Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: zoe humble on August 20, 2010, 09:13:12 am
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Hi I am new to CIU, I've been lurking on the other forum. I don't know anything about cleaning carpets... I am curious there seems to be mainly main (soley men) on this forum. Is carpet cleaning just for blokes? why is it the size / weight of the machines. So If I wanted to go into this line of business alongside regular domestic work I need training and a machine can anyone give me a ballpark figure with regards to a basic kit set up for domestic jobs. If I can stretch to it I can start doing some more research... thanks
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1500-2000pounds plus van, cleaning ins, training courses (a must) complete different ball game to domestic cleaning ::)
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yes I guess it is a different ball game - but I am still trying to work out why is it mainly men.
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Training course will give you good base of knowledge.
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There ARE a few women who run c/c businesses / work in c/c businesses / work with their husbands / partners as carpet cleaners. One of the most successful carpet cleaners on here is a young woman ( alhough she allowed herself to be influenced by men on here ) and has subsequently lost her way. Hopefully temporarily.
My wife worked with me a few years ago and we worked very well together.
Strange thing about women is their inability or unwillingness to work in a structured way while leaning which can result in a lack of uniformity in finish.
They work as hard and can achieve the same results but tend to be less systematic in their approach.
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Strange thing about women is their inability or unwillingness to work in a structured way while leaning which can result in a lack of uniformity in finish.
Oh boy this should be fun ;D
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Robert Meldrum has had steel balls fitted?
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They work as hard and can achieve the same results but tend to be less systematic in their approach.
Aaaaaaah >:( I'm just going to have another cup of coffee in the hope that time will make me calm down a little before answering. :-*
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I see no reason at all a woman cannot clean carpets. It's not rocket science after all. The work can be reasonably heavy at times but many women already do physical work.
In fact I would think a woman CC would have an advantage over men as far as bringing in new business is concerned. Because many folks, especially elderly or vulnerable are wary of who is coming into there house. A woman may well be seen to be a safer bet than a man if the advertising played on that aspect.
Plenty of good used machinery around. I wouldn't be in to much of a rush to part with your dosh on a new machine. Must get training though. Although it's not rocket science, there are plenty of things that can trip you up and end up costing considerably more than a short course.
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Strange thing about women is their inability or unwillingness to work in a structured way while leaning which can result in a lack of uniformity in finish.
They work as hard and can achieve the same results but tend to be less systematic in their approach.
Had coffee and administered the valium.......
Always very difficult to work in a structured and uniform way whilst "leaning"....is this a new trick of the trade in CC'ing ;D lean to the left gets a deeper clean? ;) to the right and you remove stains? ;)
Bobbie dear, I think you are geting a little confused between structured working and multi tasking, the latter of which you menfolk think you do, but ain't a patch on us women ;D ;D
Me? I can use a wand in one hand, a bonnet in the other, spray the pre-sray (don't ask where from :o), talk to the customer, write out an invoice and take the ££ and think what I will be cooking for dinner....all at the same time (oh and nearly forgot, post on here aswell) ;D ;D ;D
Now you aren't gonna believe this, but I think men are better suited to carpet cleaning than women. Yes I am being serious, but I am not going to say why :-*
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Think you just made matters worse Helen.........especially when I was NOT being insulting in any way. I've employed many, many women over the past 30 or so years and would ( in most cases ) prefer women employees, but not in carpet cleaning.
As always there will be some women who are capable of outcleaning most men and I greatly admire them, but, from observations ................where most males will approach a clean systematically and clean in a disciplined, even moronic way, happy to work steadily thrugh the area ,,,,,,females will attack an area then move to another area and attack again, thinking the wand is a scrubbing brush.
They may well end up with a similar result, but they sure make it hard work.
Have to say that I regard multitasking to be more of a CURSE than an ASSET
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Hi Guys and Gals
Think it's just down to carpet cleaning being a physical job, theres a lot of lifting involved, not impossible for a fit female but they obviously prefer doing other things.
It would be nice to have a few more ladies on here, might keep the boys in check.
Cheers
Doug
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Think you just made matters worse Helen.........especially when I was NOT being insulting in any way. I've employed many, many women over the past 30 or so years and would ( in most cases ) prefer women employees, but not in carpet cleaning.
As always there will be some women who are capable of outcleaning most men and I greatly admire them, but, from observations ................where most males will approach a clean systematically and clean in a disciplined, even moronic way, happy to work steadily thrugh the area ,,,,,,females will attack an area then move to another area and attack again, thinking the wand is a scrubbing brush.
They may well end up with a similar result, but they sure make it hard work.
Have to say that I regard multitasking to be more of a CURSE than an ASSET
Oops, didn't mean to offend sir honest ;D I didn't think you were being insulting, it was the inference of others and as per usual a little humour on a Friday afternoon, has been taken the wrong way, even though plastered with smileys. Maybe I am different from most women, (but I think not) as in all parts of life I approach things in a systematical way. What's the point of making a job hard for yourself when all you had to do was take one step back and look at it from another angle.
As for multi tasking it only beomes a curse when you get it wrong ;D
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Me? I can use a wand in one hand, a bonnet in the other, spray the pre-sray (don't ask where from ), talk to the customer, write out an invoice and take the ££ and think what I will be cooking for dinner....all at the same time (oh and nearly forgot, post on here aswell)
Wow, what a CV! There's a vacancy up here in the Midlands anytime you want Helen :D ;D
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That's what my wife tells me Helen, but I never mention the little discrepancies I notice. It's maybe just as big a curse being a " fussy git "as I know I am !
Almost any woman could do the job of cleaning carpets many are fitter and stronger than men imagine. My wife's a champion kick boxer and football coach and probably stronger than the majority of men who post on here but you don't need STRENGTH to do this job.
If anything involved in cleaning is dependent on strength the approach is wrong !
If you're serious about cleaning carpets you should try as many machines as possible as using what appears to be a lightweight portable might be more demanding on your back than a bigger machine that can be left in the van or easily manouvered on and off the van.
Best wishes whatever you do and you will be welcome to keep posting by most on here. I like to challenge preconceived ideas or offer another view on peoples ideas.
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Is this my first post or second on this forum ::) good to start a debate. My main concern was the physicality of moving heavy tanks / machines etc. I need to get to a good supplier and get my hands on some kit basically then I'll know. Anyone know of any machine suppliers in the south west?
Its a funny old debate, I've worked in the IT industry for 18 years so actually for me to go an work with a load of women would be very different for me. My last job I was the only woman and er managed some men.
what have I noticed that people are all different, and men gossip just as much as women if not more (sometimes). Communication is a bit different and if you are a manager you soon work this out.
Systematic - I don't think I'd want my brain to be any more systematic than it already is - I'll try not to stab at the carpet when ever the moment arises.
I think a lot about these roles we take on is about perception people think that certain jobs are for certain people.
So to do my communication bit - anyone know of a good machine stockist in the southwest which I can visit please?
thanks :D
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Hi I am new to CIU, I've been lurking on the other forum. I don't know anything about cleaning carpets... I am curious there seems to be mainly main (soley men) on this forum. Is carpet cleaning just for blokes? why is it the size / weight of the machines. So If I wanted to go into this line of business alongside regular domestic work I need training and a machine can anyone give me a ballpark figure with regards to a basic kit set up for domestic jobs. If I can stretch to it I can start doing some more research... thanks
perhaps men ARE better carpet cleaners than women [just saying is all]
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if that was the case we'd see more women entering the industry and a high level of women leaving the business. That may be so but there wasn't a great deal of women posting in the first place in this forum which makes me think that they aren't attacted to the job in the first place. So I figured this was because they thought they couldn't do the job beacuse of the equipment. I dunno not exactly an expert here.
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Zoe Go a few junctions up the M5 to Craftex and ask to demo their sabrina maxi machine.I will bet you could do a stonkin job with that after a sensible bit of training as its light as anything but quite punchy.Regards Alan(swindon)
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[quote author=robert meldrum link=topic=107083.msg911040#msg911040 date=1282299417
Bobbie dear, I think you are geting a little confused between structured working and multi tasking, the latter of which you menfolk think you do, but ain't a patch on us women
Well how come Helen, women can't drive and touch up their make up at the same time ? - just saying ;) ;D
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[quote author=robert meldrum link=topic=107083.msg911040#msg911040 date=1282299417
Bobbie dear, I think you are geting a little confused between structured working and multi tasking, the latter of which you menfolk think you do, but ain't a patch on us women
Well how come Helen, women can't drive and touch up their make up at the same time ? - just saying ;) ;D
Are you saying that men can ??? ;D ;D
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I do mine before I leave the house ;D
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There ARE a few women who run c/c businesses / work in c/c businesses / work with their husbands / partners as carpet cleaners. One of the most successful carpet cleaners on here is a young woman ( alhough she allowed herself to be influenced by men on here ) and has subsequently lost her way. Hopefully temporarily.
My wife worked with me a few years ago and we worked very well together.
Strange thing about women is their inability or unwillingness to work in a structured way while leaning which can result in a lack of uniformity in finish.
They work as hard and can achieve the same results but tend to be less systematic in their approach.
Im just setting up too but admittedly not on my own, lets hope I'll manage to put the sugar, tea and milk (or should that be milk, sugar, tea?) in the cup in the right order while the significant other does the heavy stuff! :P
Joking aside, Im learning alot from this forum, especially that a sense of humour is a must :)
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There is nothing stopping women being perfectly successful in this industry. Only interesting thing on this is when myself anf my wife were setting up I came up with the idea of calling the business "Sarah's Carpet Care" (wife's name), on the basis that people would flock to a female-branded carpet cleaning company (even though I'd be doing 90% of the cleaning :o ).
However when I done my market research, a LOT of people (mostly women I must honestly add) said they'd choose a different company, in fear that carpet cleaning was a heavy, physically demanding process, and a women may not be able to get as good results, or might use lighter duty equipment !!!!!!
I personally think that's a load of tosh but people aren't always so "right on" when it comes to spending their money.
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Dean, you are probably right I can imagine that. The other thing is.... a lot of women prefer having their hair done by a man (hairdressers I am talking here!) human nature to some extent. I'll just lower my voice on the phone.. hehe
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There are a couple of ladies run a successful carpet cleaning business down here.. "Cleanher Carpets"
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'The Carpet Nurse' would be a good name for a female operated CC business.
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While you're looking I suggest you take a look at the L/M thread and take on board the comments..............
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Well all i can say is..... i am a fully qualified carpet cleaner and fire and flood technician, have been for many years.
My partner in life and business joined the same company i worked and trained in.... and as well as his training course , he was sent out with ME for on the job training.
As for why its mostly men .... probably one of the reasons is it is very physical and men tend to be stronger.
I dont do much in the way of actual carpet cleaning now, there isnt anything my partner does that i havent done myself, but i do know every aspect of the job when taking calls and discussing with clients etc.
We make a great team in running our business and im not sure we would if i hadnt been hands on in the past.
Trena (definately ALL WOMAN) ;D
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While you're looking I suggest you take a look at the L/M thread and take on board the comments..............
what does L/M refer to ?
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"Low Moisture" as in using a pad and buffing machine Zoe... Very effective and aimed at mainly commercial, low profile carpets!
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ah thank you I sort of guessed it might mean that. There is a whole lot of jargon on this site.
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when i first started carpet cleaning my wife used to come out and help me on weekends, she would pre-spray and i would do the other. many a time i would be prepared to pack up and go and she would say 'you have'nt finished yet, there is a bit there that needs another go' or 'i can still see a spot of something over there', she used to drive me mad but it led to me believing that women have different eyes to us men and it made me much more observant and critical of my work. i still hate it if the man of the house is the only one there, he will ALWAYS say, yes, that's fine mate but i dread the lady coming home and seeing anything i might have missed!!
colin