Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Richard Edwards on November 17, 2004, 02:03:58 pm
-
Hi
I am just starting up & money is tight, so I need to be careful what equipment I buy.
In recent conversations with 2 different sales reps I was told that a TurboDryer
"was essential" and "not necessary in domestic property"
I want to offer the best possible service, and am concerned about drying times on upholstery.
If I do decide to buy one which model would you suggest ?
Does anyone have a 2nd hand one for sale ?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Cheers
Richard Edwards ;D
-
ive just bought a hurricane blower from asbys 195+vat, customers want quickest dryin times poss and a blower makes a hell of a difference.
-
Personally i think a turbo dryer is a must, they definatly help to dry carpets and upholstery plus whether or not you can dry anything fully or not a customer will be more impressed and happier seeing you trying to (all imho of course ;D)
i managed to pick up a second hand one on ebay for £50 so its always worth a look
all the best
Martin
-
PJUK
Thanks for reply. How much difference does dryer make to drying time ?
-
hi
Use a low moisture system and then there will be no need for a blower.
the less equipment the better, less cost, less storage, less hassle and dry carpets by the time you walk out the door
Sweet!
Regards
Martin 8)
-
if you are cleaning suites turbo dryers are esssential, even if you use low moister handtools.
most fabrics darken when wet so you can't tell they are clean until they are dry.
I cleaned a suite today and had to re-clean the arms because they looked clean when they were damp but as they dried the dirt became apparent.
I sugest you buy a minimum of 3 ;)
Mike
-
Have to omit I don’t use them and I’ve got 15 of them (not for sale) reason too bulky and potentially dangerous things flying round the room. :o
I have found the terry towel very useful say after clean an arm. ;D
Len
-
hi i believe it drys the carpet in half the time, mind u i have a 3 stage vac motor aswell, dryin is the most essential part of a good job..a blower can be a problem in rooms that still has a fair bit of clutter, paper work. but commercial jobs like a pub or restaurant no problem and very important to the job.. someone said earlier they got 2nd hand for 50 quid.. im jealous because of what i paid. anyway your decision, PJUK PS some carpets r dryin in 10 mins.
-
I had a turbo dryer for over 3 years and used it for about a month and found it had little effect on drying times.So it was left sat in the shed for the rest of it's days, until I purchased a cfr 1000 altra.
When cleaning carpets it takes about 30 mins to dry the carpet and when cleaning suites the cushions are dry and the frames take a further 30 mins.I run 2 turbo driers and wouldn't be without them.
Len why do you own 15 driers which you say you don't use? surely it would be better to offload them.( I'm always on the look out for a spare)
joe
-
Joe
Thanks for pulling me up; I just don’t use them in this scenario, or domestic carpets as per reasons given.
Let me put it this way regardless of what machine/system one uses, example a lounge say 12X15ft priced at X you clean it put the dryers in and wait for it to dry is that the logic of buying a turbo dryer. ??? ???
Len
-
Agree with Len.
I have one used it occasionally, now consider it a liability. I mainly do domestic jobs, where even on low its great for blowing dust from behind radiators, papers from tables, curtains all over the place and pictures off the wall. This time of year also good for re-distributing xmass cards around the room and causing havoc with xmass trees.
-
I find that customers are impressed, but it does blow pictures off walls.
One of the first jobs I did was in a house which had log fires, The fire was not lit but there was ash remains in the grate. (when I started)
-
I was in the same situation when I started up a while back.If you just get one to start with you will soon see the benifits.
You can also offer a service that not only cleans but drys as well which is great when you tell people there carpets will be dry in as little as an hour when they expect them to be wet for ages.
Turbo dryers can be used for domestic flooding which is easy money if you can get the work.
Good luck 8)
-
Cant believe some of the replies on this subject.
A dryer for upholstery is a must, some suites can take up to 48 hours to dry but with a dryer most items can be completely dry before leaving.
With regards to coal/log fires the answer then is not to use one, which is about 1 house in every 1000.
Phil
-
Phil I agree.
Companies say 'suites dry in 2 hours' how do they know? do they go back after 2 hours to check its dry!!
this is the only way to clean AND DRY suites.
(http://img121.exs.cx/img121/9488/turbo1.jpg)
Mike
-
Richard,
If money is tight as you say then a drier is neither essential nor even necessary. I have a couple of driers but I don't use them (I use a low moisture method of cleaning carpets) on upholstery. They are very noisy, take up a fair amount of space in a room (and van) where you have already put a fair amount of equipment anyway and they blow ornaments, pictures and dust around.
In short, if you're just starting out on a limited budget spend what funds you have on the best machine you possibly can and towel the suite down after cleaning. It would, in my opinion, be better to upgrade your cleaning machine with better vacuums etc, you'll get a better result and longer drying times which is better than a poorer cleaning result with fast drying times.
Nobby
-
the real reason people don't use dryers is they can't be arsed to get them out of the van or they are too skingie to buy them ;)
I've never blown around ornaments, pictures or dust.
rubbing a suite with a towel does'nt make any differance to the drying time (maybe a little bit on Dralon)
if you had 2 carpet cleaners down to your house to qoute on cleaning your suite, one said the suite will be dry before they leave and one says it will be dry in 6 hours. which would you choose?
-
Would one of these not be a cheaper alternative for a new starter
(http://i10.ebayimg.com/02/i/02/d4/a8/d7_1.JPG)
-
A DRYER WONT MAKE YOU ANY MONEY!!
So when the suite takes 48 hours to dry do you think that customer will call you back in 3 years time to clean it again.
Dont think so!
Phil
ps Pointing a blower at a coal fire and covering the house in soot is not a reason not to have one.
-
Mike your white sheet does not look very well ironed,im sure I can see some creases in it.Call yourself a pro ;)
Paul
-
A dryer will make you money. I charge extra to use them on upholstery and carpets (if more than two rooms) and customers do pay for it. Even using one will get the 3 seater almost dry by the time I leave. I cleaned a lounge and HSL last week. Put a dryer in the lounge and it was dry to the touch by the time I'd cleaned the HSL.
I only hear excuses for not having one and Broughton sell them for £150, although I prefer the saharas.
Mark
-
Mike
Re towel I was not referring to drying but too ensure it clean “I cleaned a suite today and had to re-clean the arms because they looked clean when they were damp but as they dried the dirt became apparent.”
Three blowers working even on the lowest setting say within 1mt of a non-movable object and the lamp is still standing. ???
Phil
The fabric may be dry when you leave will the foam, bit like a sponge doesn’t like giving back water
I find quantifying the down side to the customer when doing upholstery, and then I only do them in the mornings.
Len
-
I never feel the need to use more that one blower for a suite, but otherwise endorse everything Mike has said.
I would also endorse the use of a towel - it quickly removes some moisture, the wiping action concentrates the eye for a final inspection, it can set the nap and ( as Len has pointed out) it can reveal areas which require further rinsing.
-
len are you suggesting these blowers arn't turned on ::) thats the sort of thing i do, carry them into the house and not use them ;) the lamps not moving just shows what a load of crap the opinion is that blower are dangerous to small objects.
if you look at the side of the TV you'll see the ends of some pictures that I had taken, down because they were wobbling about.
I'm surprised no one has picked me up for drying the cushions on the carpet, just think if the cushion fabric was'nt coulour fast, red lines all down the carpet :o :o
Mike
-
I use 2 driers in a similar fashion to Mikes picture and believe they do earn me money, whilst I do not charge extra for the use of them, it does dry suites quicker, and as such differentiates my service from the local competition.
-
Mike
I noted it, but only in to logistic mode tonight had a long hard week. Can’t wait for Sunday then the wife will start hope it rains.
John I desperately need that magic wand!
Len
-
Mike Mr Health and saftey no it all would have a field day with you not unwrapping all of the cable before plugging in the blower :o :o :o
regards Dave ADL
-
Notice how you left your new cfr tool in shot too ;)
-
MIKE do u wear ear muffs when u got 3 blowers going, bet the customer loves the racket and lecky bill.
-
To clean upholstery absolute paramount. If I did not have a air mover then there is a important tool missing.
Regards Dave.