[jim etchells]

Hello. I 1st posted on here a couple of days ago. I greatly underestimated the money I will need to get started. So as far as my 1st machine goes what do you recommend would be a good startup cleaner to buy. I want something easy to use , reliable. It will have to be a portable to begin with. I am starting up part time and will be looking to d0 2-3 jobs a week hopefully. Not sure if this would make any difference as to what to buy. Any advice would be much appreciated as there is so much stuff on the market.
Thanks.
Jim.

[Joe H]

This machine is on ebay, but also in the buy/sell section of this forum, and the seller (Mark Slaney() posts on here

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300404611735&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

if its as described then it should be a good buy. I had its "sister" machine (same pump and vac motors) and it was good. Its got 50' of hose, so park it at the front door and you should reach into most 4 bed 2 storey houses. At the right price it would be worth a trip to Surrey to collect.

[jim etchells]

Thanks for that Joe. It is defo the type of thing I would be looking at and hopefully in my price range.  Would it do upholstery or is it specifically for carpets. And would a machine like that be ok being transported around in a car or is that a bad idea. Sorry if these are daft questions. I really am at an early stage with this and feel I have to ask everything.

[AJB]

You can clean carpets, Curtains Upholstery, infact allsorts with
that machine. You will need at least an estate car to transport it.
I use one and if it's in good condition it will last for a few years.

[Karen Waterworth]

Please dont just jump in a buy a machine.  Go and see the carpex show next week or any of the others on offer, walk round ask questions see the demo's, you will then see it's not an easy job to clean and get right. Training is a must, if you don't know what your cleaning you could leave that customer, with no end of problems for them and you. Insurance, machine, tools, chems, spare parts sitting in your garage so you can fix the machine ASAP and not let the customers down, advertising etc the list goes on and on.
Look back at the past posts on this board, there will of been questions asked and answered, you may even see questions you never even thought of.
Hope this helps, may see you at carpex if you can manage to go.  

[Ken Wainwright]

If I were looking at a compact size entry level extractor, I'd go for the Alltec Aqua 40 in it's highest spec ie 2x3 stage,  100psi and in tank heater. Being a slightly smaller recovery tank also allows it to "punch a little above it's weight" on the vacuum side. From memory, it's about £1700+/- in top spec. You'll need an extra 25ft hose set whichever porty you choose otherwise you will be dragging everything upstairs to clean bedrooms.

Safe and happy cleaning
The Ken