Q. I’ve been told that ‘truckmount’ cleaning equipment gives the best results – is that what you use at A Brighter Home?

A. No we don’t use ‘truckmounts’, but there are several reasons why. Although ‘truckmount’ systems can indeed give excellent results, they unfortunately come with many downsides – because the machine stays on the van (hence ‘truckmount’) and runs hoses into the property, it has to be parked very close to the property, which can sometimes be difficult, and often can’t reach up to difficult to access properties such as offices and flats. Powered by diesel or petrol generators which aren’t especially environmentally friendly and are very noisy which can often be annoying for your neighbours! After extensive research and investment we have now sourced what we believe to be the most effective portable equipment on the market. In 99% of cases we find that it matches the power and cleaning ability of a ‘truckmount’, but without any of these disadvantages.

Q. Do you also clean leather upholstery?

A. Yes – we can clean most types of leather upholstery including leather sofas, leather armchairs and leather car interiors.

Q. My sofas were Scotchguarded when I bought them. Is your process safe to use on furniture treated with Scotchguard?

A. Absolutely. However, please consider the following – Any of the protectors such as ‘Scotchguard’ and ‘Guardsman’ are a coating that is sprayed onto the fabric. Over time this coating gradually wears off with general use causing it to work less effectively. We always recommend reprotecting your upholstery each time you have it cleaned by us.

Q. Do you clean unusual fabrics such as ‘Buffalo’, ‘Chenille’ or ‘Velvet’?

A. In most cases yes. Our process is perfectly safe to clean nearly all buffalo and chenille type materials. True velvets (these are made with natural fibres) are usually not safely cleanable, however we can usually clean the more common man made types such as ‘dralon’. In all cases our highly trained operators will thoroughly check the material and if necessary carry out a spot test somewhere inconspicuous before cleaning.

Q. Do you carry out on site quotes before the day of the clean?

A. In most cases this simply isn’t necessary (except for commercial cleans). Our team on the phones have many years of experience and in 99% of cases can provide you with an accurate quote. All of our operators are highly trained and will carry out a full survey of the clean with you before they start – any potential issues or pre-existing conditions will be highlighted at this point. If your item is not safe to be cleaned or we do not believe that we can achieve the required results then we will not charge you – although in our experience this is very rare.

Q. Can you dry clean curtains on site?

A. Yes we can. Take the hassle out of curtain cleaning – we clean them while they are still hanging! We use a dry clean extraction process so there are no problems with shrinkage or colour loss. This process is ideal for freshening up large sets of curtains with pelmets, swags and tails as these are normally quite difficult to take down and rehang.