Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Kev Loomes on March 15, 2012, 07:01:24 pm
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We have been cleaning curtains for donkeys, and always dry clean using mineral dry cleaning solvent.
My question is, does anyone know if a steam 'extractor' exists for curtain cleaning? My reasoning is that at least something will be pulled out of the fabric in terms of soil. I dont mean just a normal steamer as they are as much use as a chocolate kettle when used on curtains.
The reason I ask is that we have a large contract for curtains over various sites, and I really dont want to use so much dry cleaning fluid - and really want to get away from it tbh, and well be a bit more greener & safer.
We used to use an Alltec Sahara but hated the dam thing so sold it (hardly used). I know some CC's use handtools via 'wet clean' or even 'misting' but I dont ever want to go down that road tbh.
So anyone got any ideas? cos I'm right out of them!
Cheers
Kev
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Kev, i will show you when your down at ours in May. If you need it before then ring.
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Desiderio-Auto-Continuous-Fill-Vapor-Steamer-Vacuum-/150588433891 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Desiderio-Auto-Continuous-Fill-Vapor-Steamer-Vacuum-/150588433891)
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Steady Nig,watch your blood pressure now ;)
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Steady Nig,watch your blood pressure now ;)
???
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Kev, i will show you when your down at ours in May. If you need it before then ring.
There are visions going around my head lol!
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Too much steam can make it rise ;D
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Too much steam can make it rise ;D
Cheaper than viagra then?
;D ;D ;D
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Desiderio-Auto-Continuous-Fill-Vapor-Steamer-Vacuum-/150588433891 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Desiderio-Auto-Continuous-Fill-Vapor-Steamer-Vacuum-/150588433891)
Cheers Nige, interesting link. By the looks of it its only a USA thing albeit built in Italy? I hate America, they have so much more variety than over here in terms of equipment, and cheaper!
Kev
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A cheaper version albeit a bit domestic although they are bigger than you think
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/POLTI-FLOOR-STEAM-VACUUM-CLEANER-IN-ONE-VAPORETTO-LECOASPIRA-690-HARDLY-USED-/290683220607?pt=UK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item43ae11f27f
I vac (I know you have to), apply water based product usually sprayed then brushed or towelled then steam it's a very easy service, piled fabric is a bit of a no no for this though!
Shaun
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Too much steam can make it rise ;D
Cheaper than viagra then?
;D ;D ;D
But 1/2 a Viagra nightly will stop you rolling out of bed. ;)
Actually this is a coincidence, I was asked yesterday to quote on some curtain cleaning, & also hate it. :(
Shorty.
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Nick used to sell those about 3 or 4 years ago think about £600 could always ask him if he has a shop soiled one :o
Shaun
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Too much steam can make it rise ;D
Cheaper than viagra then?
;D ;D ;D
;D
But 1/2 a Viagra nightly will stop you rolling out of bed. ;)
Actually this is a coincidence, I was asked yesterday to quote on some curtain cleaning, & also hate it. :(
Shorty.
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Desiderio-Auto-Continuous-Fill-Vapor-Steamer-Vacuum-/150588433891 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Desiderio-Auto-Continuous-Fill-Vapor-Steamer-Vacuum-/150588433891)
Cheers Nige, interesting link. By the looks of it its only a USA thing albeit built in Italy? I hate America, they have so much more variety than over here in terms of equipment, and cheaper!
Kev
http://www.allergymatters.com/acatalog/Steam_Cleaners.html
They have a few models with extraction built in.
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Nick used to sell those about 3 or 4 years ago think about £600 could always ask him if he has a shop soiled one :o
Shaun
Shaun you can get viagra much cheaper than that by me :D
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That's very uplifting ;D
At one stage I used to do loads of curtain cleaning insitu but it's a bit hit and miss now but it's far more expensive for me to clean them inhome compared to dry cleaning in the shop, 3 prs of curtains in the shop today came to £96 where I would have wanted £150.
Shaun
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Desiderio-Auto-Continuous-Fill-Vapor-Steamer-Vacuum-/150588433891 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Desiderio-Auto-Continuous-Fill-Vapor-Steamer-Vacuum-/150588433891)
Cheers Nige, interesting link. By the looks of it its only a USA thing albeit built in Italy? I hate America, they have so much more variety than over here in terms of equipment, and cheaper!
Kev
http://www.allergymatters.com/acatalog/Steam_Cleaners.html
They have a few models with extraction built in.
Ooh, thats better Nige well done mate. I may have to invest in one - but will wait to see what our Mossy has to offer ;D
Kev
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We have used one of these on several occassions with the optional upholstery tool for curtains.
There is also a curtain tool that looks like a pelican bill. We usually only use this on the areas of hand contact.
(http://www.cleaningsystemsuk.com/shop/phpThumb.php?src=shopimages/products/normal/5c536c75e9.jpg&aoe=1&w=240&h=400)
http://pinterest.com/pin/39265827971166597/ (http://pinterest.com/pin/39265827971166597/)
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Jamie what is the model number of that one
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Its an Osprey Robby Steam & Vac I dont know the exact model. Craig deals with steam machines.
Hot water isnt technical enough for me so I loose interest when they talk about them :o
All I know is we cleaned a load of curtains a few weeks ago with one with good success.
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Kev, why make things more complicated than they have to be? Cleaning curtains in-situ is all about removing the dust and insects... dry extraction.
A good turbo vac, detailing with cylinder vac & brush attachment followed by a very light mist of m-power or whatever you like, wiped off with a terry towel, bob's your uncle.
If curtains look dirty and the client wants them to look clean, why take on the stress... get them down, in to a dry cleaner and transfer the responsibility.
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I'm in a place of less than 150,000 people spread along the coast over about a 100 miles, end to end.
And a gad-zillion resorts/motels/hotels, etc;
There are two major dry cleaners/laundries and a handful of very small dry cleaners/laundries.
Would you believe none of them do curtains. :'(
A nice opening there for a strong, bright, young entrepreneur. ;D
Shorty.
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Kev, why make things more complicated than they have to be? Cleaning curtains in-situ is all about removing the dust and insects... dry extraction.
A good turbo vac, detailing with cylinder vac & brush attachment followed by a very light mist of m-power or whatever you like, wiped off with a terry towel, bob's your uncle.
If curtains look dirty and the client wants them to look clean, why take on the stress... get them down, in to a dry cleaner and transfer the responsibility.
I dont stress Jim, and like I say weve been doing them for yonks (as you described) - its just that I fancied getting away from solvents - and maybe looking a tad more professional at the same time if thats possible, especially in front of commercial clients.
I wouldnt dream of using a normal steamer for instance (as per youtube 'how to steam clean curtains') as there is NO actual cleaning involved - it just 'looks' like they are being cleaned (they may be sanitized to some extent, but thats it). If I had one that extracted at least I could be honest and say that I am extracting what soil I can from the material - and in a healthy, safe way.
Following on from this though, generally speaking so long as they have seen someone 'cleaning' them they are more than happy! so maybe I should buy a cheap steamer and 'pretend' ;D The thing is with curtains they never come out like new and we stress that big time, although some pile curtains if grubby do get transformed.
Cheers
Kev
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Ah, the old debate about leaving money on the table.
I used to do them but hated it. To do it properly meant vacuuming both sides and if the sun was shining it was damn hot vacuuming the lining and header on the window side.
Besides I never felt they really came up that well knowing that if they were taken to a dry cleaners the finished result would be so much better.
Anyway the rate of earning money cleaning custains was never as good as cleaning carpets.
So I just dropped the service.
Mind you since then there have been the very occasional time I have vacuumed out curtains-but the money has been good and it has always been after a long discussion about the pros and cons.
Rog
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cleaning on site is ok for maintenance but not much else,real manky curtains need to be immersed in a dry cleaning machine ,even after 45 mins in a dry cleaning machine manky curtains will still be soiled ,smell etc
water marks and sun bleaching will even show up worse in some cases
gary
thats dry clean only curtains :D