Clean Carpets

I am content today because I had my downstairs carpet cleaned and also my carpeted stairs and landings.

Truck mounted steam cleaning. That's what I like to use. I had a guy - his name is Rafael - come to my home for years to clean my carpets. I used to have him come 4 times a year but it's been over a year since I had my carpets cleaned and I lost his business card. I had to find him.

I had to find him, but I couldn't find him through information or in the phone book. So I looked for steam mounted cleaning and found a different company: Cambridge Carpet Cleaning. The owner called this morning and said he'd be here between 12:30 and 1:30.

Okay - so he called and said he was running late and would be here around 2:00. No problem, I say, just make sure you'll be done by 3:30 so I can pick up my kids from school. No problem he assures me.

At 2:00 one of the Kennedys knocks on my door. "Hi. I'm John." He introduces himself with a Boston accent. He is enchanted with Brooke. He sees my "photo studio" and asks who is the photographer in the house. He tells me his wife is in charge of the Nordstrom Children's Department. The clock is ticking. I hear myself mention that Bruce is going to Ireland in October. I learn that John is pure Irish. We discuss our childhood in catholic schools - Sister Constancia, Sister Marcella, Father Flannagan and Father Killeen. He shows me pictures of his 4 beautiful children and hands me his estimate. It is 2:45.

At 3:00 he starts on my carpets. He does a great job. I pay him at 4:00 and we are both out the door.

As I head toward school to pick up my girls, I muse over my experiences with professional carpet cleaners. I remember the guys who came in with an estimate of $500 dollars.

"NO." I tell them flatly.

The lead guy counters with $500 plus a free scotch guard.

"NO". I repeat showing the estimator the door. He stays put.

"How about $450, no scotch guard?" He asks. By this time I was nervous.

"I don't want my carpets cleaned after all." I say standing firm.

The guy gets on his knees and begs.

"Please lady. Please let us clean your carpets. We'll do it for you for 300 dollars AND scotch guard." He is desperate.

I should have shooed him out of my home, but I am a sucker for a grown man begging on his knees.

"Okay."

They cleaned the carpets and I paid them. I thought they did a decent job until 6 months later. I called Rafael the guy who regularly did my carpets. He walked around my home suspiciously sniffing.

"Did you bring in another cleaner?" He asks me.

"No." I lie.

He raises his eyebrow up at me and calls his guys in to set up. They clean the carpets. As I pay him, Rafael looks me straight in the eye and says,

"I know you had someone else come in and clean these carpets."

"How do you know?" I wonder.

"They used cheap solution and it stuck in the fibers. I had to clean it all up with my steam cleaner. LOOK at the BUBBLES." He shows me a large cannister filled with dirt and gray bubbles. "I ALWAYS know when my customers cheat on me." He frowns and tilts his head.

"I'm sorry." I apologize.

"Never EVER use another carpet cleaner. Is that clear?"

It was clear. From then on, I called Rafael and only Rafael. One day he gave me a refrigerator magnet with his number so I wouldn't lose it. I stuck it on my magnet board. Safe and sound. Until yesterday when I lost it.

It's a long story - another long story. According to Bruce, I HAD to have the dowstairs carpet cleaned today or his plans for rearranging the furniture and rooms this weekend would be foiled. On Thurday Bruce pressured me to get the carpets cleaned Friday afternoon. No ifs ands or buts. Fine. As I spoke to Bruce on the phone, I grabbed Rafael's magnetic business card and haven't seen it since.

I looked all over. Finally I resorted to the phone book and found my chatty Irish friend with the Boston accent and 4 kids.

Rafael is going to be furious.