FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Malama 'Aina Chem-Dry answers the most common Oahu Chem-Dry cleaning questions!

General Questions

Does Malama 'Aina Chem-Dry offer coupons, specials, or promo codes for carpet cleaning?

Yes! Malama ‘Aina Chem-Dry does occasionally offer coupons and special promotions. You can find our current coupons here. Like us on Facebook to get the latest carpet cleaning coupons and to receive information about new promotions.

Are Chem-Dry products safe for my kids and pets?

All of the ingredients in Chem-Dry’s primary cleaner, The Natural®, are on the F.D.A.’s Generally Recognized as Safe list. They are safe for your carpets, home, family, and the environment. The Natural® doesn’t contain any harsh soaps or chemicals and is composed of natural and non-toxic elements.

Is Malama 'Aina Chem-Dry a steam cleaning service?

No, Malama ‘Aina Chem-Dry is not a steam cleaning service. We use carbonation to lift the dirt and grime from your carpets instead of gallons of water and soapy detergents.

What areas does Malama 'Aina Chem-Dry service?

We service the entire island of Oahu including Ewa Beach, Honolulu, Kapolei, Pearl City, and Waipahu

Carpet Cleaning

How does Chem-Dry compare to steam cleaning?

Traditional steam cleaning saturates your carpet with soap, detergents, and an excessive amount of water. You’re often left with wet carpets for a few days which creates the perfect breeding ground for mold. Plus, the soapy residue left behind attracts dirt and causes your carpets to get dirty again much faster.

Malama ‘Aina Chem-Dry’s carpet cleaning process is very different. We employ millions of microscopic bubbles to break up the dirt found deep in your carpet fibers. That’s why we only need to use around 20% of the water that typical steam cleaners use. After the carbonation lifts the dirt, our high-powered equipment extracts both the dirt and moisture from the carpet.

What is the best carpet cleaning method?

Malama ‘Aina Chem-Dry’s cleaning process is considered superior and healthier than other carpet and upholstery cleaning methods. Chem-Dry’s unique Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE) method gives carpets a deeper and longer-lasting clean. Our carbonated cleaning solution only requires us to use a fraction of the moisture other methods require. This allows your carpets to dry faster, typically in 1-2 hours rather than 1-2 days. This helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew underneath your carpet. Chem-Dry’s signature cleaning solution, The Natural®, is a cleaning mixture that—with the power of carbonation—lifts dirt to the surface before it is whisked away. It is non-toxic and ideal for homes with kids and pets. It has also been green-certified.

Why do I need protectant on my carpets?

Most new carpets come with a factory-applied protectant but this wears off over time. Reapplying a protectant on your carpets can help resist stains and soiling, so your carpets will stay cleaner longer. Another reason protectant is a smart investment is that it slows the aging and wearing process and extends the life of your carpets.

How do you remove pet urine odor from carpets?

Pet odors can linger for months if not treated properly. As urine dries in the carpet and padding, what’s left are millions of concentrated urine crystals that become even more pungent. Many companies just mask this odor. Chem-Dry uses a patented system, P.U.R.T.® (Pet Urine Removal Treatment), to break the urine crystals and break down the enzymes and get rid of the pet urine odor forever.

Will my carpets re-soil quickly after the cleaning is finished?

Not with Malama ‘Aina Chem-Dry. Many carpet cleaners, including steam cleaners, use soaps and detergents in their process. This often leaves behind a sticky residue that attracts dirt and leads to carpets re-soiling quickly after being cleaned. It also often requires more frequent professional cleanings. At Malama ‘Aina Chem-Dry, we use a natural, biodegradable carpet and upholstery cleaning solution that doesn’t contain any soaps, detergents or harsh chemicals. It won’t leave any sticky or dirt-attracting residue.

How long will it take for my carpet to dry completely?

Drying time depends on humidity levels, airflow to the room(s) cleaned, and the type of carpet. In general, turning on your air conditioning or fans will help accelerate dry times. After a professional cleaning, it typically takes 1-2 hours for the carpet to dry. Sometimes carpets can take longer to dry for various reasons.

How often should I have my carpets cleaned?

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) suggests that homeowners clean their carpets every 3-6 months. If you have kids, pets or if someone in your home has asthmas or allergies, it’s advisable to do it even more frequently. Regular cleaning will not only improve your home’s appearance, but it will eliminate dust and allergens, improve your home’s indoor air quality and extend the life of your carpeting.

Should I vacuum before you arrive?

This is not necessary. Our professionally trained technicians will vacuum your carpets with our commercial, HEPA-filtered vacuum when they arrive as a standard part of our service.

What type of chemicals does Chem-Dry use?

Chem-Dry uses a natural, Green-Certified cleaning product called The Natural® as our primary cleaner. The Natural®, doesn’t contain any soaps or phosphates and is safe, non-toxic and hypo-allergenic. By contrast, most steam cleaners use soaps, detergents and harsh chemicals in their process.

Why does Chem-Dry not use as much water to clean my carpets as steam cleaning does?

Malama ‘Aina Chem-Dry uses up to 80% less water than typical steam cleaning because its carbonated cleaner, The Natural®, relies on millions of microscopic bubbles to release dirt and grime from the fibers of your carpet and raise it to the surface where it can easily be suctioned away. This low water, low pressure approach is healthier for your carpets, allows your carpets to dry in only 1-2 hours and is also more environmentally friendly.

Can other carpet cleaning methods actually hurt my carpets?

Yes. Steam cleaning uses a process of dumping large amounts of soapy water into your carpets and then trying to suck it all back out. Because the heavy amount of water results in an extended drying time, usually 1-2 days, this method can actually cause carpets to grow mold beneath the surface.

What is considered a room?

Our room sizes are based on 150 sq ft. If any of your rooms are over 150 sq ft, there may be an additional area charge. Hallways and stairs are considered to be separate from a room.

Upholstery Cleaning

How long does it take for furniture to dry?

In most cases, the furniture dries within just a couple of hours, but in some cases it may take overnight to fully dry depending on the upholstery’s fabric and how deeply it was cleaned – i.e. heavily stained areas will take longer to dry.

Do you offer protectant or stain guard for upholstery?

Yes, after the upholstery cleaning, you can have the furniture stain guarded with Chem-Dry’s Protectant.

How does Chem-Dry clean upholstery?

We use our proprietary hot carbonating extraction cleaning method, featuring our core cleaner The Natural®. The carbonated cleaning bubbles release dirt, soil, airborne allergens and spots from the upholstery fibers. Then, we use our extraction equipment to remove the cleaning solution, dirt, soil and airborne contaminants from your furniture, leaving it with a deeper, healthier clean than other alternatives.

How often do upholstery manufacturers recommend that you clean your furniture?

Manufacturers recommend professional upholstery cleanings every 24-48 months. As with carpets, the presence of kids, pets, allergies and asthma in the home necessitates more frequent cleanings to improve air quality and the overall healthiness of the home. If furniture is stained, saturated or has unwanted odor then it is ready for a cleaning.

Why should I have my upholstered furniture professionally cleaned?

In homes that have carpet, up to 80% of the dust and dirt brought into the home can end up in your furniture and upholstered fabrics. Without professional cleaning, this dust and dirt will remain in your carpets and furniture and can become very unhealthy.

Tile and Grout Cleaning

Why should I have my tile, stone and grout cleaned?

Just like carpet, dirt builds up over time that dulls your tile or stone’s appearance and discolors your grout. A thorough, professional tile and grout cleaning is the only way to remove the deep-down dirt, make this area of your home look nicer and ensure that all areas of your home are clean and healthy. Scrubbing tile and grout on your hands and knees isn’t a fun job. With our professional equipment we can save you from back pain and make your tile surfaces look better than ever.

How often should I clean my tile, stone and/or grout?

Many factors need to be considered when determining the frequency of tile cleaning. Foot traffic, children, pets, and routine floor maintenance will affect how often you need to have your tile, stone grout cleaned. If stains and discoloration are present then your tile and grout is ready for a cleaning.

Why should I have my grout lines sealed?

Grout is a porous material that absorbs soil and spills, just like carpet. Having a sealant applied will help create a protective barrier, giving you more time to clean up dirt and liquid spills before they soak into the grout. The type of sealant you choose will determine the degree of stain resistance that the grout will hold.

Area Rug Cleaning

What is your process for cleaning area rugs?

We offer a complete area rug cleaning service on Oahu. The process is washing and cleaning using the Hot Carbonated Extraction method only available from Chem-Dry. We specialize in pet urine removal, using the proper way to treat and remove the odor. Rugs are then hung out to dry in our facility to ensure secure and proper drying.

Do you offer pickup and delivery?

Yes, we do! We’ll come to your home to pick up the area rug(s) you need cleaned, then deliver them back to your home as soon as we’re finished. We have a $40 fee for area rug pickup & delivery.

Can you get out pet stains and smells?
Yes, we can! We are very successful when it comes to removing pet odors and decontaminating area rugs. We’ll soak the rug in our pet urine odor removal treatment, deep clean the rug, and then use our dehumidifier and air movers to dry the area rug.
Is Chem-Dry's cleaning process safe for my rugs?
Our effective, yet gentle, area rug cleaning and drying process preserves the dye within the fibers of your rug, leaving the colors of your rug vibrant and fresh. Our cleaning products don’t leave behind any dirt-attracting residues and help your area rugs stay cleaner longer – providing a safe and healthy home environment for your family and pets.
Why should I have my area and oriental rugs cleaned?
Area and oriental rugs usually receive a lot of traffic. Just like carpets and upholstered furniture, area and oriental rugs act as air filters for the home, trapping dirt, allergens and dust. A thorough, professional oriental and area rug cleaning is the only way to remove the deep-down dirt, make this area of your home look nicer and ensure that all areas of your home stay clean and healthy.

Let's Talk.

94-1010 Leihaku Street
Waipahu, HI 96797

Phone: (808) 371-8874

Email: keliir@malamaainachemdry.com

Website: malamaainachemdry.com

Service Area:

Serving all of Oahu, including: Honolulu, Waipahu, Pearl City, Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Mililani, Waipio, and the surrounding areas.

Hours of Operation:

Mon-Sun: 6:00 am - 11:00 pm

*Based on results of studies conducted by independent laboratories of the Chem-Dry HCE (Hot Carbonating Extraction) and P.U.R.T. (Pet Urine Removal Treatment). Allergens tested were dog and cat dander and dust mite matter. Pet odor results based on testing with the most common odor sources found in dog and cat urine. Figures are an average across multiple tests.

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