[barry71]

Hi guys new to the forum, been cleaning a few domestic and the odd commercial carpets (using a karcher puzzi 100) as a add on service to my window cleaning but recently getting more interest in carpets and want to upgrade my carpet cleaner to look more professional can anyone recommend a machine without braking the bank.
Thanks
Barry

[handyal]

Hi, how long is a piece of string. You really need to have some sort of budget in mind i.e. £500/£1000/£2000.

[barry71]

sorry im looking to spend around £1,000-£2,000

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

If your serious about carpet cleaning I would be looking to spend a hell of a lot more than that...

[handyal]

Its not just about buying a machine as there is a lot more to purchase as well. Whatever your budget is for a machine you will probably need to double it for the other equipment you need. Just have a look on eblag for some ideas and forums such as this.

I can see why you need to ditch the Karcher Puzzi 100 especially if your doing commercial carpets. I would'nt even use it for domestic.

[james roffey]

sorry im looking to spend around £1,000-£2,000

I spent that on marketing alone when i started.

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

I will try to give you some constructive information rather than belittle you, if any newbies are thinking of posting on here for gods sake don't mention the words " karcher, puzzi, or window cleaning " because you've no chance of getting any help.
You can pick up a good quality new machine for your budget, but you are looking at the entry level 130psi's mainly, like some of these -  http://www.cleansmartsupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Airflex_Pro.html  -
 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Powr-Flite-PFX1080-2U-Carpet-Cleaning-Machine-/281000437390?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item416cee668e -
 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Prochem-Steempro-Powermax-Carpet-Cleaning-Machine-/170642260241?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27bb124111

I'm thinking of getting this one soon, looks great value and 400psi too, i think the price is just for the machine though.  -
http://www.carpet-cleaning-equipment.co.uk/
You could always buy a used one on Ebay too, had some real bargains off there lately.
You are not like some start up's as you have a regular income already and you have a foot in the door as well with your window cleaning customers so you could up your marketing slowly.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I have a jaguar 6.6 for sale with vac and solution and a wand £2000 inc

http://www.worldofclean.co.uk/jaguar.html

I'm in sheffield

Shaun

My mobile is 07902 874683

[Max Campbell]

Spend most of your available cash on marketing - leaflets would be top of my list. Most porty's are pretty similar in terms of tech performance. Alltec machines look better than most. Second hand - buy whichever comes up with the right history.

[james roffey]

If i looked in my van and calculated how much all that equipment cost it would be considerable, if i then decided what i could do without and added it up it would still be considerable, i am not saying that you need 20,000 although that would be realistic to make a serious go of it, i had 15,000 and i still got an old Ninja off ebay so many things that are not taken into account are you going to have liabilty insurance, a van,  website, leaflets marketing is a massive expense which you must make to have any chance, the only way i could see anyone doing it on a tiny budget as an add on to other work.

[Phil @ Extreme Clean]

He's a Windy but getting interest in carpets so he doesn't need to spend ££££££s £2000 is plenty to get going just buy a secondhand ninja or steempro around £1000 probably come with wands etc then £200-£300 on chems etc and keep going as you are. Do your windows and accept all the carpet cleaning and when your earning enough throw some money at marketing if thats what you want to do but if just an add on to your existing custies then just leave a flyer with each custy you clean.

[Russ Chadd]

Hi ~Barry

I would stick to window cleaning and team up with a local carpet cleaner, exchange business cards and push each others services... that way you wont have to buy all the gear, invest in all the training which you will have to do, insurance and marketing.
Its better to work together than try to compete with the established guys, if someone asked me can i clean windows i would simply hand them a business card of someone i know...

[Darren O]

Nonsense go for it ive been window cleaning for 23 years started carpet cleaning 8 years ago best thing i ever did the two work well together.

[Jamie Pearson]

Like Darren we also started put as window cleaners and started put carpet cleaning by marketing to our existing customers.

The window customers gradually became more and more commercial, the carpet cleaning then followed that lead and now we don't do any window cleaning at all.

[seamus campbell]

Hello

If you are thinking of going 2nd hand you should be able to get a decent machine for about £1200  which would be a big improvement on what you have, you probably have enough insurance with your window cleaning cover but its not expensive from gleamining insurance,

 at  least a basic training course is a must but again not that expensive.  you will need a few hundred for chemicals, pile brushes chemicals sprayers etc. but you will def be enough to get you started in carpet cleaning particularly as an add on, don't be put of by people saying you need to spend  a fortune, The truth is at this stage you don't, but as things improve and you do pick up customers, dryers mechanical agitation,rotary machine etc will be you next step.

Best of Luck