[john mathers]

Hi,

Been posting on here for equipment and so far I'm getting closer to having all the most important bits, can you see anything ive left out which i may need from my list:  This is what i have:

•   Pile brush 18”
•   Spray bottle
•   2 Builders buckets (14L)
•   Van
•   Steempro 2000 Carpet Cleaning Machine
•   Foot Over Covers
•   Foil furniture covers
•   Kirby G6 Vacuum
(need Agitator, and Solutions)

Im really struggling to decide on solutions, I see guys on here using different products for different things, and some of the veterans on here using 1 or max 2 products for everything!   I was thinking prochem powerburst (Powder, 4kg), or Alltec Citrus (5 litre)  Do i need anything in my steempro solution wise, or would it just be a plain hot water extraction?

now can anyone point me to a carpet cleaners guide, or step by step me on what to do to clean the carpet from entering a property.  there doesn't seem to be much in regard to youtube vids other than people advertising there services.  There is no courses around me, and even ones quite far away the dates are months off.

So I.E - Step 1: fully hoover carpet, Step 2 =

Thanks

[Tony Stewart]

Hi John
Loads of people will add to this.
On the solutions side if you are cleaning with the steempro then using powerburst you really need an acidic rinse in the tank to bring the PH level back to 7 so Prochem Fabric & Fibre Rinse is good.
For the Alltec prespray I would add Ultimate Master in the powdered version into the rinse tank.
As for a book Simon Gerrard's eBook is really good...............even Billy Russell has taken it to bed.
You need also a pump up sprayer for the prespray to put it down on the carpet.
A smile and plenty of dry stokes to get the water up and you're good to go. Make every job the best you can do and you are on the way.

[Mike Halliday]

Where do you live? A day with a carpet cleaner would be incredibly helpful, (I live in East Yorkshire.... live anywhere near me?)

Knock on door
Put down dust-sheet
Do walk through with  customer, discuss any concerns
Decide where you will start, I alway start at the furthest point and work my way out unless the client has a preference.
As you do your walk  through lift curtains & move small items,  discuss what is not getting moved. Get them to help me push the TV further into corner.
Get electric  sprayer and  prespray first area, scrub it, then bring in hoses,  if I'm upstairs then I will protect  the bannister with dust  sheets.
Once I have the hoses all ready I will prespray/scrub the next area so it can dwell while I clean the first room.
Pull furniture ( which has sticky tabs fitted) into centre of room and start cleaning the outside of the room, once I have done this put back and do middle.
As I clean I will watch for spots that don't clean out, if any appear I will double wand, if they are still there I will rub with a spotter bar and leave until I finish the room then return to them.
Place a blower then  proceed through the house

This is a rough very basic description..... all depends on the job,

[sean oregan]

I don't like telling people this but here it goes!!!
Please for your own good and that of your customers get on the phone to Alltec and book a course with them or if easier restormate or cleansmart.

[john mathers]

Thanks for the very quick responses.

Ok folks, i bought all my solutions from Alltec because no point in paying for loads of P&P from different online sellers.

went with:

Master Stain Remover
Specialist Stain Remover
Chewing Gum Remover
Acid Rinse
Traffic Lane Cleaner (Residential & Suitable for wool)
Traffic Lane Degreaser (Commercial, clubs & stuff)

Went with the traffic lanes because its the stronger stuff.  Ive decided not to go with the in machine detergents Tony, and rely on prespray/agitation/acid rinse method.  I can always change down the line, but this is going to be my first try and will be doing my own carpets when it arrives , I will focus on upholstery at a later date (was thinking Alltec citrus spray for that, as its 50/50 people who were saying its not strong enough for carpets.)  Could you use a carpet cleaner on upholstery, is it essentially the same stuff, i dont want to cut corners for the sake of 15 quid if it is essential to have a different one.

bit of background on myself
im 26,  Ive been working mainly office jobs for 11 years since leaving school, with 2 years being at a car wash, and 1 year at a builder yard, so i have a few years manual labour and the type of work doesn't faze me.   i'm really confident with the determination i can make this work as i really want to be my own boss.  I've done a couple years college doing business marketing, so hopefully i can put some of what i have learnt into the promotion of this.

Cheers for that Halliday, thats pretty much what i was asking, as in the PREP side.  Unfortunately im a good 150 or so miles from you, :-(

[Dave_Lee]

John,
Have a look at this lot Ive got for sale, from some time ago, still available. After 35 years its all firmly planted in my head, so I don't need them and they are just taking up space.
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=193827.msg1681144#msg1681144
Dave.

[Simon Gerrard]

Excuse the blatant plug, but it sounds like you could with this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STARTING-A-PROFESSIONAL-CARPET-CLEANING-BUSINESS-Training-Manual-/221948333019?hash=item33ad26cbdb:g:N34AAOSwhwdVUga5

And then book yourself on a training course. There is more to carpet cleaning and being in business than first meets the eye.


Simon

[Raj]

That's the first I've seen of that manual!!!
Could atleast offer FREE postage Simon!!! LOL

[tim handley]

i would get Simons "book",    also, i would get on  a course asap.......... certainly before you go out into folks houses.......
presume you are quite near alltec?? why not get on one of thier courses??? not sure  where you are geographically, but there are plenty of courses...... ie cleansmart, prochem, etc etc etc  if you can get a day or two out with an experienced cc er, snap his hand off.. something i wish id done prior to starting off......

[john martin]

Thanks for the very quick responses.

Ok folks, i bought all my solutions from Alltec because no point in paying for loads of P&P from different online sellers.

went with:

Master Stain Remover
Specialist Stain Remover
Chewing Gum Remover
Acid Rinse
Traffic Lane Cleaner (Residential & Suitable for wool)
Traffic Lane Degreaser (Commercial, clubs & stuff)

I would probably have said this before but u could simplify it down to citrus prespray for everything ...
a bit of ultimate master powder in tank .  ( with warm water )
low odour white spirit as a general stainremover ... stubborn black stains , most makeup , candle wax ,gum.
Acetone for things the white spirit wont dissolve , some marker etc .

Then inyour own time learn about bleaching tea/coffee  awkward stains .
get an inline heater for you machine if u dont have one ( amtech inline is fine )

then u will be using all i used this week .

[Dave_Lee]

If you go on training course, which of course should be the very first thing you do, a guide for what you have just been trained in is usually included. That's how I came by all those that I have for sale.
Dave.

[tim handley]

pardon? did i read that right.....................

[Steve Fortt]

Hi John

Did you get a free course from Prochem with your Steempro?

Steve

[Ian Harper]

http://www.cresta-books.co.uk/introduction-to-carpet.htm
http://www.cresta-books.co.uk/fundamentals.htm

best money you will spend.

as wool is big in UK

http://www.woolsafeacademy.org/