HWE OR CIMEX? BECAUSE I'M JUST GETTING STARTED,IF I HAVE TO SPEND SOME MONEY ON EQUIPMENT I WANT TO MAKE IT COUNT. SO WHICH METHOD WILL BE BEST FOR SOMEONE BEGINNING?

Your Servant

whats your target market???

Commercial it's a Cimex

Residential HWE makes more sense, but not a have too.

You Jimmy want-a-be!

when you were gettung started you knew nothing about anything so if i'm a jimmy want-to-be then what were you when you wanted to get started?

Your Servant

I am sorry, that post was not about you, but for Danny. I posted right after him and I was calling Danny a Jimmy want-a-be. I have already gotten my nasty e-mail from Jimmy.

Hey my apologies no hard feeliings huh! you seem to be a very knowledgable man. What is best if needed: mex then hwe? or hwe follwed by mex on a heavily soiled carpet? Also, where can i go to increase my knowledge on the different kinds of carpets, there characteristics ect.? Please!

Your Servant

ALL methods have their place. You will be best served to employ as many methods in your new business as possible. Would you want to take your car to a mechanic that only had one adjustable wrench? Become proficient with the various equipment and methods that are available to you so that you can be a true professional cleaner. As your toolbox and your skills expand you will be in a position to tackle anything that comes your way.





Rick Gelinas
encapman

I agree with the Cimex for commercial and HWE for residential. If you go HWE will it be a portable or TM? Scrubbing with a Cimex and rinsing with a portable will give good results but will be somewhat time consuming.

Some are having good success with Low Moisture methods. If you look at that, be careful of using oscillating machines on cut pile. They can visibly damage the carpet. Makes me wonder how much damage they do that isn''t seen to the naked eye. Using a CRB machine followed by a rotary with cottons pads is pretty effective and safe.

I have tried to get away from TMs. Didn't work for me.

if $ is not an issue, then i agree with above. if $ is tight, as it was for me, a TM wasn't an option or desire. i wouldn't go the Portable route again for resi. so i recommend an OP for resi.

thanx --- Derek.

what is crb machine? tm? ocillating machine?

Your Servant

Take a look.
http://www.excellent-supply.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=3&idproduct=22

Rick,
nice video, very informative.. shows how easy the encap method really is and the
different type of machines you can use..
thanks
carl n

If money is tight, look for a use truck mount. (TM) I found 3 of them to choose from a couple months ago, all with less than 500 hours. People go into this business and fail all the time.

As was discussed earlier, by the time you buy everything for Very Low Moisture (VLM) cleaning that many use, you can easily buy a used truckmount.

Some will still prefer VLM. Take you time, check it all out and see which direction is best for you. It would be really good if you could ride along with a good VLM cleaner and a good TM cleaner.

very true. but more important, remember that the equipment you use will not make your biz succeed.

the actual CLEANING part of the biz is 49%. the other more important 51% is finding the work.

you can have the best equipment for HWE & VLM, but without the jobs to use them on, they're useless and you fail before you even started.

thanx --- Derek.

Derek,

I imagine most of us learned how true your last post is the hard way.
He who sells--wins.

There are many different machines, chemicals, methods and techniques on the market.

As I do not know you, may I make some simple suggestions.

First, attend some marketing courses.

This will help you understand how to get work & keep customers.

Second, set up a business plan for the next five years. If you need to apply for loans etc; a business plan will help in your endeavours.

Third, attend some basic carpet & upholstery cleaning courses, this will also allow you to help pick which system you would be more comfortable with, as well as showing you problems before you make them.

Understand fabrics and fibres as well as pH, this is most important in the real world.

Four, do not be swayed by smooth talking sales people, ask questions, ask questions on the forums. Don't let the dollars in your pocket burn a hole, waiting to get out, take your time picking equipment, it's your money, spend it wisely.

Five, scour the boards and glean as much free information as you can from the very knowledgable people that freely give help to others.

Cheers,

Shorty.

I've seen the light, and changed my ways.

A.T., could you have imagined a few years ago that you would be getting some excellent advice on the carpet cleaning business from half a world away and down under from an expert like Shorty? I am old school and how we comunicate today in nano seconds still boggles my mind. If you follow Shorty's advice you will not go wrong.

Jeez Ray, you make me feel all embarrassed like.

I ain't no expert, just made a lot of mistakes during my apprenticeship.

If I can ever help someone, or show them where I went wrong, I'm only to happy too.

Cheers,

Shorty.

I've seen the light, and changed my ways.