Mikey P
Administrator
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2006
- Messages
- 117,004
Teaser alert!
Here is the intro and final words from the upcoming TCS Carpet Cleaning Field Manual....
FOREWORD: THE MISSING MANUAL
To the Industry: There is a massive void in our trade. If you want to learn how to clean carpet today, where do you go? There are no modern, comprehensive "how-to" field guides in print. There are brief certification classes that cover the basics, and there is an endless ocean of YouTube videos that are often heavily opinionated or driven by advertisers trying to sell you a specific chemical.
The Cleaning Standard (TCS) exists to fill that void.
To the Rookie: Welcome to the Wild West. You are likely overwhelmed by sales pitches, conflicting advice, and the sheer number of bottles on the shelf. This manual is your map. It cuts through the noise. It teaches you the physics of the job so you don't have to rely on luck. It treats you like a professional so you can charge like one.
To the Veteran: If you have been pushing a wand for 30 or 40 years, you don't need this book for yourself. You already have the muscle memory. You need this book for your legacy. You need this for the son taking over the reins, or the new technician you just hired who thinks he knows everything because he watched a TikTok video. You are tired of explaining the basics every morning. Hand them this manual. Let this be the foundation they stand on, so you can focus on teaching them the nuance of your specific business.
A Note on "Best Practices" & Common Sense: Everything written in these pages is based on Industry Best Practices. This means the methods described are currently recognized as the safest, most effective, and most authoritative ways to clean based on science and manufacturer recommendations.
However, conditions change. A manual is static; the field is dynamic. A "Best Practice" for a nylon carpet in a dry climate may be a disaster for a vintage wool rug in a humid basement.
• Safety First: If a procedure feels unsafe or risky in your specific environment, stop.
• Introspection: Use your training. Ask yourself, "Does this make sense for the fabric in front of me?"
• Investigation: Never blindly follow a rule. Test every fiber. Check every backing.
The ultimate tool in your van is not your wand; it is your Common Sense. If the situation dictates a deviation from the standard, err on the side of caution.
The "Living Manual" Philosophy: Unlike traditional textbooks or standards that are updated on a rigid multi-year cycle, this document breathes. The beauty of this online format is that the ink never dries. Updates happen in real-time, driven by the community using the tool.
• The 50-Year Veteran: If you see a technique that we missed or a nuance we got wrong, tell us. We will fix it.
• The "5-Minute" Veteran: If you read a paragraph and it doesn't make sense, tell us. We will clarify it.
We do not have to wait years for a new edition to print while the industry leaves us behind. As fabric construction changes and chemistry evolves, this manual evolves with it.
The First Rule: We don't guess. We identify, we analyze, and we execute. Welcome to The Standard.
_________________
THE FINAL CHARGE: BE THE UNICORN
You have reached the end of the manual, but this is just the start of the climb.
We didn’t write this book to help you be "average." The world is full of average cleaners who show up late, look messy, undercharge, and leave soap in the carpet. We wrote this to help you become a Unicorn.
The Unicorn Reality: In the service trades, a true professional is so rare they are almost mythical.
• When you show up on time, in a clean truck, looking sharp...
• When you can explain the chemistry of a stain to a CEO or a grandmother...
• When you solve a problem that three other companies walked away from... You become the Unicorn.
You stop being viewed as "labor" and start being viewed as a trusted asset. You become the person they give the door code to. You become the person they call not just to clean, but to ask for advice.
A Pillar of Your Community: This industry offers you more than just a paycheck; it offers you a place of honor in your town.
• You are the one restoring the local church after a flood.
• You are the one making a home healthy for a new baby.
• You are the small business owner sponsoring the Little League team.
If you are the right person—if you have the grit to do the hard work and the integrity to do it right when no one is watching—this industry will reward you with a life of freedom, respect, and deep connection to the people you serve.
Stay Connected: This manual is alive. As we learn more, we share more.
• Check the Site: Keep an eye on TheCleaningStandard.com for updates to the Care Sheets and new protocols.
• Join the Conversation: Don't work in isolation. Find the community. Share your wins, ask your questions, and help the next rookie coming up behind you.
You have the chemistry. You have the physics. You have the blueprint. Now go be the Unicorn they didn't believe existed.
Start the van. Go get 'em.
________________________________________
[END OF FIELD MANUAL VOLUME 2.0]
Here is the intro and final words from the upcoming TCS Carpet Cleaning Field Manual....
FOREWORD: THE MISSING MANUAL
To the Industry: There is a massive void in our trade. If you want to learn how to clean carpet today, where do you go? There are no modern, comprehensive "how-to" field guides in print. There are brief certification classes that cover the basics, and there is an endless ocean of YouTube videos that are often heavily opinionated or driven by advertisers trying to sell you a specific chemical.
The Cleaning Standard (TCS) exists to fill that void.
To the Rookie: Welcome to the Wild West. You are likely overwhelmed by sales pitches, conflicting advice, and the sheer number of bottles on the shelf. This manual is your map. It cuts through the noise. It teaches you the physics of the job so you don't have to rely on luck. It treats you like a professional so you can charge like one.
To the Veteran: If you have been pushing a wand for 30 or 40 years, you don't need this book for yourself. You already have the muscle memory. You need this book for your legacy. You need this for the son taking over the reins, or the new technician you just hired who thinks he knows everything because he watched a TikTok video. You are tired of explaining the basics every morning. Hand them this manual. Let this be the foundation they stand on, so you can focus on teaching them the nuance of your specific business.
A Note on "Best Practices" & Common Sense: Everything written in these pages is based on Industry Best Practices. This means the methods described are currently recognized as the safest, most effective, and most authoritative ways to clean based on science and manufacturer recommendations.
However, conditions change. A manual is static; the field is dynamic. A "Best Practice" for a nylon carpet in a dry climate may be a disaster for a vintage wool rug in a humid basement.
• Safety First: If a procedure feels unsafe or risky in your specific environment, stop.
• Introspection: Use your training. Ask yourself, "Does this make sense for the fabric in front of me?"
• Investigation: Never blindly follow a rule. Test every fiber. Check every backing.
The ultimate tool in your van is not your wand; it is your Common Sense. If the situation dictates a deviation from the standard, err on the side of caution.
The "Living Manual" Philosophy: Unlike traditional textbooks or standards that are updated on a rigid multi-year cycle, this document breathes. The beauty of this online format is that the ink never dries. Updates happen in real-time, driven by the community using the tool.
• The 50-Year Veteran: If you see a technique that we missed or a nuance we got wrong, tell us. We will fix it.
• The "5-Minute" Veteran: If you read a paragraph and it doesn't make sense, tell us. We will clarify it.
We do not have to wait years for a new edition to print while the industry leaves us behind. As fabric construction changes and chemistry evolves, this manual evolves with it.
The First Rule: We don't guess. We identify, we analyze, and we execute. Welcome to The Standard.
_________________
THE FINAL CHARGE: BE THE UNICORN
You have reached the end of the manual, but this is just the start of the climb.
We didn’t write this book to help you be "average." The world is full of average cleaners who show up late, look messy, undercharge, and leave soap in the carpet. We wrote this to help you become a Unicorn.
The Unicorn Reality: In the service trades, a true professional is so rare they are almost mythical.
• When you show up on time, in a clean truck, looking sharp...
• When you can explain the chemistry of a stain to a CEO or a grandmother...
• When you solve a problem that three other companies walked away from... You become the Unicorn.
You stop being viewed as "labor" and start being viewed as a trusted asset. You become the person they give the door code to. You become the person they call not just to clean, but to ask for advice.
A Pillar of Your Community: This industry offers you more than just a paycheck; it offers you a place of honor in your town.
• You are the one restoring the local church after a flood.
• You are the one making a home healthy for a new baby.
• You are the small business owner sponsoring the Little League team.
If you are the right person—if you have the grit to do the hard work and the integrity to do it right when no one is watching—this industry will reward you with a life of freedom, respect, and deep connection to the people you serve.
Stay Connected: This manual is alive. As we learn more, we share more.
• Check the Site: Keep an eye on TheCleaningStandard.com for updates to the Care Sheets and new protocols.
• Join the Conversation: Don't work in isolation. Find the community. Share your wins, ask your questions, and help the next rookie coming up behind you.
You have the chemistry. You have the physics. You have the blueprint. Now go be the Unicorn they didn't believe existed.
Start the van. Go get 'em.
________________________________________
[END OF FIELD MANUAL VOLUME 2.0]
