[Buckland]

Anyone using a so-called Dry Steam with vacuum machine to clean upholstery and curtains? (I recognise obviously be somewhat limited in as much as inappropriate for some covers/materials)

I am looking at the DR75C Steamer & Vacuum (http://www.rgk.co.uk/acatalog/DR75C.pdf)
or possibly the Osprey Revolution with vac

Anyone used them or have any other suggestions?

I am missing out/turning down large Curtain jobs because I dont have an effective system - I gave a dry cleaning job to my friendly local DC shop the other day - I unhung and rehung the complete house - total bill to customer for DC £478 on which I made 30% from the DC shop and 10% from the client - we also did the carpets 

Turns out if you buy the right machine you can also right off 100% of capital cost in first year:

The Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme offers a 100 per cent first-year allowance for investments in certain water efficient plant and machinery. It means you can write off - ie deduct - 100 per cent of the cost of qualifying plant and machinery against your taxable profits in the year of purchase.

Any relevant experience or suggestions welcome!

Dave

[robert meldrum]

You can write down any capital goods purchase over 5 years !!

Rather than risk damage from high temperatures you might be better advised to mist spray with colloid or m/s chemical and extract with a water filtration vacuum . Water filtration does what Dyson " claims " to do and retains what would otherwise be airborne dust and contaminents

I did that a few years ago and only stopped as I hate going up ladders.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Polti-Vaporetto-Lecoaspira-690-Steam-and-Vacuum-Cleaner-Combination-/220848580954?pt=UK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item336b99e95a

I know it looks domestic but it's smaller to chuck in the van.

Shaun

[Timmy Boy]

Hi Dave
We have a Alltec Sahara which runs solvent at heat. It cost about 2k when i bought it, did a couple of jobs and it now gathers dust in our unit. The good thing about a steamer is that you can use it for other applications such as oven cleaning or degreasing kitchens etc.
Regards
Tim

[Buckland]

Rob/Shaun/Tim

Thanks for the comments

WD in one year is a bonus in my book! it only applies to the ECA allowable 'green equipment' I need to test one of these DR75C as really have no idea of how effective it will be compared to trad HWE - the polti is back to fill issue and they are flimsy so I've read anyway - the steam heat does not worry me unduly as you have to err on side of caution with usual materials that might deform - I see advantages outweighing this eg office chairs etc - and developing a new unique(!) cleaning system with colloidals ms etc I always mist furniture anyway - the water filtration system is an interesting idea but I am assuming the vacuum on the dry steam systems will cause the steam to condense and drench the extracted grub etc - on Alltec I have a mindblock dont know why - that seems alot of money on their website for a fairly poorly specced machine
I am sure steam cleaning is the answer - have you for instance seen the (as yet crap) carpet upright vacuum cleaners with steam function coming from Korea - now if dyson could perfect that it would I believe be a World Product for consumer market

Any other suggestions for revolutionising upholstery cleaning?

Dave

[Buckland]

Any other suggestions for revolutionising upholstery cleaning?

[Jamie Pearson]

Buy a black and decker steam mop and do each panel in 2 passes. Use the money you save for gym sessions then you can hold it long enough to do curtains in situ.

The osprey is a great machine. If you are going to do a lot of work with it it's worth investing a little more for ht more industrial units. I am biased though.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Jamie why not sell Dave a 2nd hand one?

Shaun

[Jamie Pearson]

I can't. I leave that all down to Craig. Hot water only isn't technical enough for my input. 

[robert meldrum]

I bought a couple of bonnet mitts from Jamie a few years ago and when using  them with dry foam that revolutionised my upholstery cleaning.

Just recently gave away a vacuumated steam cleaner which I only used on chewing gum removal ( effectively ) I'd have worried too much about damage to use it on upholstery.

[Buckland]

Rob

What foam is that out of interest - can you briefly describe the process?

Thanks

Dave