A Glossary Of Carpet And Hardwood Cleaning Terms

For the purpose of smooth communication, every industry has its own language and terms. These words and phrases can be confusing to anyone who is not part of the daily operations of a specific industry, and the flooring business is no exception.

To help you understand the terms and phrases regularly used when purchasing, cleaning, or maintaining carpets and hardwood floors, Preferred Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care has created this handy reference guide. Here you’ll find valuable information allowing you to comprehend and communicate your flooring needs effectively.

Carpet shampoo cleaning
It is the “old” term for steam cleaning a carpet.

Dry cleaning carpet and upholstery
It is a method of cleaning for most upholstery fabrics and Berber carpets.

“Real” hardwood floors
These are hardwood floors that are milled from ten to hundred-year-old trees. After installation, these floors are sanded, stained with the desired color, and finally, polyurethane is applied over them.

Laminate wood floors
These are wooden floors that are pre-fabricated and prefinished with color and polyurethane from the factory. That is before being installed in a home.

Engineered wood floors
These are floors that are pre-fabricated in a factory but are made from “Real” wood sections. Engineered wood floors are prefinished with stain and polyurethane before they are installed in a home.

Hardwood floor resurfacing
This process is the same as hardwood cleaning. With hardwood resurfacing, the floors are cleaned and floor polish is applied to shine and maintain them. This method is used for existing floors only.

Hardwood floor cleaning
This cleaning process is the same as hardwood floor resurfacing. First, the floors are cleaned, and then floor polish is applied to the wood for shine and maintenance measures.

Hardwood floor refinishing
This is a process used only for real hardwood floors. It involves the sanding, staining, and application of polyurethane on the floor after installation.

Hardwood floor restoration
This term can be used anytime a hardwood floor of any type is being worked on.

Deep scrub carpet cleaning
This term means the carpet is being steam cleaned with stain removal, deodorizer, and sanitizer.

Rug cleaning
Rug cleaning is the term typically used when area rugs (i.e., oriental rugs) are cleaned. People in the past have also called carpet cleaning rug cleaning.

Linoleum and vinyl floors
Linoleum is typically the “old” term used when describing a vinyl floor.

Carpet stretching
This term is used when a carpet is being stretched taught into place. Carpet stretching is needed when the carpet has become loose due to heavy furniture on top of the carpet or due to water damage.

If you’re looking for more information on carpets and floors, reach out to Preferred Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care. We are a carpet cleaning and floor care company. We offer our services to clients across Atlanta, Gainesville, Oakwood, Flowery Branch, Buford, Braselton, Suwanee, Alpharetta, Roswell, Duluth, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Tucker, Snellville, Grayson, and Stone Mountain, GA. Our team of professionals is equipped with the latest technology and tools to clean and sanitize hotels, assisted livings facilities, office buildings, and residences every month. We have over fifteen years of professional experience, and we are fully licensed and insured. We do not use harmful cleaning chemicals, and our team makes sure to meet and exceed your demands.

To learn more about us, view our full list of services here. You can also read our customer reviews here for more details on our services, or get in touch with us here.