News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Get Fresh Carpet Cleaning meets the high standards of the WoolSafe® Organization to become the only WoolSafe® Approved Service Provider in Calgary and all of Western Canada.

WoolSafe® Approved Service Providers Mark

WoolSafe® Approved Service Providers are a network of professional carpet cleaners trained and accredited by the WoolSafe® Organization.

These companies stand out for:

1. being proficient in cleaning wool carpets and rugs
2. having been a carpet & upholstery cleaner for at least 5 years
3. being members of a recognised professional or trade association related to the cleaning industry
4. having attended a WoolSafe® training course and meet other requirements relating to their business and professional associations
5. using WoolSafe® Approved products whenever they clean or maintain wool or wool-rich carpeting
6. ensuring the highest standards in carpet and upholstery cleaning

Only these companies are entitled to use this mark to promote their services.

To find a WoolSafe® Certified Operator near you click here or contact the WoolSafe® Organization.

The WoolSafe® Approved and Green WoolSafe® Approved Marks

These marks can be seen on the packaging and on the information and advertising material of certain carpet maintenance chemicals. Whether it is a product for professionals or for domestic use, it is a sign of excellence. It means that the product had been independently tested against stringent international criteria and found to be safe and effective to use on wool carpets and rugs. Used according to the manufacturers’ instructions, these products will not cause damage to the fibres or colours and will not promote rapid resoiling.

Get Fresh Carpet Cleaning uses the most appropriate WoolSafe® approved products for your particular carpet and rug cleaning needs.

The Green WoolSafe® Mark is for environmentally responsible cleaning products. They have to be WoolSafe® approved and also have to meet the requirements of Green Seal or Environmental Choice/EcoLogo for their environmental impact.

All approved products are subject to annual re-evaluation testing to ensure they continue to meet the WoolSafe® requirements.

Get Fresh Carpet Cleaning uses products awarded the Green WoolSafe® Mark in its regular cleaning of all wool carpeting. These products are also Indoor Air Quality Approved (IAQ) Certified or Envirodesic Certified to not negatively impact the Indoor Air Quality of your home environment.

In addition, Get Fresh Carpet Cleaning has earned the Certified Firm designation of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and the only Calgary company to bear the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval.

Contact: CRI Communications Department, 706.428.2103

Dalton, GA. (May 18, 2009) – The Carpet and Rug Institute once again raises the bar on industry standards by enhancing the Seal of Approval Service Providers program, to encourage carpet cleaning companies to provide a higher level of customer service and satisfaction.

The Seal of Approval program tests and certifies superior performing carpet cleaning solutions, vacuums, deep cleaning extractors and recognizes professional carpet cleaners that exclusively use Seal of Approval products which meet residential carpet warranties. Companies certified as Seal of Approval Service Providers must continue to use cleaning products and equipment tested and certified under the program. Additionally, the enhanced Service Provider program asks that companies agree to uphold certain principles of customer satisfaction and comply with a “code of conduct.”

“Carpet is comfortable and beautiful. But we know that consumers have questions about how to care for carpet over time. Choosing the wrong service provider can be a disaster, since a bad choice may result in poor carpet cleaning results or even damage to carpet fibers,” said Werner Braun, CRI president.

“The Seal of Approval Service Provider program is designed to make carpet cleaning and maintenance easy by helping identify companies who use only superior performing products and equipment and are responsible for the workmanship of the services provided. As a result, customers can feel confident doing business with companies who have earned the Seal of Approval Service Provider Certificate.”

The Seal of Approval also aims to match the right cleaning methods with the right products and strongly recommends that participants are also certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC), an independent certification body that sets industry standards for firms and their employees.

CRI has also established a “code of conduct” requiring certified providers to uphold a high standard of accountability, responsibility and customer-oriented service. It also has provisions for carpet manufacturers and equipment and sundries manufacturers, including honoring warranties and providing product usage and cleaning and maintenance information for consumers.

The Seal of Approval program is celebrating its fifth year anniversary in 2009 and has grown to more than 186 participating manufacturers with 471 products certified and nearly 700 service providers.

© Carpet and Rug Institute

Note from editor: Get Fresh Carpet Cleaning the first and only Calgary Carpet Cleaning Company to earn the Seal of Approval Service Provider Certificate applauds the CRI as they make  further changes that raise the bar on industry standards.

While the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) sets the professional standards for cleaning and ethics, the CRI tests and approves carpet cleaning solutions and equipment.

The following is from their website:

To put it simply, the job of the CRI is to go well beneath the surface and prove how our environment for living, working, learning and healing is better — thanks to carpet and rugs. Through science-based research, customer advocacy, environmental stewardship and consensus building, we serve our members and their customers. Our initiatives help protect carpet’s life and beauty and demonstrate its air quality benefit.

Proper carpet cleaning is critical to extending the life of carpet, keeping it looking beautiful and maintaining a healthy indoor air environment within your home or facility.

To maintain the peak performance and beauty of carpet, the Carpet and Rug Institute recommends periodic professional cleaning. The Carpet and Rug Institute also recommends the use of Seal of Approval products, and is proud to recognize those service providers who utilize Seal of Approval products.

Carpet cleaning professionals who use Seal of Approval solutions in conjunction with Seal of Approval equipment are eligible to be recognized as Seal of Approval service providers.

Hiring Seal of Approval Service Providers is the best way to ensure that your carpet is being cleaned with quality products. Not all carpet cleaning products clean equally well and some may even damage carpet fibers. Using Seal of approval Service Providers also is the best way to make sure your residential or commercial carpet warranties are being met since many major carpet manufacturers are now tying their warranties to the use of Seal of Approval products.

Those cleaning companies listed as Certified Seal of Approval Service Providers have met the qualifications which assure you their cleaning equipment and products are among the very best in the market.

Get Fresh Carpet Cleaning is proud to be the first and only CRI Approved Service Provider in Calgary. You can rest assured that the cleaning solutions used are not only effective but also will not harm your carpeting and it’s stain resist properties.

While the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) tests and approves carpet cleaning solutions and equipment, the IICRC is concerned about standards, ethics, training and certification.

The following is from their website:

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has served as the Industry Guardian for the cleaning, inspection and restoration service industries for more than 30 years. As a non-profit certification organization, the IICRC helps ensure that you have access to trusted and trained cleaning professionals by establishing and monitoring certification programs and standards for these industries.

To qualify for IICRC Certified Firm status, businesses must demonstrate proof of insurance, maintain a written customer complaint policy with documented follow-up and provide ongoing education and training leading to certification for all technicians. IICRC Certified Firms are also required to abide by the IICRC Code of Ethics. Services provided by IICRC Certified Professionals range from flooring inspection and cleaning to mold remediation to water and fire damage restoration.

To get a head start on a healthier and cleaner home, the IICRC recommends hiring an experienced cleaning service provider. For those tasks that require a specialist (i.e. carpet, upholstery and hard surface cleaning), hire only certified professionals.

The IICRC provides a consumer referral service to locate trained and certified cleaning and restoration firms and technicians. Before hiring anyone: confirm that they are trained and certified in the type of work to be performed and ask for credentials; informally interview the company representative or technician; obtain a written estimate of the work to be completed, and receive a written contract or invoice confirming the total price along with any statements or guarantees.

Get Fresh Carpet Cleaning Calgary is proud to be a IICRC Certified Firm and support the IICRC as they raise industry standards and protect the consumer.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Shaw Revises Warranties to Reflect Requirements for CRI Seal of Approval Products and IICRC Certification

Dalton, GA – Following the company’s announcement in June of 2005, Shaw has revised its residential carpet warranties to require the use of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval products for carpet cleaning supplies and equipment for carpet manufactured after January 1, 2007. Effective January 1, 2008, the company will also require the use of Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) Certified Firms for professional cleaning services.

The CRI Seal of Approval Program was established to test and certify the performance of products and equipment used in carpet cleaning. Years of research has shown that about half of the carpet spot removal and cleaning products in the marketplace do not clean any better than water, and may also leave soil-attracting residues. The results of the use of these products have been shown to be a major source of consumer dissatisfaction with carpet. The Carpet and Rug Institute program offers consumers a quick, easy way to locate products that work well and do not damage their significant investment in carpet.

The new requirements have been included under “Homeowner Obligations” in Shaw’s residential warranty booklet covering its 3-, 4-, and 5-Star warranties. Revised wording addressing the changes is included in the company’s homeowner requirement that periodic cleaning by hot water extraction be performed at least once every two years. Whether the consumer elects to have the cleaning performed by a professional cleaning service or with a do-it-yourself system, the equipment must be “certified under the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval Program.” The additional IICRC wording reads as follows:

“NOTE: Effective January 1, 2008, professional service must performed by an Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certified firm.” IICRC Certified Firms must meet several stringent criteria that serve to protect the consumer. The firm must have at least one IICRC Certified Technician on all job sites, must have a business license, must carry both general liability and workers compensation insurance (where required), have an approved consumer complaint policy, and must agree to adhere to the IICRC code of ethics. All these protect the consumer against unscrupulous operators.

“We believe our recommendations and requirements will ultimately help consumers enjoy and appreciate our products more fully,” says Carey Mitchell, Shaw’s director of technical services. “This information reflects years of carpet cleaning research and testing and provides a firm foundation for proper maintenance that will enhance and extend a carpet’s useful life.”

8/25/06

Shaw Industries

Note from editor: Get Fresh Carpet Cleaning is an IICRC Certified Firm and the first and only CRI Approved Service Provider in Calgary.