What’s the right approach?
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Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Carpet Cleaners Hangout
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URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2198
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Topic: What’s the right approach?
Posted By: Revee
Subject: What’s the right approach?
Date Posted: 15/December/2005 at 6:51am
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Totally new to this business. Cleaned my carpets & my in-laws for free, then had 1 paying job the other day. At the last job, the carpets were pretty bad in terms of spots and stains. The LR and DR and one 2 small BR were in decent condition, but the main hallway and FR and large bed room all had multiple spots and stains (5-10 affected areas per room). Was told some were paint, some were unknown, some might have been dog pee, etc. Few black spots by the fireplace also which did not seem to even lighten (perhaps soot, perhaps burned fibers?) I pre sprayed all the nasty areas and cleaned them 2-3 times each, but most of these small/dark spots did not come out. The urine areas seemed to come out 90%, but I wasn't sure what to do with the rest. I told the homeowner, who is a friend, that I would come back and take a stab at some of them another day for no charge because I need practice. But I expect you could spend 10-15 minutes on each spot trying to identify it, trying different solvents, etc. Which outside of a practice situatio, could add 3-4 hours to a job like this. My thought would be to let a homeowner know up front that spots and stains would receive pre-spray and perhaps 1 application of a general spot remover, but that if they still remained they there would be a charge per spot to address the problems. Is this wrong or inconsistent with what others are doing? Obviously if carpets were in overall good condition and there was a single area to attack for a stubborn spot I would just throw in the extra 12-20 minutes, but it seems when there are many there is a point where it would be impractical. Should I just plan to eat this time or charge for it? Sorry for the long post. As I said, I'm a newbie to cleaning and I dont know what is expected in this type of situation. (BTW - homeowner was happy with the job, not even concerned re the spots, said they want to have me clean again in the Spring, but who can say re the next person?) |
Replies:
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 15/December/2005 at 10:06am
You should probably take a carpet cleaning course. Talk to your supplier. He should be able to help you with that
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Posted By: TMac
Date Posted: 15/December/2005 at 10:37am
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Agitation and dwell time will help. When you prespray, hit the spots heavier, then agitate it in real good. Let the spots dwell longer and then flush good. Let the chems and agitation do the work.
Mac |
Posted By: Revee
Date Posted: 15/December/2005 at 2:21pm
| I took a day class but that had more to do with carpet construction, chemicals, etc and less to do with spot removal. I did let the pre-spray sit about ten minutes but it could be that I misted the area, as opposed to soaking the spots? Or maybe I should have used a spot remover rather than a pre-spray? If someone knows of a video or such on spot removal I would consider a home course. The IIRC courses in my area seem few and far between. |
Posted By: dennis_is_ok
Date Posted: 15/December/2005 at 5:52pm
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take the iicrc course then you'll know how to make a new carpet. you still wont know squat about those little stains LOL |
Posted By: carpetologist
Date Posted: 16/December/2005 at 3:14pm
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Revee, Call Core at: 1-800-825-2673 They have many videos and CD's on spotting. ------------- Kleen Kuip Supply Mart Inc. http://www.kleenkuip.com - New & Used Professional Carpet Cleaning Machines, Restoration Equipment, Training, Service and Supplies |
Posted By: hardworkers
Date Posted: 16/December/2005 at 10:45pm
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Revee, Go to Proschoice.com, they have a great spoting guide. But refers to usage of their products. I found the procedures are common for specific spot removal among other brands. Always carry a spray bottle of stain magic and/or avenge.
------------- do it right once |
Posted By: jtuseo
Date Posted: 17/December/2005 at 2:28pm
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Some stains will never come out! ------------- WWW.PREFERREDCARPETCLEANING.COM |
Posted By: Advantage
Date Posted: 18/December/2005 at 11:17am
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Those kind respond well to sissors and hot glue. ------------- CCT, UFT, OCT, CRT, RRT, WRT, SMT, FSRT, JTC, JSR, JWR, MTC a great life, if you don't weaken. |
Posted By: cleanex
Date Posted: 18/December/2005 at 12:12pm
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Guarantee to take out spots, if they don't come out they are stains, don't guarnatee to take out stains. Stains are some kind of dye damage, they are a result of dye removal, or dye added to the fiber, some specialized techniques can improve these types of stains, but you need to attend some classes on the proper means of providing this service. Remember the stain belongs to the customer, that is until you touch it, now it is your problem, and many a cleaner has gotten into trouble and ended up buying the customer anew carpet. You need to learn to prequalify your jobs before you ever start to clean and make your customer aware of what you think will happen when you clean the carpet, if you have concerns explain them to the custmer and get them to sign your work order, at least you have some form of protection if things go wrong. On real bad jobs take photos of the before and after job, loose rug cleaners take photos of almost every rug in their plant for those very reasons, just to protect themselves. Good luck in this very rewarding business! ------------- DON ELDRED YOU CAN "STAND" ON OUR REPUTATION |
Posted By: cutpile
Date Posted: 18/December/2005 at 5:41pm
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Cleanex has it right for the spots and stains part of it.... The other part of it....GET PAID FOR YOUR TIME... I made this mistake when I started out as well....If you set the right expectations with the customers...you will not have to worry about selling price or coming back out to spot and redo their carpeting. I am NOT talking about doing a "half-a$$" job! You should know what you are talking about when you speak with a customer. If you have confidence in your abilities....this will also help you convey your confidence in whether a stain will come up or not. As stated before as well...take the IICRC class. Even knowing how a carpet fiber is made and what affects its contruction will tell you alot about each stain and what you can expect. To Your Success, Kris |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 18/December/2005 at 6:12pm
Where do we signup for one of these IICRC confidence classes? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 18/December/2005 at 9:50pm
Don't get me started
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Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 18/December/2005 at 11:10pm
Don't tell me you signed up and never even told me? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 18/December/2005 at 11:43pm
Not freakin likely
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Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 19/December/2005 at 4:55pm
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No one tells me anything? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: Revee
Date Posted: 19/December/2005 at 5:40pm
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Thanks guys. I do have a spotting kit and a spotting guide which
suggests different spot removers for various types of things ranging
from red wine to coffee and pet urine. But I think something more
comprehensive in terms of a video or class would definitely help me,
especially when the customer no longer remembers [or admits] what
caused the spot/stain. My main concern had to do with the billing aspects. Personally, I don't think it unreasonable to spend a few minutes, maybe 10-15 on a particularly tough spot if the room is in decent shape to begin with. But multiplying this by 3 to 5 'unknown's per room would quickly eat up a lot of time and profit. Sounds like a pre qualification round with the customer to inspect the carpets and set expectations is the best thing for the immediate near term, followed by some additional training/experience in spot removal techniques. |
Posted By: Mr.Mike
Date Posted: 19/December/2005 at 5:44pm
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I always start with... "I cannot guarantee that these spots will come out." The typical customer always expects miracles. ------------- I'm positive about the negative...and negative about the positive. |
Posted By: Advantage
Date Posted: 19/December/2005 at 7:36pm
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I like the ones where the carpet is so dirty you can't see the stains for the dirt. Those are the ones you have to be really careful with the customers. How do you tell a customer "After I scrape some of this crud off your carpet I can tell you if I can get the stains out. ------------- CCT, UFT, OCT, CRT, RRT, WRT, SMT, FSRT, JTC, JSR, JWR, MTC a great life, if you don't weaken. |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 19/December/2005 at 8:38pm
Be blunt? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: SSDB
Date Posted: 26/January/2006 at 12:22am
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I'm just now getting back into the business (was in it in the 80's and 90's - now buying another TM/1 ton).
Anyway. I use to explain to customers that stains will not come out, most spots will. For stains I can do a cut and plug if they have additional carpet or can even take it from the corner of a closet. Some customers would take the cut and plug (up$ell) If the carpet is absolutely filthy, I use to always write that I recommend the carpet be replaced. No Guarantees! I read the the work order (invoice) to the customer, had them sign it to OK me to start the work, then have them sign it again to approve the work when I was completed. Most customers KNOW when their carpet looks like S**T, others don't and need an honest professional opinion. Just remember to always Cover Your Rear. The last thing you want to do is replace a customers carpet because you failed to note the true condition on the invoice. (CYA). |