Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Simon Gerrard on May 17, 2010, 01:52:31 pm
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As a professional carpet cleaner what is your weakest point?
I'm not the greatest at stain removal, but it is something I'm working hard to improve. For some reason I just seem to struggle with the more difficult stains, despite having all the latest and greatest stain removers. :'(
Simon
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Mine's being able to sell stain protector.... I can't seem to bring myself to sell something I have no faith in I suppose.
I did a test on my sofa and followed instructions to the letter.... Utter waste of money IMHO!!!!
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With you on that one Colin !!
In the 6 years i have been running i have prob only used 1x5ltr of protector,did buy a fresh batch last year,but got too the job to find polly prop,and not wool like the owner said it was,have been asked to protect polly in the past,but have said no point !
Really should try and up sell that a bit this year.
And knowing when too stop ,instead of banging away at a carpet that will never come clean,as it`s worn out..
Oh and trying to clean shadows !! Have spent ages trying to clean shadow away,only to turn on the lights and see it disappear before my eyes !!
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Oh and trying to clean shadows !! Have spent ages trying to clean shadow away,only to turn on the lights and see it disappear before my eyes !!
Guilty of that myself ;D
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I haven't got any ;D
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Cold selling is my weakest point. So I don't do it!
Colin. In my earlier days, I had similar reservations about protector too. I am now utterly covinced that protectors work, and work really well.
If you protect a fabric, especially one with polyester in it, you are unlikely to get a significant surface bead-up if at all. Often the same with any carpet. But this doesn't mean that it isn't working.
The product I use has a guideline that it's effective for about 5 years. My lounge, Axminster's Dartmoor, was treated once when new in 2002. Two weeks ago my Grandson's potty was knocked over. Terry towel followed by paper towel. Totally dry. No stain. pH tested the next day and it was neutral. Play safe I spotted it anyway. So my protector works well, even if past it's "use by date".
I've started a very easy way to upsell protector. So far this year, I've sold more than in the previous four years ::) I might copy the details here after I've published in NewsLink.
Oh, and like Simon, stain removal is perhaps my weakest trade discipline, but if you are realistic of safe expectations and always under promise, you will never "own" someone elses carpet.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
The Ken
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if you are realistic of safe expectations and always under promise, you will never "own" someone elses carpet.
The only way to go about it in my opinion !
But i have had great results,but every stain is different,as you well know
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Silly I know, but what the heck.
My Kids
My Wife
Norwich City
Not always in that order but don`t tell my wife. ;D
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no weak points on the carpet cleaning front and marketting is good, i would say finances and business knowledge are my weak points.
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Thankyou for the invaluable advice "The Ken".... Maybe I need to really look into it in a lot more depth!
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I've had amazing results removing virtually impossible
stains. usually the ones under the sofa ;D. Unfortunatly
the same stuff out in the open where it glares at you,
is a different kettle of fish altogether. >:(
Used to sub-contract and heavily sold protector, deoderisers
etc. I now hate upselling having spent 10 years under pressure
to. Used to sell regularly 45% plus on £1000 supplied.
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lager
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Eating to much crap whilst I am out working, struggle to drive past the greece spoon. Sometime's my spelling.
Urine stains for me, i hate them, also find upholstery can be a pain. Soem Upholstery just does not come up well.
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Eating to much crap whilst I am out working
Same here !! Terrible for eating garage sarnies,crisps,choc,mars drink !!
Not sure how i manage to keep below 11 stone
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Too much tea and coffee sends my inside brown ;D
Shaun
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A leak.
Not getting £8 metre
Not having customers queing to pay £8 metre
Not having a Cruise Ship to clean on a regular basis
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Sometimes not charging enough when i do a small extra job ie small rug etc ::)
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I dont have enough confidence in going for the big bucks. I know I can put my prices right up but am a bit scared when face to face on quotes.
Think a shot of whiskey before a quote will get confidence levels up.
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We have no weak points. ???
Just that some strengths are not as strong as others. ;)
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Cotton floral print suites, hate them, hate them, hate them!
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Ken could you tell us which protector you used? will this compromise your article?
Shaun
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We have no weak points. ???
Just that some strengths are not as strong as others. ;)
Now, that's PMA.... (Positive Mental Attitude) ;)
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Same as AJB and Colin.
When I came into this industry it was all about selling 'extras' on the day. I hated forcing people to part with extra money and in the end basically refused to do it.
That resulted in me setting off on my own with a promise to myself i would only do the work that customers wanted, not what I wanted.
Like Colin I have tried protectors on various fabrics of my own, including my holiday caravans. The stains still happen and are very tricky to get back out again, so if it's not a simple 'wipe' off as advertised then I don't want the hassle of a customer phoning me and saying that the protector doesn't work. I rather educate them on what first aid to carry out if something happens.
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I normally get asked to apply protector, I dont upsell it normally.
What I do tell them quiet strongly is that a protector is no magic formula that is going to keep their carpet nice and clean. It buys time, time to go and get a towel to pad the spill, but they do need to act.
A protector will also keep the carpets cleaner when they vacuum ::). As it has covered the fibre it resists sticky residue from sticking to the fibre, releasing more into the vacuum cleaner.
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Hitting 65 and I don't mean at St Andrews ............best I ever managed there was 69.
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Hitting 65 and I don't mean at St Andrews ............best I ever managed there was 69.
what was her name bob? ;D
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Shaun
I use Enviroshield
Safe and happy protecting :)
The Ken
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Of course the interviewee book answer to this question should be something like...
'Sometimes I get so involved in getting the perfect result that I should know when to stop, because there is nothing else to be achieved, but I don't like to admit defeat.' (get bucket and throw up ;D)
Total bull I know but this is a typical job interview question.
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Ken I would be very interested in reading your article on protection perhaps you could twist an arm or two to have it on here?
Safe and happy article copying onto CIU.
Shaun
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Ken I would be very interested in reading your article on protection perhaps you could twist an arm or two to have it on here?
Safe and happy article copying onto CIU.
Shaun
You can't steal Kens tag lines..... ;D
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Shaun
I haven't written it yet!!!
As with all of my articles, the copyright is my own, so there is no reason why I couldn't post here before it being published in NCCA's Newslink. But I don't want to do that, it's a loyalty thing.
You'll have to wait a couple of months unless you are an NCCA Member 8)
Safe and happy protecting :)
The Ken
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Not looking to join but will look forward to your article.
Safe and happy anticipation.
Shaun
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Weakest point - Staff
Strongest point - Staff
>:( :( ??? :-\ :) :D ;D