Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Will My Carpet, Rugs, or Upholstery Take to Dry?

Carpet: 2–8 Hours (average)

Dry time depends on:

• Carpet fiber type (nylon, polyester, wool, etc.)

• Pile density and thickness

• Humidity and temperature in your home

• Areas requiring intensive treatment (like severe pet stains treated with our Water Claw® sub-surface extraction tool)
  

How to Speed Up Drying:

• Set thermostat to around 70°F or higher

• Turn on ceiling fans and HVAC fan

• Crack a few windows for airflow

• Avoid heavy foot traffic until fully dry

Because we use powerful truck-mounted hot water extraction equipment with strong vacuum recovery, your carpets will not be left overly wet.

Upholstery & Mattresses: 30 Minutes-3 Hours

Upholstery dries faster because:

• Fabric is thinner than carpet

• It’s fully exposed to air

• We use a specialized low-moisture upholstery tool that prevents overwetting and overspray
  

Mattress drying time depends on type:

• Pillow-top mattresses may take longer

• Traditional spring mattresses typically dry faster

Area Rugs: 30 Minutes – 5 Hours

Dry time varies significantly depending on:

• Fiber type (wool, polypropylene, silk, etc.)

• Thickness and pile height

• Backing material

• Construction method (hand-knotted, machine-made, etc.)

Thin rugs with no backing may dry in under an hour. Thick rugs with dense backing may take several hours.

If you're unsure, call our Olympia office at (360) 200-8825 and we’ll give you a realistic estimate.

Why Did My Carpet Resoil So Quickly After Another Company Cleaned It?

This is usually caused by chemical residue left behind.

Low-quality detergents or insufficient rinsing can leave sticky residue in carpet fibers. Dirt clings to this residue, making your carpet look dirty again quickly.

At Grossbusters:

• We use premium, easily-rinsed cleaning solutions

• We thoroughly flush fibers with high water flow

• Our powerful vacuum system extracts residues completely

The result?
✔ Softer carpet
✔ No sticky feel
✔ Slower resoiling

Read about our safe chemistry for cleaning carpet, or about our carpet cleaning process in general.

How Often Should I Have My Carpets Professionally Cleaned?

According to IICRC standards (the industry's governing body), recommended cleaning frequency depends on traffic and lifestyle.

General Guidelines:

• Low traffic homes: Every 12–18 months

• Average household: Every 6–12 months

• Homes with pets or children: Every 6–9 months

• High traffic areas: Every 3–6 months

• Businesses: Quarterly or more

Regular professional cleaning:

• Extends carpet life

• Maintains manufacturer warranties

• Improves indoor air quality

• Removes allergens and bacteria

What Should I Do to Prepare Before My Cleaning Appointment?

To help us provide the best results:

• Remove small furniture, toys, and fragile items

• Clear the areas to be cleaned

• Secure pets

• Identify any areas of concern (stains, odors, heavy traffic)

We do not move large furniture for liability reasons. However, we can assist with light furniture when appropriate.

Vacuuming beforehand is helpful and keeps your cost down, but it's not required. We keep a HEPA-filtered vacuum on the truck at all times to remove dry soil before cleaning, when necessary.

When you schedule your appointment, you'll receive a detailed checklist with instructions on how to prepare for your service.

Do You Offer Carpet & Upholstery Protector?

Yes!

Fabric Stain Protector:

• Forms an invisible barrier on fibers

• Helps prevent spills from bonding permanently

• Makes future cleanings more effective

• Extends the life of your carpet and furniture

This is especially recommended for:

• High traffic areas

• Homes with pets

• New carpet installations

Are Your Cleaning Products Safe for Children and Pets?

Yes.

We offer Green Seal Certified cleaning solutions for households concerned about chemical sensitivity.

Our products are:

• Safe when used properly

• Effective at removing soil and bacteria

• Rinsed thoroughly from fibers

No harsh residues. No lingering chemical odors.

Do You Offer “Green” Carpet Cleaning?

Yes.

We offer:

• Hot Water Extraction (Steam Cleaning) using eco-conscious solutions

• Encapsulation Cleaning (Low-Moisture Method) for commercial or maintenance cleaning

Both methods can be environmentally responsible when performed correctly.

We’ll recommend the best method based on your carpet type, condition, and goals.

What Is Hot Water Extraction (Steam Cleaning)?

Hot water extraction is the method recommended by most carpet manufacturers.

It involves:

1. Pre-treatment of soil and stains

2. Agitation to loosen debris

3. High-pressure hot water rinse

4. Powerful vacuum extraction

This method provides the deepest clean and is ideal for heavily soiled carpets.

Can You Remove Pet Urine Odor?

Yes — and this is one of our specialties.

Surface cleaning alone does not remove urine that has soaked into:

• Carpet backing

• Padding

• Subfloor

We use our Water Claw® sub-surface extraction tool to flush and extract urine from beneath the carpet.

Severe cases may require additional treatment, but we will always be transparent about expectations.

Will Steam Cleaning Damage My Carpet?

No, not when done properly.

In fact, hot water extraction is:

• Recommended by most manufacturers

• Required to maintain many warranties

• Safe for properly installed carpet

Improper technique can cause issues, but we use controlled pressure, proper drying techniques, and professional equipment to prevent over-wetting.

Do You Move Furniture?

We can move light furniture upon request (chairs, small tables).

We do not move:

• Beds

• Entertainment centers

• Large sectionals

• Fragile or valuable items

For best results, we recommend clearing the area as much as possible before we arrive.

Do You Offer Tile & Grout Cleaning?

Yes.

Our tile and grout cleaning process:

• Uses high-pressure cleaning tools

• Extracts embedded soil

• Restores original grout color

• Optionally includes grout sealing

Tile floors often look dramatically better after professional cleaning.

Do You Guarantee Your Work?

Yes!

If you are not satisfied, PLEASE contact us and we will address your concerns.

We built Grossbusters on integrity and attention to detail, and we stand behind our work. Read about Our 100% Guarantee.

How Long Has Grossbusters Been Serving Olympia?

Grossbusters Carpet Cleaning was founded in 2010 in Olympia, WA.

We proudly serve:

• Olympia

• Lacey

• Tumwater

• Yelm

• DuPont

• Lakewood

• Surrounding Thurston County, Pierce County, and Lewis County areas

We are locally owned and operated, and we're not a franchise. Beware of copycats. 😄

How Do I Schedule Service?

Call us at:

📞 (360) 200-8825

Or visit use the button below to get a FREE estimate or to schedule an appointment.

We’ll answer your questions and help you choose the right service for your home or business.

Are You Insured?

Yes.

What Are Those Ugly Black Lines Along My Baseboards?

If you have a light colored carpet, you may see dark grey or black lines on the carpet near baseboards, under doorways, and around furniture. This is especially common in homes that are ~5 years or older. These dark lines area caused by "filtration soil." Filtration soil is caused by indoor air pollutants (such as soot from fireplaces, gas burning furnaces, or candles, dust, pollen, or general dirt in your HVAC/air ducts. When contaminated flows through the cracks between baseboards (or doorways) and the carpet, the fine particulates in the air gets "filtered" out by the carpet, and the black or gray deposits are left behind.

Can the filtration soil lines be removed? Sometimes. Because the particles are so fine, the literally embed into the carpet fibers. Sometimes they can permanently discolor light colored carpets. We have products and equipment specifically for removing this type of soil. We can almost always achieve an improvement with cleaning, though 100% removal of the discoloration isn't always possible.

You can prevent filtration soil by having your ducts and/or chimney cleaned periodically, by vacuuming the carpet along the baseboards regularly, and by having routine professional carpet cleaning. Please be aware that there is a sharp tackstrip along the edges of your carpet, so be careful if you try to clean those areas by hand.