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UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: CLEANEAST CARPETS on November 16, 2005, 09:59:18 am

Title: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: CLEANEAST CARPETS on November 16, 2005, 09:59:18 am
Can anyone please advise me on cleaning a 30 year old axminster that is not fixed down?
I looked at the job yesterday and it is for an old lady who goes to a church that I cleaned for and is therefore a recommendation.She has previously had the carpet cleaned by Service master and I suspect they would have used the dry compound method.I have never used the dry compound although it was covered on the IICRC course.
Should I use HWE and risk shrinkage as I have indicated it may shrink on the survey form,or try to get some dry compound to use?
It is only a small room 8sq/m (£25).Is it worth the bother?
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: dave401uk on November 16, 2005, 11:29:13 am
This should not be a problem, hwe, and give it a few extra dry passes with the wand

Dave
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: Jolly Olly on November 16, 2005, 12:06:48 pm
I always use dry as it eliminate any risk of shrinkage on dye bleed, i use sponges from carpetgard called drygard as this product is very safe as it has no added solvents and cleans really well

Jolly Olly
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: BRSL on November 16, 2005, 12:45:38 pm
should be safe, I take it you have indetified it correctly, if so then there is very little risk of shrinkige, do not over wet, plenty of dry strokes (can never have to many) and test it for colour fastness first, but generaly 1 of my favourites to clean always get good resutls, although it may smel of wet dog when you have finished, some people love it others hate it. !!! HWE is a good method imo
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: woodman on November 16, 2005, 03:39:14 pm
So long as you have identified it as a genuine axminster then go ahead and clean as normal as mentioned.

By the way Servicemaster would not have dry compound cleaned it, they would have HWE just as you intend ;)
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: gort on November 16, 2005, 06:49:16 pm
Never worry to much about Axminsters or Wiltons just dont wet too much and if really concerned pin it down with small nails around the edges into the gripper rod i normally leave them in no one can see them and its done for future use.  if it does shrink a little just leave it two weeks return and kick it back into place. These carpets are like a pair of jeans they tighten up or we call it travel and then release back usually over about two weeks then just kick back as i said.  ;D
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: gwrightson on November 16, 2005, 06:59:19 pm
£25 is that all you are charging?
 Do you not have a minumum charge? I would have though £35 at the very least, what by the time yo have surveyed, travelled there and back unloaded , cleaned ,loaded, got to be at least £35. So not as you stated It isnt worth it.
 geoff
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: CLEANEAST CARPETS on November 16, 2005, 07:04:53 pm
Thanks for your advice,it is most appreciated :)
I am going to HWE and learn from the experience!!!!
Why do the courses warn of shrinkage to axminsters and wiltons if the majority of experienced cleaners will wet clean them?
Thanks Barbara
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: CLEANEAST CARPETS on November 16, 2005, 07:12:11 pm
We charge £3.50sq/m but this is the smallest job we have done,and as we are still newbies we do not have a minimum price as it has not come up,until now.However this job has highlighted the need for a minimum price and I agree that £35 sounds about right.Still I will do it now and hope it continues to generate work from more members of the church congregation!!! ;D
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: gwrightson on November 16, 2005, 08:19:14 pm
The lord works in mysterious ways!!!
 good luck, im sure their will be more to follow
 geoff
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: conallon on November 16, 2005, 08:33:04 pm
It will generate work all right, stacks of small rooms, from sweet old ladys who you will not be able to say no to, all under your minimum charge,

8 x £3.50 = £ 28.00

Conrad
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: CLEANEAST CARPETS on November 16, 2005, 08:38:15 pm
Conrad she was aware of my 10% discount for seniors!!!! :'(
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: John_Flynn on November 16, 2005, 08:52:55 pm
Do seniors get 10% dicount at Supermarkets and Petrol Stations???

Think about it!!
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: conallon on November 16, 2005, 09:01:09 pm
Barbara

 10% to much 5% works well  ;)

if you do not stick to your guns regarding minimum charge from the start, eventualy when you do, you loose them as customers.

Conrad

p.s. cleaned small porch and loby for free today for poor sweet old lady, mind you it was her 89th birthday  :)

Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: John_Flynn on November 16, 2005, 09:49:33 pm
Do NOT discount your prices, give them a bit of something extra, ie Offer to clean a rug Free Of Charge.
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: ABLECLEAN on November 17, 2005, 03:31:59 pm
CleanEast

8 square metres!!! what is it, a walk-in wardrobe ;D ;D

My Minimum charge is £45.00 (no problem)
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: Len Gribble on November 18, 2005, 02:10:17 am
Woodman

Some ServiceMaster still use the rotary saw one today wheeling it out of house.

Len
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: Derek on November 18, 2005, 08:46:02 am
The minimum charge I believe has been discussed before and at the time mine was £45.00.... now increased to £55.00 within a six mile radius of base.

Immediately you put the keys in the van the cost clock is ticking

Derek
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: cleansmartsupplies on November 18, 2005, 05:04:27 pm
Be careful with the axmister - if you overwet it, it WILL shrink!
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: woodman on November 18, 2005, 05:08:23 pm
Yes Len ;)

but not dry compound.
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: neil 47 on November 18, 2005, 08:36:40 pm
Jolly olly do you work or own carpetgard

I always use dry as it eliminate any risk of shrinkage on dye bleed, i use sponges from carpetgard  called drygard as this product is very safe as it has no added solvents and cleans really well

Jolly Olly

Hi Neil

Traffic lane need to be pre- cleaned before the mail clean. You should vacuum thoroughly with a brush action vacuum then spray a good prep which should be agitated with a brushing machine. you can then carry out your main clean and should get good results, We use a prep from Carpetguard called Spray & clean.
Hi Red Panda

I have used a product called Spray & Clean from Carpetguard 01206 574400It works supperbly.

Mike

Hi Red Panda

I have used a product called Spray & Clean from Carpetguard 01206 574400
It works supperbly.

Mike
Hi Scot

Victor are good so are Numatic which are cheaper, I recomend an encapsulation cleaner called Spray & Clean from CarpetGard Ltd 01206 574400  it works superbly with a rotory or cylindrical brush machine, simply spray it, brush it and let it dry then vacuum, job done.
Pricing any job is a bit like the proverbial peice of elastic, you can work our how long it will take and charge an hourly labour rate, add the rest of your costs and the profit you want.
 
Good Luck

Jolly Olly



Been taking tips off nick ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D



Neil 8)
Title: Re: CLEANING AN AXMINSTER
Post by: edd on November 23, 2005, 09:26:14 pm
minimum charge should be £45.00 4 the smallest carpet i agree