Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Andy Hogarth on April 05, 2006, 02:07:37 pm
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What, in your opinion, is essential kit for somebody just starting out in carpet cleaning. I have a (very) rough idea but what kit do you guys never leave the house without??
I'm Thinking along the lines of: Vehicle, Cleaning machine, Cleaning chemicles, Vacuum, Dryer, Spotter, Sprayer, Steam gun, Buckets, Upholstery handle, Groom rake, Upholstery brushws, ph tester, Gum scraper, measuring jug,
I know there'll be loads more so any help is appreciated.
I'd just like to know so that I can get close to an idea as to the set up cost for equipment.
Cheers
Andy ;)
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Hi What machine are you going to buy? I would suggest you bye at least 50ft of hose as its much easier if you can leave the machine outside etc otherwise you seem to have most things covered!
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Dont forget the sily little thing like plastic overshoes,corner straps for protecting skirtings etc around corners,foils to put under furniture legs, waterproof sheets for putting suites on when cleaning etc,its the little details the customer likes, Andy
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Machines likely to be a 5020 (what do you think for a starter machine??) I still need to get on some courses and get a bit of green together first though so I'm in no rush, I'm selling my vw camper :'( (god I love that camper)around August time to fund it along with some savings I have,
the little details the customer likes
What a good tip, I looked into these items and for a few quid it would look great to the customer, Thanks good tips ;D
Andy
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Would anyone class a floor scrubber, like the Extracta ones an essential piece, Does anyone use them much and if so in what circumstances???
These ones http://www.extracta.co.uk/scrubbarange.htm
Andy
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I bought a new Excel and scrubber deluxe brand new in August 2002, mainly because the guy who was instructing us was using one. To be honest, if you do a lot of domestic like i did, it's a pain in the arse and i used it 3 times only, so in short unless you do commercial, don't bother.
Looks good for the customer though. To buy one new is around £1075 inc vat, so if you want mine for £300 it's yours ::)
Dave
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i say thats a good buy!, only used 3 times!
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Andy
You've covered most of the basics. Its handy to carry a few basic tools both for running repairs to your kit and also any problem carpets you bump into.
Claw hammer
Bolster chisel
Knee kicker
heavy duty stapler & staples
Carpet nails
Super glue (always handy to fix that ornament you've just smashed)
Small socket set & spanners
Pliers
Spare fuses
Duct tape
Electrical tape
Spare RCD (you should always run any equipment off an RCD, water & electricity don't mix, ones from Wickes are the best)
Jubilee clips
Screw drivers
Might sound excessive but if you have any urine stains to treat its no good just cleaning the pile. You need to pull the carpet back and treat the floor, underlay and carpet backing before re-fitting the carpet.
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Andy do not rush into buying cleaning machines and all the other stuff that you think you need .If you could get to go with a carpet cleaner for a couple of weeks you will get to know all about carpet cleaning and what equipment you need .Talk to other carpet cleaners Do not run before you can walk des ps how much for the vw
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Andy
You've covered most of the basics. Its handy to carry a few basic tools both for running repairs to your kit and also any problem carpets you bump into.
Claw hammer
Bolster chisel
Knee kicker
heavy duty stapler & staples
Carpet nails
Super glue (always handy to fix that ornament you've just smashed)
Small socket set & spanners
Pliers
Spare fuses
Duct tape
Electrical tape
Spare RCD (you should always run any equipment off an RCD, water & electricity don't mix, ones from Wickes are the best)
Jubilee clips
Screw drivers
Might sound excessive but if you have any urine stains to treat its no good just cleaning the pile. You need to pull the carpet back and treat the floor, underlay and carpet backing before re-fitting the carpet.
Tow rope comes in handy too.
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How could you sell that lovely little vdub camper 8)
DONT DO IT - You'll regret it forever :'(
ps i use an extracta excell scrubba nearly every day!
regards
steve
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steve how do you find the Extracta! :-\ w were thinking of this model :-\
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Don't know why you guys want to lump these bloody great things round all day. Never had the need for them myself. Carpet brush and a wand.
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Terry,
Extracta are excellent machines. I bought a new Excel and scrubber deluxe new in 2002. Whilst i only used the scrubber 3 times only, the excel was an excellent machine.
It doesn't like water being tipped into the motor though, as i accidentally found out. One word of advice though, never leave solution in the clean water tank when loading and unloading the machine into your vehicle. I did and it caused the rear wheels to buckle inwards. I still use the machine now and again as a back up for my tm and it's got 1500 hours on its clock.
Dave
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Terry,
as i've said previously somewhere :P
I've used the extracta for a couple of years and find it's powerful enough to leave in me truck and use like a truck mount ( even tho i realise it's not one ;D)
Normally use 100ft of hose no trouble at all. - I know a lot don't like the scrubba because they are heavy, but i'm starting to find that you can clean even a really dirty carpet with one pass of the scrubba as opposed to about 5 or 6 or the normal wand, and i don't go home feeling half dead. ;)
I think it mostly about habit as well, once i got into using it, it just became the norm to get it out of the truck each time!
regards steve
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You are probably right Terry, it's getting used to using a scrubber. Another minus point for me was that i used my people carrier to ferry my equipment about, but it was marking the interior a lot.
The very first job i did with my tm, i thought what the heck have i bought here, but soon got used to it. Had i had bought a van to start with, i would have run it from the van. A great machine though the excel.
Dave
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I use the scrubba on each and every job and wouldnt be without it, the wand has only been used twice in 7 months.
The extracta aint a bad machine allthough mine is on just under 1000 hours and has had both vacs and the pump replaced.
And as for selling motors iv sold a merc and a golf gti since i started and i'm now driving around in the van 24/7
its not the start up money thats hard to find its the running costs that kill you.
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Yeah,
must say i've replaced both vacs twice and am just under 1000 hours though amazingly am still running on the same pump even though i bought a spare ::)
But to tell the truth i'm not bothered as i really hammer the machine, most weeks do upwards of 25 jobs, so it really does pay for itself. :D
would like to get a prowler portable truckmount, bit just don't want to get rid of the hilux surf 8)
steve
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as ashbys are just a couple of miles away from us if there were any probs
I know they would sort it there and then,Extracta are about 350 miles away,I do like there machines ;D
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I have the extracta and there about the same distance from me, if i have a problem i take the machine to alltec or woodbridge and the fix while i wait i think most of them fix and service each others machines as there usually made out of pretty much the same parts.
Lamb vacs & shurflow pumps mostly i think
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As regards maintenance of machines as stated they are all pretty much the same, a couple of tanks, vac motors and pump. Any competent technician can fix them. The thing to consider though, is if buying new, should anything go wrong whilst under warranty.
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I started off with an Excel & Scrubba, the pumps go on forever, however I did get through a few vac's and at over £200 each they are expensive.
As for the Scrubba I still use that on most jobs, wouldn't be without it.
I did think the machine was a bit on the loud side compared with other machines I have heard.
Have a good look around because there have been lots of new models since I bought mine and I'm not aware Extracta have made too many changes in that time.
Rgds
Phil
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Phil
I also started off with an Excel and scrubber deluxe and the machine seems to go on and on. Are you going to use the scrubber with your new tm?
I still cant get my head around your identity on here with the morphing head and your real identity on the other one, it's a bit strange.
How you getting on after a few days with the tm. The very first job with mine, i thought what the heck hav i bought this thing for, but once into it, i wouldn't go back. Sometimes i still have to use the portable, and that's weird.
Dave
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How could you sell that lovely little vdub camper
DONT DO IT - You'll regret it forever
Breaks my heart to do it, one last summer though :'(
The wifes preggas again so next year we won't we going much in it so it's a good time to use its worth wisely, and anyhows
upwards of 25 jobs, so it really does pay for itself.
I'll have a new one in no time ;)
Cheers for the advice, Has anyone got an opinion on the grace 5020?? Craftex and extracta are both reasonably close. The grace seems to have more for the money but I've plenty of time to decide.
I still cant get my head around your identity on here with the morphing head and your real identity on the other one, it's a bit strange.
What, he really looks like gollum ;D ;D ;D
Dave, was the excel easy to set up at houses etc and what was it like on commercial jobs??
Andy
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how much for the vw
I don't know yet, probably put it on ebay with a reserve of £3500, It'll be fully mot'd, had respray last year, Just done out the interior, bit scrappy underneath but some of the sheds go for about £3000 in season so I'm hoping for about £4500.
If your after one best time to buy is december, I saw some right classics going for about £3000, People are prepared to pay shedloads in season but never interested in winter.
Andy
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Andy,
The manufacturers of both chemicals and machines (and their stooges) will tell you that you will need a 101 different products but in reality you will not.
Lots of products are very similar or are just different dilutions of the same product.
You are more likely to succeed if you start with the basics and buld up your range.
Cheers
Doug
Cheers
Doug
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Andy
The Excel was a very easy machine to set up and robust. The only problems i had with it was the water pump burnng out on the end, which was remedied with a micro switch from a washing machine shop at £3, and on one occasion i accidentally got water in the vac motor somehow and blew it.
If you look after the vac motors and change the bearings it apparantly prolongs its life. I think the problem is when the bearing starts wearing out, it allows the armature to revolve too closely to the windings and then it's too late. Its also a pig of a job to change them and involves removing the bottom plate after tipping the machine on its side. I know you can have them regularly serviced but when you are self employed you always want to save a bit of money.
A lot of the time, i ran the machine with the heater turned on which didn't seem to do it no harm at all. The only downside of a portable is that on several occasions i would get to a customers house and their water was cold. I would end up waiting then for it to warm up. However i went to do a rental property the other week and there was neither hot water nor electricity on and as i couldn't run the truck mount at this property i had to ask next door. The hide a hose handtools are okay, but when they block up with fluff and are a bit awkward to clear out as it wraps around the solution pipe. The prochem version is much better as you have a soft collar that you can slip off to clear any obsructions as can you disconnect the solution pipe at the head of the tool.
I think if i had my time again i would definately had bought a van straight away and ran the machine from the vehicle. This would have saved the machine from a lot of wear and tear. I would definately buy one again, but there are also some good ones from Alltec where you can remove the motor pack to lower the weight should you need to lift it up stairs etc. With the Prochem ones, the tank part drops forward for easy maintenance. It's horses for courses as they say. You pays your money and takes your chances.
Dave