Chris, I have never suggested that a truckmount was a mickey mouse machine. .... Yes it is the best and only way to clean a wall to wall carpet under normal circumstances. I said that to clean using hwe or dry was mickey mouse. The reason we use a truckmount or any type of machine at the clients house is because the carpet can not be taken away to be cleaned, whereas an area rug can and should be. An area rug needs to be cleaned both sides and ALL dry soiling removed to be called clean. If it is not done this way then it hasnt been cleaned properly. and this can not be done by hwe, especially at the clients house. As to your questions....... I have found that if the rug is expensive or very expensive the client will tell you without being prompted............It doesnt matter how much the client paid for the rug (but I will come back to that).............Yes to the size and especially yes to having fringes.................. lastly, yes, obviously a smaller rug takes less time to clean...........As to the price of the textile. A good rule of thumb is 10% of the value but more often than not you will come unstuck with this theory as, if the rug only cost 100 quid you wouldnt agree to clean it for 10. On the other end if it cost 100,000 would you be able to clean it for 10,000 quid? Probably not. However if or when you clean antique, rare or priceless rugs it is not unheard of to charge many thousands to do so, again it is the market we chose to work for..... Sadly I was working as a sub for a museum but worked on a rug that the client was charged 150,000 dollars to have it cleaned, which at the time was about 100,000quid. The textile so say was bought at auction for 1 and a half million dolars. So in this case the charge was the 10%. For the record this price was stipulated by the customer and wasnt negotiable............... Best and hope this helps a little, Dave.
