[cleewindows]

what equipment would i need to start offering this service,i used to be a car valeter and had a puzzi 100 but what would i need for cleaning big carpets?
cheers

[Adam P]

there's a section for carpet cleaning on its own which would give better a probably quicker advice

[Pristine Clean]

Hi Cleewindows,

You can either purchase new or used.

Get the best you can afford. A basic machine will be a 135psi machine twic vac portable with a heater. I personally think a heater is a requirement and give better cleaning.

Whatever you buy, you need a floor wand, an upholstery tool and some vac pipe of at least 50 feet and solution hose with quick connectors.

If the machine does not have a preasure gauge get an inline preasure gauge as when doing upholstery you need only about 80 psi.

Machines I recommend are the following

Air flex turbo, Scorpion, Alltec, Ninja(Ashbys). Prochem. Prochem are very good machines for starters. We have an Airflex Turbo 600psi from cleansmart.

You need a carpet brush as a minimum to agitate the carpet, a sprayer to spray the carpet with pre-spray solution.  Instead of a carpet brush you could use a basic sebo duo or spend more and get an Envirodri or Oreck orbitor for agitation.

A couple of scrubbing brushes, some terry towels, tin foil for feet of furniture.

For large commercial jobs, a rotary with bonnets. You could get away with a standard speed Victor for about £300

If you have no idea on carpet cleaning I recomend you attend a course, you dont actually require to go on the NCCA, or IIRC , C L E A N or other stuff to be a great carpet cleaner but you must have an understanding as you can damage carpets easily if the wrong chemical or cleaning technique is applied.

Most of the courses that are registered where you take an exam are in my own opinion they are just "money takers" this is not to say they dont give some benifit to some. Its marketing.

I recomend the Prochem course highly. They are also recognised as they make the chemicals that are widley used.

Dont forget insurance for Risk Treatment.

I hope this is of some basic help. If you need anything let me know

Dave

[cleewindows]

thanks dave,how much do you think i would pay for a decent second hand set up?
with everything i need pal,its more for my mrs than me as i clean driveways and windows etc!

cheers for all the info m8

[Adam P]

i'm yet to start carpet cleaning so could very easily be wrong but the impression i get is it can be a lot of hard manual work that requires a good amount of strength and consistent strength. not to say anyone can't do this just a thought about what you buy if you buy something too weak then that may be even more work for you wife

[Pristine Clean]

Hi Clee,

It depends on your market. If it residential I think you could easily get a used Prochem machine.

Especially if its the wife doing the work. You will need to consider the weight of the machine if it is your wife doing the lifting in and out of the van or car with the machine.

The machines are fairly bulky and heavy. Inspect one or two before you buy. Habe a look on ebay you do get some good deals.

Budget for at least £1300 on used equipment and you will have plenty. Have a look at some companys selling used carpet cleaning machines.

Also consider about repairs, so distance to and from the repairer or shop is fairly important.

Before you purchase a machine, consider these points,

Spares available
Weight
Power PSI
Hose length can it handle. The larger machines like Ninja, Airflex turbos can handle a greater amount.
Competition
Water filling and emptying
Will you need to lift the machine upstairs in customers house as hose length poor

Dont forget if  you need to llift the machine upstairs its not professional, and you could damage walls, banisters etc.

Check out clean smart supplies as they have now made several airflex models they maybe suitable for your wife to lift and also be adequate in power to give a good result.

Dont rush and buy one, think carefully first.

Surrey,

The only bit of strength required is to lift a portable machine in and out of the van. - We have ramps. Saves the lifting

Most portys have wheels on that make the machines easily moveable.

We have a few places that its a two man job as you have to lift the machines up stairs for access to the building.

Dave

[BDCS]

I have a prochem steampro that I mainly do EOTs and friends etc and my mrs can get it in and out of the van, she knows the process and can do the job without too much grief