I poked my nose around for some carpet cleaning deals. I was eager to get someone in to do the job ASAP, so I got a couple estimates and went w/the cheapest one. Since you have to subscribe to Angie's List, I wasn't able to see if the company I hired was going to be any good.
Hew's has Saturday hours and also had a coupon: $79.99 for three rooms, plus free hallway cleaning. When I booked the cleaning, the guy on the phone told me to vacuum all the carpets before the appt. He explained that the cleaners wouldn't move large furniture items such as beds and armoires, but that tables, end tables, nightstands, desks, and the like would be moved. I went through the apartment to move stuff off the floor, like lamps, power cords, trash cans, and other small items.
When the cleaning guy arrived, he inspected the area and tried to upsell me on some sort of stain-guard, but I declined. He went downstairs to get his machine (very large...very noisy...stays out in the hall, so expect your neighbors to hate you for a while) and came back w/a coworker. I'm not sure why two of them were needed, as only one person could use the machine at the time.
Anyway, they went about their business and started cleaning in my roommate's room. They seemed to do an okay enough job in there. The next stop was the living room. I went in after they finished and had already started working on my bedroom. I found that the area underneath the coffee table was totally dry, as was an area of about a foot surrounding a bookcase. The carpet underneath my dining room table (it weighs about 30 lbs.) was completely dry, too. I told the guys that if I'm paying to get my carpet cleaned, I want it ALL cleaned. I was told that small furniture items would be moved, but these guys did nothing of the sort. I, therefore, moved the coffee table. And the dining room table and chairs. I had the guys go back over the areas they fully neglected. They did NOT seem happy that I was asking them to do this. Once they finished doing this, I noticed that they weren't concerned about the wooden table legs or metal chair legs resting on the moist carpet. The company does not send employees out with thingies to put down on the wet carpet to prevent rusting or damaging of wooden objects. Unprofessional.
My favorite part of the hour w/the carpet cleaners was when I was nervy enough to ask them to clean UNDER my night tables. I went so far as to move the tables so those delicate flowers (mind you, one of the guys probably weighed about 300 lbs.) wouldn't have to do anything strenuous. I left my room and let them go about their business.
While they touched up the living room AGAIN, I went back to my room to check on the areas I'd asked them to clean. The carpet underneath the night tables? It was still dry. The guys actually pretended to clean the carpet, moved the tables back into place, didn't tell me such, and proceeded as if nothing were wrong. WTF, yo? I brought this up to them and told them it was unacceptable. They went back through and did as I asked...but not without a fight first. They told me they could vacuum those areas, but they could not use water, as they'd be putting wood tables right back down on the carpet. Well, they had no problem putting my coffee table back down on the wet carpet, so I'm not sure why this was such a big problem. I bunched up some plastic bags and stuck them underneath my night tables to prevent any sort of problems w/the furniture.
I was ready to get the guys out of my apartment. I didn't want to fight anymore. I didn't want to be disappointed anymore. I had intended on tipping each of the guys $10 for moving small furniture and basically doing their job, but because *I* moved my furniture, I gave them each $5. And a slice of homemade Key lime pie (honestly, I shouldn't have, but I didn't want them leaving thinking I was a total bitch).
I actually said just that when the guys were leaving. I explained that I expected a high-quality service. I said that I was told small furniture would be moved. I said that I didn't want to come off as a bitch, but I should not have had to ASK the guys to do so many things. One of the guys told me that he hates moving furniture and that I shouldn't have expected him to do that for the price of the service. "I'm not a furniture mover," he said. I should tell Hew's about this, but I don't want to waste any more of my time w/them than I already have.
For $80 + $9ish in tax (+ $10 tip), I did get slightly cleaner carpets. I also had to fight w/two men to do their job and do it correctly. On his way out, one of the guys said to request him in the future if I needed my carpet cleaned again. "I'll take good care of you," he said. If the service I received qualifies as "good care," I'd hate to see what Hew's "bad care" consists of.
(Also: my roommate later told me that the blanket on his bed was soaked. I told him it was just water and to threw in the dryer. Still, frustrating.) read more