[joe34]

Hi all,I've done a two day carpet cleaning course and the upholstery course but I'm still abit nervous about cleaning carpet especially upholstery.

I've got my head around The ph scale but still I read posts on here about using boosters and adding different things to rinses  does this all come second nature after a year or two of being in the trade?

Also on every job does everybody always look at the backing?do a fibre and dye test ?

[ShaunL]

I did a course earlier this year but Ive been doing CC for 7 years. I learnt a lot of theory, but as I've only ever used a TM, I didn't feel confident understanding other methods of cleaning. See if there's someone who you can go out with for a couple of days and test on your own carpets/upholstery and maybe pieces out of a skip...

[ShaunL]

Also, it can seem very daunting at first but it really isn't. I tend to come across only certain carpets/sofas in my area that I'm used to cleaning and you will definitely have confidence after a short while.

[joe34]

Thanks Shaun for the advice ,for a majority of carpets and upholstery do you tend to stick to one pre spray and rinse or does it vary alot? And do you do a survey with every job?

[ShaunL]

It doesn't really vary much, although I carry loads of spotters, but try different ones out and get some samples from suppliers. Yes, I inspect everything but I don't survey before the appointment as I advertise my prices

[Raymondo]

Hi Joe

We survey every job we do it professional to do so ,instead of writing the price on a bit of paper.

Both you and the customer has a copy.

We use a variety of chemicals from different manufactures.

Pureclean and SPM or any microspliter  for upholstery cant really tell the difference between different manufactures they all seem to clean the same.

Will use MPower for some problem carpets (sick pee or vomit)

Always a acidic rinse though the TM .

[Robin Ray]

Depending on what courses you have done it sounds like you have all the knowledge to prevent you from making any big mistakes. What you need now is some experience! The only way to get experience is to get out there and do some jobs. Remember you know 99% more than your customers do.... If you tell them some of the facts you have learned while on your courses it will help galvanize your professional standing and they will look to you as an  authority. One thing I have noticed about courses is initially they scare you to death with stories of woe.. like a wool carpet will turn brown if you don't acid rinse or it will shrivel up at the sight of any heat over 50 degrees and many other things. You will learn that these are just guide lines and there is an exception to many a rule depending on the situation. The worst culture I have found for risk aversion is Prochem but the core information is good. Cleansmart courses are good and Derek Bolton will tell you things you will not learn else where. I started with some Ashbys courses and found Derek Ashbys experience a great insight a a really good start. Don't be afraid to get out there and have a go.. The problem fibers and fabrics are a very small percentage of what you will encounter and you will probably be able to identify 99% of them from your training. Anything you are really uncertain about just leave until you are sure you can handle it.

Happy cleaning.

[Mike Halliday]

You need to get out with a carpet cleaner and see the job in action,

It's easy to be an adequate carpet cleaner I'm sure your quite capable of doing a job that people will be happy to pay for. All the extra knowledge you will pick over the next few months will make you an ok carpet cleaner, then in  a few years and you will be a good  carpet cleaner.

Buy a tub of pure clean, rinse with a ph neutral detergent, this will keep you safe across a broad spectrum of carpets and fabrics,

You need to practice on the difficult carpets and stains but you will come across these in time, but like robin said if you are not sure just walk away.

The hardest thing is knowing when to stop cleaning and recognise that's the cleanest the carpet  is going to get, you will doubt yourself and think you can make it cleaner but in reality the carpets knackered.

[scott johns]

we all have to start at the beginning my advise go get samples from retailors and practise get to
know different fibres and also constructions your course books you should read at least 3times
it will slowly make sense.
there are many different products out there saying they do this and that but you will have to buy a few
and test yourself.
if you want some sound advise buy alltec ultimate master ,citrus pre-spray, citrus pre-wash
this will take care of most of your cleaning happy cleaning

[joe34]

Thanks for all the advice I really appreciate it.I've got some of cuts of the local carpet shop ,I'm going to practice getting stains out.

Because I took the prochem cc course and upholstery I've only got their products  as I haven't got much of a idea about other brands but I suppose it's just trail and error and finding out what works.

Anyway thanks again for all advice it has gave me a bit more confidence .

[Raymondo]

You are based in Ware in Hertfordshire according to your profile. Alltec in Royston are not too far away take a trip to them and maybe have a bit of training with one of the experts of this trade Paul Pearce.
http://alltec.co.uk/training/

I did a rug course with them last year again learnt a lot.

They do sample pack as does solutions with Nick down in Cornwall.

[SimonW]

There are soo many new starters with this business and plague of 20quid per room "cleaners" I wonder how many per year fail or leave their businesses. ...

Anyways the worst are cheap ones.
I can not describe how frustrating it is to see that offers everywhere!!!!

Sorry but though this comment fits here

[ShaunL]

from my experience, I don't think anyone realises how deep the marketing is when getting into this and it requires most attention. I wish I knew beforehand. And if you havn't been in business before, it's too easy to undercut that CC on facebook charging £20 a room thinking thats the way forward. The problem is, that CC on facebook is working their ass off without a great profit.  Theres a guy in my area charging £22 for a lounge... Id rather go back to a desk job without the pressure...

[Mike Halliday]

Thanks for all the advice I really appreciate it.I've got some of cuts of the local carpet shop ,I'm going to practice getting stains out.

stains...... Here's Some advice 

Find out straight away the importance of the stain to the customer,

 ask them.... " is this the stain the main reason you are having this carpet cleaned?" If they say......... "what stain? I Never even knew it was there" or  "yes I hate that stain it spoils the full carpet"

then you know how to proceed.

 I've spent ages on a stain to triumphantly tell the customer I got it out only for them to tell me they did'nt even know it was there, and other times I do an amazing job only for the customer to be unhappy as one small stain did'nt come out (which is the reason she called me in the first place)

[scott johns]

morning joe
didn't realise you were so near alltec  get down there on there courses and you will gain a wealth
of knowledge from the likes of paul pearce , judy bass, mike philian all excellent tutors also the staff
at alltec are so friendly I have been going there for over 8 years and i can honestly say they are like a 2nd family to me. i have all my machines serviced there as well so it is a brilliant 1 stop shop also
they make there own products as well as stocking other products. give them a call and you will not be
disappointed good luck happy cleaning

[david@zap-clean]

I've had to abandon many a rotary commercial job and revert to the much more time consuming HWE to get the job done to my standards... Rotary encap (at least for me) is maintenance cleaning.  HWE is restoration cleaning.

...In my experience/opinion

[Jonny jones]

Hi all,I've done a two day carpet cleaning course and the upholstery course but I'm still abit nervous about cleaning carpet especially upholstery.

I've got my head around The ph scale but still I read posts on here about using boosters and adding different things to rinses  does this all come second nature after a year or two of being in the trade?

Also on every job does everybody always look at the backing?do a fibre and dye test ?


Hi Joe

im sure ive done the same course as you, even though i had some experience in carpet cleaning, i still went out of there not feeling too confident, so what ive done today is gone to my carpet seller mate and got samples of a lot of different carpets and im going to practice stain removing, also been looking at youtube as a recap on many techniques.
leaflets are on their way and im ready to go

thanx jonny

[garybristow]

As a quick bit of advice,you mentioned prochem so you may have their chemicals
use fabric restorer as a prespray and fibre and fabric as your rinse,this will do 95 per cent of your upholstery safely
gary