At K&M Steam Cleaning, we keep profiles of our competitors in our training materials. We want our team to understand who else provides carpet cleaning in Austin, what they offer, how they’re priced and how K&M is different.
We figured some of that information might be useful to customers, too.
So we’re profiling some of Austin’s best-known carpet cleaning companies, starting with one of the few that’s actually been in the Austin market longer than K&M: Stanley Steemer.
Stanley Steemer has been in Austin since 1988
Stanley Steemer is one of the best-known names in American carpet cleaning. The company traces its history to 1947, when Jack A. Bates started a carpet-cleaning business in Columbus, Ohio.
The company eventually became Stanley Steemer and expanded nationally through both company-owned locations and franchises. Today, it operates across most of the United States and remains family-owned.
Stanley Steemer says its Austin operation dates to 1988, giving it nearly four decades in the local market.
That’s impressive longevity — and eight years longer than K&M.
K&M started with one van in Austin in 1996
K&M Steam Cleaning’s story is considerably more local.
Ken Moncebaiz learned the carpet-cleaning business while working for another longtime Austin cleaning company, The Steam Team. In 1996, Ken went into business for himself.
K&M started with one man and one van.
Over the next three decades, that one-van operation grew into a fleet of cleaning vans and a team of cleaning professionals serving homes and businesses throughout Greater Austin.
K&M also expanded well beyond carpet cleaning. Today, our services include upholstery cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, area rug cleaning, natural stone cleaning and restoration, air duct and dryer vent cleaning, pressure washing, carpet repair and other specialty cleaning services.
So Stanley Steemer and K&M are both established Austin carpet cleaners. Stanley Steemer has been here since 1988; K&M has been here since 1996.
What does Stanley Steemer offer in Austin?
Stanley Steemer isn’t simply a carpet cleaner anymore.
Its Austin operation advertises carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, hardwood and vinyl floor cleaning, area rug cleaning, air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, water damage restoration and commercial cleaning.
That’s actually another similarity between Stanley Steemer and K&M.
Both companies have evolved into broader cleaning businesses capable of handling multiple surfaces and services for residential and commercial customers.
Both also use professional truck-mounted hot-water extraction equipment for carpet cleaning — the process most consumers simply call “steam cleaning.”
Who does Stanley Steemer target?
Stanley Steemer appears to target customers looking for an established, professional company rather than simply searching for the lowest advertised price.
Its national brand recognition is an obvious advantage. Generations of consumers have seen Stanley Steemer’s yellow vans and advertising, so many customers already know the name before they search for carpet cleaning in Austin.
The company markets to homeowners, pet owners, property managers and commercial customers and promotes services addressing common Central Texas issues including pets, dirt, allergens and cedar pollen.
K&M serves much of the same market, but with a different selling point: we’re an independent Austin company rather than part of a national operation.
How do Stanley Steemer’s prices compare with K&M?
Stanley Steemer isn’t generally one of Austin’s bargain carpet-cleaning options.
Neither is K&M.
Stanley Steemer, K&M and other established full-service Austin companies such as The Steam Team tend to compete in the professional-service portion of the market rather than trying to advertise the lowest possible price.
In our experience, K&M and Stanley Steemer are often fairly comparable on price, although the final cost depends on room sizes, stairs, carpet condition, pet treatments, protectants and other services.
Customers should also look at what’s included. Stanley Steemer says its standard carpet cleaning includes spot treatment and moving basic furniture. Different companies define “rooms” and included services differently, making an advertised price-per-room comparison potentially misleading.
That’s why it’s worth comparing the actual final quote.
K&M doesn’t try to be Austin’s cheapest carpet cleaner. We compete on professional equipment, trained technicians, experience, service and the quality of the finished job.
Stanley Steemer largely competes for that same customer.
What does Stanley Steemer say makes it different?
Stanley Steemer emphasizes its long history, recognizable national brand, trained technicians, proprietary equipment and standardized cleaning processes.
The company manufactures its own cleaning equipment in Ohio and has spent decades building one of the most recognizable brands in the industry.
Those are legitimate strengths. Stanley Steemer has survived and grown in an extremely competitive business for decades.
K&M’s strengths are somewhat different.
We’re independent and local. We started here. We’ve spent three decades cleaning Austin homes and businesses, and the company is still based around serving Central Texas rather than operating a nationwide network.
Stanley Steemer vs. K&M Steam Cleaning
If you’re comparing Stanley Steemer and K&M for carpet cleaning in Austin, you’re looking at two established professional cleaning companies.
Stanley Steemer: National company with roots dating to 1947 and an Austin presence dating to 1988. It offers a broad range of residential and commercial cleaning services and brings the resources and name recognition of a major national brand.
K&M Steam Cleaning: Independent Austin company founded in 1996 with one van. K&M has since grown into a fleet operation offering carpet, upholstery, tile and grout, area rug, stone, air duct, dryer vent and specialty cleaning services throughout Greater Austin.
We’re obviously biased about which one we’d like you to call.
But Stanley Steemer is a legitimate, long-established competitor, and it’s one of the relatively few carpet-cleaning companies in Austin that has been serving the market longer than K&M.
K&M started with one van in Austin in 1996.
Nearly 30 years later, we’re still locally owned, still growing and still cleaning Austin.
Looking for carpet cleaning in Austin? Contact K&M Steam Cleaning for a quote and compare us for yourself.
