[CLEANEAST CARPETS]

Can anyone please advise me on cleaning a 30 year old axminster that is not fixed down?
I looked at the job yesterday and it is for an old lady who goes to a church that I cleaned for and is therefore a recommendation.She has previously had the carpet cleaned by Service master and I suspect they would have used the dry compound method.I have never used the dry compound although it was covered on the IICRC course.
Should I use HWE and risk shrinkage as I have indicated it may shrink on the survey form,or try to get some dry compound to use?
It is only a small room 8sq/m (£25).Is it worth the bother?

[dave401uk]

This should not be a problem, hwe, and give it a few extra dry passes with the wand

Dave

[Jolly Olly]

I always use dry as it eliminate any risk of shrinkage on dye bleed, i use sponges from carpetgard called drygard as this product is very safe as it has no added solvents and cleans really well

Jolly Olly

[BRSL]

should be safe, I take it you have indetified it correctly, if so then there is very little risk of shrinkige, do not over wet, plenty of dry strokes (can never have to many) and test it for colour fastness first, but generaly 1 of my favourites to clean always get good resutls, although it may smel of wet dog when you have finished, some people love it others hate it. !!! HWE is a good method imo

[woodman]

So long as you have identified it as a genuine axminster then go ahead and clean as normal as mentioned.

By the way Servicemaster would not have dry compound cleaned it, they would have HWE just as you intend

[gort]

Never worry to much about Axminsters or Wiltons just dont wet too much and if really concerned pin it down with small nails around the edges into the gripper rod i normally leave them in no one can see them and its done for future use.  if it does shrink a little just leave it two weeks return and kick it back into place. These carpets are like a pair of jeans they tighten up or we call it travel and then release back usually over about two weeks then just kick back as i said. 

[gwrightson]

£25 is that all you are charging?
 Do you not have a minumum charge? I would have though £35 at the very least, what by the time yo have surveyed, travelled there and back unloaded , cleaned ,loaded, got to be at least £35. So not as you stated It isnt worth it.
 geoff

[CLEANEAST CARPETS]

Thanks for your advice,it is most appreciated
I am going to HWE and learn from the experience!!!!
Why do the courses warn of shrinkage to axminsters and wiltons if the majority of experienced cleaners will wet clean them?
Thanks Barbara

[CLEANEAST CARPETS]

We charge £3.50sq/m but this is the smallest job we have done,and as we are still newbies we do not have a minimum price as it has not come up,until now.However this job has highlighted the need for a minimum price and I agree that £35 sounds about right.Still I will do it now and hope it continues to generate work from more members of the church congregation!!!

[gwrightson]

The lord works in mysterious ways!!!
 good luck, im sure their will be more to follow
 geoff

[conallon]

It will generate work all right, stacks of small rooms, from sweet old ladys who you will not be able to say no to, all under your minimum charge,

8 x £3.50 = £ 28.00

Conrad

[CLEANEAST CARPETS]

Conrad she was aware of my 10% discount for seniors!!!!

[John_Flynn]

Do seniors get 10% dicount at Supermarkets and Petrol Stations???

Think about it!!

[conallon]

Barbara

 10% to much 5% works well  

if you do not stick to your guns regarding minimum charge from the start, eventualy when you do, you loose them as customers.

Conrad

p.s. cleaned small porch and loby for free today for poor sweet old lady, mind you it was her 89th birthday  

[John_Flynn]

Do NOT discount your prices, give them a bit of something extra, ie Offer to clean a rug Free Of Charge.

[ABLECLEAN]

CleanEast

8 square metres!!! what is it, a walk-in wardrobe

My Minimum charge is £45.00 (no problem)

[Len Gribble]

Woodman

Some ServiceMaster still use the rotary saw one today wheeling it out of house.

Len

[Derek]

The minimum charge I believe has been discussed before and at the time mine was £45.00.... now increased to £55.00 within a six mile radius of base.

Immediately you put the keys in the van the cost clock is ticking

Derek

[cleansmartsupplies]

Be careful with the axmister - if you overwet it, it WILL shrink!

[woodman]

Yes Len

but not dry compound.