Frequently Asked Questions
Many of our customers have specific questions about our professional services. If you have a question not on this list, feel free to call or contact us on our form.
CARPET FAQs
There is no cost at all for estimates. Most estimates we can do over the phone or by email, however It is often helpful to send photos of the area to be cleaned. For larger jobs, such as in commercial settings, a short walk-through to take measurements may be necessary.
Your carpet will be only slightly damp to the touch after your cleaning. Most carpets typically need 6-10 hours to dry completely. However, it could take up to 24 hours to dry depending on the time of year your carpets are cleaned, and the air circulation, humidity and temperature in your home.
For a nominal fee, Thunder Cleaning Solutions will move your furniture and after the cleaning is completed, we will return it to its rightful place on protective foam as needed. We do suggest you remove items off of your furniture like electronics, plants, lamps and knick-knacks. We will move most furniture that can be safely moved. There are several items we will not move, including: pianos, electronics, china cabinets, beds, dressers with mirrors, pool tables, etc.
This problem results from residues being left in the carpet which attract dirt. Usually this is caused by the use of soap in the cleaning process that hasn't been rinsed out completely. Our specially formulated solution and hot water extraction cleaning process leaves little to no residue behind to attract dirt.
We cannot guarantee that we will remove all carpet spots or stains. There are substances that can permanently discolor the carpet fibers. The age of the carpet and the type of carpet fibers also plays a factor in this. The technician will try to determine if this is the case prior to cleaning but they are not always able to determine this before trying to remove the spots.
When comparing carpet cleaning prices, make sure you ask a lot of questions and please keep a few things in mind. Our price includes treating for spots, odor treatment and a 5-day satisfaction policy. There are no hidden fees. Also, we never sub-contact, so our technicians are properly trained and IICRC certified Thunder Cleaning Solutions employees. This is what allows us to stand behind all of our work.
Typically, an area is a room that is up to 300 square feet (that is 15 x 20). Living room/dining room combos are considered two areas. Any area over 300 square feet but less than 600 square feet is priced as two areas. Non-standard areas (baths, halls, landings, walk-in-closets, etc.) are priced separately from the standard areas, usually at a lesser price.
The method we use for carpet cleaning is hot water extraction, commonly referred to as steam cleaning. The hot water extraction method removes the toughest, deepest dirt safely and gently. Hot, soft water and a specially formulated cleaning solution are injected deep within the carpet fibers. Then, a powerful suction extracts deep-down dirt, allergens, cleaning solution and 95% of the moisture. It’s the cleaning method most recommended by carpet manufacturers.
As the finishing touch to your thoroughly cleaned carpet and/or upholstery, specially formulated protector can be professionally applied. These products help carpet and upholstery resist soiling from dry dirt, water- and oil-based spills by wrapping each fiber in a protective coating. This extra layer gives you more time to clean up spots and spills before they soak into the fibers, helping you keep your carpet and upholstery looking its best between professional cleanings. Plus, it makes vacuuming and cleaning up spots easier.
A light vacuuming in the traffic areas is recommended but not required. If needed, the crew can pre-vacuum the area to be cleaned.
A dry soil protector comes on most carpet from the manufacturers. This is a wear dated product and is removed over time with every day traffic. Carpet manufacturers recommend that you have this protector reapplied about once a year, and perhaps more often on heavy traffic areas.
The technique of the cleaning, care, and handling of wool fibers in carpet and rugs requires more time and specialization. The cleaning of wool products requires particular chemicals that are gentler than those used for synthetics.The method requires low moisture and very quick drying times. The labor and care of these methods are the reason for the difference.
TILE FAQs
We scrub each individual grout line as well as tiles with tile and grout specific cleaners. We clean using high pressure that hooks up to our truck-mounted unit that will extract the dirt and grime embedded in the grout lines.
As with carpet, many factors must be considered when determining the frequency of tile and grout cleaning. Foot traffic, children, pets, and routine floor maintenance will affect how often you need to have your tile and grout cleaned.
Just like carpet, dirt builds up over time dulling your tile’s appearance and discoloring your grout. A thorough, professional tile and grout cleaning is the only way to remove the deep-down dirt.
FURNITURE FAQs
Yes, we can clean your furniture. We’ll test the fabric to determine which cleaning method will be the safest and most effective. That tag, or “Manufacturer Liability Code,” is required to recommend “a” cleaning method even though it may not be the most effective method for removing soil.
While professional cleaning may impact the protective coating on your furniture, the dry soils that accumulate on it over time — along with the strain of daily living cause this coating to deteriorate. To keep your valuable upholstered furniture protected from the damage of dry soil, we can re-apply this coating following cleaning.
Your specific upholstery fabric will determine which cleaning method we use. While the cleaning method along with optional protector application determines the drying time, typical dry time ranges from 2-6 hours.
We use our powerful hot water extraction cleaning process whenever possible, because it provides the deepest cleaning of all the possible methods. Some fabrics may require a more delicate cleaning system. In this case, we will help you make a decision that best suits your needs and your furniture.
Manufacturers recommend having upholstered furniture professionally cleaned every 12-24 months depending on use.
LEATHER FAQs
To retain its natural moisture and softness of any skin, it is necessary to keep it cleaned. Most cleaners and conditioners that you can find in your local home store provide immediate relief, but they also leave damage that is often long-term, and irreversible. Thunder’s professional line of products applied by our trained technicians, will keep your leather looking and feeling amazing for a very long time.
Manufacturers recommend cleaning leather furniture every 6-12 months.
Our leather cleaning process removes soil, but it cannot correct the damage that soil has already caused. We can offer you a free demonstration that will show you the potential outcome of a full cleaning at no cost to you. In some cases, leather may need restoration in addition to the cleaning.
Household cleaners contain silicones and lubricants that provide an outer layer of protection that also dehydrates and damages your leather. Our professional leather cleaning products, moisturizers, and protectants provide long-lasting rejuvenation without the harmful side effects.
