[absolutecleaning]

have been asked by large co. who may want a large no. of e.o.l. cleans done if we clean curtains.

i don think this will be necessary very often but how do you go about it anyway - do you use hwe machine?

simon

[lands]

Simon

Curtain cleaning is a laborious task but often quite lucrative. I always use Prochems pre-spray gold and terry towels ie. do by hand. Just make up and fan spray about 6 sg inches at a time and wipe with clean terry nd move to next bit.

Pete

[absolutecleaning]

cheers pete

any dwell time?

[lands]

No. It dries really quick (part of its beauty) so wipe immediately or it will not work. This is why you do it in such small areas at a time.

don't forget, you can sell this as a fairly specialised service. I was say "low mositure or partial dry cleaning by hand" so it sounds technical but it is quite simple but as I said quite laborious.

You ever cleaned using just terry towels?

Pete

[absolutecleaning]

what cleaned a carpet using just towels? - no i'm fairly new to this

it does sound quite technical the way you put it

will it get rid of most stains/spots?

roughly how much do you charge - i know it depends on your area, the client, size etc but approx.

cheers

[lands]

what cleaned a carpet using just towels? - no i'm fairly new to this

it does sound quite technical the way you put it

will it get rid of most stains/spots?

roughly how much do you charge - i know it depends on your area, the client, size etc but approx.

cheers

Never tried terrys on a carpet (sorry made me laugh)  but not taking the P*&s

It's not as difficult as it sounds. Once you do it you'll see what I mean. Get yourself some pre-spray gold. dilute it with warm water (about 30 degrees C) at a ration of 32-1 and mist spray it on to a small area. put one hand on opposite site of curtain to hold it firm then wipe (firmly) with terry. you need to fold terry in to a square about the size of your hand. the side of the terry you have just wiped will soil. go to other (clean) side and repeat til terry not soiling. Keep unfolding to use clean side and this way you will get most out of each terry towel. It does get most dirt off but actual stains (tea/coffee//wine) won't come off. You can't be veryu aggressive with curtains for obvious reasons (shrinkage etc.)

As far as pricing is concerned, if it was a pure domestic job I would charge around £60 per hour. You should be able to clean a 4ft long full curtain in an hour but as it's eol you may have to bring this down a bit as Agents want it cheap cheap cheap.

Best you practise on a bit of upholstery first, say an armchair, just to a feel. If your still not sure give me a bell.

no. is on my website

Pete

[absolutecleaning]

cheers pete - might do that when the time comes

[Andy Foster]

As far as pricing is concerned, if it was a pure domestic job I would charge around £60 per hour. You should be able to clean a 4ft long full curtain in an hour but as it's eol you may have to bring this down a bit as Agents want it cheap cheap cheap.

Hi Pete

In the quote above you state £60 an hour and 1 hour to clean 1 x 4ft curtain.
That would mean a charge of £120 to clean both curtains!  Are you sure this is right? I would have thought that most people would be able to replace the curtains for less than that.
I don't say it is not right, but if that is the case I am going to add this to my portfolio.

Thanks

Andy

[lands]

Andy

my desc. is a bit misleading. This is a 4ft wide full length curtain and to be cleaned on both sides and people who get curtains cleaned because a, they cost alot more than you have mentioned and b, have very complicated hanging systems so do not want to take them down for the local dry cleaners (who by the way often charge more than this). You can actually get away with more than £60 p/hr with the right custy and right set of curtains. What I have forund though is that you often get them attached to other work ie carpets etc.

Add it to your rep though its worth it just very boring.

Pete

[matt jones]

Seems as if alot of people use this method have heard of m-power being good for this type of cleaning also not exactly technical though is it but as long as it works and they are happy then who cares i suppose.
matt

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Depending on fabric you'll find it is far cheaper to get curtains cleaned by the dry cleaners I'm sure.

If you get cotton curtains say a full length pair with 1 width (I appreciate they usually are 2 widths) then you may only be looking at £30 ish, most dry cleaners charge by weight.

I would however charge it as a specialised system and therefore charge accordingly like Pete says.

Shaun

[lands]

Shaun's comments made me realise something. This is not for net curtains. I am talking about good quality curtains with inner linings. One of these would make for a whole machine load for most dry cleaners and each machine must return them about £86.

Shaun, sorry forgot about those photo's. Will send when kids have gone to bed.

Pete

[Andy Foster]

Ah!!!!!

I see.

Thanks for clarifying Pete.

Sounds like good work.

Cheers

Andy

[Kev Loomes]

We personally use dry cleaning solvent to clean curtains (dont have the bottle to use water/water based products for fear of shrinkage  )

Your right about the aspect of offering this service, I dont know why other cc's dont all do it? Alright there a pain in the arriss, but once you get used to them...

Just this week for instance we did a £573.00 job yesterday and a £902.00 tomorrow - both domestic, just on curtains. We used to use a solvent machine but do it all by hand now.

By not offering this service money is being left on the table - for another cc to pick up, and the carpet cleaning!

Cheers

Kev

[Andy Foster]

Can curtains be steam cleaned or do they shrink?

Andy

[Shaun_Ashmore]

pile distortion and shrinkge also water marking.

Shaun

[Kev Loomes]

I wouldnt go near them with steam to be honest. Your essentially putting water into them and there is the potential to shrink them - definately. Its just not worth the risk IMO. We use CFR handtools, but even then I wouldnt contemplate using them on curtains - unless the client accepts the shrinkage possibility - then fine

[jamesjames]

KEV, please could you tell me what product you use and method for cleaning curtains.
much appreciated
James

[Kev Loomes]

Dri-Sol from Alltec
Fabric Dry Cleaner from Restormate (Craftex)
Dri Pro from Prochem

Restormate is cheapest but it does pong more than the others. Prochem is too expensive but will use in an emergency cos he's a quarter of a mile away from me.

We hoover very thoroughly both sides even on the top edges. We then use terry towelling (as do most people I think) soaked in fluid and clean both sides. You'd be surprised how much dirt comes off this way, and we actually found it to clean better that a solvent machine.

I cant tell you how to do it because you'll find the best way yourself as everyone does it differently. Some use 2 pads and do both sides at the same time pressing the 2 pads together so the fabric is in between, others do one side then the other. It does require a certain knack but once you get used to it its fine.

Hope this helps

[jamesjames]

Kev, Thank you so much.