[Andy Hogarth]

What, in your opinion, is essential kit for somebody just starting out in carpet cleaning. I have a (very) rough idea but what kit do you guys never leave the house without??

I'm Thinking along the lines of: Vehicle, Cleaning machine, Cleaning chemicles, Vacuum, Dryer, Spotter, Sprayer, Steam gun, Buckets, Upholstery handle, Groom rake, Upholstery brushws, ph tester, Gum scraper, measuring jug,

I know there'll be loads more so any help is appreciated.

I'd just like to know so that I can get close to an idea as to the set up cost for equipment.

Cheers
Andy

[www.crawleycarpetc]

Hi What machine are you going to buy? I would suggest you bye at least 50ft of hose as its much easier if you can leave the machine outside etc otherwise you seem to have most things covered!

[stains-away]

Dont forget the sily little thing like plastic overshoes,corner straps for protecting skirtings etc around corners,foils to put under furniture legs, waterproof sheets for putting suites on when cleaning etc,its the little details the customer likes, Andy

[Andy Hogarth]

Machines likely to be a 5020 (what do you think for a starter machine??) I still need to get on some courses and get a bit of green together first though so I'm in no rush, I'm selling my vw camper  (god I love that camper)around August time to fund it along with some savings I have,

the little details the customer likes

What a good tip, I looked into these items and for a few quid it would look great to the customer, Thanks good tips

Andy

[Andy Hogarth]

Would anyone class a floor scrubber, like the Extracta ones an essential piece, Does anyone use them much and if so in what circumstances???

These ones  http://www.extracta.co.uk/scrubbarange.htm

Andy

[Spot On cleaning]

I bought a new Excel and scrubber deluxe brand new in August 2002, mainly because the guy who was instructing us was using one. To be honest, if you do a lot of domestic like i did, it's a pain in the arse and i used it 3 times only, so in short unless you do commercial, don't bother.

Looks good for the customer though. To buy one new is around £1075 inc vat, so if you want mine for £300 it's yours :

Dave

[craigp]

i say thats a good buy!, only used 3 times!

[John Kelly]

Andy

You've covered most of the basics. Its handy to carry a few basic tools both for running repairs to your kit and also any problem carpets you bump into.
Claw hammer
Bolster chisel
Knee kicker
heavy duty stapler & staples
Carpet nails
Super glue (always handy to fix that ornament you've just smashed)
Small socket set & spanners
Pliers
Spare fuses
Duct tape
Electrical tape
Spare RCD (you should always run any equipment off an RCD, water & electricity don't mix, ones from Wickes are the best)
Jubilee clips
Screw drivers

Might sound excessive but if you have any urine stains to treat its no good just cleaning the pile. You need to pull the carpet back and treat the floor, underlay and carpet backing before re-fitting the carpet.

[des]

Andy do not rush into buying cleaning machines and all the other stuff that you think you need .If you could get to go with a carpet cleaner for a couple of weeks you will get to  know all about carpet cleaning and what equipment you need .Talk to other carpet cleaners Do not run before you can walk des ps how much for the vw 

[stevegunn]

Andy

You've covered most of the basics. Its handy to carry a few basic tools both for running repairs to your kit and also any problem carpets you bump into.
Claw hammer
Bolster chisel
Knee kicker
heavy duty stapler & staples
Carpet nails
Super glue (always handy to fix that ornament you've just smashed)
Small socket set & spanners
Pliers
Spare fuses
Duct tape
Electrical tape
Spare RCD (you should always run any equipment off an RCD, water & electricity don't mix, ones from Wickes are the best)
Jubilee clips
Screw drivers

Might sound excessive but if you have any urine stains to treat its no good just cleaning the pile. You need to pull the carpet back and treat the floor, underlay and carpet backing before re-fitting the carpet.

Tow rope comes in handy too.

[Steve Chapman]

How could you sell that lovely little vdub camper
DONT DO IT - You'll regret it forever
ps i use an extracta excell  scrubba nearly every day!
regards
steve

[Terry_Burrows]

steve how do you find the Extracta! w were thinking of this model

[John Kelly]

Don't know why you guys want to lump these bloody great things round all day. Never had the need for them myself. Carpet brush and a wand.

[Spot On cleaning]

Terry,

Extracta are excellent machines. I bought a new Excel and scrubber deluxe new in 2002. Whilst i only used the scrubber 3 times only, the excel was an excellent machine.

It doesn't like water being tipped into the motor though, as i accidentally found out. One word of advice though, never leave solution in the clean water tank when loading and unloading the machine into your vehicle. I did and it caused the rear wheels to buckle inwards. I still use the machine now and again as a back up for my tm and it's got 1500 hours on its clock.

Dave

[Steve Chapman]

Terry,
as i've said previously somewhere 
I've used the extracta for a couple of years and find it's powerful enough to leave in me truck and use like a truck mount ( even tho i realise it's not one )
Normally use 100ft of hose no trouble at all. - I know a lot don't like the scrubba because they are heavy, but i'm starting to find that you can clean even a really dirty carpet with one pass of the scrubba as opposed to about 5 or 6 or the normal wand, and i don't go home feeling half dead.
I think it mostly about habit as well, once i got into using it, it just became the norm to get it out of the truck each time!
regards steve

[Spot On cleaning]

You are probably right Terry, it's getting used to using a scrubber. Another minus point for me was that i used my people carrier to ferry my equipment about, but it was marking the interior a lot.

The very first job i did with my tm, i thought what the heck have i bought here, but soon got used to it. Had i had bought a van to start with, i would have run it from the van. A great machine though the excel.

Dave

[the red carpet]

I use the scrubba on each and every job and wouldnt be without it, the wand has only been used twice in 7 months.

The extracta aint a bad machine allthough mine is on just under 1000 hours and has had both vacs and the pump replaced.

And as for selling motors iv sold a merc and a golf gti since i started and i'm now driving around in the van 24/7
its not the start up money thats hard to find its the running costs that kill you.

[Steve Chapman]

Yeah,
must say i've replaced both vacs twice and am just under 1000 hours though amazingly am still running on the same pump even though i bought a spare :
But to tell the truth i'm not bothered as i really hammer the machine, most weeks do upwards of 25 jobs, so it really does pay for itself.
would like to get a prowler portable truckmount, bit just don't want to get rid of the hilux surf
steve

[Terry_Burrows]

as ashbys are just a couple of miles away from us if there were any probs
I know they would sort it there and then,Extracta are about 350 miles away,I do like there machines

[the red carpet]

I have the extracta and there about the same distance from me, if i have a problem i take the machine to alltec or woodbridge and the fix while i wait i think most of them fix and service each others machines as there usually made out of pretty much the same parts.

Lamb vacs & shurflow pumps mostly i think