Percentage of calls from customers just looking for upholstery cleaning
- Thread starter Sam5599
- Start date
J Scott W
Member
Although I have not operated a cleaning business for several years, we promoted upholstery cleaning rather heavily. Not because we loved upholstery cleaning but because there was so little competition. Those who cared enough to clean their upholstery, usally alo wanted carpet cleaning and other services. Upholstery cleaning was the way to get to those nice carpet cleaning jobs through the back door.
Mikey P
Administrator
Probably about 15% of our calls just want upholstery
Most want something else done at the same time
Most want something else done at the same time
The Wizard
Member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2006
- Messages
- 164
Talking about upholstery cleaning, couple years ago we were at $120 for a sofa, this year we are at $250. By the end of the year who knows, maybe even come September we will raise a 3 seater sofa to $300 a love seat to $200 and a chair to $100.
We make over $300 an hour cleaning carpet, we should get the same if not more for an hour of upholstery cleaning.
Don't you agree ?
We make over $300 an hour cleaning carpet, we should get the same if not more for an hour of upholstery cleaning.
Don't you agree ?
Mikey P
Administrator
In the right market, you've be fine at $300.
But those people are few and far between
Where do you live Ian?
But those people are few and far between
Where do you live Ian?
GreenTechAgain
Member
For just upholstery, not even 5%.
Then it is usually a pet problem.
On-the-job per hour goal. 100 per, 115 with helper. And everything below and above.
Then it is usually a pet problem.
On-the-job per hour goal. 100 per, 115 with helper. And everything below and above.
The Wizard
Member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2006
- Messages
- 164
I live just outside Toronto, Canada.
It's a very high income area of our country.
It's a very high income area of our country.
Desk Jockey
Member
We had one account we did 30k for last year, another 15k but the average clients are just a few pieces a week.
Papa John
Lifetime Supportive Member
Their are 2 types of upholstery cleaners:
Those that Have bought a sofa from a customer, and Those that will in the future---
get training and beware of the Fire retardant issue with down ticking.
we like the increase in revenue that upholstery cleaning brings us--
but it sure is tough on the body---had one training tech say--" gee! never had my ass kicked by a sofa before!"--he quit that day.. lol
Those that Have bought a sofa from a customer, and Those that will in the future---
get training and beware of the Fire retardant issue with down ticking.
we like the increase in revenue that upholstery cleaning brings us--
but it sure is tough on the body---had one training tech say--" gee! never had my ass kicked by a sofa before!"--he quit that day.. lol
Onfire_02_01
Member
When I first started carpet cleaning back in the day, I hated doing stairs. Then I was introduced to my first sofa, I loved stairs after that.
Now I love to do upholstery because I got a Saphire Scientific upholstery tool and it is so much easier w/ less burning of my hand.
Papa John
Lifetime Supportive Member
I love the SS upholstery tool-- Cleaning upholstery is so much easier today thanks to tools like these--but the bending over, standing up and knelling is still back braking..
hogjowl
Idiot™
I hate upholstery!
$120 for a sofa.
When everybody else here is at $85.
People hang up on me.
However, when I get somebody willing to pay $120 ...
I still hate it!
$120 for a sofa.
When everybody else here is at $85.
People hang up on me.
However, when I get somebody willing to pay $120 ...
I still hate it!
Desk Jockey
Member
You don't have to pay me $120.00 to hang up on you. I'll gladly do it for free! 
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hogjowl
Idiot™
That's why I text.You don't have to pay me $120.00 to hang up on you for free!
Old Coastie
Supportive Member
You don't have to pay me $120.00 to hang up on you. I'll gladly do it for free!
Shoot, I'll run a tab, then. Do it twice tomorrow.
Gee, that sound TERRIBLY uncomfortable! Perhaps one of our San Fran posters could ofer an opinion?
Nate The Great
Member
I don't mind cleaning upholstery.... We get between $35-45LF here.... Some squawk about the price, others are happy to pay it.... Most of the time, someone else fooked it up or they had someone fook up another piece.... Upholstery isn't really fun, but it pays a lot better than carpet cleaning.... Believe it or not, imho most people view upholstery to have more value than carpets....
I use the Hydro-Kinetic and SS tool... HK is a dream when it comes to flat pieces/cushions, if it's very loose fabric it takes longer..... The SS is lighter but I still have yet to lock the trigger on it while cleaning....
I use the Hydro-Kinetic and SS tool... HK is a dream when it comes to flat pieces/cushions, if it's very loose fabric it takes longer..... The SS is lighter but I still have yet to lock the trigger on it while cleaning....
Cleanworks
Moderator
I think I need to raise my prices. I hate upholstery too. I did a job for an antique store today, supposed to be 1 sofa. When I got there, she added another one and a chair. As I am cleaning, she brought me several cushions. $400.00, 2 1/2 hours later, with an aching back for the rest of the day, you can't pay me enough to enjoy it. I use the pmf dripless tools and a Ron Toney special for large flat pieces.
Desk Jockey
Member
I spent 10 years exclusively cleaning upholstery in plant. Its easy work,
The difficulty is in how to clean it and what solutions to use. Cleaning is no harder that cleaning carpet and a lot easier than stairs.
I enjoy cleaning it. I like seeing the results. I also like that most cleaners fold like a deck of cards when the see upholstery.
Ohhh well I forget, I am Mighty and you guys are mere mortals. Carry on.
The difficulty is in how to clean it and what solutions to use. Cleaning is no harder that cleaning carpet and a lot easier than stairs.
I enjoy cleaning it. I like seeing the results. I also like that most cleaners fold like a deck of cards when the see upholstery.
Ohhh well I forget, I am Mighty and you guys are mere mortals. Carry on.
hogjowl
Idiot™
Mighty annoying ...
Desk Jockey
Member
Why thank you!
Brian H
Member
Upholstery cleaning is about 20% of our total cleaning dollars. If you are set up properly, it's easier to do and better money than cleaning carpet.
Old Coastie
Supportive Member
Brian, is your average upholstery only cleaning job, such as a sectional sofa, extremely dirty or is it more of a nice piece of furniture with maybe some light to medium dirt. Most of our jobs they are extremely dirty and I am wondering if everyone gets that or are we the "lucky" ones.
Anybody else who wants to chime in on this please do.
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Maybe five percent of calls are for upholstery-only cleaning. I don't mind doing it, but for me, it's not as profitable as carpet cleaning.
Knowing about the fire retardant staining issue has saved my bacon at least three times that I can think of.
Knowing about the fire retardant staining issue has saved my bacon at least three times that I can think of.
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KevinD
Member
For years I ran a dedicated truck doing just upholstery.
5-6 companies constantly feeding me work as some were just carpet cleaners
and the rest were afraid to touch half the stuff out there.
5-6 companies constantly feeding me work as some were just carpet cleaners
and the rest were afraid to touch half the stuff out there.
Cleanworks
Moderator
You could make a good business out of that. I used to subcontract upholstery from a large company who's cleaners would damage from lack of knowledge. I would go around treating water stains from overwetting, dye bleeds on jacquard weaves, steam and stretch skirts, etc. A nice tool for someone who wants to specialize in upholstery is the Von Schrader upholstery machine. You foam with the large rotating brush and vacuum. Fabric dries quickly and you can use Haitian shampoo for raw cottons and other sensitive fabrics. Haitian will damage and fade colors so be careful. You can also use foam solvents and fast dry shampooes.
We love cleaning upholstery.
Especially leather.
Fabric upholstery is not hard IF YOU LOOK AT DOING IT EASILY.
Our method for a three seat sofa:
Lay a drop sheet at the back of the sofa, which extends past the ends, then lay the sofa on it's back.
Place another drop sheet under the front section.
Pre-spray front kick panel & sides, then clean.
Leave drop sheets where they are & stand sofa upright.
Pre-spray other areas, place small stool under front kick panel so inside back cushions (if fixed) are at an easy angle to clean.
Remove stool & place under rear, then clean rear on an angle.
We find that by using these small stools, we have negligible back pain at the end of the day.
Clean arms & seats.
We also do this with single arm chairs, although I rarely use them on these.
If loose cushions, we carry a folding camp table about 4' long with adjustable legs to clean the cushions on.
Our tools??
FlexiPro battery sprayer from www.superiorcleaningsolutions.com
Hot Spot or CFX15 Extractor.
Makita variable speed polisher for agitation, set on lowest setting, used with 8" bonnets.
Variety of tools depending on fabric, condition, volume & shape, which include:
Rotovac ShearDry
HydroKinetic
Sapphire Scientific
MyteeDry
+ a specialised box with four small tools, as well as a small tool that came with my Hot Spot Extractor, ( http://xaact.com/new-hot-spot-xaact-spot/ ) with inbuilt heater.
On larger jobs we use the Rotovac CFX15 & external heater.
Hopefully, these are two pics of a trashed sofa we recently did.
YES, they DO have small dogs.
Especially leather.
Fabric upholstery is not hard IF YOU LOOK AT DOING IT EASILY.
Our method for a three seat sofa:
Lay a drop sheet at the back of the sofa, which extends past the ends, then lay the sofa on it's back.
Place another drop sheet under the front section.
Pre-spray front kick panel & sides, then clean.
Leave drop sheets where they are & stand sofa upright.
Pre-spray other areas, place small stool under front kick panel so inside back cushions (if fixed) are at an easy angle to clean.
Remove stool & place under rear, then clean rear on an angle.
We find that by using these small stools, we have negligible back pain at the end of the day.
Clean arms & seats.
We also do this with single arm chairs, although I rarely use them on these.
If loose cushions, we carry a folding camp table about 4' long with adjustable legs to clean the cushions on.
Our tools??
FlexiPro battery sprayer from www.superiorcleaningsolutions.com
Hot Spot or CFX15 Extractor.Makita variable speed polisher for agitation, set on lowest setting, used with 8" bonnets.
Variety of tools depending on fabric, condition, volume & shape, which include:
Rotovac ShearDry
HydroKinetic
Sapphire Scientific
MyteeDry
+ a specialised box with four small tools, as well as a small tool that came with my Hot Spot Extractor, ( http://xaact.com/new-hot-spot-xaact-spot/ ) with inbuilt heater.
On larger jobs we use the Rotovac CFX15 & external heater.
Hopefully, these are two pics of a trashed sofa we recently did.
YES, they DO have small dogs.
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Desk Jockey
Member
I like your process Shorty! 
