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House cleaning - Yuck! House cleaning can be a dirty chore that many would like to avoid all together. For some it ranks somewhere between the paying of taxes and grabbing hold of a sticker bush. Some areas of house cleaning can be difficult, time consuming, and damaging without the right equipment, techniques, and know-how. [Note: Ad or content links featured on this page are not necessarily affiliated with IICRC (The cleantrust) and should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by IICRC (The cleantrust)].
The cleantrust, a program of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), can't do much about taxes or sticker bushes, but they are industry experts in the field of cleaning rugs, carpet, and leather or upholstered furniture. If your home suffers from mold, water, or fire/smoke damage, they can help there too.
Most consumers know how to clean a window or countertop, mop a floor, or even vacuum carpet. In most cases, simple tools - spray bottle, clean rags, mop, vacuum cleaner, and elbow grease - are all that's needed. However, many of today's homes are built with products that are difficult to clean (stone, ceramics, specialty woods). Also, carpet or leather and upholstered furniture can be expensive investments that are costly to replace if irreversibly damaged by harsh chemicals or techniques. The IICRC recommends an alternative to doing it yourself.
Hire a cleantrust Professional
If you hate cleaning, imagine the unwanted predicament of hiring a professional "after" you've spent considerable time, effort, and money trying to clean it yourself. To avoid the hassles and headaches, look into getting the assistance of a cleantrust professional.
Why cleantrust? Only IICRC Certified Firms have earned the right to display the cleantrust logo as a symbol of quality. In order to achieve IICRC-certified status, firms must meet a rigorous list of skills and business ethics criteria. To become certified, firms must:
- Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity;
- Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests;
- Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry;
- Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident;
- Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.
The cleantrust works closely with manufacturers and has ongoing relationships with fiber producers, carpet and fabric mills, furnishing manufacturers and retailers, and others affiliated with the industry. Also, many leading manufacturers specify in their warranties the use of IICRC cleantrust service professionals.
