Mike Hawkins, owner of Chem-Dry of Washington, recently contacted My Edmonds News to be featured as “Spring Cleaning Idea of the Week.” Here Hawkins explains why his carpet cleaning company is superior.

My Edmonds News: Please tell us about your business.

M.H.: I began Chem-Dry of Washington in 1989, a few years after I graduated from college. As a college senior, my dad bought a Chem-Dry franchise. I graduated with a teaching degree and soon realized that I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. So, soon I started working for my dad in his Chem-Dry business and discovered that I really enjoyed working in the service industry. About two years later, my father and his partner sold their business, so I branched out on my own and started Chem-Dry of Washington. I ran the business by myself for nearly ten years until 1998 when I started expanding and buying more franchises throughout the area. I grew my business from one to nearly ten franchises in the short span of three years. I now have about ten employees and offer carpet and upholstery cleaning services and pet urine removal with Chem-Dry’s P.U.R.T. product, a revolutionary new product specially formulated to eliminate urine odors. Chem-Dry of Washington serves Renton, Bellevue, Kirkland, Seattle, Edmonds, Shoreline, Mukilteo, and Everett.

My Edmonds News: Please tell us why folks should use your services.

Chem-Dry’s tagline is “Drier. Cleaner. Healthier” — and that’s because we provide green-certified, environmentally friendly cleaning products and services that deliver a deep cleaning but use much less water than typical steam cleaning, leaving carpets drier and therefore healthier. Chem-Dry’s hot carbonating extraction cleaning process harnesses the deep-cleaning power of carbonation to safely release dirt from the base of the carpet so they can be easily extracted. And by using 80 percent less water than steam cleaning, Chem-Dry’s process allows carpets to dry faster – in hours, rather than days. Unlike typical steam cleaning, Chem-Dry does not leave behind any dirt-attracting residue that can require more frequent professional cleanings. Another common complaint with steam cleaning is that the heavy amount of water often soaks through to the carpet backing, creating a breeding ground for mold, mildew and bacteria. This is not an issue for Chem-Dry because our process uses so much less water.

Additionally, Chem-Dry’s primary cleaning solution, The Natural®, is green-certified and does not contain any phosphates or detergents so it’s safe and non-toxic for kids and pets. Other green-certified Chem-Dry products include our Professional Strength Spot Remover, World Famous Pet Odor Remover, and Carpet Deodorizer.

One of the biggest things that sets Chem-Dry of Washington apart in this market is our customer service. We take pride in taking care of our customers and we have a well-trained, very friendly and professional team that does a great job for every customer every day. Our mission isn’t just to clean the carpets and upholstery of our customers – we see ourselves as the “Healthy Home” experts, helping families live more happily and more healthfully by giving them the peace of mind that they have a truly cleaner, healthier home. That’s why we have such a large and loyal customer base in the area who only call Chem-Dry of Washington to take care of their needs.

My Edmonds News: Any stories you want to share?

Recently there have been a lot of housing problems in the area, and the American Red Cross in North Everett has been kind enough to hold bankruptcy hearings since the court houses haven’t had enough room to hold them all. A few months back, the American Red Cross contacted Chem-Dry of Washington for a professional carpet cleaning, and I decided that our first cleaning for them would be free. The American Red Cross does so much for our community and our nation, and I felt that this would be a great way to say thanks and give back to an organization that gives so much to so many. Since our initial cleaning, they have become a loyal customer of ours. I am proud of our ongoing relationship and also feel that their support is a testament to their positive experience with Chem-Dry of Washington. I’m very thankful that, as a local small business owner, I have this opportunity and others to give back to our community in my small way.

Chem-Dry of Washington can be contacted at 1 800 734 7709 or via the website