As someone who has limited experience with cleaning rugs and no shop, I was wondering what you guys thought about offering a rug dusting service. This would be done by setting up carpet cleaning clients to have me come back with grates and a dusting machine (probably start with sanitaire vacuum with beater bar per lisa wagner). Also, I constantly am telling people to take their rugs to a pro, but they balk at the idea of paying $300 to have a $700 rug cleaned. Do you just top clean these rugs with the wand? My understanding is this causes more damage in the long run, but is it fine for people who do not plan on keeping their rugs for years?
rug dusting
- Thread starter Wing It
- Start date
rhyde
Member
Ultimately, those that don’t care about their rugs or don’t plan on keeping them for years only real interest is visual appearance.
What would compel them to pay you get the gritty dust out of the foundation dust they don’t see?
Let’s say it’s a ½ hour drive each way. It’s a 10x14 under furniture maybe a grand piano at one end, sectional, china cabinet legs on one side… in other wards it’s a 2 person job to pull and put back.
That with dusting and you’re probably in it 2-3 hours Vs. calling Mikey to suck mop it in place an make it look shinny in a ½ hour?
What would compel them to pay you get the gritty dust out of the foundation dust they don’t see?
Let’s say it’s a ½ hour drive each way. It’s a 10x14 under furniture maybe a grand piano at one end, sectional, china cabinet legs on one side… in other wards it’s a 2 person job to pull and put back.
That with dusting and you’re probably in it 2-3 hours Vs. calling Mikey to suck mop it in place an make it look shinny in a ½ hour?
J Scott W
Member
The need for a thorough washing varies with the rug construction. A densely woven rug with depressed warp will only get clean with dusting and a proper bath. A less densely woven rug without the depressed warp will benefit from surface cleaning with HWE. Some rugs are so sensitive to moisture that a low moisture method is the only thing that can be used.
My point - Surface cleaning using HWE is hardly ever the best choice, but won't necessarily damage the rug. If the customer won't pay for the "gold" cleaning, the rug may still benefit from Silver or bronze level cleaning. Most of the time, cleaning is better than not cleaning.
My point - Surface cleaning using HWE is hardly ever the best choice, but won't necessarily damage the rug. If the customer won't pay for the "gold" cleaning, the rug may still benefit from Silver or bronze level cleaning. Most of the time, cleaning is better than not cleaning.
rhyde
Member
I disagree with this point scott, every that can be washed benefits from a thorough wash there are soils that can't be
removed with shampoo or extraction that need soaking.
Extraction exhibits poor performance relative to wash washing yet it's often visually
comparable and at a economical price point. Economically , Except for those cleaner take a customers rug
home and promising a rug washing but actually steam cleaning it at a wash price.
Also, sometime when we dust rugs they look worse after dusting grey and dingy so hardly an improvement to the owner.
I think you can add to that Randy that the dust will now be at fiber-face level, ideal for toddlers on the rug to suck it in.
Do it properly or don't do it.
Unless of course there are mitigating circumstances where the rug owner requests a cheap clean at their peril.
Do it properly or don't do it.
Unless of course there are mitigating circumstances where the rug owner requests a cheap clean at their peril.
I have no problem recommending rug specialist for those willing to pay for it. My concern is finding someway to be valuable to those with expensive rugs that are not ready to have them cleaned. I would not touch those rugs with hwe, but thought being able to Dust them might help them out. After beating them, I figured vacuuming the top would remove a good deal of the dust that had settled there. Is this wrong?
What process do you use for those who want cheap rugs cleaned and would rather risk issues with their cheap machine tufted rug than pay to have it sent off and washed correctly?
To be clear, I have no intention of trying to "fool" the customer. I have very limited experience with rug washing and no plan to buy/build a rug plant anytime soon. My goal is to be armed with information so I don't lose carpet/upholstery/tile customers to other cleaners who clean will "clean" their rug on the spot.
What process do you use for those who want cheap rugs cleaned and would rather risk issues with their cheap machine tufted rug than pay to have it sent off and washed correctly?
To be clear, I have no intention of trying to "fool" the customer. I have very limited experience with rug washing and no plan to buy/build a rug plant anytime soon. My goal is to be armed with information so I don't lose carpet/upholstery/tile customers to other cleaners who clean will "clean" their rug on the spot.
The Great Oz
Member
John,
If they aren't ready to have them cleaned, they aren't ready to have them cleaned. You might offer a "lite" version of the dustimg service on-location using a truck mount. There's little chance you'll hurt the rug, you'll have far less cost involved, and there's no question your much more powerful system will outdo their vacuum. The customer gets what they're willing to pay for.
If they aren't ready to have them cleaned, they aren't ready to have them cleaned. You might offer a "lite" version of the dustimg service on-location using a truck mount. There's little chance you'll hurt the rug, you'll have far less cost involved, and there's no question your much more powerful system will outdo their vacuum. The customer gets what they're willing to pay for.
