Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for carpet and upholstery cleaning companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Kleenet believes the best way to keep customers satisfied is to stay ahead of the competition in terms of its services and products. “By utilizing the newest products and technology, I’m able to offer service that goes beyond what my clients expect,” says owner Robert Bonebrake. “They know I’m able to provide cleaning services that other companies can’t, and they really appreciate that.”

Kleenet has been cleaning carpet, upholstery, and laminate and hardwood flooring for residential and commercial clients in San Mateo County and San Francisco since 2010. The company’s proprietary cleaning method is designed to achieve a 90 percent extraction rate and minimize drying time, and it also has the equipment to clean vehicle upholstery, tile and grout, and more.

Unlike carpet and upholstery cleaning companies whose owners assign project management tasks to less experienced employees, Kleenet provides every job with the hands-on expertise of Mr. Bonebrake himself. “Not only do I personally take every phone call, I’m also the one who does the onsite work,” he says. “If a customer has a question or concern, they know they can get in touch with me and I’ll take care of them, no matter what it takes.”

To further differentiate itself from its competition, Kleenet approaches every job with a specific set of standards that are designed to ensure positive results. “I have a set of written standards that I follow step-by-step, which allows me to keep tasks compartmentalized,” explains Mr. Bonebrake. “Whether it’s a one-time service or repeat cleanings that have to be completed weekly or monthly, everything I do adheres to the highest levels of quality.”

When it comes to getting rid of traffic patterns, the best strategy is to avoid them in the first place.
If you have carpet in your home or business, you’re probably familiar with traffic patterns: worn areas where the carpet gets the most use (usually in hallways and doorways, in front of furniture, and on staircases). In areas of high-impact traffic, the carpet becomes worn and the fibers change, which leaves a visible path.

“Unfortunately, no one has come up with a way to get rid of traffic patterns,” says Robert Bonebrake, owner of Kleenet in San Bruno. “Carpet cleaning companies can do their best to clean traffic patterns and get the carpet as new-looking as possible, but traffic patterns can never be fully removed because the carpet itself is worn down and slightly different in those areas. The best solution is preventing traffic patterns from setting altogether.”

The first step to prevention is understanding why traffic patterns happen. Most modern carpet is made from synthetic materials, which break down, dull and fray when dust, dirt, and soil get ground into the carpeting. Based on that understanding, it’s clear that the best way to prevent wear patterns in carpet is to stop dirt and soil from entering your home. Here are some steps you can take to keep your carpet looking like new for longer:

• Remove your shoes when you come inside. This prevents particles and sharp dust from entering your home and damaging your carpet over time.
• Use a carpet, mat or runner to catch dirt and particles at entrances. You may also want to put down runners or mats in the doorways of kitchens, bathrooms and rooms with hard flooring that can transfer dust particles to carpeted rooms.
• Vacuum often to remove dust, dirt and other particles that cause damage.
• Have your carpet regularly cleaned to remove ground-in particles that vacuuming can’t remove.
• Apply a carpet protector to shield your floor from spills, stains, and abrasion from dust and dirt.

Q: Do I need to get an estimate for my cleaning job?
A: Only if it’s a commercial job. All my residential prices are on my website, but I set pricing by the square foot for commercial jobs, so I’ll need to come out and do an evaluation.

Q: Should I vacuum my carpet before you clean it?
A: It depends on the level of service you need. For example, the premium package includes vacuuming but the basic package does not.

Q: Do you change your carpet cleaning method for polyester or wool?
A: Yes, I use special products to clean wool and olefin (polyester) carpet. They contain chemicals that won’t dye, bleach or damage the fibers.

Q: Do I need to be worried about water remaining in my carpet or upholstery?
A: No, my carpet cleaning method has a 95 percent extraction rate, which means that for every 10 gallons of water, I get 8.5 gallons back. Your carpet should be dry within four to six hours.

Q: Can carpet cleaning help alleviate my respiratory symptoms?
A: Yes. Carpet cleaning will remove dirt, pollen and dander, which are the things most commonly associated with allergies, asthma and other respiratory problems. The steam cleaning method I use also sanitizes the carpet because the water is hot enough to kill and extract anything that’s in there.

Q: How often should I have my carpet cleaned?
A: Most carpet manufacturers recommend having your carpet cleaned every six to 12 months. This also protects your warranty since most are void if the carpets aren’t regularly cleaned.

Q: Should I use a spot cleaner on my carpet?
A: No. Over-the-counter spot cleaners don’t do a very good job at removing stains; in fact, they can actually set some stains. Even if they say they’re professional, most aren’t designed or regulated in the same way as professional products. If you want to remove a stain or spill yourself, use hydrogen peroxide—it’s cheap, safe and will do a pretty good job of removing almost any organic compound.

Q: What are traffic patterns?
A: Traffic patterns occur when carpet gets worn down in the areas where it’s most used—usually in front of furniture and in hallways and doorways. Unfortunately, no one has come up with a way to fully remove traffic patterns, but I’ll do my best to clean them and get your carpet looking as new as possible.