FAQs

A. Established in 1968, the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA) is the the only UK trade association for carpet and upholstery cleaners. The principal objective of the NCCA is the establishment and maintenance of minimum standards within the carpet and upholstery cleaning industry, with the dual aim of safeguarding the reputation of the industry and protecting its customers.

A non profit-making body, the NCCA is governed by a Board of Directors, who are drawn from and elected annually by its members. The Directors work on a voluntary basis, and are supported by the full-time Chief Executive and office staff.

As of 2018, the Association is made up of over 590 Members, who are our Trusted Local Cleaners and 36 Corporate Members, supporters or suppliers of the cleaning industry.

A. The Code of Practice is intended to provide consumers and commercial clients with additional security and peace of mind when employing the services of a carpet and upholstery cleaner who is a member of the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA).

Members of the Association are required to make the existence of this Code clear to their customers through their own marketing and customer information, and in the event of a complaint, provide a copy of the Code to the complainant should this be requested.

Click here to read the Code of Practice in full.

A. The first and most important requirement of NCCA membership is training. All applicants must undertake at least an entry level training course in professional carpet and upholstery cleaning, and achieve the standard pass mark in the examination which follows.

If you would like full details about the NCCA, membership and training, complete our enquiry form for more information.

A. No, only registered members of the NCCA are permitted to use our logo or the NCCA/National Carpet Cleaners Association name in advertising. Both the name and logo are registered trademarks and misuse of either is considered copyright infringement and contravention of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

The use of wording such as “certified/trained/accredited by the NCCA” are not permitted and are regarded as misuse. Misuse of the NCCA name or logo may leave you liable for prosecution.

A. The simplest way to qualify is to complete the NCCA Professional Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Course.

Applicants may also qualify for NCCA membership if they undertake training and relevant examination with one of the following organisations:

• IICRC
• Prochem Europe
• Solution Cornwall  / Kendry
• Alltec Network
• Cleansmart

Franchises:

• ChemDry
• Rainbow International
• Safeclean

For more information, please read our Joining the Association page.

A. If you have completed training with ourselves or with an equivalent training provider, please send a copy of your certificate(s) to admin@ncca.co.uk, alongside details of your work experience and/or additional training between the date of certification to present.

A. The NCCA name & logo is trademark registered, which means only NCCA members are entitled to use it to promote themselves. All members are listed on our website. If you suspect that a non-member company is illegally using the logo, please report it using our Logo misuse form >>

A. Our online directory specifically to find trusted, carpet & upholstery cleaning professionals local to you. Using the search form on the home page, select the service you require from the list provided, along with your location. For example, if you need your carpets cleaned and you live in Leicester, select ‘carpet cleaning’ and either put your LE postcode or Leicester as the location. The directory will find all members who provide that service within a 10 mile radius. Browse through each listing to read more about each member. If you have a few members located close to you, we’d recommend contacting 1-3. Just use the online enquiry form to notify each member or take down their details to contact them direct.

Find Trusted Local Cleaners >>

A. The “TLC Guarantee” is that all our members are trained, insured and professional.

All our Trusted Local Cleaners are members of the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA), the only UK trade association for carpet and upholstery cleaners. All members of the NCCA have undertaken a recognised professional carpet and upholstery cleaning course and reached the required standard in the examination. These courses offer a thorough grounding in all aspects of carpet and upholstery cleaning. This ensures that all our Trusted Local Cleaners have essential knowledge for the safe and effective cleaning of carpets and fabrics.

Alongside recognised training qualifications, all our Trusted Local Cleaners have adequate insurance to cover them in the event of a problem or accident. A Public Liability insurance policy is required, which is standard for companies offering services to the public.

Members are required to abide by the Association’s Code of Practice, which covers such specifics as fair pricing, service, complaints procedures, liability and consumer protection, and is designed to ensure customer satisfaction at all times.

Leave a Review >>

A. Pricing will vary depending on a number of factors, such as the amount and type of work to be carried out, the location of the customer, the requirement equipment (etc.). Due to the amount of variables in any given job, members are often unable to provide a quote without carrying out an on-site survey first. It is highly recommended that a technician carry out a detailed inspection before commencing any work, this ensures that they fully understand what they are dealing with and can inform the customer of any potential problems.

A. In most cases, our members will be happy to move furniture, but please let them know beforehand as this may incur an additional charge. It is important that any valuable items are moved by the customer, or clearly brought to the attention of the member.

A. The NCCA has a tiered membership structure from Associate Member to Senior Member. Companies can progress through the levels of membership by fulfilling additional criteria, such as length of service and further training. Each member has their membership level on their directory listing.

Associate Member

All companies new to the Association/industry will begin at Associate Member level.

Member

A company must complete one year at Associate Member level and complete a recognised Advanced Spot & Stain Removal course in order to progress to Member level. Many companies choose to stay at Member level throughout their membership.

Advanced Member

A company must complete two years at Member level and complete an additional recognised training course in order to progress to Advanced Member level. Advanced Members are also eligible to join the TrustMark scheme.

Senior Member

A company must be a registered member for seven years and must have completed an additional four training courses throughout their membership. Senior Members must attend a training course every three years as well.

A. TrustMark is the Government endorsed initiative to help consumers find reliable and trustworthy local tradespeople to carry out repairs and maintenance within and outside the home. Similarly to the NCCA application process, TrustMark ensures all registered tradespeople fulfil a strict set of criteria including checks of technical competence, insurance cover and working to Government endorsed standards.

TrustMark membership within the Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners category is only available to NCCA members*. In the last 2 years, we’ve had over 70 members become TrustMark registered, showing their commitment to working to Government standards.

*eligibility subject to criteria

A. All our Trusted Local Cleaners are members of the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA). Each member has undergone professional carpet & upholstery cleaning training, passed the NCCA examination, provided the relevant insurance documentation, and has been approved through the application process. If you would like full details about the NCCA, membership and training, complete our enquiry form for more information.

A. In the unfortunate event you have a problem or a complaint against a member, the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA) is able to act as an independent arbitration service. Before proceeding with a formal complaint we do recommend that you contact the member in question and inform them of the problem and reason for your complaint.

Please send complaints in writing to the office using our complaints form.

A. All cleaning methods are designed to produce good results and each has its place within the industry. Some methods use more water, whereas others more mechanical action. The most important factor is whether the cleaning technician has the required training to carry out the cleaning properly and safely. Trusted Local Cleaners all have a recognised qualification in carpet and upholstery cleaning (at the very minimum!) and will be able to advise on the most appropriate method, or combination of methods for your situation.

A. For removing general spots and stains shortly after they occur, take a look at our Top Tips and Spot & Stain Removal Guide. However, if you are ever unsure, we would always recommend employing one of our Trusted Local Cleaners.

A. 

• Failing to remove all soiling,
• Failing to rinse properly,
• Vigorous scrubbing,
• Heat damage,
• Over-wetting,
• Use of incorrect chemicals…

These are just some of the many common mistakes made when D-I-Y carpet and upholstery cleaning!

It is highly recommended that a professional cleaner is used. Although there are many products available to the public that are advertised for carpet and upholstery cleaning, these come with many risks and could cause irreversible damage. With the correct training and knowledge, and access to professional cleaning solutions, our members can ensure that the job is carried out properly and safely and the best possible results are achieved.

A. Health and safety is paramount within the cleaning industry, and professional cleaning solutions are always tested for their effects on the environment of use. Our members will ensure that the relevant safety procedures are followed during the cleaning process. It is highly recommended that children and pets stay off the cleaned item, until it is completely dry, this will prevent hazards as well as tracking in fresh soil.

A. In most cases, our members will be happy to move furniture, but please let them know beforehand as this may incur an additional charge. It is important that any valuable items are moved by the customer, or clearly brought to the attention of the member.