[The Great One]

Hi Guys

been asked to clean a suite with a 3 seater sofa, 2 seater, a chair and a square footrest (poof)

They want it cleaned to sell it. I want to hand clean it as it isn't too dirty with shampoo and terry towels. I haven't done many suites, so would like to ask for any help you may want to give.

Many thanks

Martin

[Doug Holloway]

Martin,

A few more details needed like what is the fabric and do you have a HWE machine?

Cheers,

Doug

[Phil Marlor]

Martin,

Use a Microsplitter, its safe and dose a good job on all suites.

Phil.

[strakercleaning]

Microsplitter and Bonnet mitt will give effective light clean without risk  

[The Great One]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the advice.

I do not have a HWE so hence the hand clean. I have not tried microsplitters, have the shampoo but don't really want to wet too much.

They are selling it anyway, what price would you recommend?

Regards

Martin

[Ken Wainwright]

Hi Martin

The fact they are selling it should have no reflection on your professionalism or the quality of the work you produce. So you should be charging your normal rate. If it is your professional judgement that a low moisture/quick drying system will achieve the desired results and customer satisfaction, then proceed with it.

Presuming you don't have any microsplitting formulae to hand, you could prepare some shampoo, or Bonnet Buff (quicker drying) or Fabric Restorer etc. in a spray bottle, spray on and towel off as you have already suggested. I would not recommend this process with a product that is not designated as being suitable for upholstery cleaning. Wear protective gloves and maybe a mask too, even more important if spraying a solution containing solvents (like Prochem Fabric Restorer). It will also be a convenient way of keeping people out of the room so they don't see how easy you make the job look  If you decide to prepare your solution in a bucket and dunk your towel/pad, wring out and use, then it is very easy to place a "wet" hand on the suite whilst you are working. This could cause a water mark, so keep a dry towel in the "idle" hand to prevent this happening.

A ploy that I have come across in the past is a customer saying they  want a suite "freshened up just to sell it" in the hope that you will take pity and offer them a lower price. No way Jose.

Safe and happy cleaning:)
Ken

[paul@ctcs]

Chris,
With regard to micro splitters on upholstrery and no risk of causing damage.
If the ph neutral solutions number 4 is sparingly misted onto the upholstery and a bonnet method with terry towels is used i imagine this method is unlikely to cause many adverse affects on a majority of materials, but are there any materials where even this cautious approach is not suitable ?

Thanks Paul

[Len Gribble]

Martin

You haven’t got a hwe machine? And advertise cc and wcv love to know what method you use on carpets perhaps it the method ken describes on this thread

Selling not interest what they do with it I charge £30 per seat so two seater and I mean two seater £60

Len

[The Great One]

Hi

len, just because i don't use HWE doesn't mean I cannot clean carpets, or am crap, or a cowboy etc etc.

There seems to be a trend which has lasted for 30+ years that only HWE is good enough. There are different systems that can do as good and sometimes better job (in my opinion and limited experience) with the system i use i am getting amazing results and my clients are happy (no it isn't fairy liquid or stardrops, and no i am not jasonb )

I was waiting for some comment just because i don't use HWE, didn't have to wait long!

Ken

Thanks for your expert advice it is well appreciated.

Regards

Martin

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Do you use dry fusion or some type of bonnet system for carpets, is that why you hand clean upholstery?

Shaun

[Len Gribble]

Martin

Dangle a carrot and one bites, haven’t got a hwe system, isn’t this the first bit of equipment one buys in setting up, then one progresses on to other methods though on a maintenance level, but one still keeps it, all I asked what cc method do you use, hopefully it’s not wcv great on cars and boats on soft furnishings a very big question mark.

Where did I say hse is the bee’s knees, but it provided the deepest clean depending on equipment/operator?

Len

[The Great One]

It is a shame that people have to take this kind of tact, trying to put other people down


haven't got a hwe system, isn't this the first bit of equipment one buys in setting up, then one progresses on to other methods though on a maintenance level, but one still keeps it, all I asked what cc method do you use, hopefully it's not wcv great on cars and boats on soft furnishings a very big question mark.

It's odd your statement about using waterless car valeting on soft furnishings, is this to try and make me out to be stupid maybe, a vapid staement, you only degrade yourself with personal attacks on other people.

My personal view is that after my carpet course i did not want an HWE system, i wanted to be different and the system i use as far as i am concerned is excellent. I didn't want to be a sheep and follow the crowd.

I asked a simple question about cleaning a suite and now I have to defend myself...

Is the Cleaning Industry in trouble?

If the personal attacks and some posts are concerned then yes, it is, shame.

If you use a HWE system then great, as long as you and your customers are happy with the result and you are earning money, i wish you all the very best.

Me, I don't use HWE, I am happy with my system and so are my clients.

Regards

Martin

[Dynafoam]

Martin,

Knowing Len, I think that you may have misinterpreted his comments.

I very much doubt that he intended a personal attack of any sort.

Whilst I share his view that, overall, HWE has the potential to be the most thorough cleaning method, I accept that other methods have their virtues and after all, your choice of equipment is just that - your free personal choice.

John.

[Derek]

Hi

Len did make a generalised statement but he may have forgotten (I almost said in his old age ) that one of the National franchises started out, bigtime, offering a hand cleaning service for carpets and upholstery.

In this day and age it is perhaps not quite correct to generalise although we all tend to do it at times..
if the truth be known we all of us use 'all' the methods of cleaning available to us at some point in our business life....it's called being professional.

Derek

[The Great One]

Thanks for your comments gents and I totally agree, each to his own.

On another thread on the cleaning section I stated that I do a lot of work for letting agents and do not want to lug a steameasy pro up 6 flights os steps.

I thank you for your support.

Regards

Martin

[Dave_Lee]

Martin,
Come on, tell us what type of method you use on the letting agents carpets - why the secrecy, if your clients are happy with your work then thats fine. The thing about HWE is that its a fact that the system does give the most thorough result. However if a purely cosmetic clean appearance is sufficient then any method that achieves this, is good enough. Go on tell more about your method.
Incidently I first started out 25 years ago, hand cleaning both carpets and suites  (the knees wouldnt take it now) after gaining some info from a 'Safeclean' franchisee. I used to get some good comments and reccomendations too. With the knowledge Ive gained through experience, I now know that what I was achieving then, was purely a  cosmetic, though acceptable  appearance.
Dave.

[Steve_Carpenter]

Hi Martin,

I see that you’re from Brighton. I’m at Amtech UK’s (One Step ‘Micro-splitting’ cleaning solutions) sales and training facility in Burgess Hill tomorrow, and would be more than happy to show you how to get the best results when hand cleaning upholstery.

Also, how One Step can be utilised to assist in the cleaning process.

If you can spare the time then please call me on Tel: 0845 130 4755

Regards

Steve

[The Great One]

Hi guys

I would prefer not to say my system as I really don't want the competition. It would also start a huge debate for which i am not really in the mood to have to keep defending myself and the system i solely use and believe in on a constant basis.

It does a really deep clean and we have had some amazing results. Did one carpet that had been done by HWE 12 years ago, they had split the carpet and left a huge black patch in the carpet. The entire carpet (200m) took me 4 hours non-stop and the black patch (2m by 1m) no longer exists.

One very happy client.

Regards

Martin

[Len Gribble]

Martin

I’m now a convert in your cleaning system as it dose a really deep clean compared to a HSE done 12 years ago, customer satisfaction is paramount to me. Who do I need to contact to go on there cc course?

Len

[Dave Parry]

Careful Len, you'll be enrolling for bad lads army next, they go back in time too.