Hi, my name is Ross (29 yrs old) and I own a company called Accuclean in Indianapolis, IN USA. I have owned and operated the company since April of 2004. Before that I learned the trade at a medium sized company called Smith-Mathis which is located just outside of Indianapolis. I currently have a 2001 Vortex 777, which I have had much success with. By this time next year I will hopefully have a smaller diesel truck with a diesel slide-in truck mount. My main source of income is carpet cleaning but I also do tile and grout cleaning, all carpet repairs and stain removal, odor control, water restoration, etc. I have been married for almost 8 yrs, my first baby is due in July, and I love this industry. I clean for rich and important people all the time but I wouldn't trade my life with any of them. I see the stress and worry they bring home. I don't bring home any of that because I'm not trying to take over the world. I'm proud to be in the cleaning industry. It enables me to do what I want. I would love to learn about the rest of you and your companies/experience. I have already learned a lot here. I can't believe it took me ten years to find a carpet cleaning forum! Please post whatever info you feel comfortable sharing. I guarantee it will help the rest of us!
Good Post Ross!!! My name is Robert Allen Jr. I have been married 27 years. I own Dry-N-Clean carpet cleaning, Zap pest control and Flood-EX restoration. I am a 4 truck operation. Not large and not small. Just right! I agree w/Ross. Carpet cleaning has been very good to my family. I know this board is NEW and has GREAT potential. I feel it will be the standard for PREMIUM carpet cleaners and we can all learn from each other. "Iron sharpens iron".
My name is Jimmy Crawford and own Crawfords Cleaning Services, based in South Wales in the good old UK. Started the company in January 2006 with a Ninja portable, 25 foot of solution and vac hose, and a little Bedford rascal (to the guys outside the UK thats a very small van.) Within the short period of trading I now run a long wheel based Layland (57 plate) with a Boxxer 421, a Scorpion EXP portable for back-up and the Dry Fusion System for low profile carpets and polypro Belgium Wilton's. In a previous life I attended The University of Wales, Newport School of Business, and obtained a Diploma in Business. which has helped to market and create new business opportunities.
Duane Oxley here... I had several jobs prior to getting into the carpet care industry in 1981 (or 1982...?). I was selling computers, until I went to sell one to a guy that had a carpet care business, complete with a chemical and equipment sales division. He talked me into coming to work for him, put me in charge of sales, and the rest, as they say, is history... I held that position for 5 years, during which time, in addition to sales, I did all of our dye seminars and wrote all of our manuals (including system owner's manuals), until the company was sold. Since a division of the company was sold, a new company was formed as a result of the sale. I stayed with the new company for 18 mos. In May, 1987, I went to work in Dalton at a dye supplier, and traveled nationally, teaching carpet dye seminars as part of my duties. In late 1987, I came back to Atlanta and managed a 4- truck carpet care company, until I quit about a year later, to do my own carpet care business. (Continued to do dye seminars, and added carpet repair seminars to the roster for a local supplier who's a friend.) From 1991 to 1995, I conducted carpet dye seminars for a local supplier, and added carpet repair to what I taught in 1993 (If I remember the year correctly.) My company did carpet care for 8 years, growing to a 4- truck operation. Then, in 1996, I came to the realization that in my travels of selling truck mounts and seeing so many design approaches, followed by using them first hand for so long, I had a good background to know what works and what doesn't, and what carpet care people really want and appreciate. So, in April of 1996, I decided to try my hand at building user- friendly truck mount systems. I also had a good background in chemicals, so blending carpet care chemicals became a natural thing to do as well. Focusing on propane fired systems for several years, I quickly established a reputation in the industry for building simple high- heat / high flow truck mounts. Now, my company is the only one I know of that builds propane- fired, oil- fired and heat exchange systems. And, regarding heat output, I still hold the value of high heat / high flow as the goal of a good system. The oil- fired and heat exchange systems are new ventures, but I've been taking these versions slowly, in order to not miss anything along the way, and to build systems that I feel confident about. That's the short version...
That is a great story! I love it. I've read some of your other posts and you obviously know what you're doing. I'm curious, is the IICRC active in the UK, and if not do you have a similar committee?
I checked out your website and wow, I am impressed. I don't think I have ever seen another machine with 2 blowers. And I also thought propane heating was outdated, but it appears your systems are modern and progressive. Years ago I used to help clean a hotel that required us to run several hundred feet of hose. We would use two truck mounts in tandem--one using vacuum and hot water, and the second connected to the first using only the vacuum by means of a Y connector (we turned the pump clutch off). I have always wondered if it was doing any good. What do you think Duane?
That's similar to what the SplitSteam is about. The second blower, added to the first for single wand use, gives you twice as much available CFM...
Yes, th IICRC is alive and active on this side of the river. But, as an organization it does not market it's self effectively in the UK. The National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA) which is the British version . Both organizations are must for any carpet cleaner coming into this trade
(simple write up) My name is Tre. Cleaning carpets since 1996 (Vonschrader days) Now i use white magic, prochem, Cymex machines. Married for close to 4 years now with a 4yr old boy. Network+ / A+ certified. Took a few carpet cleaning classes. I design websites part time for myself, carpet cleaners and own this website made for carpet cleaners. And I hope in the future I can offer a lot more for carpet cleaners worldwide. Btw I have a suprise for Connections in vegas, stay tuned! A little about my cleaning (simple) : I try out different/new presprays every week. (Offer green to all customers but just like the eyeball said, its not truly green no matter how you look at it! (use activator powder always on berber) Prespot every stain. Rake all my carpets. Move basic furniture. (coaster/block all) Clean all carpets twice and 2-3 dry strokes. Use fabric rinse. Use blowers on all rooms. I dont cut corners, i clean em! (lol) I leave the designs in the carpet, sometimes make some artwork, hey they actually love it! Take my time with all customers. Give out free bottles of spotters. That is an average job for me daily.
"I dont cut corners, i clean em! (lol)" Years ago, I had a customer who had oval- shaped business cards. The motto written on them was: "Even the corners are clean".
Hi tre Being on the other side of the pond, could you tell me what activator powder is? also your fabric rinse is that Prochem acidic rinse. Jimmy
Sure here is the full specs. I use this on berber and trashed carpets. It removes many more stains, even urine. Activator Powder Booster Concentrated oxygen detergent additive to synergise cleaning power of detergents, removes spot and stains and brightens colors and deodorizes. Biodegradable. A uniquely effective detergent additive. Fabpro's Activator Powder Booster will boost the cleaning power of any carpet, upholstery, wall cleaning or laundry detergent-yes, ANY detergent! The additional cleaning power gives you astounding cleaning results which will make your job easier and give your customers a more "pleasing clean". Added power cleaning action begins immediately. No waiting for the extra power. Simply mix Activator Powder Booster with your detergent, according to directions, and begin your power cleaning. Activator Powder Booster becomes active immediately upon mixing with the detergent solution to give the added cleaning and color brightening power you want. No harmful optical brighteners. In addition to its greater cleaning power, Activator Powder Booster will enhance color brightening and give that crisp, like new appearance for greater customer satisfaction. Superior deodorizer Because it contains active form of oxygen, it is an powerful deodorizer, effectively eliminating need for cover up fragrances. Environmentally safe. This product is safe for the environment. It is a solid form of environmental friendly hydrogen peroxide which breaks down to water and oxygen. This product contains no phosphates. Non-foaming. Activator Powder Booster extra-power additive is non-foaming, therefore causing no additional detergent foam to clog your equipment.
