[davep]

Hi,

Does anyone here offer curtain cleaning?  If so what is the best way to go about this, any training available i wonders..

[spencer davies]

Did some this morning for a private hospital, I feel its a nice little add on and has enabled me to gain carpet cleaning contracts over others that do not offer the service.

We use a little sahara which is easy to use.



Regards





S

[from edge2edge]

the hot solvent sahara is that

[maxcarpets]

Same here, One of my letting agents insists on curtains being cleaned so run the sahara over them.........job done!


Justin

[spencer davies]

Yes

[davep]

Is the solvent toxic?

[lands]

If you have'nt got a sahara mist on some prespray gold and wipe of with terry towel. Don't get a bad result either

[spencer davies]

Not the stuff I use.

[Paul Redden Countryfresh]

I have done quite a bit of solvent cleaning. Ist you must vac front and back of curtains. Pleats can be done with crevice tool or a special brush ( like a big pipe cleaner)  Hot solvent will clean better than cold, don't be tempted to wet clean as it may look ok but can distort or worse shrink 

Be careful of window handles as you clean. Keep some assorted plastic hooks as a lot of them are old and brittle.

I don't do the backs as it doesn't do a lot to faded linings. Explain it will be 70% efficient compared to a dry cleaners. But saves hassle of removal and re-fitting.


Don't forget to have ventilation and vent vac to outside with hose. Turn off fish pumps and take budgie's etc out.

Hope this helps

Paul

[gwrightson]

Amazes me why you have to solvent clean curtains!!

i certainly dont,
i found the best and most effeciant to use a steamer ,

A good vac first, micro splitter misted on, a gentle aggitatin with micro cloth, then a terry towel wrapped over head of steam tool . simply run down the fabric holding the backing with another terry towel. watch the dirt come of.
not only cleans but dresses the curtains at samr time.
I find another effective way , is to again m/s  but use a drymaster hand tool , I guess a cfr would do the same job

geoff

[markpowell]

How much can you charge for an average pair of curtains?
Mark

[PaulKing]

sub it out to a dry cleaner and receive more than enough work in recommendations in return

[John Kelly]

Get a plasterers hawk, a plastic one. Place this behind the fabric, mist with Microsplitter and wipe down with upholstery sponge or terry towel.
Always examine thoroughly for pre-existing damage. Curtains are prone to this due to sunlight and thermal currents passing through the fabric.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Cleaning onsite is far more expensive (or should be) than at the dry cleaners as all they do is put it in a modified washing machine with solvent in it.

Onsite curtain cleaning is for the customer who can not or can't be bothered to remove the cutains from where they hang.

I would have a conflict of interest if I cleaned curtains on site as my wife has a dry cleaners and I wouldn't want to upset her ever!

Shaun

[idealrob]

i think its a bit more than a modefied washing machine.

Idealrob

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I once worked at a place in Sheffield where they modified old fashioned barrel washing machines to take white spirit, although as you say it is a bit more than a glorified washing machine but how else can you describe it, as that is effectively what it does.

Shaun

[idealrob]

i go along with your derscription, but it dries it, recycles 999.9 of the chemical, takes out the moisture, filters etc. And you need a licence to operate one for the last year or  so
idealrob

[gwrightson]

I am cleaning some curtains next week , she has had them drycleaned before,
not a happy lady, said " they came back looking terrible and sticky"  !!!! 

I am going to give john,s method a go as they are not soiled at all

geoff

[edward coller]

Ive got a sahara for sale if any body out there wants to start dry cleaning curtains 07717 580085 Simon

[davep]

What are you after for it and how old is it Ed?