[mlscontractcleaner]

Hi all.

I run a contract cleaning firm and besides a lot of window cleaning look after the daily cleaning requirements of night clubs, schools, shops, offices, etc.

Now, cleaning the carpets in these places is easy. The clubs and pubs get really bad as thay're full of beer and vomit, but always come up looking great. I would however like to take on a lot more carpet cleaning and already have a great potential customer base in the window cleaning customers I have. They already know me so I obviously have a head start on other carpet cleaners wanting their business.

Now, before advertising the carpet cleaning side of my businesss properly I would like to attend a decent course, preferably carpet and upholstery cleaning. I've looked at the Pro chem website and their courses look good but I've nothing to compare them to so any advice you can offer would be very welcome.

I already have, in my humble opinion, a decent enough machine; a Woodbridge Power Plus with two vacuums and a heater, along with the normal hoses, two jet wand and hand tool, so that's fine, i just need to attend a course that would give me the necessary knowledge to go into a potential customers house and speak confidently, knowing that what I'm telling them is correct.

So, any advice, courses, marketing, relevent insurances, professional bodies, anything at all, would be very welcome.

Many thanks.

[Joe H]

Nationall Carpet Cleaners Association, 2 day course, Leicester, usually a Fri & sat

www.ncca.co.uk

[richie]

Hi,

I cleaned the carpets in pubs & clubs for more years than i care to remember with a TM.  I did however have to use a porty a couple of times which had a 500psi water pump & a good heater.  I agree that providing that you use the correct/good chemicals the carpets come really clean however it was was NOT easy especially when you hit the areas that have very heavy bar tar/build up.  One night club that we cleaned we were told that the previous company could not use their TM due to access so had to use a porty.  We took 2 portys with us and cleaned the carpets that were cleaned 3 months previous.  We found that the TM could have been used it was just because longer runs of hose was required that previous Co didnt use it.  Cleaned the club 3 months later with TM in less than half the time with less than half the effort plus carpets came cleaner and the the clean lasted longer.

Sorry about the long post,  im just trying to say that cleaning night clubs is not that easy especially when heavy build up is present.  It can be easier to get the carpet looking clean but to get the crap out that is out of sight is not that easy.  What chemicals & machine are you using?

Richie.

[mlscontractcleaner]

I'm using a Woodbridge Power Plus, a high ph pre spray and Craftex Top Grade Powder, which seems to work fine. All the clubs we do have their carpets cleaned either fortnightly or monthly.

I'll tell you what you could help me with if you don't mind; pricing.

When I price up a window cleaning job I can judge how long it'll take me and price it accordingly. With contract cleaning I charge pretty much a set hourly rate. What's the best way to price a carpet clean?

Cheers.

[Gerry Styles]

Commercialy you should look for £2.50 per square metre, I believe that is what most people on here would start at.
NCCA has already been mentioned. I attended the Prochem courses a few year ago, good course but not examined. Last week I went on the IICRC course held at Hydramaster in Redruth, Cornwall - good course and recognised qualification as is NCCA.

If you are looking for general qualifications for your staff you could contact The British Institute for Cleaning Science - BICSc - they offer courses for the Cleaning Operators Proficieny Certificate or your local college may offer NVQ in cleaning

[Jim_77]

£2.50/m² in a nightclub of e.g. 1,000m²

2½ grand?