[TVCS]

Hi folks,
I run a cleaning company and we usually handle the cleaning of void properties for a couple of housing associations.  We never have to deal with carpet cleaning as most of the properties we get to work in, we have to remove the carpets as they are beyond saving.
Another housing association have asked us to look at a property for them where the tennant ( an old fella I gather) has a thing for talc.  ( their words not mine)
From all accounts he really splashes it about but never hoovers or vacs.  This chaps health visitor says that in the last 3 months she has never seen signs of him hoovering and the carpets are now just full of todden in talc. 
They want us to clean the whole property and 'do something with the carpets'. 
Not being trained in carpet cleaning at all, the only capet cleaning I have ever done was with a Rug Dr ( I'm sure you guys are all shaking your heads at the moment).    If this carpet is as bad as they are decribing what would be the best option regarding the removal of all the talc?
  If it is really bad I know a local company that I might sub the carpet cleaning to. 

I hope you dont mind me asking on here but I was wondering if anyone had encountered a similar carpet and might have some advice .

Thanks in advance

Ant
TVCS

[Jim_77]

Hi Ant

The lack of replies so far is probably because all the carpet cleaners have a crick in their neck, from shaking their heads so much

From the way you describe this house, the place isn't going to be spotless.  You could end up causing more of a problem than you're solving if you go down the rug doctor route.  That type of machine is going to mix detergent with dirt and swish it round a bit, and may leave the carpets looking awful.

I could bang on all night about why you shouldn't set about a carpet with a rug doctor or vax but i can't be bothered

Contact Trevor Ives, he's fairly close to you and has been in the game longer than Motty's been commentating football

enquiries@kinverclean.co.uk

[Joe H]

My first thoughts are - I would not be wetting the carpet in a hurry.
Dry cleaning as in vaccing, vaccing and more vaccing.
and not just with a normal run of the mill vac cleaner - something like a Kirby which beats the carpet.
but depending how much troddon in the talc is  - advisable to use something like an Envirodri or Host to really get into the pile to lift the rubbish out.

[TVCS]

Thanks for the replies.

I have no intention of using a rug Dr, I was just saying that it was the only carpet cleaning machine I had used and as such I had no experience of cleaning carpets. 

I will try and find a good vac and see what it looks like after a good rousting.    IS it possible to hire vacs such as Kirbys as I am lead to beleive they are not cheap.
Thanks again for the replies,
Ant
TVCS

[Paul_Ashworth]

What hoover do you use, I would recommend the SEBO BS36 and are about £200.00 you can also use an upgraded red brush in them which about £6.50 however if you have got to buy one its probably cheaper to get a proffesional in to clean it.

Paul

[Gerry Styles]

I have a Host Liberator, would be happy to assist if you want

Gerry
 0800 2800 544

[TVCS]

Having a look at the job today folks, so will be able to assess what state it is in.  If I can take pics I will and will try and post some later. 
Ant
TVCS

[TVCS]

Thanks for the offer Gerry.

[Kinver_Clean]

Thanks for that Jim!!
It was my birthday yesterday- I know I'm a bit ancient but I don't need reminding it's another year gone.
If it is really that full of powder an ordinary vac may well clog up.
I would be pleased to advise if required.

Trevor

[TVCS]

Had a look today, but didnt manage to get any pics. 

Well,  where to start.  I think this gentleman must spend all his money on talc!! each room is over an inch deep.  ( no joke, honest)

All the carpets are  seriously trodden in, some worse than others .  I explained to the chap about our limitations regarding cleaning the carpets and his reply was      " well they only need a bit of a hoovering!"  I am sure they would come up pretty good with the right machine.

Now, I have been looking around online regarding industrial hoovers and have found a site that sell refurbed Kirby's.  We are not planning at the moment to move into carpet cleaning. ( If we do we will obviously go down the training route first.) But alot of jobs we are asked to quote for, we would benefit from a more powerful machine.   

Are Kirby's as good as the price would indicate.   I see that the Kirby machines can be used for spot removal too.  What other brands are worth considering?

Sorry to ask so many questions but I think that you guys are the guys to ask about hoovers etc.  We dont have limitless funds so I would like to make a sound purchase that will earn its keep, as it were.

Thanks again for the advice and replies so far.

Ant
TVCS

[Joe H]

The Kirby, in my opinion, is a very good vacuum cleaner - but not worth the asking price new, nor do I like the selling technique.
I got one off ebay and it cost me £110, and its about 10 years old.
Some say they are too heavy - I think they are about the weight of a Dyson, perhaps a bit more but not much.
They can be difficult to push and pull if you get the "wrong" model.
Mine, and remember its 10 years old, has a foot operated switch that operates a drive so pushing and pulling becomes as light as a feather.
Good beater bar on the Kirbys, better I think then the Sebo BS36.
Downside I find is that to convert to be able to use a hand hose/brush is too fiddly.

Buy one second hand in good nik with the power drive for £100 or thereabouts.

[John Kelly]

If its as bad as you say be aware that regardless of the vacuum cleaner used the pores in the bags and filters are going to clog almost immediately.

[Simon@arenaclean]

I explained to the chap about our limitations regarding cleaning the carpets and his reply was      " well they only need a bit of a hoovering!" 

Don't you just love that! Try to offer advice, tell him if it's so easy he can do it

[TVCS]

Arenaclean.  I did bite my tongue when he said that as in his hallway there is a hoover that probably hasnt mooved for a about 2 years.  It looked new just antiqued by the talc. 

[Jim_77]

I'd be tempted to walk away, it's not sounding worth it.  If this job was meant to be you'd have it in the bag by now.

Getting the job done would be perfectly possible - getting the client to agree to a sensible price for what needs doing sounds like it's going to be impossible.

Seriously, from the sounds of it if it was economically possible and it really is that deep in talc, I'd investigate the viability of removing the carpets and getting them back-dusted in a rug plant with a rug badger.

You could sweep up the talc, bottle it and sell it back to the old boy

[TVCS]

You could sweep up the talc, bottle it and sell it back to the old boy 

Very good idea.   
I dont think he will go for the quote anyway, he kept telling me that he is on  a pension etc, but this is an exreme clean just to find the carpets as the whole house is a tip.  To say he collects things is an understatement.  The fact that the housing association has got him to get a quote must make him realise that he needs to get it done.  We have learnt the hard way on a couple of jobs in the past, so now we stick to our pricing guns as it were. 
Ant
TVCS