FAQ’s

Why get my carpets cleaned?

When dirt and other particles become embedded in your carpet, two things occur:

1. They act as an abrasive that slowly wears down the fibres of your carpet. Over time, this damages the look and feel of your carpet, and shortens it’s overall lifespan. Imagine sand in your shoes - over time that sand would wear through your socks and cause irritation. The same principle applies carpet soiling.

2. They create a breeding ground for harmful bacteria that has been known to aggravate asthma and other allergies. If you are someone who suffers from autoimmune disorders or allergies, guarding against this is especially crucial.

By having your carpets cleaned, we are able to remove this harmful soiling, restoring life to your carpet, and creating a healthier environment for you and your family.

Will my carpet smell after cleaning?

There will generally be some odour while the fibres are wet - particularly with organic fibres such as wool. This will disappear as the carpet dries.

Can odours be removed?

Yes. We utilise deodorising agents to ensure that your carpets are left sanitised and lightly fragrant. We also carry specialised solutions for urine contamination etc.

How often should I have my carpets cleaned?

Every house is a little different. A general recommendation is every 12 months, however some homes may require more frequent treatments. If your carpet looks dirty, it’s likely already more soiled than you realise. Give us a call if you would like to discuss your situation.

What cleaning method do you use?

We utilise the Hot Water Extraction method of cleaning. This is widely considered to be industry best-practice, and most major carpet and upholstery textile manufacturers recommend it.

Help! I’ve spilled something on my carpet. What do I do?

The first thing to do is to relax. If it’s a liquid, try to gently dab up as much as you can with some paper towels. If it is semi solid (eg. yoghurt), scoop as much of it away as you can before dabbing with paper towels. For wine, we recommend covering the stain with regular table salt after blotting up as much as possible - you will be amazed at how much more this often draws out.

DO NOT RUB IT.

Then, if there is still some marking or staining, give us a call and we will be there as soon as possible to assist you.

Why get my upholstery cleaned?

Natural oils from hands, arms, legs etc. build up over time through use. If you have pets such as cats or dogs that also sit on the furniture, they will leave behind their own scents, oils, and fur/hair.

Much like carpet, a build-up of this soiling will wear down the fabric, reducing the life of your furniture.

What can I do to care for my upholstery?

Lots!

Firstly, regular vacuuming of all surfaces and cushions is always recommended (except for feather filled cushions).

Secondly, rotating or reversing cushions regularly where possible will greatly extend the life of the fabric by preventing a build-up of dust in one area.

Finally, don’t underestimate the power of UV damage. Some fabrics are particularly susceptible to sun-bleaching. If you have noticed this happening with your upholstery, see if you can’t arrange for it to see a little less of the sun.

Is there anything I definitely shouldn’t do?

Don’t rub spots and stains. This can cause the mark to spread and/or for the fabric surface to shift.

Don’t Use detergent to try and clean them yourself. Without proper extraction, detergent residue will sit in the fabric and cause a brown mark to develop over time.

Don’t over-wet your fabric upholstery. If you have linen or viscose fabric, too much water can permanently alter the texture and colour.

How often should I have my upholstery cleaned?

Similar to carpet, this depends much on use. Most retailers will recommend a professional clean every 12 months.

If there are a few marks that are bothering you, or you have begun to notice that areas of your upholstery have begun looking a bit off, give us a call - it’s probably time for a clean.

Can I do anything to treat spots and spills?

As there is are many, many variables when it comes to treating fabric upholstery, there are limitations on what can be done before professional help is needed.

The most important thing is timing. Keep paper towels on hand and blot liquids up as soon as possible. DO NOT RUB. If you have a robust fabric and act quickly, you can avoid many stains before they have the chance to set in.

You could try dampening the spot with a damp cloth, and blotting it up again with paper towels.

What about off-the-shelf stain treatments?

Here’s our honest opinion: They can effectively MASK stains in SOME scenarios.

That being said, we don’t recommend them for the following reasons:

1. It’s important to note that these sprays don’t extract the thing that has caused the stain. Without extraction, damage can continue to your fabric. This is particularly the case with supermarket urine treatments.

2. We regularly have to utilise a bit of chemistry magic to remove stains. Off-the-shelf cleaners can often react in strange and surprising ways, making our chance at removing the stain much less likely.

What makes Sovereign Services different from others?

Our technicians learned the trade under the top operators in Auckland. Though we cannot boast to have the collective years of experience they do, we have been trained in their methods and techniques, and we can confidently replicate their results.

Many technicians are inexperienced when it comes to handling delicate fabrics and boutique floor coverings. Not so with us. We have worked extensively with high-end carpets and furnishings, custom or otherwise. We have an experience base that quite simply, most of the industry doesn’t.

Our motto is “Service Fit for Royalty!”. What that means to us is that your home is a palace, and it should be treated as such. We endeavour to take the upmost care while in your home or place of business. This is a very personal service, and we want to do our best to put you at ease.

What is involved with the process?

During an initial phone call, we will discuss your needs and book in a time and date that suits.

Upon arriving at your home or business, we will conduct a preliminary inspection to confirm the details.

We dry extract your carpet or upholstery before spot treating and re-extracting using a water-based cleaning solution.

When possible, we like to review everything with you once work has been completed.

What payments do we accept?

We use online banking. After work has been completed, you will receive an invoice that contains all the necessary payment details.

At this time, we are unable to offer eftpos and credit card payments.

What guarantees do we offer?

If for whatever reason you are unhappy with our services, we are happy to return to your home or business and re-clean the carpet or item free of charge at a time suitable for you.

If after a second visit you are still unhappy, we will provide a full reimbursement with our apologies. Your satisfaction is important to us, and we hope to earn it!

How much do we charge?

Pricing varies depending on the situation. Our goal is to always charge fairly and in accordance with standard rates across the industry.

If you are interested in hiring our services but would like to know more about this, please give us a call to discuss your situation, or use our request a quote facility online and we will get back to you when we can.