not really set up to clean area rugs

**leofry** · 12-16-2009, 03:15 PM

I am cleaning 3 area rugs right now there cheep rugs... and I am not charging all that much to clean them...but I have to tel you when you are not set up to do this it can be agravating... no room.... one rug would be easy but no money... 3 rugs you need a fair amount of floor space at least in the winter time... I dont have a garage and many of you have told me you dont either.... i think that makes it so much more tougher to run a biz.... have to put a heater in van every night... hard to clean area rugs... many many other issiues.....

**Jason Whaley** · 12-16-2009, 04:02 PM

I hear ya man! I am the same way. I have a large enough driveway to clean many but it has to be nice outside with no chance of rain or high humidity or they will take many hours to dry. I have an unfinished basement but only 6 and 7 foot ceilings down there. Its a real pain but I try to charge enough to make it worth wild. Over a $1.00 a square foot. Most of the time $2.00 a square foot. I really do wish I had a space but I don't so I have to deal with what I have.

Hear is a thought though..... If you get enough rugs on a monthly basis you could try and rent a storage space with an electrical outlet Make sure it is temperature controlled. Then you could clean the rugs in the parking lot possibly or in the storage space. Just an idea. Might want to inform the manager this is what you are using it for just in case.

**leofry** · 12-16-2009, 05:12 PM

yeah i have thought of that..... its not a bad idea... i just think somethings this is not the way to run a biz... i mean i am drying a rug in my living room right now.... to me thats just not good.... i mean it works... but i wish i had a building for a number of reasons.... so i would not have to run cord from my house to my van.... and just many many reasons... makes me think gosh should i really be running this biz.... but maybe sometday i can afford a place to rent or build one for myself....

**Jason Whaley** · 12-16-2009, 05:17 PM

Got to start somewhere I guess. Look at Rob they have been in business for 20+ years and are just getting into this type of work, "In Plant Cleaning".

**leofry** · 12-16-2009, 05:24 PM

very true.... good point Jason.... i sometimes forget that i am still pretty dang new

**the rugman** · 12-16-2009, 11:14 PM

If you really want to get into cleaning area rugs - figure it out. Tell the cust you are REALLY busy and clean them one at a time and dry them wherever you can - borrow a friends garage etc. If you don't want to get into it in a big way - refer them out and take a cut of the $. you may have to eat these ones but you will have a happy customer. Be honest about it - I have cleaners that tell the cust that they send the rugs out to a pro and give the the convenience of pick up and delivery. making customers happy means PROFIT in the long run!

**LisaWagner** · 12-17-2009, 03:43 AM

It may also be that now is not the right time to add rug cleaning to your business - you might look at stone and tile/grout cleaning, you won't need shop space for that like you do for rugs.

If you have a rug cleaning plant in your town - see what their industry rate is, and then you can handle the transport, the pre-inspection, the relationship with the client - but have the work done by the plant and build in a margin for yourself. Then you can save up the money to get space when you are ready.

Now, if you love rugs and enjoy working on them ... then look for options like what has already been mentioned. Commercial space today is always hurting for new occupants - you should be able to easily get some space you can afford.

Lisa

**ACD** · 12-17-2009, 08:05 PM

I've been there guys. We now have an in plant facility with drying racks and all that but I started out of a garage. It can be done and it is a PIA. Get creative. Hang the rugs over an extension ladder, nail up a 12 ft long 2x4 from the rafters dropped a couple feet with short 2x4 legs. Drape it over the top of the van (clean van please!). Lighter rugs hang off a clothes line tied up in the garage. Don't have a garage?? Make a place to hang it in the customers garage. Most are willing to let it dry and take it down. True you can't get premium pricing with these methods but it can get you started and as business takes off you can grow. Most storage units have power outlets (wink, wink) if it came down to it.. Just throwing out ideas.

Aaron

**davenjai** · 12-18-2009, 02:05 PM

We started out of our 2nd floor attic apartment. We had a big double window and a deck that attached to the flat roof of the business next door

Yup we would clean them and then lay them on tarps on the flat roof. Dragging 9x12 Chinese rugs up and out there was so much fun. In bad weather we had a pvc pipe on a pulley system screwed into the ceiling. One end of the rug would hang and the other was draped over the sofa. The landlord came by when we were moving out, took one look at the pipe and said "I don't want to know" LMAO!

It never ends though. I now have 1200 sqft and 14' ceilings, way too small! My truck is a box truck, again way too small! I often look at the old Walmart when they move out and say "Wonder if that would do?"

**leofry** · 12-18-2009, 02:13 PM

well its good to know anyway.... that i am not the only one doing just whatever it takes.... i guess you have to start somewhere like Jason said.......