Allied Home Services Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award for Third Consecutive Year

Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service

For the third consecutive year, Allied Home Services has won Angie's List's coveted "Super Service" award. The Super Service Award is reserved for companies who have achieved and maintained a superior service rating on Angie's List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer ratings on local service companies, throughout the past year. Fewer than five percent of the companies on Angie's List meet the eligibility requirements to be considered for the award. “Our Super Service Award winners are the cream of the crop when it comes to providing the best customer service,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. Allied has a total of 78 reports with an overall “A” grade. One happy client wrote, “I had a great experience. The work provided was above and beyond what I expected. The gentleman that cleaned the carpet was very professional and personable. He went above and beyond. I heartily recommend this company. They were fair and great at what they do.” "We are honored to have received this award for the third year in a row," said Kathy Hammond, Marketing Manager and spokesperson of Allied Home Services. "We would like to thank all of our valued clients for their business, kind words, and glowing reviews over the years. Without you we would not have received this award." Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have maintained a total and overall grade of "A;" have received a minimum number of reports; are not in the Angie's List "Penalty Box” and do not have an unsatisfactory rating with the Better Business Bureau. In addition to winning Angie’s List’s “Super Service” award, Allied has been a recipient of the BBB Gold Star Award for six consecutive years.

How to Maintain Your Upholstery

It's an expensive investment that is utilized daily, but often overlooked when the subject of maintenance cleaning comes up. Yes, it's your upholstered furniture. When was the last time your sofa, loveseat or favorite recliner chair had a thorough cleaning?

While upholstery doesn't attract the same amount of soiling as carpeting, it should be vacuumed and cleaned regularly. Besides keeping it clean, vacuuming and having your upholstered furniture cleaned professionally will also extend the useful life of your furniture.

Since we don't walk on our furniture (unless there are children in the house), the oily abrasive soils that affect carpets are not predominant on our favorite couch or chair. However, since we do spend a great deal of time there, soil from our clothing and oil from our skin can find their way to the same areas time after time. This leads to harmful build-up of deposits that, by the time they become apparent, may have already caused irreversible staining or deterioration. To avoid this deterioration, it’s best to schedule professional cleaning on a regular basis. Upholstery does not need to be professionally cleaned as often as carpet, but it should be cleaned by a knowledgeable, certified professional every 12- 24 months.

With over 4,000 different types of fabrics being used on upholstered furniture, some dry clean only, using the improper cleaning approach may result in color bleeding, fading or shrinkage.

Don't take unnecessary chances with your upholstery if you plan on keeping it for a while. You take care of the day-to-day vacuuming and spot removal. Trust the cleaning to the expertise and experience of a professional cleaner. You'll be glad you did!

Top 5 Carpet Cleaning Myths

Carpet cleaning is the subject of much confusion with consumers. Here are some of the leading myths about carpet cleaning and the actual truth behind the misconceptions.

Myth: Cleaning carpeting too often can ruin it.

This is a misconception we hear frequently. Dirt left in carpeting breaks down carpet fibers and accelerates wear. Because dirt is abrasive, every time you walk on carpeting, dirt cuts into the carpet fibers, causing it to wear out faster. A dirty carpet will not last nearly as long as a clean carpet. And while vacuuming helps -- by itself, it’s simply not enough. The longer you wait to have your carpet cleaned, the more damage you do to your carpet and the faster it wears out.

Myth: The only reason to clean carpets is to get out the dirt.

Outside air contains pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust -- and hundreds of other chemicals. When you and your family members come into your home, you carry those pollens, bacteria and chemicals in your hair and on your skin, clothing and shoes. Not surprisingly, all those chemicals, pollens and bacteria wind up -- you guessed it -- in your carpet.

If you have allergies, asthma, emphysema, or other breathing problems -- one major source of your problem could be the pollens, fungus, and chemicals in your carpet.

In addition, as you may know, tobacco smoke contains over 4000 different chemical compounds, 43 of which cause cancer. And even if you don't smoke, those chemicals get on your shoes, you track them in to your home and you leave them in your carpet.

If you're sensitive to cigarette smoke, you might find that you'll breath easier after you hire a company to get those harmful chemicals out of your carpet.

So in addition to getting rid of dirt, another important reason to clean your carpet is to get rid of pollens, fungus, bacteria, chemicals and the tars and residue from tobacco smoke.

Myth: Steam cleaning your carpeting will cause mold.

With the steam cleaning method, water does not go beyond the backing of the carpeting or into the pad, which means that there are no conditions for mold to grow. Only in extreme cases where a cleaner leaves the carpet extremely wet can this happen. A professional carpet cleaning company that utilizes the proper cleaning equipment and techniques will remove all excess moisture.

Myth: Carpets will be left wet for days.

When carpet is cleaned using the hot water extraction method with the proper cleaning techniques and equipment, it should be dry (in most cases) within a few hours. In some instances, where humidity is high or other conditions that might slow drying exist, the carpet might take longer to dry.

Myth: Dry cleaning does a better job than steam cleaning.

The truth is, the hot water extraction method (also known as steam cleaning) is the recommended method by carpet manufacturers. Why? Steam cleaning provides the most thorough cleaning available because it uses hot water to help clean and sanitize and removes dirt, bacteria and contaminants from the base of the carpet fibers.

The dry cleaning method still uses some water, but only cleans the top surface of the carpeting, not deep down into the base of the carpet fibers where the majority of dirt, bacteria and contaminants settle over time. Another issue with dry cleaning is that the solution being used to clean the carpet is neither rinsed nor extracted which means that residue is left behind. If a spot is deep down in the carpeting, which many tend to be, the spot will often reappear shortly after being cleaned since it was never actually removed in the first place.

Check with your carpet manufacturer for the recommended cleaning method. Choosing a method of cleaning other than what the carpet manufacturer recommends could actually void your warranty.

Benefits of Carpeting

There are many different types of flooring available to consumers, ranging from tile, hardwood, laminate and more. Here are some benefits of choosing carpeting for your home:

1. Appearance- Carpet makes a room look better and it adds to the décor. Using color, patterns, and pile heights, you can create just the image you want for your home or business. Carpet fits into an indoor environment without having to dominate it.

2. Style – Color and appearance are part of how a décor is “fulfilled,” but carpet also can make a statement more deep than appearance. It can match a style. Through different fibers, different face weights, different pile heights, carpet truly can make a statement about a home or business. It allows individual or corporate expression.

3. Insulation – Carpet can help save energy. It is an important contributor to the insulation of the indoor environment. Ever gotten up in the morning and had to walk with your bare feet on a cold, hard floor? Carpet really does help keep the warm in, but just as importantly creates a psychological impression that the room is warm.

4. “Feel” – Have you ever tried to “curl up” in front of the fireplace on a hard surface floor? Carpet feels so good. It’s soft, it’s easier on the feet, and it provides a “softer feel” to the whole indoor environment.

5. Acoustics – Carpet eliminates the echo chamber effect. It collects and dampens noise. It absorbs sound and creates a quiet, more controlled, peaceful atmosphere.

6. Safety – Many people at one time or another slipped on a hard surface floor. Try to slip on a carpet. It’s hard to do. Carpet provides a safety barrier that just can’t be ignored, especially in a commercial environment. Besides, if someone does trip and fall, a carpet is a lot softer place to land than a hard floor.

7. Professional Image – Carpet makes a statement about a home or company’s image. It provides a formal, warm contribution to the indoor environment.

8. “Concealability” – Carpet is made to hide and conceal dirt, soil, and other spilled and tracked materials better than other floor covering alternatives. The construction of carpet fiber allows it to conceal soil and spills. Other floor covering alternatives require immediate maintenance when soil is tracked or liquid is spilled.

9. “Cleanability” – One of the most frustrating things a conscientious professional carpet cleaner hears, is from people who think carpet is more expensive or more difficult to maintain than hard surface floors. Anyone who has ever been responsible for the professional upkeep of a tile, stone or hardwood floor knows that is not the case. Equipment, cleaning solutions, systems and training are available that make a carpet easy to maintain installed in all types of indoor environments. Add to the fact that carpet cleaning can be both by interim maintenance “appearance” methods for the short run (such as low moisture encapsulation cleaning) as well as restorative methods for appearance, “wearability”, and health, in the longer run (truck mounted hot water extraction cleaning). Carpet can be maintained at an excellent appearance and make positive contributions to overall indoor environmental quality.

10. Collection And Filtration Center – Carpet acts as a filter in the indoor environment. It filters airborne soiling and pollutants from the airspace. That is a major advantage of carpeting. No other home or business furnishing does a better job of collecting and filtering soil and pollutants whereby they can be properly and completely removed and taken away by periodic professional hot water extraction cleaning. Carpet prevents the migration of pollutants and bio-contaminants throughout the indoor environment. All types of hard surface floors do not. Carpet is a positive indoor filter and collection center. When properly maintained by professional hot water extraction cleaning, it contributes to a healthier indoor environment.

Maintenance Tips for Your Carpet & Fabrics

The following simple tips will help you improve the appearance of your carpeting and upholstery while also extending their life:

Entrance Mats – Using entrance mats inside and outside of doorways will reduce the amount of soil brought onto your carpet. As much as 75% of the dirt and grime in your carpet is tracked-in soil.

Vacuuming – Nothing is more important for maintaining beautiful, long lasting carpet than vacuuming. Dry soil is abrasive and can actually damage carpet fibers, causing accelerated wear. In addition to creating a dingy, poor appearance, dry soil will also diminish the effectiveness of your stain-resistant protective coating. A vacuum with a beater bar will give the best results.

Professional Cleaning – Periodically, have your carpet and upholstery professionally cleaned. Carpet manufacturers recommend hot water extraction (at least once a year) as the best method for cleaning carpet, and many require hot water extraction cleaning as a warranty requirement. Do not use do-it-yourself wet shampooing or dry cleaning methods on carpets. They can leave a residue which actually attracts and holds dirt.

Clean Up Spills Immediately – The quicker you attend a spill, the easier it is to remove. Always blot the spill. Use a clean, white absorbent cloth. Never rub or use a brush. Rubbing can actually make the stain worse and permanently alter the look of the carpet fiber or fabric.

Spot Removal – Allied’s Spot Remover is ideal for removing all types of spots and stains. When removing spots, always pre-test the spot remover on a hidden area of your carpet or fabric. Apply a small amount and blot it with a clean white cloth. If any colors appears on your cloth or you see any color change, do not use the spot remover. After testing, apply the spot remover to your cloth, and then blot it onto the spot. Repeat until the spot is gone. Next, rinse by wetting the cloth with water and blotting it onto the area. Then, with a clean dry cloth, blot dry.

Carpet and Fabric Protection – Carpet/Fabric Protector is the perfect solution for protecting your carpets and upholstery from soil and stains. It also helps to extend the life of your carpet and upholstery by making the removal of dirt easier, and by helping restore stain blocking performance for easier food and spot removal.

Allied Earns Coveted Angie's List Super Service Award for Second Consecutive Year

Allied Home Services has been awarded the prestigious 2008 Angie's List Super Service Award. The award reflects a company's consistently high level of customer service.

The Super Service Award is given to companies who have achieved and maintained a superior service rating on Angie's List throughout the past year. Fewer than 5 percent of the companies on Angie's List meet the eligibility requirements to be considered for the award.

"Our Super Service Award winners are the cream of the crop when it comes to customer service," said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List.

"We strive to provide the best customer service possible for all of our clients," said Kathy Hammond, Co-owner and Office Manager of Allied Home Services. "We feel honored to have received this award two years in a row and will continue to provide quality services so that our customers will continue to be lifetime clients, not one-time customers."

Angie's List Super Service Award winners have maintained a total and overall grade of "A;" have received a minimum number of reports; are NOT in the Angie's List "Penalty Box" and do NOT have an unsatisfactory rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie's List, but members can find the 2008 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

Angie's List is where thousands of consumers share their ratings and reviews on local contractors and companies in more than 425 different categories. Currently, 750,000 consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie's List to help them find the right contractor or company for the job they need done. Members have unlimited access to the list via Internet or phone; receive the Angie's List magazine, which includes articles on home improvement and maintenance, consumer trends and scam alerts; and they can utilize the Angie's List complaint resolution service. Get more information about Angie's List at http://www.angieslist.com. Get more consumer tips at http://www.angieslisttips.com/.

Allied Recently Featured in Angie's List Publication

Allied Carpet Cleaning was featured in the October edition of Angie's List's newsletter. Angie's List is a consumer-driven website where members post reports and reviews about service companies in their area.

Allied was featured in Angie's List's Page of Happiness where members "commend service companies' excellent work."

The page of happiness feature states:

"Allied Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning (303-791-5100) saved Deb Pasquarella’s cream-colored carpets after she trained her new puppy. 'They got out every spot,' Pasquarella says. 'They pretreated, cleaned and protected all the carpet. They called to ask if they could come out early — who does that nowadays? The staff was professional, polite and easy to work with, and my carpets look fantastic.'"

Allied currently has 47 reports listed through Angie's List with an overall "A" grade. In 2007, Allied Carpet Cleaning received a "Super Services Award," which was awarded to less than 5% of Angie's List service companies.