[paul alan]

Hi guys ,

I'm a 3day a week window cleaner, have started cleaning caravans with my window cleaning system and it works well.

I'm also cleaning the insides and have bought a bog standard "george" 3 in 1 and it "seems" to be doing on okay job on caravan carpets! No complaints as yet anyways.

I would like to start doing a bit on the side, i have 2-3 days per week to earn with and 1 or 2 interested people.
I have an existing customer base of around 250 people cleaning windows.
I think if i can make enough money for better equipment then it must be working out!??

So i suppose what I'm asking is would George be adequate to make a few bucks doing small jobs to buy some proper equipment
whilst simultaneously  testing the water out?

I'm feeling more "can do" than "cant do" as i built my window cleaning business with a bucket and a squeegee without a clue how to clean windows and 1 customer. Now it's a 2 man van mount system in a 12 plate van earning very good money, with enough work for me and my wife.

Having said that i think there's more to carpet cleaning than window cleaning, hence my post.

Many thanks

Paul

[Rob clarke]

Get yourself on Derek Bolton's course all your questions will be answered   

http://www.cleansmartsupplies.co.uk/store/carpet-cleaning-training-course/

[Marius Alexandru]

Paul, I will tell you that with a George you will be on a job for ever, imagine doing a 24 sqm room with a George.

You will need more than a george for carpet cleaning, you will need a sebo duo & a sebo bs vacuum which both will cost £200-250 second hand.

Try and buy a decent machine, people will not use you if they see you with a george,  basicly, BUY SOMETHING THAT THE COSTUMER WILL NOT HAVE, this is how I see it. You can buy a decent carpet cleaning machine second hand for 1k. Think about it 10 jobs & £100 each and you already have your money back (ok, maybe more jobs but you get the point). If it does not work out you can sell the machine for a small loss.

Imagine it like this: lady calls 3 guys for carpet cleaning (usually they ask what machine you have and how you work) You say I have a goerge vacuum (known by everybody), one says I have a rug doctor (Known by everybody) and I say I have an Airflex storm, who would you chose?

Good luck with your new adventure.

[Mike Halliday]

If you are  earning  very good money from window cleaning I would try and expand that side rather than go into the carpet cleaning,

A george is not up to the job, might be ok for the odd caravan but not for quality carpets in a home.

[Ian Harper]

paul alan

take care with upholstery in those vans as your are at risk. most that I have seen are viscose. I would recommend prochem training as it has a synergy between the products and method. This synergy is important as you go forwards as these products are problem solvers. knowing this you can market your services as problem solver. soot is a great example as it needs the right detergent use the wrong one and you will over wet the carpets as emulsification  will not happen. 

Prochem is by far the best teaching method. Not saying other training is bad.

Look at most carpet cleaning websites and you will see just one type of carpet cleaning. when there are many, just look at the range of detergents we can buy. marketing around these will make the prospect realise that not all carpet cleaning is the same and that they can not compare prices based on that assumption.

Good luck

[paul alan]

Okay, some good advice i see i need something better to do a decent enough job.

What could i realistically get for around the £500 mark, second hand would be good. What other consumables would i need to go with it?

Many thanks for the advice, appreciate it!

[dave the hose]

hi paul
if you need a second hand machine, we have a few here
please call for more info
thanks
dave
07788612510

[Marius Alexandru]

Paul, bear in mind you will still need a commercial vacuum (not henry or george) plus an agitation machine, sebo duo will work to start with. 

[Marius Alexandru]

Paul, bear in mind you will still need a commercial vacuum (not henry or george) plus an agitation machine, sebo duo will work to start with. 

[Robin Ray]

If you have an overwhelming desire to become a carpet cleaner go for it.

You will need to :
Go on a course,
Spend around £4000 on equipment.... (to start with)
Continually be spending on Marketing...... (literally for ever more)

Then you will be able to make a modest living

If you have a desire to make as much profit in the simplest way possible grow your window cleaning round.

It is possible to make a very good living cleaning carpets but your desire to make it work must eclipse everything else for a number of years.

One other thing... Using a george for professional carpet cleaning is a bit like watching Avatar on a black and white TV, It is possible but you don't get the same effect.

[Stoots]

Hi paul.

I pretty much do exactly as you do.

I have about 2 days per week of window cleaning work (150 or so custies)

i also valet cars, which is what i did originally.

I also clean carpets, but only "on the side" so to speak maybe 2-3 jobs per month.

I bought a second hand machine for £500, extracta exel...it does the job fine.

For a vaccumm i use my henry and for agitation i use a pile brush

the rest is knowledge, i went on the cleansmart course.

whilst i cant say im the quickest carpet cleaner or have the most efficent equipment i do manage to do the job perfectly well.

At the moment im looking to add a bit more window cleaning to replace the car valeting then next year push on with the carpets.

Yes there is decent money to be earned on the windows but i dont think i would fancy 5 days a week flat out on the glass, it get quite hard work the theres rain delays etc, messers, bad payers the usual.

I wouldnt walk into a custies home with a george (cringe) i have  a george and use it for cars and whilst in theory you could use it, it would take forever and imaging the custies face.

So you dont nee to spend LOADS to get started but second hand maybe a grand all in would be a better start


one thing i would add is that of marketting, with carpets its pretty much going to be ongoing, with windows once your full your full and you can pretty much stay that way by doing very little, food for thought