[richard jagger]

I am currently do some domestic clean which includes window so do have a customer base.
I would like to add carpet cleaning to my arsenal and would appreciate some input on what to buy. Cash is tight but I could afford between 600 to 1000.Quid. What would be the best for me to buy. T do not go for fancy names or image so let hear it.
Thanks in advance. Wizkid

[Joe H]

If you are just going to service your existing database of cleaning customers then you will get away with a small budget of £600-£1000.  Thats how I got into carpet cleaning and now I have a truckmount and the most powerful portable machine on the market as a backup.

However, I started off with something far removed from them - and still use it 18 years on, albeit it is now a spotting machine - used this Monday to remove red wine spill.

The is a Numatic machine, very similar to this in spec
http://www.totalcleaningsupplies.co.uk/numatic-ctd572-carpet-cleaning-machine-83-p.asp

I am not promoting the selling company - never heard of them, just google to get the detail for you of the machine.

You will find it hard work as the machine iitself is a base machine and not all that powerful, although used correctly (and thats up to the operator) can do a good job - it will take time to do a good job though.
A more powerful machine could do the same job in half the time - but thats a different budget.

Biggest thing to remember with the less powerful machines is not to put too much water down as there is not the power to get it up again if you saturate the carpet - wet carpet even the next day, not good.
You will need a good UPRIGHT vac with a powered brush, your Henry is good - but not for use before carpet cleaning. Sebo BS36 or get a 2nd hand Kirby.

My database of regular domestic cleans (yes I still do it) gets a reminder every month of my carpet cleaning service - but very few make any sort of enquiry - so dont expect a big take up. And if you want to expand on more then one carpet clean job a week I would recomend a much bigger budget.

Hope all that helps.

[richard jagger]

Thanks Joe for taking the trouble to help me .

[wynne jones]

Try to get a second hand set up on ebay then you got the lot. The key is the a good carpet cleaning machine, less important is the vacuum cleaner any upright would do for now, but like Joe says 2nd hand kirby is excellent.

135psi Ninja or Craftex type machine would be good.

[David Rogers]

I could mention the 1 week old Craftex 135psi that i have for sale on this forum!......... but I won't.....for a first machine for what you describe, I'd recommend looking out for an Extracta on eBay. Noth the best performing but bulletproof as a first machine, and the lower pump and vac performance teaches you good habits up front.

[richard jagger]

PLEASE FILL ME IN ON BAD HABITS.

[Joe H]

Some of these are not so much bad habits but good working practice.

Dont put your cleaning solution in your clean water tank - spray it direct to carpet and dont apply too much or you overwet the carpet and wont have enough power to suck it out especially with single vac machines.

Get a long handled stiff carpet brush and agitate the prespray vigorously

Pull the wand back toward you with hand on the trigger - you applying water to flush out the cleaning fluid and sucking it up.

For every pass of the wand where you are spraying do at least 2 strokes of just suction, no spraying

After you cleaned the carpet see if there are any spots left, these can be treated seperately and need sucking out with a water flush maybe using a hand tool as opposed to a wand.

Get a 20" air mover from somewhere like Machine Mart - about £20, place on the floor and put on max flow - this helps to dry the carpet.

Upholstery is a different technique but similar - someone else may want to take you thro that.