[phil allsop]

Hi..this is my very first post...I am thinking of starting a part time business offering a service to carry out full mattress hygiene....as you will know this is not just a wash with soap and water job it is a 3 or 4 stage process using a germicidal lamp to kill off the millions of bed lice that live in our mattresses. My question is this....i have not tested the market.......is there any call for this now, is there any money in it, is it worth following up......

[Ian Gourlay]

You will need to create a need.

Have you created a Need Before.


Lots of Mattress around but not normal to have them cleaned.

Do not think I have seen a van which says John Smith Mattress Cleaner

[Hugh Janus]

you need to show people whats in their mattresses.  seeing is believing.

[Bob Robertson]

Hi Phil

I started with mattress cleaning and put a lot of money into it with little or no return. I get calls from people thinking of doing this and always advise them to spend their money else where. Done my carpet cleaning course with the NCCA and then bought my equipment then the phone started ringing. I have spoken to other people in the uk who bought into this and everyone is the same. You cant survive on mattress cleaning as a business.

tihson

[murky]

I used to know a guy called 'The Mattress Doctor' I met him at a BNI network meeting. He did a demo and we were all very impressed with the results. He stayed for a while and left (just like me). I got the impression he was doing allright but only just. One of the other members had him do their house and was impressed, he was about to go and do a demo for the local Womens Institute but we never got to know the result.
I used to be with ServiceMaster and they had a system for doing that, basicly they put all your soft furnishings  everything from your 3pce suite to mattresses in a big bouncy castle type thing in your lounge, put a blow heater on the side and they heat it up to 60degrees, that is the temp that kills the dust mite that lays the faeces etc etc.
But they charge you 10k for the licence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They had a few takers (mugs) but  it all ended in tears  BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WORK AS A BUSINESS.
I did a house for a customer the other day who had terrible asthma and wanted everything cleaned sanitised etc. I steam cleaned the carpets, severly vacced the mattress's and them steam cleaned them with an iron and a white towel, set on max, this gives you the 60degrees that you need. I cleaned her next door neighbours carpets  today who said that shes a lot better since I did the work. I rarely get asked to do it. I don't honestly think there is a full time stand up market for it. You would be better off cleaning carpets. (But not in my area). Ha!

[Cinders]

I suppose it would be worth becoming a 'preferred partner' with local cleaning companies who have the clients and could help sell your service for a percentage of the cost? 

If that makes sense?