Tools and services questions

[Tebow]

Good morning everybody,
First of all I would like to thank you for all the information exchanged on this forum, and also for the existence of this forum. It's a gold mine of information and feedbacks about this job. I spend a lot of time to read topics with a real pleasure! I will work for commercial and residential with VLM and I would like not to exceed 10k in equipment (+ car) at the begining.

I still have some questions:

- I am looking for a versatile tool (we know that nothing is really good in all situations), so the Orbot Vibe is I guess a good idea, but about the sprayer version? there is a huge difference between the orbot vibe TL and with tank and sprayer ($1200). The sprayer version is better for commercial use I guess, but not very accurate for residential compared to a hand sprayer (spray on furniture or objects). What do you think guys about that?

- Is there an advantage to using a CRB after the srpayer and before the orbital+pad to improve fiber penetration and therefore encapsulation? (CRB with grey whittecker brushes for example)


- Do you ask the customer to move the furniture and objects before your arrival or do you propose to do it yourself?

- How to explain to the customer that it is necessary to vacuum the carpet when it is dry? I have the feeling that my work is not 100% complete.
Is there a technique to vacuum the carpet (the rest of the waste that has not been removed by the pads) without having to wait 1 hour?


Thank you for reading me and for having more or less understood my terrible english, my french is better.
Have a great day!!

 

[george8585]

Let me say this first

Cleaning Commercial Carpet using VLM is much easier than cleaning Residential

Cleaning Residential Carpet using VLM is NOT EASY for someone with no experience

Of course the more soiled and the more stained the harder it is. You gotta know what your doing to get excellent results cleaning Residential Carpet using VLM. It's NOT EASY

Having all the right equipment spotters encaps for the job does help but still it's NOT EASY




I have the Obot Vibe TL and I love it for bigger rooms and houses but Trinity Odyssey is much easier to use for smaller rooms and houses. Definitely consider a Trinity Odyssey for Residential work

www.trinityopsystems.com

I don't have a Orbot Vibe with Sprayer but it's a good OP for Commercial Carpet Cleaning

TMF Store sells Orbot Vibe with Sprayer

I have a Trinity Phoenix for Commercial Carpet Cleaning




For Carpet that is soiled you will need a good scrub to break soil away from carpet fibers first, before going over with a Bonnet. You can use a Fiber Pad to do that or a CRB. In my opinion a CRB is much better for Residential Carpet, but since your just starting and don't have the money I would say just use a Fiber Pad on your OP to scrub and then a Cotton or Microfiber Bonnet to extract




I ask people take everything off tables if they want me to move them . I will move sofas chairs tables if they want them moved. I just move them far enough to clean under and then slide them back. Carpet will stain from wood or metal legs and must be protected with blocks or plastic. I don't move beds dressers in bedrooms




I ask people to vacuum carpet before I get to their house. In most cases they do, but some people don't even own a vacuum. If there is a lot of vacuuming for me to do I charge extra. A little vacuuming I don't charge extra




I recommend to the customer they vacuum the carpet the next day after they are cleaned. It doesn't matter if you use VLM or HWE you should vacuum carpet the next day

 

[Tebow]

Thank you George for all this information.
I imagine that this work is not easy, but I think that with training and determination, it will be fine.
I ordered a Orbot Vibe TL a few days ago, will see if I need a smaller OP like the odyssey.
Thanks again for your time!

 

[george8585]

Hey Tebow

That's a pic from last year but that's what you need to get started for Residential

Total cost about $5500

Trinity Odyssey
Worx Sprayer
15'' CRB

But then you would need equipment for stairs

And Bonnets and Encaps

 

[george8585]

Thank you George for all this information.
I imagine that this work is not easy, but I think that with training and determination, it will be fine.
I ordered a Orbot Vibe TL a few days ago, will see if I need a smaller OP like the odyssey.
Thanks again for your time!

Sorry Tebow somehow I missed this and then posted a Odyssey picture

Good for you. Your going to love that Vibe TL

No you don't need a Odyssey if you have Vibe TL

Next is a CRB but until then use a Fiber Pad on your Vibe to scrub then use cotton or microfiber to extract

Keep us updated on your journey

 

[Tebow]

Good morning,
I am thinking about buying a CRB for encap
Thanks George haha
I am looking for the pros and cons of differents CRB 15" on the market, not easy.
The perfect versatile tool:
- should be light, (to use for the stairs)
it should be able to do: scrub in the encap and groom.
And strong.
Do you have any suggestion?

 

[george8585]

Tebow when you get your Vibe you going to need to practice with that machine a lot before you start working for paying customers

Be very careful near tables, walls, and shelves, especially on wood floors. Vibration can knock pictures or any small ornaments that are on the wall, shelf, or table off and break

Yes I did break one cheap picture one time that vibrated off a shelf. She was a long time customer and understood it was an accident

I was using Odyssey

Your Vibe will have a velcro driver that is not as aggressive as a malish driver that's on a Odyssey, but you still need to be watching for anything vibrating on shelves walls or tables

 

[Tebow]

Thanks for your advices George, very interesting!
Yes, training is the key! I won't start charging clients if I'm not well trained. The carpets of my house and of my friends will be washed often. haha
I don't want to have bad opinions on my work and on the VLM method in general, I will do things in order.
Maybe we'll meet in Vegas for the Encapalooza event in 2 weeks.

 

[george8585]

Tebow your Vibe will have a velcro driver. If you buy Cotton Bonnets Orbot SuperZorbs work best with a velcro Driver or Challenger Cotton Bonnets.

Microfiber Bonnets work with any driver

 

[george8585]

Tebow did you decide what 15'' CRB your going to buy

Whittaker makes excellent brushes for CRB's

Eventually you will probably buy stiff brushes and soft brushes

Most CRB's come with a standard medium brush

www.whittakersystems.com

 

[Tebow]

Thanks for your tips again.
I don't want to pay more than 2k, so I will probably buy the TMF 15" + brushes (and a Cyclo + oreck orbital for stairs)