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stevnlevine 
Newbie 
Joined: 30/April/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 29 |
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 Topic: Yet Another FNGPosted: 30/April/2007 at 9:15am |
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I'm a retired career drycleaner with 30 years experience, and a little rug/carpet experience. I have a lot of "spotting" knowledge, and excellant customer service skills.
I want to enter the carpet cleaning business. Of course I want to do this for as little as possible. But I don't want to waste time and money either. I live in a small town, but there are hundreds of thousands of homes, and commercial bldgs within a 30 mile radius.
I'd like to start with my existing sedan, and a portable. But I'm open to a van and a truck mount, if it makes more sense. I'm too old to learn by own mistakes, and I'm anxious to learn from all of yours.
I've only spoken to one salesman at Rotovac, and he was hot to sell me a $2900 package , with a portable and his rotating head. Having been in business all these years. I would never buy anything of course, without hearing from the guys in the trenches first.
Any help offered will be appreciated greatly.Thanks , Steve Levine
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carpetologist
The Great Hardini 
Hocus Pocus Joined: 20/January/2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1712 |
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Posted: 30/April/2007 at 2:25pm |
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Steve,
You must still have cleaning fluid - Perk etc., in your veins and just can't get away from the cleaning industry. I myself was in the dry cleaning industry for years. I actually was an instructor for awhile with the Board of Education before crossing over to the carpet cleaning side. As you say, your cleaning (and especially spotting skills) will help you immensely. But this industry is really all about marketing and sales.
Many in this industry fake their cleaning skills and are successfull through marketing. If you have spoken with Rotovac you will find them aggressive but also very good people to do business with. We are a Rotovac distributor and feel very comfortable dealing with them. They will suggest the 360 and that's a wise choice especially if you are no spring chicken anymore. But you could save a few dollars by using a wand, your muscles and sweat.
There has been a lot mentioned about the Rotovac 360 on this site...suggest you do a Search on the subject.
Edited by Carpetologist - 30/April/2007 at 3:05pm |
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New & Used Professional Carpet Cleaning Machines, Restoration Equipment, Training, Service and Supplies |
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Ed Valentine
Carpet Cleaning Specialist 
Joined: 14/September/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 770 |
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Posted: 01/May/2007 at 8:15am |
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Steve;
Welcome to this great board. Since you are from the UK, I would suggest a great place to start would be to contact: Mr. Nick Vousden-White in Cornwall (www.worldofclean.co.uk/index.php), and Mr. John Bolton (IMHO, the worlds best and most knowledgable person on this planet right in your area, and also a friend of Nick's). Both these individuals will help you to succeed without all the frills and sugar coating!! I hope this helps. The very best; Ed Valentine cross-american.com |
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carpetologist
The Great Hardini
Hocus Pocus Joined: 20/January/2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1712 |
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Posted: 03/May/2007 at 3:36pm |
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I got myself into hot soup yesterday by openly saying that some carpet cleaners fake the technical side of the business. So let's have fun and do a small test.
Questions:
A- Do you know what pH is? and stands for?
B- Did you know that a high pH will strip the Teflon off new stainmaster carpets during cleaning?
C- Do you know what carpets require cleaning under 7 pH.
D- Do you know what pH is required to correct an alkaline burn, browning or yellow Haitian Cotton?
E- Do you know what product or instrument is required to indicate a pH reading?
F- Do you know what carpet fiber floats on water and why it's important for you to know?
G- Do you know why Olefin carpet is very difficult to clean and what specialty products are needed?
H- Do you know how to test for reverse pile?
I- Do you know what specialty product and method is required for successful wine and food dye removal?
J- Are you up-to-date on chemical burning tests? Example: What fiber burns with an orange flame and blue tip?
K- Do you know the very first procedure for removal of an unknown stain before you may set it permanently?
L- Do you know minimums and maximums of water per minute used during steam cleaning?
M- Do you know the type of carpet and pile that should never be pad or bonnet cleaned?
N- Do you know the types of carpet that should never be steam cleaned?
O- Do you know th costly damage that can be done to your equipment (especially pumps) when over-using Delimonene?
P- Do you know the consequences when leaving and not flushing P.O.G. from carpets?
Q- Do you know what shading is and how to correct it?
R- Do you know how long a carpet can be wet before it's beyond drying in a healthy way?
S- Do you know the difference between a stair tool and an upholstery?
T- Can you speak intelligently about atleast 3 other methods of carpet cleaning other than your's? Do you know the pro's and con's?
If you can't answer the questions above correctly you are faking it, Running on empty and pure luck. Be prepared for problems.
Your answer is to contact a reputable supplier and ask questions or start with a school course.
Edited by Carpetologist - 03/May/2007 at 3:58pm |
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