[Simon Gerrard]

Shhhhhhhhh, don't tell the wife!

[mark shannon]

Find Pureclean or M/S fine for most rinsing with Clearwater rinse.

Like Simon will use Fabric restorer or even in exceptional circumstances Powerburst but care must be taken.

Does the Minitex save much time on Domestic jobs?

Mark

[Jim_77]

It's a bloody dream!!!  The more you do the more it makes sense to use a minitex.  You'll love it as soon as you use it

I've also found that using a lightweight fold-up table is an awesome way to do cushions more comfortably.

I bought mine off eBay, it's tubular steel framed with aluminium strip around the edge holding hardboard table surface, a bit like this:

h
ttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EXTRA-WIDE-MULTI-PURPOSE-FOLDING-PASTE-TRESTLE-TABLE_W0QQitemZ230125799227QQcmdZViewItem

I was in two minds about it to begin with, but after doing several suites and not having to scramble round all ove the floor doing the cushions.... my knees and back thanked me!!

[markpowell]

Take it none of you guys turn an armchair onto its front and use the back as the surface to clean cushions on has to be the oldest trick in the book
Mark

[Jim_77]

Yep, have done that in the past using the sofa as a work table.

How would you react if you took your car in for MOT and the mechanic put his tool box on the bonnet?!

Besides the fact that it might raise an eyebrow from some customers (questioning your professionalism, I mean), not all sofas will stand on their front face and provide a work surface, they'll either rock around or fall over.  If it goes forwards into the gas fire, smashes a picture frame and spills a vase of lilies all over the floor you're going to be in deep doo-doo!

Yes it is a little bit of extra effort carrying the table around, as I only have a Scudo so it kind of has to go on top, but it really does make sense after you've used it a couple of times!

Just my opinion, anyway

[Straker Cleaning]

Only time customers seem happy to see upholstery on its back is when i am cleaning polish marks from front skirt 

[Derek_Walker]

Chris, it's not practical to wear a skirt when cleaning upholstery, I normally stick to shorts in the summer

[Straker Cleaning]

Have to wear my shorts to below knee so i do not offend customers 

Sadly at parliament job in morning, empty building but still must wear long trousers  Luckily my work trousers zip off to shorts when i leave there 

[kinder clean]

Thanks for all the good advice, its appreciated.

Re - the Mintex machine, have seen these on E-bay and thought they were expensive - is it just me, or could a bosch/black and decker orbital sander do the same job?? (without the sanding disc obviously  : ) has anyone tried that? re the bonnets, I'm sure the wife could knock something up on the machine that would fit, vet bed would be the ideal material to use!! ( god I'm tight   )

Paul

[Simon Gerrard]

A black & Decker orbital sander!!!??
You are joking, right?
Buy the tools you need for the job and the job will always make sure you have got money in your pocket.

Simon
Simon

[Jim_77]

Oh lordy, forget the Black & Decker idea please!

The Minitex is purpose-built for the job.  Check out all the accessories you can get for the machine, how are you going to create home-made equivalents?!

h ttp://www.texatherm.co.uk/

[john rees]

Talking of black and decker they do a thing called a scumbuster that we use, it's cordless but not sure if they are available in the u.k. I had to get the last one from Italy. Well worth the money. one rechargable battery usually does one suite, it's a lot lighter than our minitex too.There are 2 types but the one to have is the one without the inbuilt water feed.

                   All the best
                                    John

[Len Gribble]

Theirs one in Edinburgh
 h ttp://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/82/23304182.html

Len

[mitch2810]

Simon
What does the Minitex sell for and how does it compare to the Host Esprit?

[Jim_77]

Have a look at the machine and decide which accessories you might need (it comes with the studded plate and 5 bonnets as standard I think)

Then Give Mark a ring on 01934 521155 and have a chat with him, he's a really helpful, honest guy

I had one a couple of months ago for a little over 300+VAT and that was with some extra accessories like the tampico brush and scrubbing pads for hard floors.  I'd recommend a nylon brush too, both the normal one and also the one with the bristles round the edges, for getting crud out of stair angles.