Feedback and Ideas on a New Upholstery Cleaning Class

[Jim Pemberton]

I'm working on a new upholstery cleaning class (not for IICRC certification).

This class will be a part of a larger program where the chemistry, fibers, and science stuff will be taught on another day, and not its not necessary to attend the days all at once.

For the "on the job" upholstery cleaning day, when would you want to have the tools and products discussed?

1. At the very beginning of the class, before the set up and procedures were discussed; sort of like a "load list"?

2. After "Arrival, Inspection, and Testing", but before "The Procedures".

I'm wanting to create something that has a logical flow and makes sense to the guy or gal in the field, and would appreciate all of your feedback.

 

[Desk Jockey]

As you have listed, #1 then #2.

These are the items you will need and how they are used, then this is what we inspect for and how we test for color fastness.

 

[Dolly Llama]

I'm wanting to create something that has a logical flow and makes sense to the guy or gal in the field, and would appreciate all of your feedback.

then "logically" (to me anyway) it would be done/taught just like it's done in the real world of Mrs Phiff's home

numbah two... "Arrival, Inspection, and Testing" ...then the vac, wash and blow dry (hands on/tools part)


..L.T.A.

 

[Bjorn]

nothing fancy

The great Lazy boy add on for 50 bucks ( two Lazy boy chairs cleaned in no time ) using real life chemistry and education and extraction.

When done right this is a money maker add on.

 

[Royal Man]

Rob is also creatng an upholstery cleaning DVD.

Now I won't know which one to choose.

 

[handdi]

jim please offer dvd i will buy one for sure

 

[Ryan]

Rob is also creatng an upholstery cleaning DVD.

Now I won't know which one to choose.

During my monthly visit over there, I saw the way he was talking to you. He wouldn't even post the methods he used to clean the upholstery. I think he is now purposely withholding info on his website so he can sell dvds.

Mikey thanks for all the FREE info on here.... but don't let that thanks go to your head... you need to be able to walk through doors to clean carpet!! lol

 

[Royal Man]

How true.

I ask how he cleaned a zillion fultons, chems, method etc..

Some real information.

And he just wanted to brag about his big stack (Can't see why a person has a need to brag so much)

The newbies fell for it, It made them drool more than usual.

They fall for it every time without seeing it is just a lead in for a new product line.

Sorry about dragging this forum down talking about another.

Carry on!!

 

[Art Kelley]

It was one of the highlights of my life to be in your class at Mikefest this year Jim. Whatever you come up with is fine by me. There you talked about common situations in normal everyday upholstery cleaning and the tools and chemicals used. The hands-on with the different tools on that poor microfiber sofa was great. I REALLY liked the 2 hour time of the course as my ADD gets me jumpy sitting for a long stretch even though I had a laptop and a USA Today going too.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Thanks for everything thus far.

I'll have it available on line some time early next year.

 

[harryhides]

I'm working on a new upholstery cleaning class (not for IICRC certification).
For the "on the job" upholstery cleaning day, when would you want to have the tools and products discussed?

1. At the very beginning of the class, before the set up and procedures were discussed; sort of like a "load list"?

2. After "Arrival, Inspection, and Testing", but before "The Procedures".

I'm wanting to create something that has a logical flow and makes sense to the guy or gal in the field, and would appreciate all of your feedback.

My first thought was to say #2 but if you are going into some detail about the pros and cons of each tool and chem, then I'd say #1- right at the beginning so that when it's time to use the tools it would be a good form of repetition that would really help the ADD's among us.

 

[Shorty]

I'm working on a new upholstery cleaning class (not for IICRC certification).

This class will be a part of a larger program where the chemistry, fibers, and science stuff will be taught on another day, and not its not necessary to attend the days all at once.

For the "on the job" upholstery cleaning day, when would you want to have the tools and products discussed?

1. At the very beginning of the class, before the set up and procedures were discussed; sort of like a "load list"?

2. After "Arrival, Inspection, and Testing", but before "The Procedures".

I'm wanting to create something that has a logical flow and makes sense to the guy or gal in the field, and would appreciate all of your feedback.

I like to be different.

I would say # 2 first.

Reason being is that you first need to identify the fabric and any concerns the upholstery may present so that you know what tools and products you will need.

It's not much good if you get your equipment and chemicals ready to clean a synthetic suite, and when you get there you find it is a silk, moir, Haiitian cotton or some other exotic fabric.

Granted, it is a great idea to have a load list, but said load list should prepare you for all contingencies.

So as Harry say's, maybe at the begining so that people know what they will need, than again to reinforce those points amongst people like me, prior to the procedures section.

Hope I don't confuse you.

Ooroo,

:roll:

 

[FB7777]

I would say #2

When you did your presentation in Nashville, you had several styles of upholstery tools , each with different benefits and drawbacks when compared to the other.

I carry both a dri master and internal jet tool on each truck, although I did like the Prochem tool you brought :mrgreen:

One thing in particular that stuck with me during your presentation was the over wetting on the fabric backing . Illustrating that visual, and the potential financial hazards associated, is a powerful message in your presentation.

Using different tools during the actual cleaning is important as well... personal preference and familiarity with the tools used will keep the crowd interested.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Thanks Fred

My presentation at Mikeyfest was tailored to Mikey's specifications about tools, and the feedback made me think a great deal about changing the direction of my training and developing this class I'm working on.

Feedback like this confirms my thinking that I'm heading in the right direction.

Thanks

(and keep the suggestions coming)

 

[mirf]

Jim,
How do you clean a the piece. From start to finish. Back , pillows, seat, and why

 

[Bjorn]

include what not to clean part could be beneficial

let the Jose Smiths of the world take on the silk chinese for the rich and famous

choose the easy cleans where the money is and how to do quick and right

wham bam thank you

 

[handdi]

jim the wetting agents in traffic lane cleaners i will always remember
and some of the stories related to them was really good

like odin said the rayons i could care less about i have only seen one this year that i can remember heck silks never see them either

a real world class for real world people

 

[Scott S.]

I assure you that Jim's upholstery class that he is developing will be nothing but spectacular. and will definatly beat out anything anyone else can come up with. (ever)

knowing Jim, and being taught by him first hand has made me come to realize that Jim truly is an industry leader and that he knows his stuff.. no questions asked.

and Jim the only things that i would like to see in your class is hands on training with velvet, raw cotton, and some of the blends of the raw cotton and dyed cotton.

As for upholstery tools, i would teach from the ground up, science, chems, theory, tips, and hands on.

yes Jim is my hero! the man has taught me a ton of stuff!

 

[Jim Pemberton]

There's a place for the rayon and silk classes too, but that's a separate subject and class in my plans.

I've got about 100 people to come to the specialist type class I'm teaching here in Las Vegas this weekend, and it sold out in a couple of weeks.

But that's why I'm doing two different classes instead of trying to blend them into one.

 

[John Watson]

Hey Jim, Great question, makes an old mind rattle and shake abit!!!

For the "on the job" upholstery cleaning day, when would you want to have the tools and products discussed?

1. At the very beginning of the class, before the set up and procedures were discussed; sort of like a "load list"?

2. After "Arrival, Inspection, and Testing", but before "The Procedures".



I would think #2, The tec will then know if they are cleaning a Natural or a synthetic or a combination of both. I have always liked the way BP has described the breakdown between Nat and Syn in their step by step process. I understood it but quite a few employees of the past couldn't grasp it. For a while we had 2 seperate chem set ups for the tecs, Nat or syn, which they would load in the AM with their work orders, which worked great cause I always did the pre insp and price quote and most of the upselling on the inspection...

 

[Mikey P]

Spend some time on pre qualifying the job.


Learn to point this kind of stuff out before it becomes your fault.


Water marks left from spotting or the last hack who used his wand and Dry Slurry to clean the white cotton.
The melted olefin from the Drymaster tool he was not trained to use properly.
The water marks on the base fabric
The rusted buttons
The browned out piping/trim
The shrunken skirts
The broken or bent rod in those skirts
The popped flea turds/blood stains
The yellowed latex backing that is so weak you can push your finger through the material
Ink/upholsterer marks
The ungroomed velvet
The water marks that only show while the cotton fabric is wet
The air bubbles on the Micro fabric where a solvent was over used
The 3 foot vinyl decal placed on the back of the sofa declaring "This sofa cleaned by a TMF DVD graduate"

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Good stuff Mike

"Bed bug blood stains" is getting to be a bigger thing; mostly in mattresses, but I'm seeing it on fabric.

I'm afraid you're right about the original Drimaster; I've seen it happen even with Prochem tools if the TM overheats and they get a "steam blast" that takes out color (even on nylon) and causes texture distortion on synthetics.

In 30 years of doing inspection work on furniture claims, the easiest way to tell something was "professionally cleaned" was the water stains, browning or even slight bleeding I'd find around piping and trim.

 

[Shorty]

How we travelling with this Jim, or have I missed newer posts.??

Shorty.

 

[The Great Oz]

I might suggest a fairly brisk overview of the tools and products at the beginning while letting the students know you'll be getting more in-depth at a later point. This may give them some perspective that would help illuminate the next steps. Get into the nitty-gritty right where the tech would have to make real decisions.

Otherwise do the in-depth up front with quick rehash at the point of attack.

 

[Zee]

I can always use more info on upholstery related issues! I can't wait to see what Jim will come up with! I hope there will be a dvd or some other downloadable format for portable devices. I would load it on my phone to have it available on the go.

 

[tmdry]

Keep me on your email reminder list for your next class Jim.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Thanks everyone for your recent thoughts.

I've been teaching my new one day class for six months now, and it seems to be delivering the information the way I wanted it to come off.

In due respect to the IICRC, it ended up simply being a matter of removing all of the "nice to know" stuff that wasn't "need to know", and its enable me to create a class that covers the important issues, plus has time for hands on practice in a day.

Now I'm working on a fairly advanced class that I will launch in October.

I'm also developing on line training, but that's a more involved process.

The feedback that I've gotten here, not just in this thread but throughout the past five years with Mikeysboard, was a great deal of help.

 

[Luis Gomez]

Do not forget to point out, that those little dark pellets that are
stuck to the fabric on top of the back of the sofa are buggers.
Luis