[Paul Davidson]

Firstly hello to the Forum i'm new to it today.  I wondered if some of you experienced cleaners out there could help me?
I used to clean carpets 10 years or so ago for a small independent company and now after many years away from the business am considering setting up a new business on my own.  I wondered how good the new floor scrubber tools are in comparrison to the floor wands i used to use, how much time they save etc etc
Plus i wondered how much the average charge per square metre was.
Plus any other helpfull  set up info!
Many thanks in advance.

[Mike_Boxall]

Hi Harvey
Welcome to the forum.
When you say 'floor scrubber tools' as opposed to 'floor wands' were you referring to the larger self-contained automatic machines like this ( http://www.express-cleaning-supplies.co.uk/shopbask/it020014.htm )?
If thats what you meant then they're not really a suitable alternative to the traditional wand type portables. They are good in fixed locations and particularly larger areas but they lack the versatility and can be a real pain to move from site to site all day long.
With regard to pricing, there have been several topics that cover that recently and they shouldnt be too hard for you to find.
Dry systems have grown in popularity over the past 10 years and they have their place but overall the hot water extraction portable is still by far the most common machine being used.
Regards
Mike Boxall  

[Paul Davidson]

Thanks Mike, with regards to the 'scrubber ' i was thinking along the lines of a smaller scrubber floor tool that is flexible enough for normal residential cleaning.  You mentioned Dry Systems, i know absolutely nothing about them,how do they work? where cani find out more and are they worth cosidering, i would think that customers will like the sound of Dry Cleaning.  In the meantime thanks for your help.
Any other help and opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks  

[stevegunn]

Thanks Mike, with regards to the 'scrubber ' i was thinking along the lines of a smaller scrubber floor tool that is flexible enough for normal residential cleaning.  You mentioned Dry Systems, i know absolutely nothing about them,how do they work? where cani find out more and are they worth cosidering, i would think that customers will like the sound of Dry Cleaning.  In the meantime thanks for your help.
Any other help and opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks  

try http://www.envirodri.com/

[HolmansUKLTD]

Hi Harvey,

i found digging around this site its full of little nuggets!!

most of the info you need is in here somewhere

[Ken Wainwright]

Hi Harvey

All tools in all trades are a matter of personal preference. There are many CC's who swear by the scrubber tools that you talk of. And there's just as many who can't get on with them.

As you say you may be coming back to the industry, and presuming that your capital introduced will have to go a long way, I feel it would not be the best time to invest in a scrubber type tool that you may not even like. I would suggest a wand and a low speed rotary scrubber. The rotary machine is a truly versatile piece of kit. It will agitate pre-sprays, skim, bonnet clean, shampoo, bonnet dry and, at a push, be able to maintain a clean carpet with a dry powder compound. Just an option for you to consider.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Mike_Boxall]

Ken's summed it up there - much of your choice is dependent on how much you can justify to invest at this stage.
What sort of budget do you have in mind to get you going?
Perhaps a more important question is: do you plan to beat your competitors on price or quality or both?
Regards
Mike

[Paul Davidson]

Hey everybody thanks for your help and opinions it is very much appreciated!
Mike with regards to budget i dont have any figure in mind but if i return to carpet cleaning as i think i will it will be because i want a change of career not specifically for financial reasons although i do realise their is a very good living to be made.

Ken Wrote
'I would suggest a wand and a low speed rotary scrubber. The rotary machine is a truly versatile piece of kit. It will agitate pre-sprays, skim, bonnet clean, shampoo, bonnet dry and, at a push, be able to maintain a clean carpet with a dry powder compound'.
Where can i find out more about the mentioned Rotary Machine, does it purely scrub the carpet with no water injection or extraction or?
Thanks again for all your help and info!

[Ken Wainwright]

Harvey

The typical rotary scrubber is a standard, run of the mill floor polisher, but working at a lower RPM. It doesn't have any water injection or vacuum attached (unless it's a top of the range specialist high cost unit). If you attach a water tank for shampooing, there will be a drip feed to supply the solution. Victor is one of the biggest names for these machines, but naturally there are many others. If you do decide to go down this route, come back to the forum for specification advice.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[A_to_Z_Clean]

hi

"(1)The EnviroDri™ System offers an unrivalled method of deep cleaning all types of carpets from Wool to Sisal, safely without the use of water."  

...(2)The powder is allowed to dry and then sucked into a vacuum. This method leaves dry sponge particles at the base of the carpet yarn. And because the carpet is not rinsed, this method is not very effective.

ok, now i'm  
one is telling me they wery Good, and independent (2) i telling me the powder is crap???

So still one company one opinion, another company another opinion
I think i will ask them to send me free samples and try all of them on my carpets
Adam
AtoZ Clean

[Paul Davidson]

Some one on the site posted this address http://www.amtechuk.biz/cfr.html  
This machine looks very interesting, does anybody have any experience of this or this type of machine, it  certainly looks good!

[Ken Wainwright]

Harvey

It appears to be a great machine. But only if you're cleaning the likes of an Airport terminal, or a huge department store after they've removed all the stock. You wouldn't want to use it in Mrs. Smiths 12x12 lounge, especially if it's still got the 3 piece and TV/Video still in there
Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Ken Wainwright]

Adam

I feel that there's no such thing as a poor cleaning system. But any system can be executed poorly, or used in an inappropriate situation.

I'll give you a personal example. Last year, Masonic Lodge, an 80+ year old black and white chequered carpet. No underlay, nailed to the floor. Pile lifted 4 times. treated candle wax with iron and paper, during which soil was wicking up from beneath. Any water system could have created major wicking problems. I used Host Dry Extraction. It wasn't the best clean in the world, but it was the appropriate system to use, and it was 100% safe. We often come across problem cases whereby system X, Y or Z will perform better than A, B or C even though they may not remove as much soil. That's why we're called professionals, because we can apply our knowledge and skills to challenging situations.
Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Alan_Kennedy]

Hi Harvey,
I posted the amtech website on this forum. The machine I bought is the Pro 400 model. It certainly is a terrific machine (I would say that anyway). I'm not sure which machine Ken is talking about but the Pro 400 is certainly portable. (400psi and up to 83ft of hose). I went for this machine because I felt it gives almost TM performance. It is also interesting to note that a lot of the TM boys are buying CFR wands and upholstery tools.

Regards   Alan

[Terry_Burrows]

bit more info to confuse you ???I use an ashbys
carpet cleaner wand type, the sensei model small but packs a very big punch ;)great suction they are based just by dartford tunnel,this model will set you back about
£1200 ish!but worth it

[Ken Wainwright]

I agree with Alan about the Pro 400, and if I were to be replacing my portables, that is one of the top 3 or so I would consider. Slightly higher purchase price than "ordinary" portables, but has some unique features.

The model I was refering to in my earlier post was a large self contained walk behind unit designed for large open areas.

[Dynafoam]

Ken,

Like yourself, I have the Pro 400 (and the 1000) on a short-list, as a back-up machine.

What I cannot so far reconcile is the idea of useing a single-vac machine, produceing only 110" of water lift!

Perhaps one day I'll have a demo.

John.

[Ken Wainwright]

John

From what I've heard and seen, forget the usual vacuum set up. The CFR tools work in a different way, so it is considered by them that dual vacs are not required.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Lionel]

If I was you I would purchase one of the Prochem steempro range, I find these are excellent machines, also you rcv a free easy grip upholstery tool and chemical package.

[Alan_Kennedy]

John

As Ken says, the CFR tools work in a different way, one vac being sufficient for the job. I'm told it can recover over 90% of the solution, and from my limited experience of the machine, thats not far out. That being the case do you need two vacs?

Regards  Alan.