He fights crime, he works for the community, he ... cleans carpets?

It’s true! Ken Allaire of Hesperus, a law enforcement officer in La Plata County, has developed a love for cleaning carpets, and, with his wife, Maria, has turned this love into a booming new area business.

Samspade’s Carpet Cleaning (named after the Allaire family dog) is a mobile operation — you call, he brings the operation to you. Allaire offers a state-of-the art truck-mounted cleaning system that employs the hot water extraction method (at times mistakenly referred to as "steam cleaning"). Water temperature reaches up to 200Þ, sufficient to kill germs and bacteria. The Allaires bring their own water in a 120 gallon tank which is automatically pumped into a separate holding tank after use.

But, there is more to Samspade’s business than just carpets. The Allaires also clean upholstery in automobiles, RVs, boats and airplanes, and offer flood water removal.

The business also provides free carpet audits, references, and has no hidden costs. Additionally, beginning this week, there is a local information number that customers can call. By dialing 382-2970, those interested can listen to a pre-recorded message that details the "five costly misconceptions about carpet cleaning" and questions they should ask before having their carpets cleaned.

Allaire, who has worked part-time as a carpet cleaner for five years, began his business in November. The reason he began cleaning, he said, is simple: "(cleaning carpets) is instant gratification ... I am literally addicted to cleaning."

In addition to finding it a satisfying activity, Allaire also observed the ethics of other cleaning businesses. Dis-pleased with what he saw, he developed a simple credo: "To make everyone happy."

Thus far, he has done so.

"Everyone is tickled," he said. Indeed, they must be — for the past six months, he has not been listed in the telephone directory, but has been swamped with business by word of mouth alone.

The bottom line, Allaire said, is customer satisfaction: "If they’re not happy, I’m not happy."