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ian loughlin

  • Posts: 92
list the permanent stains
« on: June 21, 2007, 12:30:55 am »
I am still very new so this might be an obvious question, but can someone please list the most common stains that are permanent.

I am noticing that customers are more interested in me getting out a particular  stain, over the rest of the room. therefor i need to know when i can reassure the customer that that particular stain will not ever come out, and it is beyond my abilities.

Or any other key factors .........(  Rules ) when dealing with spot stains. help.

Ian Rochester

  • Posts: 2588
Re: list the permanent stains
« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2007, 08:04:37 am »
I would firstly suggest you get yourself on a good training course, using the wrong chemical on a stain can often do more harm than good.

Secondly never make any guarantees that you will get a stain out, it often looks like a simple job, but invariably turns into a nightmare where you are rarely the first person that's "had a go" at it.

Thirdly whenever viewing a stain with a customer always start with a sharp intake of breath, followed by two or three "tuts" the the following paratext:

"Do you know what it is?"
They will generally reply with "Cat p*ss", "Tea/Coffee", "Dog was sick", "Red wine", etc
"Have you used anything on it?"
Again general reply is "Vanish", "1001"
Release your breath in a big sigh..........and say, "I'll have a look at it, but can't make any guarantees"Then you'll get "Is that bad, what should I have used?"
"Well, we only recommend this MS spotter"
Then sell them a spotter, or two!

If you get the stain out, you're gods gift to carpet cleaning, if you don't, they'll uderstand that it was their fault in the first place and you tried your best!!

ian loughlin

  • Posts: 92
Re: list the permanent stains
« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2007, 11:09:03 am »
Thank you. just the sort of answer i was looking for, cheers.

I have done the prochem course about 3 years ago , and i have been reading up from my training reference manual, but it is the real deal now, meeting customers face to face, showing confidence, appearing professional. It is the small talk that i need to learn now.

can Anyone else provide more scenarios, or answers like lionheart.

AquaMagic

  • Posts: 563
Re: list the permanent stains
« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2007, 02:20:17 pm »
Good advice above, always under promise and over deliver.  I dont think its possible to say that a certain stain is permament becuase on some carpet you will find you get comple removal and the next you cant get aywhere, in the past i find i have most trouble with wool carpets ussually with Curry, Red Wine, Tea (sometimes), Lucazade, Iron Bru, Dye from Candle Wax, Fake Tan.  On a synthetic carpet most of theese are fine, the big one for me is Draught Marks as complete removal is rarely possible

I think Nylon has a proensity to stain with Red Dye's such as Ki-ora or Wine hense the Stain resitency that was introduced in later generation Nylon.  I think you may struggle with Oil on Polypropalene also.

As you can see its not as black and white as "permanent" or "not permanent" an sometimes you will tell a customer that something wont come out and it come out with no effort at all.  I have far less experience than most on here so im sure more detailed replies will follow.

vangaurd

  • Posts: 625
Re: list the permanent stains
« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2007, 02:49:48 pm »
true story. went to a flat in south shields,
big stain on the carpet, spent a hour trying to get it out
but, still it kept coming out!
eventually it all came out
well done said the landlord,
there was a body lying on that carpet, for 4 day's
i wondered if that stain would come out ?
the , dirty numpty i wish i had of known b4 i went

DanielWelford

  • Posts: 220
Re: list the permanent stains
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2007, 02:55:47 pm »
Hi Lionheart

Can you tell me how much you charge for the spotter, what size, and where do you get them.

many thanks

Dan

Ian Rochester

  • Posts: 2588
Re: list the permanent stains
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2007, 03:19:12 pm »
John Kelly at Restormate has just started doing an excellent spotter, I have also bought some from Matt at Cleansmart though I haven't really given those a try out myself yet, I think they are Onestep Fineline at 3:1.  You can get them in either 250ml or 500ml, I always go for the 500's

I give them away on decent size jobs (or pretty faces) otherwise I charge £7.50, though I know of others who charge £9.95.

Vanguard, I've just been asked about doing a similar job today, body's been lying there for 2 weeks and theirs quite a bit of body fluid, can I clean it.............Er, no thanks, just rip it out and get it replaced on the insurance.

mark_roberts

  • Posts: 1899
Re: list the permanent stains
« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2007, 10:02:16 pm »
Lionheart

Love the advice.  Reversing the blame.  Excellant.

Mark