Stair Tools
Printed From: Carpet Cleaning Forum
Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Carpet Cleaners Hangout
Forum Description: General discussion on anything related to carpet cleaning
URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1220
Printed Date: 16/February/2025 at 3:27pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Stair Tools
Posted By: 77748
Subject: Stair Tools
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 2:31am
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I have been using a upholstery tool on stairs. which burns me out. Frustrating because do not like to sweat. Have to get down on my knees, knees wet. Thinking about buying a 30 inch swivel ergonomic stair tool with the spray jet inside. Cost about 180 to 250.00 US Dollars. Any feedback |
Thanks!Replies:
Posted By: Cleaner1
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 6:42am
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I have looked at the swivel tool as well. Unfortunatley they dont seem to work that well. talk to ted....he is away this week but back on tuesday. He sure will give you the deal on these swivel head wands. He tells me alot of guys that bought them don't really like them much... and I can see why. I was also very nervous about ordering one...after talking with Ted...I ordered the Mini-wand version with a fixed head. I, like you have used furniture type tools for years and my back is killing me. Hey Mr. Steamer....what do you use on stairs?? ------------- Cleaner1 |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 7:49am
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I have a stair tool... but I hate having to change attachments... so I just use the wand... and suction them down after.... hand tool is a little bit under powered for cleaning stairs ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: cleanex
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 8:51am
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Nobody makes a good stair tool, maybe someday it will happen. Back breaking work if you have a lot of stairs to do. ------------- DON ELDRED YOU CAN "STAND" ON OUR REPUTATION |
Posted By: Willy Parsons
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 10:19am
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I have 2- a Hydramaster half wand and a PMF 6 inch hand tool - I always use the hand held. ------------- Certified to be certifiable. |
Posted By: Cleaner1
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 12:09pm
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Willy Dont like the half wand? What is wrong with it? I am looking at buying one myself. Dont want to waste the money if it is no good....I use a gun and vacuum right now....works well but hard on the back and leaves carpet too wet!
------------- Cleaner1 |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 2:17pm
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I use a gun and vacuum right now....works well but hard on the back and leaves carpet too wet! What ??? vac from a vac or from tm? Why too wet cleaner1??
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Posted By: Steaminpile
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 3:04pm
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I use a PMF half wand and I think it's great
no swivel head though.
Only complaint I'd have is that it's maybe a little too long on the last step or two at times.
but after using my wand for 5 1/2 years I love not having to hold my arms in the air like a monkey cleaning stairs any more
I actually prefer to use less pressure and solution on stairs
------------- A.K.A. Andy |
Posted By: Willy Parsons
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 3:42pm
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It's just a pain in the nether regions to do a riser or a nose on the stair with a half wand. I feel I have better control with the PMF. ------------- Certified to be certifiable. |
Posted By: Willy Parsons
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 3:48pm
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http://www.carpet-cleaning-equipment.net/accessories_stairtools.shtml - http://www.carpet-cleaning-equipment.net/accessories_stairto ols.shtml The one on the top of the page is what I use. It gives me outstanding results.And you can whip a sofa off in NO time. ------------- Certified to be certifiable. |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 4:33pm
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I just hate having to change attachments... too time consuming.. ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: Steaminpile
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 4:34pm
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the 40" is what I'm using
I just flip it around for risers,,,no biggy
different strokes for different folks though
I just prefer to stand upright doing stairs ------------- A.K.A. Andy |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 16/March/2005 at 7:21pm
| That's a nice one WIlly 6" path |
Posted By: Cleaner1
Date Posted: 17/March/2005 at 6:14am
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John L I use the vac from my truck mount. The water goes down with the gun first and then sucked up.....as you know when the water is not immediatley extracted like in the case of a wand where the water is sprayed in and vacuumed off ......it does take longer to dry. That is why I was considering the mini-wand. As you know.....carpets are always the dirtiest on steps which usually requires more prespray....scrubbing...dwell time...etc.....which results in longer drying times. Any advise on the mini-wand? Should I just keep using my own method.....my back hurts!! ------------- Cleaner1 |
Posted By: Willy Parsons
Date Posted: 17/March/2005 at 8:56am
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http://www.hydramaster.com/accessories/tools.asp - http://www.hydramaster.com/accessories/tools.asp The UT 40 is the half wand I have. Not a big fan. ------------- Certified to be certifiable. |
Posted By: Mr.Mike
Date Posted: 17/March/2005 at 11:37am
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too time consuming???...takes 10 seconds if you have a shut-off valve. ------------- I'm positive about the negative...and negative about the positive. |
MR. STEAMER wrote:Posted By: Lisa Smith
Date Posted: 17/March/2005 at 12:35pm
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I have a fixed head Castex style stair tool, and a six inch hand held. I prefer the longer tool, but love the 6" for detailing in closets, around toilets, etc...of course both of my tools are glided and that makes them much easier to use. The 6" tool I have has a very wide slot, and without the glide it makes an awful racket...it also locks down on the rug without the glide. The glide turns it from an awkward, unwieldy dinosaur into a really efficient tool. I also run my stair tools on 2" hose right to a metal reducer. I like the way that works better than using a whip hose. I only use a whip on upholstery....and men...lol. Take care, Lisa |
Posted By: Lisa Smith
Date Posted: 17/March/2005 at 1:04pm
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GREENIE here. Hey Willy, wanna sell that UT-40? watchout I'm a cheap bastard, I'll try and trade in teflon.
GREENIE (this is my one post for the year)
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Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 17/March/2005 at 5:57pm
------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 17/March/2005 at 6:26pm
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I can envision a cleaner going right from the floor directly to the top of
the couch with his 14" wide Titanium. Not for me . Bought the tool use the tool ! Tools and knowledge, that's supposed to be what separates us from the guy operating a rinse n vac out of the back of a ford pinto. right? Steamer, it's not fun I agree. today i changed accessories at least 10 times on one job. I used a small internal spray tool to trim out the corners and around dresser etc. Used the butler wand for trimming out more open areas and transitions to tile area. I used the Rotovac to clean the center and the small tool again on the steps. But it was a 265.00 job in 3.5 hours = 75.71/hr just what I shot for. Thats when having a helper really makes a difference. Today I didn't have one and I notice it, cause I'm out of shape from the winter. With a helper at least one can trim and the other rake or finish up a previous room etc. or do some of the gopher work of putting things back in the van etc. to use the wrong tool when the right one is in the van is just lazy IMO |
Posted By: 77748
Date Posted: 17/March/2005 at 7:39pm
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Damn it looks as though most people use the upholstery tool. Not the ergonomic stair tool with the spray jet inside. Cost about 180 to 250.00 US Dollars. Which is for S t a i r s. Thats is pretty sad that the best way looks like we have do use the upholstery style tool getting down on our knees. Besides the extra labor changing out the tool lets say upholstery tool versus ergonomic stair tool with the spray jet inside. People who have one does it cleanand dry well . If it is just the extra labor and the tool works I am running to buy one now any feedbacks |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 17/March/2005 at 8:15pm
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the upholstery tool doesn't put out enough pressure or heat... ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 17/March/2005 at 8:34pm
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Steamer, pressure on the internal spray wand is just fine and so is the
heat . It is just inconvenient and yes bending down on your knees is the only way I know to take the pressure off the back when cleaning steps. Unless of course you use a I/2 wand set up, I suppose. Steamer , have you had a chance to try the internal spray hand tool ?? It is pretty good for car detailing, regular upholstery and for the lack of a better tool at this time STEPS. And I use it around toilets and beside the dressers and in small , tight spaces ( assuming we all do quality detail type work) |
Posted By: Steaminpile
Date Posted: 18/March/2005 at 1:23am
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half wand
tried the uph. tool thing.................too hard on the back ------------- A.K.A. Andy |
......rather use my regular wandPosted By: John L
Date Posted: 18/March/2005 at 4:12am
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Don't like doing stairs or upholstery. Hallways are my favorite, nothing in the way. |
Posted By: Willy Parsons
Date Posted: 18/March/2005 at 8:38am
OK half wanders- How do you get that filthy nose or riser? You have to overspray and use an open hose for drying. Seems like just as much or more work to me. And PLEASE- DON'T argue with me. I'm always right. ------------- Certified to be certifiable. |
Posted By: Mr.Mike
Date Posted: 18/March/2005 at 8:53am
Boo-Hoo...Cry me a River Steamer. ------------- I'm positive about the negative...and negative about the positive. |
Posted By: Steaminpile
Date Posted: 18/March/2005 at 11:18am
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Willy
this is how I've always done them
doing the backstroke on the stair I always curve it downwards getting the nose real good.
do 4 steps at a time,flip halfy ,and clean the riser real quick on the way back up.
Yeah I gotta give the nose and riser a quick go over with the hose on the way back down.
but it still beats being on my hands and knees.......did them for over 5 years with just a wand......so halfy is like a dream now.
------------- A.K.A. Andy |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 18/March/2005 at 4:58pm
| Do they make a halfy with an internal sprayer??? Just wondering? |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 18/March/2005 at 7:36pm
------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 18/March/2005 at 11:21pm
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That is the point several of us have been trying to make " charge enough
so you feel you don't have to do 5 jobs per day TO MAKE A LIVING ". Do a thorough and complete job, ( This means not using you floor tool on the upholstery or steps. Have the right tools for the job, Change tools when required, take your time, move furniture, tab furniture, do good work and charge accordingly. Doing 5 to seven jobs per day , every day is RIDICULOUS IMO, Raise the prices and make as much on 3-4 jobs and relax a bit. If you have five customers per day , you are not short of business, it is time to start raising rates until you start leveling off on the work load. You will still be making as much money and getting it from a more appreciative and better clientele. IMHO This advise applies well if you are not subbing. If you are subbing I assume you don't have any control over what your price structure or work load is??? Or am I all wet here.? |
Posted By: Lisa Smith
Date Posted: 18/March/2005 at 11:44pm
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Gordie is right on there. That is my philosophy too. Only I only do 3 jobs a day. Take care, Lisa |
Posted By: Mr.Mike
Date Posted: 19/March/2005 at 12:24am
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I once worked with a guy who used only his wand to do stairs. But when he got to the vertical part of the step he would hold the wand on the edge of the stair and just let the water soak down to the next step. When it was fully saturated he'd pull the vac hose off the wand and use the hose cuff to dry the entire step. Not my idea of doing stairs but everyone has their own technique. I asked him if he ever worried about overwetting or browning out the stairs. He laughed and said "Heck No". This of course was after his morning coffee and wacky tobacky cigarette. All in a days work. ------------- I'm positive about the negative...and negative about the positive. |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 19/March/2005 at 1:00am
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I have cleaned like that a time or two and once I Browned a full flight it
wasn't pretty. Also something very few people realize. Under the steps many people store things like family pictures and other things they have in boxes. when doing steps and just spraying to your hearts content and then suctioning with the hose you may have a dripping problem down onto the contents below. ( BEEN THERE DONE THAT ) The internal spray tool stops the majority of any chance of this happening |
Posted By: Willy Parsons
Date Posted: 19/March/2005 at 10:31am
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Ted has both kinds here on site http://www.kleenkuip.com/wands_and_hand_tools/upholstery_and_detailing_tools.htm - http://www.kleenkuip.com/wands_and_hand_tools/upholstery_and _detailing_tools.htm ------------- Certified to be certifiable. |
Posted By: 77748
Date Posted: 19/March/2005 at 11:50am
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Ok on the link what about the first one anyone have that 30 inch and there opinion (thinking about the one with the jet inside) Thanks! |
Posted By: Steaminpile
Date Posted: 19/March/2005 at 7:40pm
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I have the 40" right below it
but the one you're looking at getting as long as it's comfortable to YOU...should be good should hold heat well also probably better than mine for risers come to think of it ------------- A.K.A. Andy |
Posted By: 77748
Date Posted: 19/March/2005 at 9:27pm
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Steampile ! The link by Willie Parsons does show anything about the 40. Where can you see the the pic on that ? Thanks! |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 19/March/2005 at 9:46pm
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I have never brown stairs... been doing this a long time... works for me... when you go over the steps with a vac hose, they always looks wonderful... actually it adds to the job.... my customers love the way I do stairs I get compliments all the time... looks much better than what it does with a stair tool ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: Steaminpile
Date Posted: 19/March/2005 at 10:10pm
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77748
4th one down
http://www.carpet-cleaning-equipment.net/accessories_stairtools.shtml - http://www.carpet-cleaning-equipment.net/accessories_stairto ols.shtml ------------- A.K.A. Andy |