Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Len Gribble on February 23, 2005, 08:44:45 pm

Title: If advising a newbie
Post by: Len Gribble on February 23, 2005, 08:44:45 pm

If you were to advise a newbie to what other bit and pieces of kit to buy, what would you recommend?

I will start off spatula/bone scraper

Len

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Mark Roberts on February 23, 2005, 08:50:38 pm

Plastic or foam to put under furniture.
Upholstery brushes.
Terry towels.
Buckets.
Drop Sheet
Measuring jug
Test Kit.
Business cards.
etc etc

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Gavin Reardon on February 23, 2005, 09:07:19 pm

Overshoes
Ph Papers
caution signs
Quick disconnect wraps
Brass Velvet brush
Tampico Brush

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Doug Holloway on February 23, 2005, 09:09:34 pm

Hi Guys,

Common Sense!

Cheers,

Doug

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Ken Wainwright on February 23, 2005, 09:17:50 pm

Where can you buy a bagfull of that Doug?

Safe and happy... :P
Ken

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: The Great One on February 23, 2005, 09:41:49 pm

Hi

Bit boring but...

Common sense is not allowed in H&S law!!!

Their arguement being, you cannot expect a 16 year old to have the same common sense as a 40 year old?

Regards

Martin 8)

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Doug Holloway on February 23, 2005, 09:49:21 pm

Hi Guys,

You can't buy common sense because your'e either born with it or your not! :o

Cheers,

Douig

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Mike Halliday on February 23, 2005, 09:59:25 pm

a white shirt & tie :D

and a little bit of knowledge about everything, I pride myself on being able to talk to anyone about anything, people never remember what a good carpet cleaner  I was, but they always remember what a nice bloke i was ;)

pity you can't buy 40 yrs of life

Mike

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: strakercleaning on February 23, 2005, 10:11:20 pm

I would tell him to buy a ladder and a leather.............. ;D
We got enough CC's already  ::)

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Ian Gourlay on February 23, 2005, 10:29:36 pm

A Marketing Manual or Course.

PLus Training in Cleaning procedures.

A Van Sign Written. 50000 Leaflets.

Best New or Second Hand Machine you can afford

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: ian richards on February 23, 2005, 10:35:57 pm

A Birmingham City FC football shirt, a must for any carpet cleaner worth his salt!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

                                            "keep right on to the end of the road" ;)

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: mark_roberts on February 23, 2005, 10:41:50 pm

A calculator

So they wont charge stupid prices and wonder why their not making money to grow the business.

Mark

PS. discovered today that my local cheap guy, who is a nice guy BTW, is now charging £70 instead of £45 for a suite.  At last pricing near the real world.  But I still got the job and I was more :P

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: dave401uk on February 24, 2005, 09:08:46 am

A check up, from the neck up!

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Kevin_Gare on February 24, 2005, 09:31:11 am

Don't do it ???  :'(

Regards Kevin  ;D

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: SMP on February 24, 2005, 08:19:41 pm

a wheel barrow to cart the dosh away in ----LOL   :D :D :D

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: CARPET KNIGHTS on February 25, 2005, 05:48:26 pm

a cup or a glass for a drink of water in those unfurnished houses. found that out yesterday. :P

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Nobby on February 25, 2005, 09:08:32 pm

Len,

I've been reading another thread about how we all clean carpets and it seems that not all cleaners use a dry vacuum cleaner so I would have to say that.  Buy a Sebo BS, no carpet cleaners van is complete without one.  Everybody so far has mentioned extras to make the job better or easier but suprisingly nobody has yet thought of personal protection, if I had to choose one item it would be protective gloves, latex, vinyl etc.

I've also avoided overshoes until recent years because I didn't want to look a prat, but to my suprise they go down very well with customers, in fact most people expect us to wear them.  As a PR tool they are excellent value for money.

Nobby

Nobby

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Len Gribble on February 25, 2005, 10:49:42 pm

I know I’m a bit of wind up at time and no malice is ever intended (should have thought about this before posting) but reading the replies so far there are a few items here that I forgot to mention to the newbie, as one goes into auto-pilot.

Len

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Steve Weatherley on February 26, 2005, 10:23:49 pm

Two things money can't buy...........
courtesy and punctuality.
Don't expect the customer to give you repeat work or recommend you if you turn up 2 hours late and call the customer 'MATE'!

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: jcbdfa on March 01, 2005, 10:27:13 pm

commercial cleans - a door wedge
domestic cleans-  pipe extensions so you can always leave the machine outside and not have to carry it upstairs

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: strakercleaning on March 02, 2005, 09:36:33 am

Steve, What if you are cleaning carpets for a mate ?

Carpetknights.........along the same lines as your post on empty houses..........carry some LOO ROLL  :o

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Mike Halliday on March 02, 2005, 11:58:56 am

Don't you hate it when you're cleaning an empty house and have a big poo in the toilet, ( then wipe your bum on the bogroll that you cleverly brought with you ;)  )

then try and flush only to realise they've turned ther water off :o :o :o

Mike

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Chris Bailey on March 02, 2005, 12:16:42 pm

Mike

As in many cases I am presuming that is the voice of experience talking......

Chris

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: strakercleaning on March 02, 2005, 01:37:10 pm

Mike,
 i use a portable so could not do job without running water ::)
Could always flush away with waste water :-X

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: HolmansUKLTD on March 02, 2005, 10:12:03 pm

Try turning the water back on Mike!! ::)

Title: Re: If advising a newbie
Post by: Kinver_Clean on March 03, 2005, 08:10:40 am

We do a lot of empty letting flats. The essential equipment is a small travvelling kettle two mugs and tea/ coffe. We use Redbush tea from Africa as you do not use milk with it Got quite addicted to it!

Trevor