Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: CLEAN-MASTER on February 19, 2008, 05:32:34 pm
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I haven't done any carpet cleaning before & have just bought a 'George' to use occasionally on small areas when requested by our domestic customers. When in use I imagine you have both switches 'on' so you pump out the clean water/cleaner & suck up the dirty water at the same time & complete the job in one pass, is that correct or might the carpet be too wet & need 'sucking' over again?, also how long will the carpet usually take to dry?
Thanks for any help given,
Robin.
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The George is a low powered machine and is only suitable for small areas of carpeting although it can give a resonable result on upholstery.
When you spray and make a pass with the wand do some additional passes with the spray off. This will help to dry the carpet slightly quicker.
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Oh dear, Robin.
I did warn you it was a t the low end.
and John, who has just replied, was the man I advised to get some Nemesis Super off ie Retormate.
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Joe,
I know it's the low end but I'm doing 1 carpet with it next week for a good domestic customer & expect to do very few others, it's the only model that makes any financial sense for the use I will give it.
Robin.
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Sub it out.
Are you telling us your going to experiment on a good customers carpet?.
Trouble will come all by it`self, no point going looking for it.
Sorry if that sounds harsh, but we don`t spend thousands just for the sake of it.
Rab
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The george is ok for spot and stain removal, thats about as far as it goes find a pro carpet cleaner and sub the work out otherwise you may loose that good customer, is it really worth it?
Mark
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Just checked my profile. It says I`m 50 :o Thats a dam lie.
I`m 49 until April. FFS it`s bad enough. >:(
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What's been posted is absolutely correct I have clients ( regular ) domestic cleaners, hotels, residential homes, who have bought similar machines and better, which end up, very quickly in cupboards, because they discover it takes them 3 or 4 times as long with their staff and they can't achieve anything like the same standard.
If you really feel the need to have a small machine get the little Puzzi, it's still small, but can give a reasonable result, just don't let it run dry, or you will need a new pump.
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That`s right Rob.
Many moons ago I cleaned a pub carpet with one. Got a result, but took an age and a half.
Would not like to use one again though.
But you would still need product knowledge and good agitation.
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Ho Robin
The best I can advise now you have spent some money on the George is dont use the detergent that come with it.
Contact John Kelly at Restormat and get at least a litre of Nemesis Super (its a concentrate and you use at 150: ratio, and its a pre spray - not added to your clean water tank).
Why?
A lot of the detergent will be left in the carpet and it will leave a sticky residue that will then attract dirt quickly.
The Nemisis Super is a microsplitter, not a detergent, no sticky residue. So even if not all is sucked up it will do no harm.
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Robin,
If you're gonna use your machine and microsplitters be sure to vacuum thoroughly before and agitate well using an agitation machine or pile brush after applying the spray. With a lower powered machine the more you can do to remove dry soil and agitate remaining dirty fibres before extraction will really help.
Alternatively, get a professional near to you to do the job and add an arrangement fee ;).
All the best,
Jason
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Hi there, I dont recomend you buying one of those little Karchers. for only a few quid more you could get yourself a numatic 572 ,twin vacs ,bigger capacity and a lot tougher as well. This I think would be your minimal requirement for a bit of part-time CC. Better still look for a half decent second machine, good luck.
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Robin
From your post its obvious you dont know anything about carpet cleaning and I fear any advice will only confuse matters. As said this machine is a very basic and under powered to achieve professional results which your customer will expect as she sees you as the professional.
Locate your local NCCA member and sub it to them and add 10% or whatever you wish as your commission.
Without knowledge and experience you could make a very costly mistake.
Mark
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Why contact local ncca member are they the only ones who know what there doing??????????? ???
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Probably because they have have 'proved' their knowledge rather than just guessing through experience. It also demonstrates a level of commitment and professionalism.
S
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I think most have done exactly that, to thousands of clients in the " real world " Spencer and many will have attended, completed, invoked the training of that and the Vancouver based organisation that reminds me of the annual cost of membership every year and the additional training they offer.
They just don't bother to show off their badges or have'nt bothered to renew. None of the courses I attended made me a better cleaner.................that came from two things in particular; -
Experience and Attitude.
When forced to use low powered machines, due to breakdowns, emergences, or whatever some one with the above qualities can get exceptional results.
rob
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Yes but in the context assuming this chap knows nothing about carpet cleaning or knows anyone who does it, he will at least have some peace of mind seeking an NCCA approved cleaner who has been trained to a standard, has full insurance and provides some level of consumer backup via the association head office.
This is how many hundreds of my customers have choosen me over the other guys over the years. I know because i ask them.
Mark
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Even after cleaning carpets for 24 years, I picked up some really good information and tips at the NCCA AGM last week, this enables me to offer a better service to my customers. I must admit I thought I knew it all before joining the NCCA some years back.....but I didn't.
I am always looking to learn.
s
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If you need to spend hundreds of pounds a year to prove to your customers you know what your doing after 24 years in the trade, enough said!!! ;D
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Training is an ongoing investment and not really an option in my mind.
Changes taking place in this industry - like most industries - and one needs to keep up with the changes. Training courses is a good way to do this. Apart from the formal sessions you learn a lot and give a lot to the other attendees as well.
I went on the 2 day NCCA course last December.
24 of us, 11 brand new to the cc business, some not even had a machine.
That means 13 in attendance had experiance - some as much as over 20 years.
That says something as well.
Spencer - got my NCCA membership through today so I'm a happy bunny.
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The NCCA earns me a lot, aside from work directly from their site etc on every quote I go to I show my certifiicates and explain what the NCCA is and the custy is sold. Also Brintons always tell their customers to use a member when they ring them asking who to use and Im the only member in two counties!
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I am sure Mark is only joking.......or ???
S
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............Clueless ;)
S
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I don't normally criticise organisations like the NCCA it was just my respone to a suggestion that people who are not members of an association won't offer the standards you might get from members.
I never joined the Ncca, but did join the IICRC many years ago, however, I let my membership lapse some time ago.
rob
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Only joking spencer i will be doing the ncca course before long, even then i would never say to someone only use an ncca member, there are many, many competent carpet cleaners in this world who have done other training courses and are fully insured and will be far more experienced than someone new to the job who has completed the ncca course ;)
Mark
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Correct but the point is how does the new customer know this or have peace of mind apart from trusting you. They dont.
But by you being an NCCA member they have instant peace of mind through your training and insurance and head office backup should it go wrong.
Remember you need to think like a customer not a cleaner when winning new business even after 24 years.
Mark