Curtain cleaning Poll. Please Vote.

« **on:** January 13, 2007, 12:37:32 pm »

I use option 5. I wanted to get an idea of the market. I only solvent dry clean curtains if they fail the shrink test, other wise they get the HWE treatment.
I've recently started recycling (re-using) the solvent after filtering of course. Does anyone else do this?

Alan

« **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2007, 12:58:51 pm »

vac,
mist with m/s,
steam gun with terry towel over gun, towel at back and run down the fabric

Geoff

« **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2007, 01:09:29 pm »

I did that recently and posted the results on here - I watched it shrink by FIVE!!! inches

If it fails the shrink test it gets dry cleaned

« **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2007, 01:10:53 pm »

I use a Slightly different method to Geoff

Pre-vac,mist with M/S and brush in, then extract only, using a curtain tool

Mark

« **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2007, 01:25:16 pm »

what results are you getting with this method geoff/mark .Do the curtains look like they have just come back from the dry cleaners

« **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2007, 01:58:34 pm »

Hi Des
Cleaning with M/S gives a very acceptable finish but I never promise more than a freshen up ,pre-vac is the most important part of it and can make a huge difference in apperance on its own but customers seemed to be more than happy with results and with the added bonus of cleaning on site takes away the problem of taking down the curtains which is not always possible ,M/S is safer, cheaper and less messy than solvents.Apart from that curtain cleaning is the most boring job in the world(slightly exagerated)

Mark

« **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2007, 02:04:55 pm »

You cant clean genuinely 'dry clean only' curtains with MS. The point of the POLL is to find out what you would do when you are confronted with DRY CLEAN ONLY CURTAINS.

Please

Alan

« **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2007, 02:08:16 pm »

WITH A LIGHT MISTING OF M/S YOU CAN!

« **Reply #8 on:** January 13, 2007, 03:05:55 pm »

Hi Alan
I recycle the dry cleaning solution but only use about 1o% added to a fresh solution, the dry cleaning of curtains on site really does seem to be on the increase for me, it's sometimes what sways the customer to book me for carpets and upholstery cleaning when they need a one stop shop to do the curtains too! and they love the thought of not having to take them down and re-hang them!

all the best
john

« **Reply #9 on:** January 13, 2007, 03:19:15 pm »

if asked by custy to clean curtains, I expain that the results are not always as good as taking them to the dry cleaners, However they accept this as they dont want the inconvienience of taking them all down and rehanging, which some times can be a job in itself
Geoff

« **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2007, 04:29:31 pm »

When I first started out in the industry 18 years ago I used to dry clean curtains and suites but could not get the results that I felt were acceptable. Also the health & safety aspect of spraying solvents around the room were in my mind not worth taking the risk over, for myself or the customer.
I hardly ever get a customer asking for curtains to be done but that may be because I do not advertise for it. If there was a better safer way of cleaning these with results to match I would consider doing them again. Taking the curtains to the dry cleaners would not guarantee no shrinkage as I think they have clauses for this. Misting Ms onto the fabrics sounds like a good idea do you get good results from this Mark or Geoff.

« **Reply #11 on:** January 13, 2007, 04:54:26 pm »

I bought a vertical steam unit to decrease curtain that have been MS / HWE cleaned but I find that HOT solvent extraction cleaning doesn't even leave creases. I think that if done methodically you can produce 'dry cleaners' results on site easily.

« **Reply #12 on:** January 13, 2007, 05:31:57 pm »

ALAN
WHAT DO YOU DO, WHEN CONFRONTED WITH " DRY CLEAN ONLY " SUITES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROBBIE

« **Reply #13 on:** January 13, 2007, 09:41:05 pm »

Hi Derek
Yes i do get good results using this method i described and you can can guarantee no shinkage

Mark

« **Reply #14 on:** January 13, 2007, 10:22:44 pm »

a good ole vac, spray solvent and wipe down with cloth

Job done - everyones happy!

Happy days

regards
steve

« **Reply #15 on:** January 14, 2007, 05:06:04 am »

Mark,

When you say extract only, Do you mean No Water Rinse . Just extract Micro Spliter spayed on.

How long Do you leave Micro Splitter, Do you aggitate before you extract.

« **Reply #16 on:** January 14, 2007, 11:11:51 am »

Hi Ian
Yes Ian no rinse, aggitation and extraction only,there is no dwell time with M/S and also because of only a light misting is used ,extraction should be done before dry
Mark

« **Reply #17 on:** January 14, 2007, 11:19:43 am »

Maybe I'm wrong but surely these results cannot compare with dry cleaners efforts. You're not flushing anything out, you're just providing a surface clean? Can I ask what your prices are for this service? Please

Regards
Alan

« **Reply #18 on:** January 14, 2007, 01:45:16 pm »

I'd take them to the dry cleaners and get them cleaned.

That way I'm not letting the customer down, which is good for future business. I also know that they are being properly cleaned, with no risk of shrinkeage.

Yes, the profit for me would be minimal but then so is the amount of work I'd put in.

Better to have a happy customer and no profit than an unhappy one at a profit. They are more likely to come back.

« **Reply #19 on:** January 14, 2007, 06:05:28 pm »

HI

Always get asked about Curtains but tend to push for them to get them dry cleaned.

What do you charge for cleaning curtain as I have to do a quote for a big job on wednesday and want advice on this.

cheers

Neil

Poll

Water sensitive curtain fabrics. Do you?