I have a question for you about cleaning a carpet area of about 12,500 sq. ft. furniture store next month for the first time? I post at the ICS message board and a gentleman by the name of Mr. Drew Frasier gave me your e-mail address. With your permission I would appreciate your help?I would like to know the following:
1-What system works good on a glue down synthetic fiber?
 
2-Steps on how to apply and remove solutions used?
 
3-What to watch out for when dealing with furniture on top carpet after it is cleaned?
Again, your professional assistance would be appreciated.



Hi Ismet-

I did the 3 Ethan Allan stores here on a monthly basis for over 20 years, so have a good idea of what to do and how to do it.

I suggest putting them on a monthly basis- or whatever time line you and the management want, first. This way, they can budget for you like any other expense, not have to come up with a big dollar amount all at once. This way, they will know when you are coming, what will be done, and how much it will cost.

You will know when and how and dollars too. works best for both this way.

OK, procedure. I recommend just doing the traffic paths, not moving furniture at all, and staying back an inch or so from legs and bases to prevent any bleeding of legs or finish running into the carpet. I don't recommend doing under the furniture, because the furniture is frequently moved from here to there, and sold and new items brought in. When the item is sold, THEN clean where it sits, and eventually, you will do all the carpet, and since there is no traffic under the furniture, it does not get soiled appreciably under the furniture.

If they do want the entire store done at one time, I recommend encapping or bonneting because of the low moisture and quick drying aspect. And never a wicking problem with these two systems, but possible with other systems.

Doing it all will require a large number of foam blocks for flat based furniture, and a very large number of plastic slips for legs. Do not move the furniture yourself, have their staff do that, or hire someone to do it for you. A dolly and a lifting thing such as a Sofa Jack or Lift Buddy to lift with.

Move each item just it's own width plus 1 foot for overlapping, not from one side of the store to the other. Clean under it, set it back on blocks or slips.

With the staff or your hired helper moving the items, you should keep busy cleaning with little or no pauses.

How much to charge? If the store staff moves the furniture, or if you just do traffic paths, I suggest at least 12 cents a sq ft, or on a time basis of $100 per hour.

Or if on a monthly basis, just doing a part of the total, I suggest doing it on a time basis, say $150 to $200 per visit, which is what I did.

Cleaning systems. A 17 inch or 19 inch rotary shampooer with a tank of at least 3 gallons, and shower feed the cleaning product for best speed, or a Cimex with a shower feed, so the cleaning product does not have to be sprayed, which is greatly slower.

Use 2 kinds of bonnets, thick cotton and thin cotton such as the DirtGetter bonnets, or the Fiber Plus Pads from Rick Gelinas, or all of the 3. Each has it's benefits and drawbacks, but for best results, all 3.

Cleaning products. I recommend and use the Bi-O-Kleen products Bonnet Cleaner. No smell, No petroleum byproducts, no residues. Or use Releasit Encapsulating Detergent you get from Rick Gelinas, or from me, depending on which would be the best for shipping. The BOK Bonnet Cleaner will cost less per sq ft of Ready-to-Use than the Releasit Encapsulating Detergent. But it might be necessary.

If the carpet is in really bad shape, you might have to HWE it the first time, and I recommend a Truck Mount rather than a portable. With a portable, it will take forever. if you don't have a Truck Mount, perhaps rent one, or have a friend with one subcontract to you for the job. If you do Truck Mount clean it, you will have to charge substansially more, as your cost is more. I suggest at least 15 cents a sq ft for this, possibly more.