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As a requirement for one customer and as an add on for many, many others, we have cleaned a lot of linoleum and VCT flooring. We edge vac first, spray Hard Surface cleaner diluted per instructions, using a dedicated 2 1/2 gal container, use the brush for tile & grout on the floor, with the orange brush attachment for the Oreck in tight areas and under cabinets. Do a manageable section at a time and then remove with the squeegee/floor attachment and voila! a beautiful and very clean and non-slippery floor. Very little hand work, except a quick wipe in the corners.
The squeegee attachment actually lifts the dirt off of the floor, unlike the pad or mop which tends to push dirt particles into any crevices or textures of the vinyl.
We have had nothing but rave reviews on the above method…done for 3+ years.
Hope this helps….open to any suggestions.
Dave
We have 2 YB in our county and 1 YP and 1 Sprint. Serving approx 470K population. We have a 1/2 page ad in YBs and the YP, line only in Sprint (serves only a small area). All cost $1262.
We had a great result when we were the smallest color ad in the YP and are considering going back to that. It was at the end of the larger listings and I think, that since we were the last of the major listings, the potential customer was finished
shopping
. As we moved up closer to the front of the listing, we got a lot of shoppers and many called back later to order, but could not close due to the fact that they were going to get more numbers…
a possible advantage to being last or at least later in the listing is they may be at the end of their rope and ready to do business.Personally, I think many of us are reluctant to buy at the first number we hear on anything…we call or shop around for a better deal, usually. Of course, that may be just me.
So, to recoup $1262 we must clean a lot of carpet. And yes, we get a lot of business from the books, in addition to the referrals.
Looks like another use for duct tape…it might be a little wider and stick better. But electrical tape is a great idea. Just don’t have any around. I will try with duct tape on van already next time we use dirt napper..
Thanks for the tip.
Just arrived back home from #1 daughter’s wedding in Madison, WI..absolutely perfect wedding…hope you sell soon. Dave
We have never refused a credit card nor lost a single customer to that issue. I have had a sum total of 4 checks bounce since Aug 03 and all 4 were made good within a week. (1 was from a millionaire…wrote against wrong account)
When asked if we accept credit cards, I always say I prefer cash or check…as long as they don’t bounce…always said laughingly, making a joke of it and always works. All past credit cards were run through Cody, all 6-7 of them.
My bank of 23 years is located up against my back yard and is about a 150-200 foot walk from my side door…not a problem to make a deposit at all and we get credited that day. No float and immediately accessible.
I guess we are just blessed here that people either pay for services in cash or check. And here, cash or check are better any day than credit. We have PayPal for the occasional credit card and are covered.
Wish we didn’t have to do any credit at all…
I think dwell time is probably THE most important factor in carpet cleaning with ours or any other process. HWE has a dwell time with hot water to some chem and hot water of a microsecond or so…not very long. Our is minutes! And it is an awesome cleaner to boot!
I have taken to cleaning the most difficult room first after spraying a couple or three areas at one time, allowing for more dwell time in the other areas and then returning to the first room and rebuffing a final time after cleaning the other areas…amazing what comes up a second time after giving more time to work on fibers. Patience is well-rewarded in this profession.
Just a couple of thoughts..
Just last evening I cleaned a machine shop office floor..light tan commercial carpet and there was an oil spot approx 3 ft x 1ft and UGLY…I hit it with FAE and it was completely obliterated…I called this am and still nothing…they are totally amazed.
I agree about the 55 gal drum comment.
Thanks again Cody…
Dave
Neil,
I am having more and more success with FAE on pet stains and I think “ring around the room” as well…not sure about the latter, but I think so. FAE, just may do something about odor, without the organic chemical aroma associated with the deodorizers. Just a thought on the subject.
We had the same rxn to the deodorizer, some noses are very sensitive as we all know…
Have a great weekend…Dave
Greg,
Great job…
One of my best and largest customers manages group homes for mentally and physically challenged individuals. Each must have their carpet cleaned annually, except those who are in the semi-independent living quarters and they are treated as rentals. These are not well kept as they are almost not regulated. Several years ago I put the bug into the ear of the manager to place a clause in their renewal contract that carpeting must be cleaned by an approved carpet cleaner.
He ran it up to the legal folks and Voila! They have it in their contract now and it is saving them money when the folks leave and being left with carpeting that can be cleaned for the next person.
For those wishing to go after any of this business, you might look for group homes and those managing them, usually a non-profit, but good pay and great ministry as well.
Thanks again Greg for bringing this topic to the forefront…great initiative!
Dave
