[david bull]

hi there
i want to start out cleaning caravans as there are a few sites around my area i have a puzzi karcher as ive been told on this forum it isnt a very good cleaner for houses so was thinking about caravans carpets and upholstery has any one any idea how i should go about it and also what sort of money i should charge per caravan thinking of the on site ones cheers david

[markpowell]

What type of caravans statics or tourers, if you plug a machine into the power supply of a static on a site you will just keep tripping the power, if it is a tourer on someones drive and you can use a domestic supply then you will be fine. I have cleaned a few in my time and for the upholstery, matresses and carpets in a 6 berth it took around 3 hours and i charged £100.00. What spec is your machine? some of these caravans get a lot of hammer and the carpets can be in a worse state than those found in many homes.
Mark

[carpet guy]

I reckon cleaning caravans could be a much harder than domestic work, the carpets are often thin and loose needing an assistant to stretch and hold, but there are people doing it.

There was an advert last year for the sale of such a business, can't remember the details, but it appeared to be worthwhile and from the details I reckoned it was worth the asking price of £20 k.

An obvious advantage is having your work contained in close proximity, no advertising costs and an assured income.

[Karl Wildey]

Takes me back to the good old days.
When I started out I used to ring around the caravan sits in the winter and get some work to help me through those quiet and difficult times.

Caravan carpets and upholstery are no different to cleaning houses. Carpet is carpet and upholstery is made with fibres, as in houses upholstery.
the carpet tend to take a hammering in the lounge, but do tend to be man made fibres ,not wool, so clean up well.

As for your machine, its a simple fact about carpet cleaning machines, the bigger the machine the easier the job. If you got a big machine with big water tank and high heat, its loads easier ( and therefore more pounds per hour) than a small, 'have to keep filling it' no heat machine. On caravan sites getting hot water can be a problem.

But go with the caravan cleaning and as soon as you can get a bigger machine

[richie]

Hi David,
Many years ago i cleaned many caravans at sites around North Wales.  The carpets then were average pile & the upholstery a Draylon both of which clean up easier than you would think.  The machine you mention will do the job but as already mentioned a better machine would make life easier.  If you are on a budget go for the machine you mention then work your way up.  The only problem with caravan parks is that you may find it hard to get a decent price.

Richie.

[david bull]

thanks for your feedback i was thinking of £50 per static caravan carpet and upholstory i think if i ask to much i wont get any work.everyones got to start somewhere and i think this is my best option without getting a bank loan and hopefully get a better machine to do property thanks all your time is appreciated thank you.

[markpowell]

If you will eventually want £100 for a static start off at £80 because going from £50 to £100 will take some doing and your regular customers wont accept large price increases. It will take you 3 hours once you get upto speed, maybe 4 when you start so take into account the cost of advertising, fuel, chemicals and your not going to end up with much out of £50
Mark

[*paul_moss]

David aim more 60 to 80 quid per caravan, drop price to 50 on high volume. The machine will do ok but take you ages, just after you have got a few quid in the bank you can up grade and then speed up the jobs.
A full caravans carpets and upholstery takes me around 40 mins and I charge 60 low to 100 high.