Archive for Carpet Cleaning
Solvents: How, Where, When and Why – Cleaners Class Room
Posted by: | CommentsWednesday night we have a DOUBLE BILL in the Cleaners Classroom with two outstanding industry experts – Mike Kerner and Joe Domin of Sapphire Scientific.
As most of you know these guys have probably one of the most information rich approaches of anybody that presents.
Many cleaners are intimidated by solvents and often there is a lot of concern from building owners and homeowners about their use.
What type of cleaning situations do you use solvents on and what’s safe for both you and the environment?
Joe Domin
Senior Scientist
Joe is an industry icon respected for his chemical and all around expertise, from formulation and manufacturing to the development of efficient cleaning processes. He has engineered multiple carpet cleaning products considered to be industry standards and is committed to tackling the most challenging cleaning issues.
Mike Kerner
Senior Scientist
Mike is a gifted chemist who has master’s degree in chemistry from Purdue University. He’s worked behind-the-scenes in the industry for over 28 years in various capacities from technical consulting to regulatory compliance to quality control standards. Mike understands every facet of chemistry from manufacturing efficiencies to formulation performance. He also has a talent for distilling complex scientific principles into information people can use.
See you in the Cleaners Classroom Wednesday Night November 30 9 Eastern 6 Pacific
Pet Urine and Carpet Protector
Posted by: | CommentsAn email I received recently asked a question I hear frequently in one form or another.
Hi Scott,
When presenting the benefits of Maxim Advanced Carpet Protector to clients- I was asked, “Will Maxim Carpet Protector keep pet urine from staining my carpet?” I answered by saying Yes and NO – if urine is one time deposit in area – protector will aid in cleanup, if area is used as a toilet and converts to alakaline state and heavy salts develop – then protector will become damaged and urine will penetrate through the protector and stain.
I know you must have a better way of giving the straight scoop on protector for pet owners with urine issues. Thanks in advance.
Hi Mike,
Your response of “Yes and No” is right on the mark. Your client has not only given you the opportunity promote the protector but also to educate the client, set reasonable expectations and encourage regular professional cleaning. Consider the following response.
“Mrs. Jones, Maxim Advanced Protector provides a barrier that delays spills and accidents from being absorbed by the carpet fiber. So, if you become aware of a pet accident within a reasonable time, you will be able to blot it up and remove the contamination and odor and prevent a stain.”
Note that the time depends greatly on the fiber content, construction and condition of the carpet. A worn fiber will absorb urine sooner. Regular professional cleaning and application of a quality protector keep the protection at maximum effectiveness.
“However, if the accident occurs while you are away and you don’t notice it until you get home, the stain will still clean up easier than it would if the protector had not been applied. With a white cotton towel, some warm water and this spotter I am going to leave you, even a stain that has been there for several hours will clean up easily. By the way, this spotter comes with free lifetime refills. Just call our office if you run out of spotter.”
I suggest leaving either Home Pro Spotter customized with your company name and phone number or a spotter specifically for pet stains, All Is Forgiven. Check with your Interlink distributor for more information about either product.
“We know animals are creatures of habit. So, if urine is deposited repeatedly in the same area, you will need professional cleaning more often to deal with contamination and possible odors.”
I try to avoid making them upset by stating their pet will do this, but rather animals in general. I also focus on the health aspect “contamination” and odors rather than the possible stains. You now should have an add-on protector sale plus a regularly repeating client!
Summary – Homes with pets need regular professional cleaning, Maxim Carpet Protector and a leave behind spotter.
Scott Warrington
What does it really cost to run your truckmount per hour? by John Olson
Posted by: | CommentsSo Mr Crowley and Mr. snow say it only cost them $13 an hour to run their machine and mr Crowley said owner operators work for free so there is no labor if you run your own machine.
So lets play the “what’s my number game” it is really simple (since I’m not s smart man it has to be”
1 open your accounting software and find your expenses.
2 make sure to include your salary/owners draw unless your like Crowley and work for free
3 make sure to include replacement cost of your equipment as you should be putting enough away to make payments if something happened to your equipment
4 divide all of that by the numbers hours you out on your machine
Now Mr. Crowley pointed out they do a lot of work that doesn’t include carpet cleaning. He makes a good point and that rehired more math but unless your expenses include specific vehicles and maintenance etc etc for the different areas won’t make a lot of difference but it can be removed from the equation but requires more math and it should be done if your business is very diversified.
So let’s see if anyone can actually run their machine for $13 an hour well form those that don’t work for free
I’m hitting the wall by Mike Hughes
Posted by: | Comments
A typical MB thread gone wild…
I’ve been working 7 days a week here lately trying to stay afloat. The numbers are still a bit down from last year. I’m just not seeing the big commercial jobs like last year. I’m taking allot of cashflow work (hotel, apartment, national contactor, janitorial) I’ve been paying my bills, but there is no room for growth with the slim margins I’ve been running.
The student housing turn is around the corner, which is kind of like my Black Friday. If I can keep putting out 70-80+ hour weeks through the summer I should have some cash reserves. At that point, I need to take operations in another direction. I’m not busting my balls much longer just to break even.
I tell myself daily I need to raise prices, fire half my customers and take only profitable work (The kind I could pay someone else to do and still make money). On the other hand, I could cut expenses to absolute minimum, curb my ambition and be a content bottom feeder. Everyone wants to be at the top of the food chain, but you still have to eat on your way up. So, My question is in this economy how cocky can a BDO/O afford to be?
Woman consumer advises Mikey Boarders..
Posted by: | Comments
This is a GREAT thread from about a year ago when a freind from my “real life” decided to check out MB and all hell broke loose..
It’s not for the faint at heart but you will learn a bunch of how people look at us cleaners, their carpet and how we market ourselves to home owners.
State Of The Union Address @ our industry.. by Joe Harper
Posted by: | CommentsAs many of you know, I have been out of the day to day operations of our company
for 1 year. Here are some of my observation…since returning in march of this year.
It is UGLY out there…!!!!!!!
We have just ended our major cleaning season.While the numbers are basically the same.
Volume was down considerably. I have had 60 days to access the decline. here are a few
of my observations. These are a few of the fundamental changes I have seen.
First off…I can attribute some of the decline to “poor management” and the shying
away of proven procedures. Certainly the economy is a large factor…we are high end
cleaners & many of our clients are in foreclosure. Most are looking down the barrel of
a “short sale”.
We made the decision to RAISE our prices…rather than compete with other companies
cutting their price trying to survive. As a higher end cleaner..it is expected to loose a
certain percentage of clients every year to divorce and or relocation,economy ect…
We have also found that some of our previous clients…have been forced to suffer
through a inferior service because of budgetary restraints. While this is unfortunate…
it does allow this client to experience the “bottom-feeding bait & switch experience”..!
let your clients know that you clean under most beds, if…
Posted by: | CommentsThey can help out a bit…
This is off my company blog, feel free to swipe it if you are not in the Nor Cal area.
“Sure we can clean under your beds. Mom only knows just how much dander, pet hair, dust, lint, feathers and what not reside under the very piece of furniture that you spend up to 8 hours a day in. Chances are you have a heat register or air vent either nearby or directly under that bed.
Now imagine how that same dust, hair, dander and what not becoming air born while you’re asleep…
So..
We can disassemble and move your bed for you or if you would like to save time and money (Let them know you may charge for this service) you can get the room ready for us before we arrive on cleaning day. Either disassemble your bed frame and move it and your mattresses to another room, put your bed on furniture skidders and have us move it side to side if there is room to do so (a Queen size in a 10 by 10 room is a no go)
Or..
Remove your linens and lean the mattress up against the wall while it sits on the frame. Now we can step inside the frame and do a thorough cleaning.
Either way, we would love to clean under your beds for you. Your sinuses will love us for it..”
Do you have a Little Giant heater on your truckmount?
Posted by: | CommentsThan you’ll want to watch this series of videos for proper maintenance and care tips.
