequently also have an anti-resoiling additive such as a resin or polymer to reduce this resoiling tendency.Today’s carpet Shampoos (often called Encapsulation Solutions) offer terrific results with no resoiling what so ever if done correctly.

Three primary types of machines are used for this process:

* Cylindrical Foam
* Dual Cylindrical Brush
* Rotary Shampoo

The Cylindrical Foam Shampoo machine uses an air compressor to create dry foam before the foam is applied to the carpet and the carpet is then agitated with a revolving cylindrical brush which combs the foam through carpet pile. This method will leave dirt trapped in the carpet pile. Carpet must be thoroughly vacuumed before and after cleaning.

The Dual Cylindrical Brush machine usually has an onboard shampoo tank that disperses the cleaning agent across the carpet as the brushes work it into the pile. Embedded debris is usually “dug” out of the carpet at the same time. Post vacuuming is a must. Matted or distorted pile can be rejuvenated with this method.

The Rotary Shampoo method uses an ordinary rotary floor machine (the same kind used for stripping wax), sprays shampoo onto the carpet from a dispensing tank, and a rotary brush whips the detergent to a foam. Post vacuuming is needed as well to remove dried shampoo and soil.

Dry Powder Method

In this method, dry absorbent compound (containing small amounts of water, detergent, and solvent,) is sprinkled over carpet or worked into the carpet with a machine. This purpose of this cleaner is to attract and absorb soil. Mechanical agitation from a brush works the cleaner through the carpet.

These products usually contain an absorbent carrier, water, detergent, and solvent. The theory is that the liquids dissolve the soil and this soil/detergent/solvent mixture is absorbed into the carrier and is then vacuumed up. They are often used with a detergent prespray in heavily soiled areas.

The absorbent cleaner most commonly is organic, but may also be polymers. The compound is supposed to absorb the dislodged soil and is then vacuumed away. Carpet must be thoroughly vacuumed before and after cleaning.

Very thorough vacuuming should be used to ensure that most of the carrier comes out of the carpet. With the extremely fine powder types, indoor air quality can be reduced. If a white powder starts appearing on shoes and cuffs of pants, too much was used and it was not thoroughly vacuumed up. A common problem is for this white powder to reappear after wet extraction cleaning.

This cleaning method has the advantage of no drying time for interim maintenance, since little water is used. This makes if a common maintenance cleaner.

Host®, Capture®, Love My Carpet®, Arm and Hammer®, and Carpet Fresh® would be included in this category.

Bonnet Method / “Carbonated Cleaning”

This method is sometimes called “dry cleaning”, which is a misnomer, since water is used.

Bonnet Shampooing is simply an adaptation of hard floor spray buffing to carpets.

This method for carpet maintenance consists of the use of a rotary or oscillating brush adapted with a stiff brush or drive block designed to drive wet, damp or dry pads. The carpet can be sprayed with the cleaning solution and/or the pads can be soaked in the cleaning solution and squeezed lightly before placing the pad under the driving brush.
Sometimes, carbonated water is used to (in theory) give better soil suspension and bring down the pH. Companies using this method frequently use “scare” tactics to convince consumers that extraction cleaning or steam cleaning will destroy the carpet.
This method is best for light use commercial glue down carpeted areas where children and bare feet will not come in contact with the carpet. Used as a interim cleaning method it can keep your business flooring looking good between more thorough Extraction cleanings.

Steam Cleaning

This method is often called “Hot Water Extraction” or “Steam Cleaning” and is the cleaning method nearly all carpet manufacturers and carpet fiber producers recommend.

This is the only cleaning method classified as “deep cleaning”. All the others are considered “light surface cleaning” because they are incapable of removing soil deep in the pile. Also, all other methods leave large amounts of cleaning agent in the carpet after cleaning.

The maintenance brochure published by the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, Shaw Industries, recommends this method, because its own research indicates that it provides the best capability for cleaning.

This method is frequently called “steam” cleaning due to the fine spray of water used to force dirt out of the carpet which is sucked up by the vacuum slot immediately in front of the spray. Seldom is real live steam used, however. This process consists of spraying a solution of water and detergent into the carpet pile and recovering the water and soil with a powerful vacuum into a holding tank. This can be done from a truck-mounted unit outside the home with only the hose and floor tool brought inside, or by a portable, system brought into the home or office.

From a health standpoint, the truck-mounted system is preferred because the dirty air and humidity are exhausted outside rather than recirculated around the house. Additionally, truck-mounted systems usually are more powerful than portable units and do a much better cleaning job and get the carpet dry more quickly.

With some truck-mounted systems (called PTO’s), the vehicle itself must run in neutral during the cleaning and in many others a separate engine (sometimes with a propane or oil-fired heater) is used to power the unit and heat the water.
Depending upon the equipment, temperatures may range from cold tap water to boiling hot water and even super heated water over 240 degrees F.
General Comments

The choice of the proper cleaning system is extremely important. Some systems leave residues which promote re-soiling and defeat the whole purpose of cleaning. Some methods actually damage the carpet fibers and shorten the life of the carpet. Check with the carpet manufacturer for recommendations.

Carpet Cleaning Frequency:

If carpet is cleaned before it becomes too unsightly, the cleaning chore will be easier and more successful. Allowing the carpet to become overly soiled may result in irreversible damage. It is a common myth that cleaning the carpet before it is absolutely necessary will cause it to get dirty faster. This goes back to the days when the shampoo methods were the most common.

Carpet in a typical household should be professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months depending upon the number of residents, amount and type of activity, and whether the carpet is light or dark color.
Professional Carpet Cleaning versus “Do-It-Yourself” Cleaning:

The maintenance brochure published by the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, Shaw Industries, recommends professional carpet cleaning over “Do-It-Yourself” because of the potential problems that can occur from using rental equipment – such as yellowing, overwetting, fiber tip damage, severe resoiling, overuse of detergents, etc.
Most rental units available do not adequately clean and may actually damage the carpet.

Make sure to hire a cleaning company that offers all of these methods. In some cases it takes a combination of two or more methods to achieve the best results. The best “Multi Method Cleaners” in Santa Cruz, Aptos, Scotts Valley or Capitola are, you guessed it.. Connoisseur.

Life Happens Think Smart…

Smartstrand made with Dupont Sorona polymer represents a break through in fiber technology.Dupont’s propietary sorona polymer has engineered stain protection that will never wash off or wear off. The fiber’s outstanding resiliency and durability make it a natural choice for busy households.When life happens, think smart. Think Smartstrand.

Well that’s what the marketing professionals have to say anyways.

Connoisseur on the other hand are the Cleaning Professionals and we are constantly asked for recommendations on what carpet types work best. Up until now we have always recommended Solution Dyed Nylon as the best all around carpet for most home owners.

Not a week goes by that we are not in a flooring store and many of the Santa Cruz’s finest Carpet retailers  have been very impressed with this new form of Polyester.  In order to better serve or clients we recently  had two rooms of Smartstrand  installed in Paula’s day care center to really give it a good real world testing.

Personally I think her six three year olds will be a better test than Ricko the Rhino.

By the summer of 2010 we should have a pretty good idea of Smartstrand’s durability and cleanability.

Stay tuned!

Sure we can clean under your beds. Mom only knows just how much dander, pet hair, dust, lint, feathers and what not reside under the very piece of furniture that you spend up to 8 hours a day in. Chances are you have a heat register or air vent either nearby or directly under that bed.
Now imagine how that same dust, hair, dander and what not becoming air born while you’re asleep…

So..

We can disassemble and move your bed for you or if you would like to save time and money you can get the room ready for us before we arrive on cleaning day. Either disassemble your bed frame and move it and your mattresses to another room, put your bed on furniture skidders and have us move it side to side if there is room to do so (a Queen size in a 10 by 10 room is a no go)

Or..

Remove your linens and lean the mattress up against the wall while it sits on the frame. Now we can step inside the frame and do a thorough cleaning.

Either way, we would love to clean under your beds for you. Your sinuses will love us for it..

As carpet, stone, upholstery and rug cleaners we use on average a half gallon of both liquid and powdered Hydrogen Peroxide each and every day. We use it in various dilutions to deodorize your carpets, make coffee, urine and other organic stains disappear, get rid of stubborn water stains off your upholstery  and leave your stone and grouted floors looking cleaner then new.

I would encourage you to peruse this great website for 100′s of ways you can use “HP” around your home to clean and disinfect just about any surface.

http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/

One.

He must love and own a dog.

Two

He must love and own a few Neil Young albums..

Third.

He must love and own up to cleaning up after ol’ King at least once a year.

(476 9721 for the friendliest dog loving carpet cleaners this side of La Honda)

We lost one of our best customers recently..

Millie was getting on in years and like most old dogs, they create reasons for us carpet cleaners to come visit them and their owners pretty often.

In Millie’s case (and her best friend, Abbey the Greyhound) those visits got to be so often that financially it became a real burden for her owners. Being the animal lovers that we are, we got her owners a great deal on a professional quality carpet and fabric spot cleaning machine. While I missed visiting Millie during her last days, I slept better knowing her parents would be able to clean up after her “on the spot”..

If you think you could use one of these machines, let us know.

We are often asked, “How often shouldI have my carpets cleaned?” The truth is, there is no particular schedule. Cleaning
frequency really depends on the type of traffic you have on your carpet and how you maintain it. Some people can get by with professional cleanings every couple of years, while others need their carpets cleaned every three months or so.
Appearance alone should not be the determining factor when deciding when to clean your carpet. Today’s carpets are
engineered from the fiber up to hide soil. In fact, a tan, residential grade carpet can hide up to a pound of dirt per square foot before it becomes noticeably soiled! Once a carpet reaches this degree of soiling, it is not just in need of maintenance, but restoration as well.Commercial carpeting is often placed on a maintenance program where cleaning is scheduled before it reaches an unacceptable level.

Manufacturers are increasingly requiring that residential carpets be placed on a regular maintenance program as well. Soil, grit and grime in a carpet can work like tiny razor blades, slicing and dicing your carpet fibers, causing the to lose that “new” shimmer and taking years off their life. Carpet that is well maintained will wear longer and is less likely to contribute to indoor air pollution. Appearance, reduction of potentially unhealthy contamination that may accumulate
in the carpet, and manufacturers requirements to maintain your warranty should all be factors that help you decide how often to clean your carpeting. A “no shoes policy,” application of carpet protector, frequent thorough vacuuming, and spotting with a residue-free carpet spotter are all excellent ways for you to keep your carpeting vibrant and healthy and extend the length of time between professional cleanings. If you would like advice on how often you should have your own carpets cleaned, please give us a call.

Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health, but may not know that indoor air pollution
can also have significant effects. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) studies of human exposure to air
pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and on occasion more than 100 times
higher than outdoor levels. The levels of indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because it is estimated that most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors.
A recent study concludes that carpets may benefit indoor air quality by acting as a filter for indoor air, trapping and holding dust mites, pollutants, and allergens like pollen, molds,and pet dander, which play an important role in allergy related diseases. As you can see, regular cleanings are important… not just to maintain the appearance of your carpets, but also for hygienic reasons. Contaminates in your carpet need to be removed on a consistent basis. Waiting until your carpet looks dirty is waiting too long. The EPA recommends having carpets & upholstery cleaned at least once a year, more often if you have kids or pets. Controlling dust is important. Allergens and dust mites can contaminate carpets, upholstered furniture and bedding. Vacuuming will not remove all the allergens but it will help keep the dust down which spreads allergens throughout your home. Make sure that you use a vacuum cleaner that filters the exhausted air. Get in the habit of vacuuming your carpets and furniture thoroughly, at least a couple of times a week. For more information on this subject, visit the EPA website: www.epa.gov. Another good source of information is the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website: www.cdc.gov.

With every business under our sun declaring themselves Green these days you have to wonder whats it really all about?

For some its merely the fact that they have a paperless office and they recycle their coke bottles, for others it means that they ride their bikes to work and they smoke organic cigarettes..

For Connoisseur being Green is a way of life. My wife and I have been vegetarian for over 25 years and our kids have been their whole lives. If your wondering what eating broccoli has to do with being “Green” please check out this link.

http://www.enviroveggie.com/

Beyond that, we also recycle our all our detergent bottles, our boxes, cans, packing peanuts, cardboard, glass and everything else that comes into our home and business. We compost most everything that is not eaten out of our fridge as well as being very careful about where our cleaning waste water ends up at the end of a day.

Our daily cleaning routes are put together with the least amount of driving possible and we run as much Bio Diesel through our van as we possibly can.

We offer all sorts of child, pet AND adult safe cleaning products for your carpet, hard floors and upholstery. Most could be gargled with if needed. Our hot water extraction cleaning  process includes a fresh, thorough soft water only rinse to remove not only the soil but the cleaning agents as well. Your Carpets are left with soft, fluffy, residue free fibers for your family’s bare feet and paws to enjoy.

So if you want to please Mother Earth, get your carpets cleaned and need a recommendation for a great local Vegan restaurant, you now know who to call.

Whatever type of home or business you have, dont be afraid to call us due to our fancy unpronounceable name.

We proudly clean for anyone and everyone who can call their place a home.

And if you have a dog,  6 cats or even a dragon, all the better!

You’ll see our truck happily buzzing along in every corner of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and Monterey Counties.

We have had to run our hoses up and over redwood forests , 6 story balconies, through dungeons, down Pacific Avenue, over (and under) swimming pools, through 300 foot hall ways and over the sand at Pot Belly beach to get to your dirty carpets.

How can YOU challenge our amazing Vortex Cleaning Machine?

Cleaning the Library @ the UCSF Medical Center in downtown San Francisco.

Chances are you’ll need your carpet cleaned every two months or so.

Heavy foot traffic, soiled kitchen floors, spilled drinks and food, driveway oils and the occasional upside down cake, all lead to unappetizing situations for your hungry diners. Give Connoisseur a call so we can discus what the best cleaning frequency and methods would work for your restaurant’s situation.

I cant say enough about the Bissell Momentum upright.

$99 at home depot, better suction then the infamous Dyson, no bags to buy and all the extra tools you’ll ever need.  And best yet, no internal filters to clog. The popularity of bagless vacuums can be over hyped when uneducated home owners bring home their new Hoover or Eureka only to discover the half way through there home the new “bagless” vacuum looses most of it’s suction due to a clogged filter or in some cases, filter’s.

Who wants to wash a filter out every time you vacuum up after Chompers and Mrs Fiskers?

The Bissell has somehow gotten around Dyson’s patent and duplicated the same “venturing cyclonic (what ever that means)” filterless system and sells it to you minus the huge cost of an incredible marketing campaign. You can buy five of the Bissells for the cost of one Dyson and still come out a head in the suction department.

http://www.bissell.com/Products/c/uprightvacuum/p/3910MomentumVac/product.aspx

Give one a shot, what have you got to lose.?

Except pounds of dirt?

Edit: A new model has been introduced, the Bissell Healthy Home Upright.
At $250 or so it’s a complete Dyson knockoff but with a better brush roll, a pile height adjuster and half the price.