[Dave_Lee]

Would I start Carpet Cleaning at 54. No I wouldnt, you will be 60 before you get fully established. Carpet Cleaning is hard work but the work going into becoming established is harder and unrelenting. It also depends on what you did before, I mean rather than build up the required muscle groups to do the job, at 54 you would be more likely to suffer repetative muscle strains.
I am 60 and cope just fine with the work, but I built up the muscle a long time ago. I have been carpet cleaning 27 years, but was nine years in the army before that and have always been fit. I still run marathons and am more actively involved in mountaineering than ever. Whatever YOUR background at 54 I would have reservations about starting from scratch in this business. Sorry, but just being honest.
Dave.

[timhersey]

I am 67 and I do not feel to old , to day I my job was a 4 bed house £475 I am full every day most days I do over £200 it is very hard work and if you are not used to it and are new and have to build up customers you might find it hard Tim Surrey

[Aladdin C.C.]

I took early retirement from an office job when I was 58 and started carpet cleaning on a part time basis and I still do this at 65. I only do domestic jobs and use a Rug Doctor which does the scrubbing and it is not heavy to cart around.

[rambly]

If you have the health and willpower you can do it!

Like many physical activities it is partly technique that provides the satisfactory conclusion, with the right amount of effort. I know 30 year old pot bellied lardies who struggle with a ring pull and a guy in his 60s who lifts and moulds concrete paving slabs.

Age is not the primary issue, being able to pace yourself if you have the stamina and fitness is more important.

 

[John_Flynn]

I got out of Carpet Cleaning earlier this year aged 58 after 6 years in the job, I am now waiting to see the Nuro-surgeon about a serious back operation. KEEP CLEAR!!!

[Neil Grainger]

Hi John

How is the new venture going?

Hope your back is not to bad

Cheers

Neil

[stevegunn]

How's it going John when you say serious how serious?

Hope everything works out for you

[HQCS (John Kastrian)]

54 is certainly not too old to start carpet cleaning,I have always done manual labour jobs and cc is definitely one of the easiest jobs I have had.
I agree you have to be reasonable fit and active but you don't need to be superman.
On the other hand,a friend was considering going into cc alongside domestic cleaning,he is 58, very overweight,smokes about a 100 a day,and tying up his shoelaces brings him out in a sweat,he would have given himself a hernia or a heart attack so as a friend I talked him out of it.
Being more mature should not hold you back if you feel able to do it,go for it,let's be honest most of us geriatric ccs can run circles round the youngsters anyday.
John

[anpneltd]

Tony
I am 55 in November and I started my business just 2 years ago. I love it and have absolutely no regrets. If you have the desire just DO IT!! Age doesn't come into it.
Good luck I wish you every success!
Allen

[Mark Roberts]

Its rare you see a fat carpet cleaner lol.

Just one decent job a day, 5 days a week is enough for many to make a comfortable living.

Most people can manage that, obviously marketing and running the business as well takes up time and effort, but like any self employment the desire to succeed is more important than your age.

[Ian Gourlay]

Aladdin CC

Are you still using your Rug Doctor.

I started with a Rug Doctor  the Wide Track .

I think it produces good results etc and still use it occasionally on small jobs.

I had to put my own brand stickers on it to avoid hire shop comments.

Would be interested to know what prices you are acheiving with it.

[Fibreclean]

Aladdin CC

Are you still using your Rug Doctor.

I started with a Rug Doctor  the Wide Track .

I think it produces good results etc and still use it occasionally on small jobs.

I had to put my own brand stickers on it to avoid hire shop comments.

Would be interested to know what prices you are acheiving with it.

Its unbelievable that a person who is supposed to be qualified (and moderates on here) uses a RUG DOCTOR. Ummm, I think Im going to ban him.... not good....   

[John Kelly]

Whats the problem. A rug doctor used by a qualified person can give excellent results. Quite adequate for doing one small room. I wouldn't like to have to rely on one for all my work.

[Fibreclean]

ummm i dont think so

[Mark Roberts]

Its possible to achieve great results with any extraction machine although it might take longer to get there,  you just put more effort into the preb work i.e hoovering, agitation using the right chems etc

[Fibreclean]

yeap, but you can spend all day doing all that for £30.

And then people say, hang on a min I hired wanna those last year for a tenner! Are you taking the p-ss?

[Mark Roberts]

Most customers have never seen an extraction machine, they can even hire twin vac portys these days if they want, what they should be paying for is the operator and his skill regardless of machine.

The point is you can acheive great results with any system, just depends whos using it.

[Ian Gourlay]

The specs on the Rug Doctor are equal to many machines  Its twice the size of the hire machine. Also it has my own brand stickers.  I did use to  hire machine out but gave up on this idea. I use it very occasionally and it usually a charity case or a very small bedsit. This machine is sold to the Residential Care  Market.

The water recovery is excellent.

In reality I use it about twice year often when Im doing a charity type job.

[gerrystyles]

You are never too old to do what works for you. I have been using portable for six years, I get my first TM next month

[jasonl]

54,64,74 ALL a great age, everyone has mised the most important  aspect of CC ......PERSONALITY. and older people GENERALLY have more conversation,customer care,positive attitude and life skills. The physical side can be overcome with the right skills, equipment and capital to start up........ eg run a business, not a job, employ people to clean from day one, I have seen several that have done that successfully. My dad is a stroke victim aged 54 and runs a successful operation ... he only has the use of his left side.