Hi David,
If it's not to late, I'd like to recommend a carpet cleaning machine that will save you a lot of head aches in the long run. I've been using the Host Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning System for over 20 years, have never had one insurance claim (you know, water damage, etc.), and customers go back to using their carpets immediately after cleaning. And the best part about it is that customers don't have to have very much furniture moved, but if you or they decide to move any furniture back in place, you don't have to worry about putting furniture protectors under the legs, air-moving machines to dry the carpet with (that's yet another added not necessary equipment expense), down-time, no sticky detergent residue, etc. And no, this is not a bonnet machine where you have to keep on replacing the bonnet pads every 100 sq. ft. or less. This is a moist cellulose granual spongy like cleaner. It works on the same principal as you kitchen counter top sponge. A rung out sponge is evenly moisten an therefore has the ability to loosen, trap and absorb with out over-wetting or smearing the dirt around, and with portable ease. One machine to start out would probably weigh approximately 4o lbs. and handle can snap right off to making putting this machine into even a compact car not a problem at all. I can carry up to 4 machines and detached handles on one side of my pick-up truck. Pretty neat huh?! No hose reals, messy water tanks or spills, expensive van and motor for truck mount systems. Host solves most all of your carpet cleaning and or maintenance problems, is recommended by over 100 carpet and fabric mills worldwide, has been rated #1 buy a leading consumer testing magazine, etc. The Host machine has 5 different brush styles for the particular pile type (including wool) of carpet that you are cleaning to brush and pile lift (at the same time your cleaning, and you will not need to go out and invest in a pile rake, cause the Host Machine does all the pile lifting for you at the same time you're cleaning.) The Host granual sponges safely brush down deep down into the carpet pile similar to the rotation of a vacuum cleaner brush but with an another brush directly behind the other brush counter revolving in-towards the front brush and without getting the carpet wet underneath. Each brush spool is approximately 5" in diameter and each brush clump approximately 1" long. In my opinion, it solves all the problems that your spending extra money in equipment (such as air-movers), furniture protectors, van and truck mount systems, just to name a few.
No matter what method of cleaning you choose to do, here's what you need to do first to make sure you keep the carpets dry underneath for several reasons: #1. Get yourself into a training course that will give you not just how to clean carpets but how carpets are made, all the does and don'ts, market and research advice, how to keep satisfied customer lists and a call back schedule, one that has been recommended by lots of carpet and fabric mills worldwide, etc. #2. Extending the life of the carpet by up to 50%. #3. The Host system will not break down the latex glue due to excessive amounts of water (especially hot). #4. The Host system will not mildew and dry-rot which will cause delimitation (when primary and secondary backings come apart from each other.) This is cause primarily when the carpet cannot dry underneath and thus mold and mildew and eventually dry-rot will occur. The primary and secondary backing is latex glued together and is what holds the carpet tufts from coming unraveled.) So avoid hot-water and overwetting of carpet.
Marketing: Starting out with leaflets and or flyers around the neighborhoods and or business complexes is the most economic and targeted traffic you can do for yourself when you're first starting out. I also recommend you keep your full-time or present job until your business surpasses your current income you have coming in from your full-time job.
I'm sorry this message is so long but drywd@cwnet was glad to assist you in any way that I could. I hope this information was helpful and informative.
Best of luck,
Charles
