The opening line on the “About Us” section of the website for Affordable Clean Carpet Service describes their philosophy: “Ethics—the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.” Steve Fellows and his family own Affordable Clean Carpet Service and they take pride in their long history of exceptional service and outstanding ethics.

Affordable Clean Carpet Service opened its doors in 1987 after Fellows realized that he wanted to use his carpet cleaning talents to open a business that was ethically sound. He recruited his family and started the business. The biggest challenge, and accomplishment, for Fellows and his business is that it was built debt free, he said. Since opening its doors, the business has experienced tremendous growth and built a solid customer base simply through word-of-mouth marketing.

“There are customers that I have been servicing for over 20 years,” Fellows said. “If you treat customers right, and provide them with great service, they will keep coming back. It’s as simple as that!”

Providing customers with an exceptional experience, including efficient service, honesty, and respect, Affordable Clean Carpet Service has found success and continues to grow to this day.

The company has evolved since its inception to accommodate other types of cleaning for its customers. From his previous jobs, Fellows understands the cleaning industry very well, which is another reason his business is so successful.

“Don’t do anything you don’t understand,” he said. “Don’t get into an industry you don’t understand either; you would be making a huge mistake.”

Fellows and his family members went through various training sessions and schooling to learn how to clean upholstery, textile, air ducts, flood damage, tile and stone to expand their businesses and cater to customers. The time they put into learning their new craft adds up, but it’s worth it to gain a new clientele. Some of the new trades they picked up were requests or suggestions from current customers, and they were happy to accommodate to their wishes.

Fellows keeps the Affordable Clean Carpet Service as one of the top carpet cleaning services in California by reinforcing his principles with his other family members who work for the business.

“There are so many people with no ethics. You need to treat people how you want to be treated,” he said.

One of the biggest principles he upholds for his business is setting exact appointments instead of a time frame for services.

“If you’re 15 minutes early, you’re on time. If you’re 10 minutes early, you’re late,” Fellows stated.

By providing an exact time for cleaning appointments, Fellows makes a great first impression with his new clients. Another way he ensures a great first impression is by requiring family members in the business to take pride in their appearance. Everyone representing Affordable Clean Carpet Service is properly and professionally groomed, and has respect for others and themselves. Having respect is very important in his eyes; without it, you will never have a solid customer base.

His favorite aspect of owning his business is that he gets to see the ones who mean the most to him succeed. He has a “teacher’s heart” and finds joy in teaching his family about the business. Fellows owes a majority of his success to his wife, who teaches him new things every day. Affordable Clean Carpet Service also gives back to the community in various ways. Fellows and his family contribute and participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, work with the San Diego Rescue Mission, donate to the San Diego Urban League, and sponsor a Boy Scout Troop in Colorado.

The secret to his success is simple. “People want to work at something that they enjoy doing and that is worthy of their time and talent. You need to enjoy your job and working with people if you are servicing them. If you’re working at something that you don’t want to be doing, you will never do it with joy in your heart.” —Cheryl Sowa