[David Rogers]

Hi all,

Following on from my post asking more about operators on this forum who strongly focus on dry and low moisture, I've decided to take this route myself.

I'm not maknig that decision because there is anything wrong with HWE; I just personally find I can get very strong results from dry and LM methods, and that the markets I want to be in and work I want, is better suited to the dry and LM approaches.

I've already got someone biting my hand off to take my Ninja off me  ; but I have also listed my Extracta CX, and a 5 day old Craftex Maxi+inline heater, in the for sale section.

I picked up a used Dry Fusion yesterday and once I've gained more experience with it, I'll probably get a new one from DF.  I also have a brand new Envirodri GEN4, Numatic Bonnet Cleaning Machine, Oreck Orbiter, and an Upholstery Cleaning Rotary Hand Tool (make unknown, bought used).   So I'm pretty well kitted out so far for dry and low moisture.

I've changed my webite to reflect low moisture - and would be very grateful for any feedback on what people think about it;-

www.carpetzest.co.uk

As you can see, I've only broadly referred to low moisture; should I mention dry as a seperate propsition, of just leave that to the discussion points with customers?

Thanks for the help and discussion.

Regards,

David.

[wynne jones]

So what will you do when you have baby sick, cat wee, dog diahrea all over a long pile carpet?

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

David, while I applaud the fact that you know which direction you want to take your business, I think you are mad to sell all your HWE equipment.

As far as your revised website is concerned I fail to see how you can be offering "a thorough deep clean"

Whilst I admire Jason and Martin and the businesses they have built up using LM, nothing will ever convince me that LM will compare to HWE in terms of extracting all of the crap that lies deep within the pile of a carpet.

I'm based in Surrey and I'm fortunate to work in beautiful homes with essentially clean carpets, but even my clients are shocked when they see the colour of the water and the grit, silt and hair that has been removed from deep in the pile. The very things that will ultimately wear out the carpet.

[derek west]

lovely kids youve got there mr rogers, and a nice dog and wife.

looks like you sell new sofa's too, hows that doing?

like the picture of the extracta, guess thats got to go along with high pressure cleaning of mattresses.

 

anyway, good luck with the dry only, but in my opinion your taking a big step backwards, even jason eventually wants a TM and i think martin needs HWE as well all though i stand corrected on that one.

you go girl.

[richy27]

i as steve agree itsgood you have direction and know where you want your business to go.

but on the other hand i think ( no insl intended ) you are mad selling your hwe set up. yes you can get god results with lm or dry but you are going to limit you market . so you come across a filthy carpet you will never beat hwe.

why not keep one of your machines.

i use all three methods and have a trucky and a porty and use all my machines in dif situations and would be lost without one of them.

its your business but i bet a few mnths dowthe line you will want a hwe machine again.

[derek west]

also

what happens when you come across a problem like in your other thread, you can't keep putting chems on it without a good flush.

i'd seriously have a rethink dave.

but i think from the first couple of posts you did a few weeks ago you'd all ready made your mind up, good luck skipper.

[wynne jones]

Maybe at some level you are thinking you will have less problems with LM and is more idiot proof than wet cleaning.

Keep back your Ninja unless you are absolutely desperate for the dosh.

Look at your skills and where you lack confidence and go on some courses.

LM is potentially a big earner but those that say it's all they do are either joking, deluded, leaving money on the table or giving some custys a raw deal.

[Simon Gerrard]

David,

Big mistake in my view.
If you go down the LM only route then you cut out one hell of a proportion of the carpet cleaning market in your area. If I were one of your competitors I'd be jumping for joy.

I think a lot of people forget we are supposed to be professional carpet cleaners, who should be equipped to clean every type of carpet regardless of condition or colour, if you go down the LM only route then you can only clean some carpets.
Can you imagine going to your Doctor with a bad back and him saying, 'Sorry, I only do colds and flu!' That's what your doing and it looks pretty bonkers to me.
If on the other hand you stated that you were going to add LM to your services for when your customers need that service, I'd have applauded  you.

Simon

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

Simon, your medical analogy can be used to justify the dry only approach.

My partner recently had emergency eye surgery, luckily carried out by a top consultant surgeon using state of the art equipment.

I would not have wanted her GP to do it!

The medical industry is full of specialsits and it is these that earn the big bucks.

Cheers

Doug

[jasonl]

You will still need some kind of extractor for stairs, upholstery and foul material extraction!

I run a small one with a good built in heater , it is the smallest one that Kleenrite do , cost 1500 new 2 years ago, I have had zero downtime.

[garry22]

David,

Our work is probably 80% Dry Fusion but we still use HWE and HOST (plus HWE & Von Schrader on upholstery) for the other 20%.

I have this ratio because I market accordingly to those strengths.

In the next three days I've got...

3 - piece suite            HWE
Large milk spillage.... HWE
Through lounge where customer wants it dry ASAP ... DF

Believe me, there will be times when one of each of the above systems is by far the best solution.

Unless you are desperate for the money, then do not get rid of anything.

You can still major on low moisture but you are leaving a lot of money on the table (plus maybe, occasionally your reputation).

All you have to do is target your marketing at the LM market (oh no, did I just mention marketing "dry" systems?  ).

Garry

[Simon Gerrard]

Doug,

Yes, but we are not brain surgeons, we are carpet cleaners and just as it you went to see your local GP with a minor illness you'd expect him to know what was required to fix it.
Isn't your average customer not entitled to have a carpet cleaner who knows how to to clean most carpets and have the equipment to do it without calling in a Specialist.

Simon

[Neil Williams]

and an Upholstery Cleaning Rotary Hand Tool (make unknown, bought used).   

Take it from someone who has the texatherm system but got rid of the hand rotary, don't think that doing upholstery with a RHT is an option, because it's not, trust me.
Like other have said keep one HWE machine back for the moments where you will need it, and you will.

[benny d]

Don't do it.. For the love of God don't do it...
Just think of the children.. THE CHHHHHIIIILLLLLDREN! 

That's all iv'e got to say about that.

[Len Gribble]

Go for it some one will pick your slack

[David Rogers]

So what will you do when you have baby sick, cat wee, dog diahrea all over a long pile carpet?

I'm temped to say... "Toddle along to the next job" but in reality appropriate spot and section treatment could be applied to all of those problems, prior to any subsequent cleaning method.

[David Rogers]

also

what happens when you come across a problem like in your other thread, you can't keep putting chems on it without a good flush.

i'd seriously have a rethink dave.

but i think from the first couple of posts you did a few weeks ago you'd all ready made your mind up, good luck skipper.

Hey Derek,

If it's the thread I think you're talking about, I'd say it was my lack of experience with HWE that got me into the tight spot.  Poor PH balancing and failure to isolate use of different chemicals.    I would not have caused / suffered from that issue if I had used a method like Dry Fusion or HOST.

I have only been in this game for 14 months and the incident with leaving too high a PH on the mother-in law's carpet is the one and only mis-demeaner that I've seen (it's so bloody typical that it's family but maybe that's a good thing).

But it's opened my eyes to how things can go wrong.   Maybe I'm a bit risk averse!

[David Rogers]

You will still need some kind of extractor for stairs, upholstery and foul material extraction!

I run a small one with a good built in heater , it is the smallest one that Kleenrite do , cost 1500 new 2 years ago, I have had zero downtime.

Cheers Jason - I agree - when I've sold the Ninja, Extraca & Craftex, I'll still have a Prochem Spot Pro to use where I need a 'spot' of extraction (pun intended)... actually Ninja excitement apart, it's always been my favourite HWE machine.

Cheers,

[David Rogers]

Thanks for the comments, I do value them all.

As above, I wouldn't consider parting with my Prochem Spot Pro and have successfully cleaned a good few suites with it, so would be able to continue with that avenue.

I may take your advice and keep one of the other HWE machines but primarily, my focus will be on HOST, Envirodri and Dry Fusion methods.

Cheers,   

[The Great One]

So what will you do when you have baby sick, cat wee, dog diahrea all over a long pile carpet?

He'll clean it of course   :