Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: clearerview on April 23, 2004, 01:57:00 am
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hi
can anyone give me some advise on pricing curtain cleaning?
I am also interested in curtain cleaning methods if anyone can help would be most grateful.
Cheers Clive
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I have had my first request to clean some curtains today in 6 years of trading, I personally do not feel that a good job can be obtained by HWE, as the above please advise and prove me wrong, the curtains I was asked to clean cost in the region of £2500.00 lots of drapes and fancy pelmets.
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I have also only been asked once about curtain cleaning it was a pub who had been quoted £250 to remove,clean and rehang the curtains.No i did not take the job on.
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Clive
Only done it once my own never again a right pain in the bum.
Steve
You don’t say that you took the job on and under cut them; if you did I hope you applied flame retardant afterwards if not go back and offer a free clean and apply F/R I think you will find that it’s obligatory in public places and possibly in fully/part furnished letting accommodations. ???
Len
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Did not mention in my above post that the client has had the curtains cleaned twice before by Chemdry and Rainbow niether time was she happy with the result, so this time she decided to call in a Professional and was happy when I told her that in my mind the curtains could not be successfullly cleaned whilst still hanging.
Still waiting to be proven wrong. :o :o :o ::) ::) ::) ::) :o :o :o
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I did quite a bit of curtain cleaning last year, but trying not to do any this year. The reason is not that there is any problem doing them, its just that I now have to take lots off the van to get my ninja on. More hassle than its worth.
However, you cannot hwe most curtains. If they are lined, (and most good curtains are) you have to dry clean them. This is best done in situ, there is no risk of shrinkage, which there would be with hwe, and some customers like to have them and carpets done at the same time. I used to find a standard width, full length curtain, took about 5 L of solvent. and that you lost about 1/3 of it. I filtered the used solvent so keeping costs down. my price for a full length pair was £ 65 with ½ length at £ 35. Adjusted for longer widths. It was good money, and if I had a bigger van I would still do them.
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John
No argument from me how ever if the customer is happy so be it!
Dave having a t/m in a Del boys van you are pushing it to the limits what you and I need is an artic parking no problem push them out of the way who will argue? ;D ;D
Len
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Your right Len, going round corners is the dodgy bit, with a full tank of water, I have to lean out the door, sidecar fashion. Save when it comes to buying tyres though, only have to buy 3 not 4.
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Hey Dave
3 tyres instead of 4, doesn't Plastic Pigs carry a spare??
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Curtains! Forget it. Hassle yes. Lovely SUN rots the
b-----s, honest cleaner, strong suction, a little moisture - and WOW! - All gone to shreads. - NO THANKS.
Dave.
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Dave
A man after my own hart, why buy 4 when 3 will do.
Are you going to Croydon on 19th May?
Len
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I gave up cleaning curtains well over ten years ago, although I still have the capability.
The use of water based cleaning agents should be avoided because of the potential for shrinkage. OMS is the most commonly used agent, and you will need a solvent capable extractor. I have a couple of Kleenrite machines, and I believe US Products make a similar unit.
Cleaning curtains is not a particularly pleasant task, as you are generally operating above shoulder height, and inevitably the OMS will run down your arm, causing burns, even with the use of gloves.
You will also come up against sun damaged curtains, which can fall apart during cleaning.
As solvents and water don't mix, unless you have a dedicated extractor, you will need to flush the machine after use......a PITA exercise.
I never made any money cleaning curtains...most aren't prepared to pay the money you will need to make it worthwhile. But, I guess someone out there will make a profit from it.
I hope that helps, Clive.
Cheers,
Jim
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Thank you for your replies, I knew I had made the right decision, I am not the type to go buying problems.
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thankyou for your help gents
Clive
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Hi Guys
Done a bit of curtain cleaning.......More Hassle really.
But as Len said the add on's are on the plus side.
Find yourself a good local dry cleaners, do a deal with him that he gets all your curtains then when you take them back tell the customer that they should be flame protected. Also you can leave some of your cards with the dry cleaner for the carpet cleaning. I do this with about Six dry cleaners.FREE advertising. And you will pick up more carpet cleaning ,but how many times do you get asked about curtain cleaning anyway. You win everytime. ;D ;D ;D
Kevin
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Hi Guys
I have read this thread with great interest and I can fully understand how many do not want to get involved in curtain cleaning insitu BUT.
I believe that this is a very good revenue stream that is not fully exploited by many of us simply due to the fact that it is very rare that some of us are asked to carry out this type of work.
Obviously you can not do any thing about sun damage and the pre-inspection and pre-understanding with the customer will qualify what results can be expected but you can advise the client on how to get round unsightly bleaching and brittle fabric and improve the appearance to the eye.
I have cleaned untold amounts of curtains at the window and the results will be exactly the same if not better than your local dry cleaners with out using solvent machinery or HWE.
I fully agree that a good relationship with a good dry cleaners/laundry agents is a must if you are to do a lot of this type of work for the occasions when your clients do want the curtains removed and when it is necessary to apply Flame Retardants.My dry cleaners will collect ,clean and return the curtains when I need them to.
Any one in my area who has an enquiry and is worried about carrying out the clean contact me and I will show you how to go about it and if necessary when to turn down a clean with out offending the client.
Any one else that just does not want the work,, send it to me ;D
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Hi Trevor,
Like yourself, I have been sitting on the side of this topic, having posted several times in the past on curtain cleaning.
Over the years I have cleaned acreas of curtain, from large theatre curtains down to domestics and agree they can be very profitable.
I did once have some concern over a very expensive set that after 20 minutes suddenly became about 3" shorter. The customer became as visibly alarmed as I felt inside, but I calmly and apparently confidently, told her that they would return to their orriginal length when fully dry and the fibres relaxed. ----- And I was right (phew). Sisal warp yarns can give rise to heart attacks !!!
The reason that I only do them when asked is that do not like the job - especially where elaborate swags and tails are held by dressmaking pins that fall out when touched.
John.
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Hi
Like John I have stayed out of this debate to see how it develops...
For years I didn't clean curtains having cleaned some many years ago using the Prochem Model 20A dry solvent machine.... results were always disappointing however hard I tried.
Then I recommended the clients take the curtains to a local dry cleaner and I even suggested a couple of good ones for them to try.
Then three years ago I experimented and started to clean curtains again using steam. I get a far better job than the dry solvent methods and they dry very quickly too.
No shrinkage to date, rather the opposite if anything.
Derek
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Derek
Out of interest what steam system do you use?
Len
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Derek why don't you do a training day for curtain cleaning and you can pocket the revenue!
Serious as I am I feel we are losing out on a potentially profitable service and if Derek can train us properly (and get paid for his time) we all could benefit and prosper.
Come on Derek :D
I'd pay
Shaun
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Shaun
I have been asked this question on several occasions but I have deliberately avoided taking it up.
My reasons are that to suggest to some people that steam can be used successfully will tempt them to go out and buy a steam generator and blast away...
doesn't work...
tried it! ;D
When I first had my unit I merrily put stains onto carpet/fabric samples left them for a few days to set and then hit 'em big time.... had a lot of ruined samples and suddenly thought that I had wasted my money foolishly.
It took time to develop techniques and steam certainly can be a benefit to the carpet/upholstery cleaner.
It defrosts the freezer pretty quickly too
I now use it to clean curtains, certain stain removal jobs, relaxing carpet creases following fitting of new carpet.... just some of the things...Oh! and defrost the freezer ;)
As a one-time instructor I have to carry insurance so that in the event that someone fouls up after following my advice... I am insured. This could also apply to carpet cleaners in general...after all we all give advice, over the bulletin boards, to customers etc.
Cheers
Derek
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Perhaps a signes waver so no come backs.
How are we supposed to learn how to clean curtains with steam Grasshopper.
Shaun
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Hey Shaun
I know what you are saying...
mind you I can't see much what I am doing as my glasses steam up something rotten... plus I have only one eye that's any good anyway
Talk about the blind leading the blind
Cheers
Derek
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How do you go on with the neighbours when they see a smartly dress gentleman with a sqint/glint in one eye and the windows all steamed up?
Shaun
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As most curtains are just dusty you can get very good results by a good vacuum and then pad clean with OMS or solutions.
Although there will always be dust attached if you shake them after cleaning. Smoke, stains, dog grease etc will not come off with this method.
Remember not everything needs HWE!
thanks
Mark
PS. advise customer this is a maintenance clean only
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Shaun
The neighbours are unsure whether I am winking at them or practicing my entrance for the 'Star in your eyes' programme.
"Tonight Matthew I am going to be............ 8)
Cheers
Derek
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Just discovered a dry cleaning machine in my back street laundrette.
Fogot about these as my bedsit days were long long ago and Ive now lost my hair
But would it clean curtains good enough for me to offer a clean and rehang service.
What else would I need to do
Do curtains need ironing after this type of cleaning
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Ian
I am sorry to put a damper on your new enthusiasm but dry cleaning machines in Laundrettes (and in dry clean plants) usually contain a charge of a water based solution.
The dry cleaners also know that dry cleaning solutions don't clean too well.
Once water is introduced they are prone to the same problems we are..shrinkage, water sensitive fabrics, etc.
If you do use a dry cleaning outlet please make sure you 'both' know quite clearly just whose liability is at stake in the event of something going wrong.
One or two cleaning Companies have gone down the route of buying a dry cleaning plant to extend their business... now if you intend to do that then come back to me and I will put you in touch with a helpful organisation
Cheers
Derek
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Hi,
I gave up cleaning curtains about 20 years ago.
We bought a dry cleaning machine from Lloyd Owens at Ashcombe for £600,iit was a complete waste of money and ended up at the dump in Edmonton. :(
I then subcontracted the cleaning but not the taking down /rehanging to CCS in Ilford ,I think but it was still a PITA.
Now and again I will HWE curtains but only with very sensible customers and then only if I'm sure there are not going to be problems.
I turned down some cotton velvets yesterday!
Cheers ,
Doug
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Derek,
What would I do without you!! I will just forget the Idea and pass on any work to my mate who has a dry cleaners/ Which is what I have been doing.
I was driving through town late and the idea came into my head. Not one of the best.
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Ian,
Late-night ideas have a habit of haunting you later ;) ;)
John.
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I have a laday who took her curtains to a dry cleaner and they shrunk . She wants to know if she took them there again will they continue to shrink?
Or if i wet clean them will they shrink more?>?
Regards
Nick
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Probably & Yes ;)
In the dry cleaning business it's accepted as standard that curtains can shrink by up to about 5%.
I think if you look at the Terms & Conditions of all dry cleaners you will see that in there.
Where as I can guarantee NO shrinkage. :)
Trevor
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Hi Nick (just for Nick),
The shrinkage at the dry cleaners likely occured within the tumble drier (heat shrinkage)
As to whether they would shrink again at the cleaners - they could shrink more, dependant on the degree of over-heating they suffered last time.
Whether they would shrink as a result of wet cleaning is a question best answered by testing.
I have wet cleaned curtains previously heat-shrunk and restored them to their orriginal length (weave relaxation). What I have not done is to shrink curtains either by wet or dry cleaning.
John.
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Weave relaxation,
Is that what their calling it now
Used to be tie 'em down with weights and hope for the best as they dry ;D
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Trevor,
Proceedure is to lay customers' kids side-by-side, evenly spaced, heads towards the wall, and to clamp curtains into their teeth. ;D
This not only anchors curtains, but stops the incessant "What is that thing for mister?" questions. :D
John.
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My daughter hasn't got all of her teeth yet would she be redundant? upside is thet she could clean the bottoms of the curtains where they drag on the floor with her dribble !
Shaun
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Shaun
Sorry to say your daughter would be no good in this field try her on rugs first dribbles and all.
Len
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Done that 'sticky fingers' defeated the object, I'm sure John Flynn would say 'tek er dan pit'
Shaun
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Shaun
You think you have problems now cleaning is cheap by comparison wait till a teen but never forget to give a cuddle a kiss and tell her that you love her!
I can see it now Shaun & Daughter Company
Len
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I once advertised Cleaning Pro & Son on a newsletter I sent out to my database when my son was born.
Shaun
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Shaun
Was not aware you had other siblings my apologies
Len
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Apologies? what for? he only spills every cup of drink given to him, oh that's what the apology is for, your telling me in advance....... clever you've been here before.
Shaun
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Shaun
In a few years think of the cheap labour you got, you cost me £150k to bring you up not including the cleaning of those spilt drinks peeling the wallpaper off etc, now get out there and clean the van, wish you had done it yourself! ???
I take back the apology you had your fun now you pay for it. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Len
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hefty price, I thought those steel bar cages were expensive but I think they would have been cheaper in the long run.
Shaun