Monday night

Raced home from work at 4:30 PM so I could be there before the So-Clean guys showed at 5:00. Sat and waited until after 6:00 when I called the company to ask where they were. The lady said they were scheduled to come _between_ 5 and 7, not _from_ 5 to 7.

She did check and called back to say they would be there around 6:30 and, sure enough, they were. Problems, though. The vacuum is mounted in their truck, so they need to leave the front door open to drag in a giant (maybe 12 inch diameter) hose as well as an air compressor hose. So, I locked Scruffy in the downstairs for the start of their visit.

Alright. First thing I didn't know: They have to remove every register, and to do it in a timely fashion, they take a razor knife and cut the paint around it. Not real attractive! Then they stick a semi-flexible plastic tube up (or down) the duct, attached to the air hose, wiggle it around while blasting air up it, with the huge vacuum hose next to the opening. The warm air ducts are relatively clean, but the cold air returns are just disgusting!!! Took some photos, but can't post them (yet). Just gross!!!

Anyway, I trailed behind them with a broom and dustpan, and each room they completed, I swept up the area, then moved the furniture all back.

When it was time for the downstairs, I went and got Scruffy (hiding behind the dryer) and put him in my bedroom. It took them a little over an hour to do the whole house. They recommended they spray all the ducts with something ("It's like Lysol, but its not Lysol") for extra sanitation ("Usually $189, but we'll do it for $90!) but I declined. They also recommended having this done every 3 - 5 years. Total cost to me $127.00 and honestly, after seeing the dust, hair and "gunk" in the cold air returns, I think it was well worth it!

The living room was the last room to put back (and the worst, of course), but I finished around 8:30. Heated up some bean soup I'd frozen two weeks ago. Still tasted great. Watched TV and went to bed.