[MarkSutcliffe]

I managed to smash my collarbone playing rugby,  broken in two places, and the specialist informed me it may be a while till i'm working again..

So I sold all my kit..

However 5 weeks have passed, i've got a lot of motion back, (managed a press up !!), and want to get back to work and earn some money..

I'm on a budget of £1000 absolute max... Having not earned any money for a while toasted any savings that I had, which were already low due to a dropped contract in my other line of work..

What's the best (small) all in one machine (will be easier on my shoulders),

Seen a few such as

Victor SX15
Truvox 35
Minuteman Ambassador
Prochem five-star
taski aquamat 30

I looked at the hydromist compact but then realised it only has 20psi and 0.8 LPM pump, which isn't ideal..

I've never used this type of machine before, so a bit clueless,  anyone have any experience? Am i likely to be underwowed?

[CleanerCarpets]

You need a secondhand Cub or better still Airflex Mini

Wouldn't go for any of the others you listed

[MarkSutcliffe]

they would be ideal,  but im worried about shoulder pain..

airflex mini are awesome.

[MarkSutcliffe]

they seem to be very "unwanted" in the cleaning circle... are they that bad?

[CleanerCarpets]

Your looking at Rug Doctor type machines that clean using the whole machine passing over the carpet - pulling one of them across the floor is going to be more difficult than just wanding as normal.

The Cub machines are very little and light - much better option for you. I am sure it would be easier to get off and on the van than the machines you are looking at.

[Marius Alexandru]

I had to google all of those machines as I never heard of them and nobody uses them, unless you are a £10 a room guy.

If you are serious about carpet cleaning I would buy a jaguar cub or airflex mini.

Do you have any other equipment? Vacuum cleaner, agitation machine?

[MarkSutcliffe]

got other bits left over,  however due to not working for a while.. I have a teeny tiny budget to get me back into it.

Hard going round here, sample enquiry I've just had..

"Hello how much for a lounge, bedroom, stairs and landing?"
"Pending room size and level of cleaning, you would be looking about £80"
"Oh, your more than double the cheapest quote I had"
"Well i use a five step method, prevac, prespray, agitate, rinse and deodorise"
"Clean is clean, i'm not a***d how they do it"

when you have this between 5-10 times a week, there is no point me running up credit cards to the tune of 1000's until the business becomes self sufficient..I'm having to use my car (large estate) until I can build up enough to justify a van.

So i'm stuck with a cheaper machine for now

Five-star is looking saucy !

[CleanerCarpets]

We all get customers looking for bargain basement cleaning every week, there will always be a market it for it and people doing that type of work come and go all the time or very often do other work as well. I don't believe in bad areas - there is always good work to be had wherever you are.

That Prochem Fivestar machine is an awful looking thing - for around the £1000 mark you will easily pick up a used Cub or Airflex Mini - sounds to me like you are talking yourself into being a £10 a room guy

[MarkSutcliffe]

I reckon i can just about fit a ninja in my boot..

might have a re-think

[Jonathan Evans]

You could have told the guy who said clean is clean that he was right but those prices and their workmanship will not give you clean is clean.
There again why bother as he is just looking for the cheapest price. You will never win on that basis as there will always be cheaper clean is clean merchants out there.
Btw I would go with the small extraction machines mentioned.  I think it will be less stress on the shoulder.
Maybe change method look into Rotary or host type cleaning.
Create a Niche.

[CleanerCarpets]

The Ninja's are great machines - very much missed out of shopping lists now because of the Enforcer

But the Ninja is very lightweight and has a small foot print - lots of used ones about with differing pump spec's - easy to switch over to parallel vac set up from inline if you prefer that too

The bodies can look a bit scruffy on some well used ones but if its all sound with no leaks its a good buy 

[Marius Alexandru]

I would look for a second hand machine, Just found on gumtree a Extracta Exel  for £750

There is a Powrflite carpet cleaner for £400

Prochem Galaxy for around £900

You can look up some machines on ebay also. With a sebo duo to pre-agitate you will be fine with those to start of with.