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ncca February 2014
The official journal of the National Carpet Cleaners Association
newslink
Features:
Customer Complaints
Domotex 2014
Contents03
04
06
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
From the Editor: New direct debit payment
facility for NCCA membership fees
Domotex Carpet Fair 2014
Excellent NCCA courses - coming soon!
What is your USP?
Amazing discount on NCCA leaflets
A guide to customer complaints (part one)
NCCA tour of the National Trust Textile
Conservation Studio and Felbrigg Hall
Turkoman rugs (part one)
Men are from Earth...
08
Wood floor cleaning and maintenance
Some customers...
Expanding your business - is it the best
way to go?
Mould - what is all the fuss about?
A quick health check - are your first aid
arrangements up-to-date?
Published monthly by:The National Carpet Cleaners Association,62c London Road, Oadby, Leicestershire, LE2 5DH.Tel: 0116 271 9550E-mail: [email protected]: www.ncca.co.uk
Nicky Law
Keith Robertson
Nikki Law
Paul Pearce
Nigel Lay
Glyn Charnock
Martin Johns
Keith Robertson
Allan Simmons
Billy Russell
Denise Pitt
Editor
Editor in Chief
Design Editor
CEO/Technical Director
Vice President/Events Director
Company Secretary/2nd Vice President/Membership Director
Assistant Membership Director
Marketing Director
Corporate Director
Events/Social Media Director
Co-opted Director
www.facebook.com/NCCAFloorCarewww.twitter.com/NCCA_floorcare_
Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Association or it’s officers or members. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the statements within this publication, we cannot accept responsibility for any errors, or omissions, or matters arising from any clerical or printing errors, and whilst every care is taken of manuscripts and photographs submitted to us, we can accept no responsibility for any loss or damage.
newslink page 2
©Carpet Cleaners Association Ltd 1994 (Trading as the National Carpet Cleaners Association). No part of this Newsletter may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Carpet Cleaners Association Ltd.
newslinkpage 3
New direct debit payment facility forNCCA membership fees
Nicky LawNewslink Editor
s notified in the December/January
Newslink, renewal documents will be A sent on April 1st, due for payment by
May 1st 2014.
Having held the subscription fees at the same
level for the last three years, it was agreed at the
General Meeting in November that an increase in
line with inflation will be applied this year.
Members are however being given the option of
splitting their subscription fee into six monthly
payments by using Direct Debit, something that
we have not been able to offer previously. The
advantage of using Direct Debit is that once it has
been set up, the facility will remain in place unless
it is cancelled, taking the worry out of
remembering to pay subscription fees each year.
This service will be managed online using a
company called GoCardless. In order to make use
of this facility, members must have an email
address and are requested to contact the NCCA
office prior to April 1st in order to set up an
account and Direct Debit mandate with
GoCardless, using their secure online form. There
will be a small charge of 1% added to the Annual
Subscription invoice if this option is taken up.
Under section 4.7 of the Articles of Association,
members are required to give 60 days notice if
they intend to withdraw from the Association,
which should be put in writing to the Company
Secretary. All notices of
resignation received will be
acknowledged from the office. We
do not like to hear of members no
longer wishing to be part of the
Association, therefore we like to assist where we
can and ask that you contact us with any concerns
you may have.
As usual, we will need to receive confirmation of
Public Liability Insurance, which must include
treatment risk or Products Liability, along with the
Health & Safety Declaration form introduced last
year, swift return of these documents will aid
administration of the renewal process.
We would like to thank all our members for their
continued support, and wish you all a successful
2014.
on NCCA Consumer Leaflets!FANTASIC SALE!FANTASIC SALE!
See page 10 for details
newslink page 4
recently visited the Domotex Carpet Fair in
Hanover. This is something I have wanted to do I for many years. I have been to Harrogate Carpet
Fair a few times, Surfaces in the states probably a
dozen times and, back in the good old days, there
was even a carpet fair in London I used to go to.
However, Domotex is the biggest of them all. There
were thirteen halls crammed full of carpets, rugs,
laminates, wood floors, tools, carpet tufting
machines, cutting machines, fibre producers, even
leather and hides.
I arrived at 10am after leaving Stanstead airport at
8am. It was then an easy shuttle to the exhibition
centre and by 11am I was walking through the doors
of Hall 2 for the start of my three-day experience.
In Hall 2 there were some big bespoke rug
suppliers. You could buy everything from a tufted
rug to a unique masterpiece constructed from such
unusual fibres that it really did make you disbelieve
your own eyes! I did try to ask the people displaying
one of these rugs how you would maintain such an
item, but their eyes glazed over which made me
think they had either just been given some sad
news or perhaps had suddenly realised that English
wasn't their first language. Either way the answer
wasn't forthcoming. Of course, if you have cleaned a
rug or two in your time, you can usually work out
for yourself what needs to be done to maintain
them even if they are made from unusual fibres.
After three hours of wandering around this hall I
moved on to Hall 3 where the centrepiece was a
display of wares from Iran, demonstrating just what
they are capable off. One machine-made carpet,
which was hanging up, was over twenty feet tall and
displayed a photographic image of the remaining
columns of a ruin, which I can only assume was
situated somewhere in Iran. It was certainly
common to see rugs, both big and small, with
photographic pictures on them.
I had decided that I wasn't necessarily at the
carpet fair to purchase, but more to admire, to gain
information and to soak up the atmosphere. So I
made sure that the sales staff knew, on my initial
approach to each stand, that my interest was
mainly from the angle of a cleaning consultant
rather than as a buyer. This way they could decide if
they wanted to spend time with me or swiftly move
on to someone else who was more interested in
buying. This proved a good move; most of the sales
staff were happy to talk to me and didn't put me
under any pressure to buy anything.
Halls 4 and 5 contained most of the fair's wall-to-
wall flooring stands, together with a British stand
Domotex Carpet Fair 2014 Paul Pearce
newslinkpage 5
titled 'The Best of Wool'. A large number of the
companies with displays in these two halls were
from the UK and many were showcasing new
products. One particularly interesting product I
came across was a carpet produced by an Italian
company, Martinello Ginetto. They have created a
wool/viscose/bamboo/nylon chenille loop pile
carpet that has a rugged look, its called Heather
Tweed. Watch this space.
The first day ended for me at around 4.30pm. I
wanted to locate my hotel, which was situated in
the centre of Hanover, and Domotex was a fare way
away. The information centre at the fair was most
helpful, explaining that the Metro was the easiest
way to get there and that my entry ticket to the fair
covered the cost. I took two trains and after about
sixteen stops I was within 200 mtrs of my hotel…
simples. It was basic but central and clean and the
staff were more than helpful.
Day 2 was rug day. There were two halls, 16 and
17, that housed more rugs than you could ever
imagine. Most were hand-knotted and were all
shapes and sizes. I was in a candy shop; there were
silk (real), wool, linen, cotton and even polyester
rugs. There were Tabriz's, Heriz, Gabbeh, Qum,
Kilim's, Afghan's Nepalese, Indian, Chinese,
Moroccan, Turkish, Uzbekistan, Pakistani's and
loads more. On quite a few of the stands there
were some very interesting patchwork rugs. These
had been constructed using old pieces of rugs that
had been damaged or discarded or, in some cases,
made especially for the purpose. Some had been
purposely 'distressed' or aged and usually sewn
together in 45cm squares, then a cloth back had
been attached. I can't wait to see one that needs
cleaning.
When wandering around these halls I couldn't
help thinking about how the carpets and rugs had
been shipped there from all around the world and
how long it all must have taken. The container
companies must have been doing a roaring trade.
The rugs were being turned over and over so
buyers could view them and then the pallets were
being loaded with the buyer's pickings. The forklifts
were picking them up and loading the waiting
trucks continuously.
On day three I concentrated on wandering
through the middle halls where the tools,
equipment, laminates and wood were. However,
before the end of the day I decided to take a
wander back into the rug halls to look again at the
beauty of these pieces of art. Even the odours that
some of them emitted drew me in. Some had the
rawness that you would expect from tribal
communities, others smelt as though they had
been through a washing process and were on the
Continued on next page
Iranian carpet displayingphotographic image of a ruin ©Paul Pearce
newslink page 6
final part of the drying cycle, then you had the ones
that had been through a complete finishing process
and just smelt new. I
finished the day
walking through 1st
Rug Avenue. This is
where designers had
created several
roomsets using
modern and old looks,
into which they had
integrated hand-
knotted rugs from
many different
countries, some of which had been placed on
the floor and others on the walls. This really
demonstrated how you could add to the
aesthetics of a room using rug art.
During the three days I met up with some
colleagues from the UK whilst wandering around,
which was a nice way to spend some time and we
chatted about what we had seen
or missed.
I finally left the fair at 4pm as it
was time to travel home. I was
laden with books, brochures and
samples and with my purchased
rugs left on a pallet hoping that
they would find their
way home.
I can't wait to go
back next year. The
dates are 17th to
20th January, put it
in your diary and
plan early, you won't
be disappointed.
arpet cleaners are facing stiff competition
when gaining work and, because of this, C many have decided to improve their existing
business and/or branch out and extend the range of
services they offer. If this is something you have
been contemplating then we would like to remind
you that the NCCA offer excellent training courses to
help you learn further skills.
One of these courses is the popular Leather
Identification & Cleaning course, which is running
again on 20th March. Leather is an extremely
complex product and cleaning it is at least as
involved as cleaning fabrics, possibly sometimes
more so. The course will teach you about the
tanning process, how to identify different types of
leather from Aniline through to Bicast and Faux
leathers, how to determine when it is cleanable (or
Continued from previous page
Excellent NCCA courses - coming soon!in need of restoring or replacing), how to identify
different finishes and how to clean leather
upholstery (with demonstrations).
We are also running our excellent Advanced Spot
& Stain Removal course again on the 21st February.
Spot and stain removal is still a genuine craft and
requires a higher degree of skill and knowledge than
almost any other process undertaken by the
professional carpet cleaner. The course will teach
you not just how to remove the soils, but also how
to do it without causing further damage to the
samples.
So if you think you’d be interested in attending one
(or even both) of these courses and improving your
skills, don’t delay, book your space now!
To book, please phone the NCCA office on: 0116
271 9550 or visit: www.ncca.co.uk/training.php
Patchwork rug
Roomset
Images:©Paul Pearce
newslink page 8
ne of the first things I was taught about
marketing was the importance of the USP O (Unique Selling Point). It was one of those
things that all the marketing books said you must
have, but initially I found it very difficult to come up
with a good USP for my own company. Even now I
still don't have one for all of the business names we
use.
Only recently I found out that the person who
originally thought of the idea was a marketing man
named Rosser Reeves. I say that it was his 'idea' but
what I really mean is that he was the first to
enumerate, to detail, to put it into words and to
give it a name. Possibly, from the beginning of
written advertising, copywriters will have
understood the importance of not only using strong
headlines but also of highlighting the benefits of a
specific product, but nevertheless it was Rosser
Reeves who put it into words and apparently
conjured up the title.
Although Rosser Reeves retired in the mid 1960's
one of the projects he had previously been involved
in is still remembered to this day and that is the M
& M's USP: 'melts in your mouth, not in your
hands'.
His argument was that, although all products have
a number of benefits, it is likely that one particular
benefit will be more popular than any of the others
and sometimes more popular than all the others
put together. Having found out what it is, it is then
vital to communicate that benefit to potential
purchasers so as many as possible understand that
if they make the purchase they will receive that
benefit. If it is possible, not only state the benefit
but prove it by presenting some good evidence and
the case is even stronger if it can be done in a way
that demonstrates it.
Before the internet, advertising for smaller
companies was limited to using words (descriptions
of our services or written testimonials) or 'stills'
(such us 'before' and 'after' photographs). Today, it
is easier for us to demonstrate the benefits of what
we do by using our phones to shoot video
sequences of our work in progress which we can
then load onto our websites. Simple, yet so
effective.
Often keeping it simple works best. Something I
have noticed about a significant number of TV
advertisements is that the creative teams
sometimes get so carried away with their ideas
that the resulting advert completely misses the
point. Some of them are so over the top that you
are left wondering what it is they are actually
advertising and some are so irritating that it
actually puts you off ever purchasing the
product/service being promoted.
Another of the things Rosser Reeves said was, “A
gifted product is mightier than a gifted pen.” Read
some of the copy that describes products and
services on the daily Groupon web postings. In
What is your USP? Keith Robertson
newslinkpage 9
some cases the copy is so over the top that it
certainly wouldn't encourage me to purchase. That
doesn't mean I have never purchased from
Groupon. I have, but only when it is a product or
service I have wanted. In these cases I have clicked
on to the actual company website to learn more. I
have to concede that had these companies not
used Groupon (I am only using Groupon as an
example, but there are a number of similar services
out there) I might not have learned of the offer, but
repeatedly Groupon's over the top style has put me
off making other purchases.
Emphasising the importance of the actual
product on offer Reeves said, “Let's say you have
$1,000,000 tied up in your company and suddenly
your advertising isn't working and sales are going
down. And everything depends on it. Your future
depends on it, your family's future depends on it
and even other people's families depend on it.
Now, what do you want from me? Fine writing? Or
do you want to see the sales curve stop moving
down and start moving up?”
Reeves also believed it was a waste of money to
claim uniqueness where there isn't any. It doesn't
take the purchaser long to find that out and, as
repeat business is so important to the well-being
and growth of our businesses, it is extremely
foolish to promise anything that is not possible. If
our service isn't good enough it would be better to
improve it before making over the top claims.
Much is said, and written, about the importance
of building brands and recently I have noticed a
number of television adverts where the initials of
the group owning the particular advertised product
is appearing almost as reminder that, although you
are purchasing so and so's washing powder or fish
finger, you should appreciate that it must be better
because it is part of this big international
conglomerate.
Reeves view was that a provable claim-based
strategy is more likely to be successful than the use
of brand images. His view was that a brand image
can be interpreted in different ways, some of which
might not help support the product and an image is
unable to articulate the full story.
Most of us could improve our online presence,
and our printed advertising, if we took the time to
consider what we have to offer that is relevant
from a customer's point of view. And, as important
as video and pictures are becoming, the right
choice of words (remember to keep them simple)
are still important if we are to get through to our
audience. Unfortunately much of what we write is
because it is important to us and we don't usually
put ourselves in the position of our customers and
what is important to them.
In a recent conversation with Willie Little, the
owner of the successful Cleaning Doctor franchise,
he explained to me his standpoint when putting
together copy or preparing the layout of a website.
He said he always asks himself, “What would Mary
Continued on next page
page 10newslink
be looking for? What is it that she wants?”
If it's time to review your advertising, whether
website, direct mail letters or leaflets, it would do
you no harm to do it this way. First ponder to try
and find something that you genuinely do that is
different to your competitors, something your
customers will appreciate. Then, once you've found
something, craft it into your own USP. Use this as a
New leaflet launch
We are pleased to announce the
launch of our new consumer leaflet
which is available for NCCA
members to purchase.
The leaflet is ideal for leaving with
domestic customers and presents
another opportunity for you to
promote yourself and gain new business. Wide
distribution will ensure that more people will
become aware of who we are and what you, the
member, has to offer.
Whilst this publication is designed to give each
member the full weight and authority of the
Association, it is also designed specifically to be
seen as your leaflet and your own produce with all
the prestige that goes with it.
It includes a section on how to tackle stains and
spillages, which will encourage your customer to
retain the leaflet for future reference. There is also
a space on the back where you can place your own
company details, ensuring that your customer will
have your particulars readily available should they
want their carpets and upholstery cleaned again in
the future.
Amazing 40% discount!
Our initial print-run of the new
leaflet revealed a slight misprint on
the outside back-page within the
box where you can place your own
company details.
The mistake was spotted by NCCA
member James Steer, from West
Sussex, who was the first to receive his order. So, a
huge 'thank you' to James for saving us all from our
blushes.
For those of you with your own address labels,
the misprint can be easily covered, so we are
offering these leaflets with a huge 40% discount!
Here are the prices you will be paying
You can order any amount you want but if you
were to order:
250 - you would pay £16.50Ÿ
500 - you would pay £28.50Ÿ
1000 - you would pay £57.00Ÿ
If you would like to take advantage of this fantastic
offer, please email Nicky on:
An example of the misprint can be sent to you via
post or email… you will see how easily it can be
covered!
Amazing discount on NCCA leaflets! Buy yours now!
base to create your advertising and marketing
materials, making sure you see things from your
customers' perspective at all times. Remember, all
that interests them is WIIFM, (what's in it for me)
so let them know just what that is.
Although Reeves died in 1984 his ideas have
continued as a worthwhile legacy. If you are
interested in learning more, he wrote an excellent
book in 1961 entitled 'Reality in Advertising.'
Continued from previous page
newslink page 12
Over the coming months, NCCA Standards and
Fair Trading Officer, Lewis Scroby, will be
providing a series of articles on complaints. He
begins this month with an introduction, advice on
avoiding complaints and on pre-cleaning
inspections.
t is an unfortunate fact that any carpet cleaner,
at some point during their career, will have to I deal with a complaint. Whether it be a call-
back, an over-expectant customer or problem
arising down the line, that undesirable call will be
one you have to deal with.
It can be very difficult to receive, accept and
attempt to resolve a complaint. But there are
methods you can employ to make the process
much easier. We find a lot of the time that properly
dealing with a complaint can leave the customer
just as, or if not more, satisfied than if the cleaning
results had been perfect first time.
As you all know, the NCCA offer arbitration
services to assist members and customers when a
complaint arises. For many years the Association
has helped members to resolve disputes and
provided assistance and advice to manage and
settle potentially strenuous situations and
uncompromising customers. I am the current
Standards and Fair Trading Officer for the
Association and handle all complaints that are
reported to the NCCA with assistance from NCCA
CEO, Paul Pearce, and the Board of Directors.
Unfortunately it is not always possible to avoid
issues that give reason for customers to complain.
Much of the work carried out by carpet and
upholstery cleaning technicians is judged on
expectation, as much as results, and due to over-
expectant customers it may be difficult to meet
the standards anticipated. One common factor in
a lot of complaints that are reported to the
Association is that technicians do not 'qualify' with
their customers.
We believe over 75% of complaints reported to
the office could be avoided by a simple
qualification process before beginning work. The
process is very simple and should be followed
every time, regardless of the circumstances. There
are three important steps: The survey, the
conversation and the report. In simple terms, you
inspect the items to be cleaned, discuss your
inspection with the client and confirm the details
in writing. Doing these three things will leave little
doubt in regard to what you are cleaning, how it
should be cleaned and the expected results (from
your own AND the customer's perspective). By
carrying out a proper survey and qualifying your
findings with the customer both verbally and in
writing, the following reasons for complaint can,
in almost all cases, be eliminated:
Pre-existing staining/damage has 'arisen' Ÿ
following cleaning
The item doesn't look 'like new'Ÿ
The item hasn't dried quickly enoughŸ
A certain stain hasn't been removedŸ
The colour isn't the same as beforeŸ
On top of this, a thorough survey will reveal any
potential problems before they have an
opportunity to arise, allowing the technician to
A guide to customer complaints (part one)Lewis Scroby (NCCA Standards and Fair Trading)
newslinkpage 13
take measures to ensure that they don't. Common
complaints that are reported to the Association,
which a proper survey would uncover and make
avoidable, are:
ShrinkageŸ
Dye bleedingŸ
Damage arising from prior excessive wearŸ
Problems arising due to use of an incorrect Ÿ
cleaning method
It is essential that the above are identified during a
survey. These are fundamental issues that may arise
during cleaning and can be avoided. If you are
unsure you know how to recognise the potential for
any of them to become an issue, we would
recommend attending a refresher course.
Ongoing training, in general, is highly
recommended by the Association and all
professional organisations in most industries. It is
important for the success of any company to keep
up to date with the latest developments within their
chosen trade. NCCA tutors continually update their
course programmes and teaching methods to
ensure the latest methods, equipment, regulations
and other developments are covered. We believe all
members, whether they have two years or twenty
years' experience, should take advantage of this and
ensure they are versed on the very latest industry
advancements.
It is accepted that even the most experienced
cleaning technicians can forget some fundamentals
and fall in to bad habits in their process. Regular
attendance of courses can ensure that this is kept to
a minimum.
Achieving qualifications throughout your career
can also be an excellent marketing tool. Presenting
clients with evidence of your knowledge and
experience, along with the fact that you are
continually updating your education, will certainly
give you the advantage when they are considering
employing a professional cleaner.
Next month Lewis will continue the series with
guidance on implementing procedures and how to
deal with complaints.
NCCA Member Benefits
Adelante Merchant Services: 01628 820500
BeValued - Home Options (specialist claimsmanagement - insurance work): Call ShaunMulvey on 01323 418432
Control Account PLC: 01527 882901
EMJ Management Ltd (workwear clothingand accessories): 02392 434650
Hibu (previously Yell) - ask for CorporateAdvertising Department: 0808 100 7890
HMCA (free legal and counselling helpline): 0117 934 2600
HMCA (medical health cover): 01423 866985
MF Oils (fuel discounts): Call Jake on 01202339197
Payatrader: 01296 660177
SiteWizard (website creation): 08450 608860
Thompson Local - ask forCorporateAdvertsing Department: 01252 390385
TrustMark (Diversity): 0115 9673767
newslink page 14
fter a very enjoyable and informative day
out with some NCCA members and their
partners last year, I have organised a Asecond exclusive tour of the Conservation Studio on
Friday 9th May 2014.
The tour will take place in the afternoon and is
scheduled to last an
hour, although last
year it was so
interesting for both
them and us that
we were there for
three hours! To
make more of a day
of it we have again organised a visit to a
National Trust House, this time Felbrigg
Hall, in the morning. This is a very
special one-off tour when the Hall will
be closed to the general public. The
Hall, normally closed on Fridays, will be
opened exclusively for NCCA members.
There is a maximum of twelve persons
per tour; the first will start at 10.00am
and the second, if required, will start at
11.00am.
On the Conservation Studio tour, the cleaning
room (not usually included on the tour) will be
accessible to NCCA members. The Studio, managed
by Ksynia Marko, is the only in-house treatment
facility for the conservation of textiles in the UK.
They take in some of the 100,000 items that belong
to the National Trust each year for conservation.
These include items such as tapestries, costumes,
state beds, carpets and many other textiles. As a
conservation studio they conserve items as they are
now, so if an item has been repaired in the past then
they consider this to be part of the history of the
item and it is left, unless the repair is causing
damage.
In February this year they will be collecting the
19th Century Templetons chenille carpet from
Cragside House in Northumberland, as featured on
TV in October on the 'Inside the National Trust'
programme. Acid dyes used in its manufacture are
now causing damage and Paul Pearce and I have
been invited to visit the studio to discuss possible
ways of cleaning it safely prior to its conservation.
This carpet will be
under conservation
when our tour takes
place, so you will
have a one-off
opportunity to see
the work being
undertaken on this
unique and historic
carpet.
The Conservation
Studio has a maximum of 25 visitors to a tour, so
early booking is advisable!
Felbrigg Hall, built in the 17th Century, has Jacobean
architecture and a Georgian interior, walled gardens
with orchards and an orangery and also houses the
National Colchicums (Crocus) Collection. The estate
covers 1,760 acres including 520 acres of Woodland.
Following our tour/s of Felbrigg we will meet for a
pub lunch and time to chat with other members,
Felbrigg Hall
NCCA tour of the National Trust Textile Conservation
Studio and Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk Glyn Charnock
Felbrigg Hall
Restoration atthe Studio
NCCA COURSESCarpet & Upholstery Cleaning 21st - 22nd March23rd - 24th May4th - 5th July12th - 13th September21st - 22nd November
Advanced Spot & Stain Removal21st February20th June10th October
Leather Identification & Cleaning20th March11th September
NCCA courses held at NSPCC Training Centre, Leicester unless otherwise stated. Visit:www.ncca.co.uk for booking forms and further details.
IICRC COURSES (HERTFORDSHIRE)Carpet Cleaning Technician with Paul Pearce11th - 12th March20th - 21st May16th - 17th September25th - 26th November
Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician withPaul Pearce18th - 19th March3rd - 4th June23rd - 24th September2nd - 3rd December
Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technicianwith Paul Pearce25th - 26th March30th Sept - 1st Oct
Held at Alltec Network, Royston, Hertfordshire. Tel: 01763 208222
IICRC COURSES (SURREY)Carpet Cleaning Technician with Adam Jankowski18th - 19th February3rd - 4th June
Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician withAdam Jankowski12th - 13th March23rd - 24th July
Held at National Flood School, Surrey. Tel: 01252 821185
Visit: www.iicrc.org for further details on allIICRC Training Courses.
Diary Dates 2014
before heading to the Conservation Studio at
Oulton in the afternoon.
If you fancy mixing a bit of work with pleasure,
why not do as some members did last year and
make a weekend of it? Blickling Hall, which we
toured last year, is another National Trust property
in the area and well worth a visit. Or why not take a
picnic and a walk in Sherringham Park and view the
coast from the look-out tower. For train enthusiasts
there is the North Norfolk Poppy Line, running along
the coast from Sherringham via Weybourne to Holt.
Close by is the seaside town of Wells which has a
railway to Walsingham, England's Nazareth, with
the Slipper Chapel, the Roman Catholic Shrine of
Our Lady.
Driving the coast road you can stop off at the
specially built Cley Marsh Bird Reserve for lunch,
the café/shop has lovely views over the protected
marsh. Blakeney harbour is very pretty and Bishops
Boats have trips out to see the seals at Blakeney
point.
If you like a city break, Norwich is well worth a
visit with one of the top ten UK shopping malls and
the oldest outdoor market in the country. There is
also a very fine Norman Castle and the Cathedral is
well worth a visit.
Norfolk is also well known for the Broads National
Park, so if you like sailing, shops, pubs and
restaurants all in easy walking distance, stop off in
Wroxham.
Prices for the day are yet to be confirmed as we
hope to include lunch, but have yet to finalise the
venue for this. We anticipate the total price to be
around £35 plus VAT per person, including lunch
and both tours, so if you would like to take part in a
completely unique exclusive event, reserve your
place now with the office. We look forward to
seeing you there.
Turkoman rugs (part one)Peter Collins (Honorary Member)
This article is the first in a series covering
the history, weaving techniques, design and
production of the very beautiful and much-
loved Turkoman rugs.
urkoman rugs are handmade in
Northwestern Iran, parts of Turkey, T Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan,
Syria and some areas of the former Soviet Union.
They are usually of similar appearance and very
distinguishable from Persian rugs. Typically they
will display all-over geometric patterns with the
main colour being a rich burgundy, a design
exclusive to the
Turkomans; often
prayer rugs are made
in these regions with
the same colour
scheme. These
beautiful rugs are
sometimes referred to
as Caucasian carpets
and are frequently
used to add exotic
flavour to a room.
The history of
Turkoman rugs goes
back a long way. Many
ancient regions of Iran including Ardabil,
Bakhshaish, Gharadjeh, Goravan, Heriz,
Mehriban, Sarab and Shahsavan are renowned for
rug weaving. Here, almost all men and women
have the talent and skill to weave high quality
carpets by hand, with no use of modern
technology whatsoever. In some cases, rug
weaving is a family's main source of income.
Their weaving style originates partly from the
Mongols, who invaded Iran in the 13th century and
settled in the northwest, and usually incorporates
the symmetrical Turkish double-knotting style,
which tends to be dense and tightly packed down.
However, the asymmetrical Persian knot can also
be seen in the rugs produced in cities, such as
Ardabil.
Turkoman rugs are normally coloured with natural
vegetable and root dyes and the pile is mainly
constructed of thick lustrous wool, handspun
from local sheep. Cotton is a material of choice for
the foundation because it is very strong. Goat hair
can also be seen in some Turkish tribal carpets
and in a few regions, such as Ardabil, silk is
blended in with the wool pile.
Iran, some parts of Turkey and Uzbekistan have
been very significant in the forming of the present
day carpet industry. Carpet weaving has long been
a custom of theirs and they still use the brilliant
weaving techniques that were used thousands of
years ago to produce sturdy, hardwearing and very
beautiful rugs.
More next month on Turkoman rugs.
newslink page 18
Men are from Earth... Derek Bolton (Honorary Member)
omen are from a
different planet
somewhere in Wthe Galaxy! That statement is
going to get me into real
trouble… let me explain my
reasoning.
It all started with a Christmas
shopping expedition, not a
man's favourite pastime at the
best of times, but something
that the female of the species
seem to crave and revel in. Say
no more!
The cunning plan I have
adopted is to quietly disappear
and visit some establishment
far more interesting than
clothes shops, such as a nice
quiet coffee shop or maybe a soft furnishings
outlet. So, just before Christmas this is exactly
what transpired and I found myself in the local
John Lewis store, specifically the soft furnishings
section, which just happened to be right next to
their coffee shop… BLISS.
During the next hour or so I meandered around
looking at carpets, rugs and soft furnishing fabrics
not, I hasten to add, with any thoughts of buying
her ladyship a rug for Christmas. Perish the
thought I should actually 'choose' something
myself without the due prolonged consultation
process…. ring any bells fellas?
I do thoroughly recommend that all carpet
cleaners browse the retail outlets from time to
time; it is amazing what you can find of interest.
Looking around John Lewis's extensive selection of
carpeting, Oriental and Oriental-style rugs I found
some really exciting cleaning challenges for us to
make ourselves aware of, a few of which I will
share with you here.
Firstly, I was surprised at many of the cleaning
instructions on the informative labels attached to
rugs; many of their wool-rich rugs recommended
‘dry clean only’… there was a 100% Acrylic pile rug
with the same instruction. This is a very clear
indication that we must ALWAYS test and NOT
simply rely on labelling. There were also many rugs
Mai
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olt
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newslinkpage 19
that, on the face of it, looked to be wet-cleanable
but on checking the label I was surprised at the
fibre content.
Remember, the manufacturers are very good at
providing just what the consumer wants in terms
of design, texture and price; they have to in an
effort to survive in today's very competitive market
place. As Paul Pearce mentioned in his recent
article, it is important to watch out for Viscose face
fibres in rugs and carpets. It is becoming
increasingly common and dare I say 'popular',
although obviously not with the professional
carpet cleaner. Reviews on such rugs read very
well with customers delighting in their rich colours
and soft feel. What I haven’t seen yet, however, is
any comments on what happens when someone
has a spillage on one of these carpets/rugs or
attempts a D.I.Y clean or gets in an unsuspecting
professional.
Don't forget that with Viscose you may well be
dealing with fibres that have been dyed using the
pH sensitive Direct dye. One of the samples I
acquired certainly has, and it costs the princely
sum of £450 per square metre! Not something you
want to ruin
when
attempting a
clean, so don't
forget to test.
I personally love
all these
changes as it
provides
additional
interest for the
professional cleaning technician. It can get quite
boring just cleaning the same old Polypropylene or
80% Wool/20% Nylon pile carpets day in and day
out. We need something to keep the old grey
matter functioning, plus it's always a good excuse
to get out of shopping with 'The Governor'. It's a
'win win' situation, providing of
course you retain possession of the
credit card!
(Note from the Editor - I prefer our
planet, the toilet seats are always
down and there are more shoe
shops). (Note from Paul P - What
about handbags?)
100% Acrylic - ‘Dry Clean Only’
Viscose
Jute and Polyester(unusual combo)
newslink page 20
Wood floor cleaning and maintenanceTerry Guilford (The Ultimate Floor Sanding Co.)
lot of the articles I
have written so far
have concentrated on Awood floor sanding and
finishing which is not
something all of you may be
interested in getting involved
in. However, there is a way that
you can all make money from
wooden floors without the
expense of floor sanding
equipment and training and
that is in its cleaning and
maintenance.
So, at this point, you may be
thinking “don't a lot of
people just mop the
floors themselves?”
Well the answer is yes,
but then they can also
mop tiles and vinyl
themselves. However,
luckily for us, some
people do prefer to have their hard floors cleaned
professionally.
So, what do you need to do before embarking on
any kind of maintenance on a wooden floor? Well,
the first thing to do is decide what type of finish
the wood is treated with, is it a penetrating finish
like oil hard wax oil or is a surface type finish (a
lacquer or varnish)? Most people know how to spot
the latter as the product 'sits' on top of the wood
and has a certain depth and sheen to it,
but they are less sure about the oiled or
hard wax oiled floors. Well, to identify
these, first ask the client. Because oiling
floors is relatively specialist the clients will often
know that this is what they have. Secondly, look to
see if there is surface build or if it appears that
there is nothing on the surface. Thirdly, floors that
have an oil finish will sometimes have a more worn
appearance and evidence of penetration by water
or other spills. Hard waxes are the most difficult to
spot to the untrained eye as they may well have
some surface build and are chemically very
newslinkpage 21
resistant. However, for these reasons it is not so
bad if you do get it wrong (whilst it wouldn't be
technically correct to clean these floors like a
lacquered one and then coat with an emulsion, it
would be unlikely to damage them).
The next step is to assess the level of damage
done to the floor. An oiled floor (or any of the
derivatives) can be cleaned providing there is some
oil left on the floor and while this can be done with
a neutral pH cleaner and a mop, it doesn't really
impress the client. Much better is to use a
refresher product designed for this type of finish
which will both clean the floor and top up the oil in
one go. If the oil is quite worn and you are feeling
adventurous, it is well within the capabilities of all
of you to 'top up' the existing oil by cleaning the old
finish and applying fresh oil using a rotary machine
and a proprietary pad. Even better, why not offer
the client one of the new (much tougher) catalysed
oils. The latter two options would need some
training, especially in the case of hard wax oils, but
they are very 'do-able' and profitable.
With a lacquered floor it is possible to clean the
floor with a rotary machine and a red pad by
spraying a ready-mixed solution on to a small area
of floor at a time and using the pad as both the
cleaning and soil extraction tool. Very dirty floors
such as ballrooms, bars etc. are better cleaned
using the red pad just as a way to break down the
soil and then a wet vacuum to remove it. With this
method you will still use a neutral cleaner but this
time it is better to put it in the tank of your rotary
and apply it over an area of no more than 10 -15
square metres, then scrub the area and extract
quickly. Remember, water is the enemy of wooden
flooring. Clean a small area and extract as quickly
as possible.
So, what if your lacquered wooden floor looks
dull and lifeless after cleaning? What about using a
professional emulsion just like you would on some
other surfaces?
Wood floor emulsions come in basic form and
also in a non-slip variety and are applied pretty
much in the same way as for any other surface,
thinly with each coat applied at 90 degrees to its
predecessor and avoiding too much build up at the
edges.
It is estimated that there are ten thousand
square metres of wood flooring fitted in the UK
every week, do you really want to miss out on the
opportunity of maintaining it?
New NCCA Members
FAB Carpet Cleaning
Exeter, Devon
Prestige Carpets & Cleaning
St Albans, Hertfordshire
UK Carpet Care Ltd
Ipswich, Suffolk
Evan Smith Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
Chelmsford, Essex
Smart Services Inc
Hereford, Herefordshire
newslink page 22
Ken WainwrightSome customers...ometimes customers can be so stubborn
that it's hard to understand their logic. I had
an ongoing saga, beginning last October S(over now… I hope), which made me want to laugh.
Or perhaps cry?
The original call from my
customer was about some
staining on her room-sized
rug. Her story was that her
cleaner had spilt some
beeswax polish that had left
some yellow stains on the
rug. All DIY attempts at
removal had failed and had
also created some new pile
and colour damage. My
customer was absolutely
convinced it was all the
fault of the cleaner as “she'd spilt the wax”. The
cleaner denied having caused the stain.
Looking at the rug, I suspected a different source
for the stain. I tested the aerosol beeswax formula
and it produced a clear patch on the test-towel, not
yellow. I then test treated part of the stain with a
tea and coffee stain removing product… with a
positive result! Not perfect, as the stain had been
abused by DIY treatments, which I suspect included
the bleaching type product I saw in the cleaning
cupboard, and I was reluctant to use a professional
bleaching product as the whiter colours on the type
of rug she had can be easily damaged. I was, and
still am, convinced that this was a beverage stain,
especially as it was at the side of a coffee table.
Now the good bit. My customer told me that her
cleaner didn't drink tea. Or coffee. Or hot
chocolate! In fact she said that her cleaner ONLY
drank cold water. But she did, at this point at least,
agree with me that the spillage did look more like
tea or coffee than anything else.
I began to think that the customer, or one of her
many visitors, had caused the original stain, but
unfortunately she remained
convinced that the cleaner
had done it and wanted her
to pay for a new rug!
Having cleaned the rug, and
achieved the safest result
possible, I thought that was
the end of it all. Then I
received a phone call in
November asking me what
else the cleaner could have
done to cause this damage.
Then again on Christmas Eve!
All the evidence presented to
me suggested that the cleaner was not responsible
and that it was my customer, or a visitor, who was
at fault.
It's not in my nature to point the big lottery finger
at a customer and say “It could be you” but on this
occasion I came close, very close to doing this. But
happily I didn't, especially as I was recommended
by a retired director from a major carpet mill in
Kidderminster.
I haven't heard anything further since the phone
call I received on Christmas
Eve, so I am hoping the
saga is all over now.
However, I am wondering if
the cleaner is still being
blamed for the stain and if
she's caved under the
pressure and agreed to pay
for a new rug.
competition
For your chance to win a FREE place on our floor sanding training course just log on to our website and sign up for our monthly newsletter. To be sure we know who you are
please put NCCA after your name.
The winner of our last competition was Steve Wilkins from Ideal Upholstery Cleaning in Cheshire. “Congratulations Steve we look forward
to seeing you on our course soon!”
win a place onour training course!
win a place onour training course!
WINNER!
www.ultimate-floorcare.com
newslink page 24
ver the past twenty nine years of
running a carpet cleaning business, I've
had a one, two and a three truck Ooperation. I've had a workshop with an office and
I've also had just a home office. I also ventured
into fire and flood restoration for a number of
years as well as concentrating solely on cleaning
carpets and upholstery.
It seems to me that success is often measured by
how many trucks you have. Or
how large the business is.
Now that I'm once again an
owner/operator working from a
home office, I've come to
realize that residential carpet
cleaning is a great opportunity
for a good lifestyle. There are
so many benefits in this
industry to remaining small. In no particular order,
here they are:
Ask any business owner their number one
headache and it will usually involve employees
that need 'parenting'. That seems to be
particularly the case with carpet and upholstery
cleaning. Good employees are hard to find and it's
very hard to find employees who know how to
deal with people and can present themselves to
high-end homeowners. After all, we work in
peoples' bedrooms! Customers have to feel very
comfortable with whoever is going to do that and
really need to trust them.
No employees equals less stress
Each job is unique. There are probably dozens of
different decisions to be made on each job.
Employees don't care as much as you do. My last
employee moved a table with a very expensive
Tiffany lamp balancing on one end…and it fell off.
The employee thinks about your cost of
replacement - you think about what the customer
will tell others about you!
I've just booked in an old customer who hasn't
used us for a number of years.
He responded because I sent
him an irresistible offer. He
finally told me that he kept
hesitating to use us again
because the last time the
carpets were cleaned the
skirting boards had been
damaged with the wand. Yet,
he'd never mentioned it on the Report Card.
People don't like to complain…they'll just go
somewhere else!
No employees also means that you don't have to
worry about terminating employment and being
taken to an industrial tribunal. I've had staff try to
take me to a tribunal (fortunately I took advantage
of the NCCA free legal helpline) and I've known a
colleague who sacked an employee for theft only
to have to pay compensation for 'not following
correct procedure'.
Who would you prefer to perform a service in your
home? The owner, or one of his employees?
No employees equals loyal, happier customers
David CokerExpanding your business - is it the best way to go?
page 25 newslink
Customers prefer to have YOU, and quality minded
consumers will pay a premium to have the owner.
And, unlike a large firm, they know who will turn
up to do the work.
As I write this, I've just had a new driveway on
the front of my house. The owner of the business
brought a new member of staff to do some of the
'grunt' work of cutting the bricks for the edging
while he presumably managed another job. He's
now been back twice to replace many of the bricks
that the employee fitted. Am I happy? Yes. Would I
use him again? Not unless he's doing the work
himself.
No employees means no office required, no
Employee Liability Insurance, no Employers
National Insurance Contributions (currently
13.8%!), no sick pay, no holiday pay, no P60's to
prepare at year-end and no extra equipment
required.
There's also considerable savings on training staff
perhaps to have them leave after a month with no
explanation , or to have
them leave to start their own cleaning business (as
I have also unfortunately experienced).
And here's one of the myths of owning a larger
business, 'if there's sufficient Gross, there must be
significant Net in there somewhere'. This is not
necessarily true. Big numbers do not always result
in more take-home pay for the owner. In fact, in
my experience, the opposite is true, in that the
lower investment costs and lower overheads of
being an owner/operator translates into a much
higher profit margin!
No employees equals lower expenses
(as I have experienced)
Member referral reportSince publishing a referral statistics
report in last month's Newslink there have been 96 recommendations for full members provided by the NCCA. This
number is made up of 47 referrals from the NCCA office and 49 potential
customers contacting members directly through the website.
newslink page 26
ould can potentially grow in any
building, whether occupied or M unoccupied. It cannot normally be
seen with the human eye, but it can be seen when
it grows into large colonies.
The spores are all around us, but normally they
are not present in high numbers and therefore
should not affect us.
Many people have not been aware of the health
effects of mould exposure, but this is now
changing.
Mould growth in a building is not good for human
health and the Healthy Homes Safety Rating
Systems (HHSRS), the Environmental Regulations
for rented properties, consider that mould in a
building is a Class One health hazard similar to
exposure to asbestos.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also
considers it a human health hazard.
There are many health and safety laws stating
that hazardous biological substances must be
contained and controlled. These laws must be
complied with; this is an: absolute statutory
requirement.
When a mould spore settles and becomes damp
these spores can germinate. This germination will
often lead to the growth of a fruiting body and on
the fruiting body more mould spores will grow.
Each fruiting body can release thousands of
invisible spores into the air. Therefore mould
spore replication can be rapid in the right
Guidance
Mould growth
conditions and this will accelerate with time.
Mould digests the surface it settles on and can
feed on many substances. It often prefers dark
places for growth and does not like rapid air
movement.
Many of us have good immune system resistance to
mould spore exposure but some people do not and
they can easily be affected.
Human exposure, the facts:
The more exposure a person receives to mould Ÿ
growth the more likely it is that it will affect their
health. So it is very important that mould growth
must be controlled in buildings.
Mould exposure can cause our immune systems Ÿ
to become suppressed and this can lead to other
illnesses.
Mould exposure can be pathogenic, toxigenic and Ÿ
carcinogenic, but all mould exposure can be
allergenic.
Some mould can grow in human lung tissue. There Ÿ
are also some moulds that can pierce human skin.
People can be affected by the chemical Ÿ
substances from mould exposure, leading to
chemical sensitivity.
Mould growth in a building can give off Microbial
Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOC's); sometimes
you may be able to smell these MVOC's when
Controlling mould growth
We cannot control normal amounts of mould
spores entering buildings. However, we can prevent
the growth of mould by the control of moisture (on
which it feeds).
Human health effects of mould exposure
Ÿ
Steve ScotterMould - what is all the fuss about?
newslinkpage 27
entering a building. Exposure to MVOC's can
change a person's DNA and this can cause many
health problems.
Some moulds will release toxins (Mycotoxins)
when under threat from other moulds or when
treated with chemicals; these toxins have been
used in chemical warfare.
Many dust mites require mould to be present for
their replication and feeding processes.
Common health problems caused by mould
exposure
There are many common complaints caused by
mould exposure. These include: depression, eye
irritation, lethargy, fatigue, wheezing, brain fog,
dizziness, runny nose, anxiety, skin irritation, lack of
concentration and allergic reactions.
More serious health problems caused by mould
exposure
Sometimes mould exposure can cause more serious
health complaints. Some of these are listed below:
Asthma attacks - mild to life threatening.
Chest infections - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease (COPD) patients are particularly
susceptible.
Cancer.
Mould growing in, or on, human tissue -
Ÿ
Ÿ
Ÿ
Ÿ
Ÿ
Ÿ
particularly in the lungs, requiring long term
medication.
Only fully (up-to-date) trained, competent
technicians should undertake this work. On
completion of this work, clearance tests for mould
are required and these should be carried out by an
independent specialist.
Drying works should start in a flood damaged
building within hours. A building that has been
flood damaged for three days or more is in a
biologically unacceptable condition for human
occupation. Extensive strip out will be required for
the decontamination process to be successful; this
will result in much higher costs for building repair.
To simply wipe down mould would result in the
release into the air of many thousands of mould
spores which could result in further contaminating
the building.
Mould removal must only be carried out by
trained competent technicians, and on completion
of this work the decontamination needs to be
clearance tested by an independent company to
prove the work has been carried out correctly.
All technicians must wear appropriate PPE when
undertaking flood restoration and mould
remediation.
Flood damage restoration
Removal of mould
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Steve Scotter was a carpet cleaner and a member of the National Carpet Cleaners Association for many years. He now works for NCCA Corporate Member, Hydro-Dynamix Ltd, as a NEBOSH qualified Health and Safety Manager.
newslink page 28
he provision of first aid to employees is a
basic obligation enshrined within the
Health and Safety (First TAid) Regulations 1981. HSE
guidance on this duty reminds
us that “An employer should
make an assessment of first-aid
needs appropriate to the
circumstances (hazards and
risks) of each workplace.” ¹
Employers, particularly in the
cleaning industry where there
are often lone workers and
employees on third party
premises, should assess what
first-aid provision is adequate.
The fact that many employees
are likely to be using chemicals
and machinery makes such
provision even more important.
The HSE guidance provides a
checklist for employers and
deals specifically with a number of common
industry issues:
where employees travel a lot, work remotely or Ÿ
work alone - the guidance advises employers to
consider issuing personal first-aid kits and mobile
phones (to summon assistance); and
where employees work at a site occupied by Ÿ
other employers - the guidance suggests that an
Sophie Tompkins (Eversheds LLP)
A quick health check - are yourfirst-aid arrangements up-to-date
employer should make arrangements with other
site occupiers to ensure the adequate provision of
first-aid. A written agreement
between employers is
strongly recommended.
Employers do not need
formal health and safety
policies covering the issue of
first-aid provision, but there
does need to be some
thought given to the issue. As
a minimum, the HSE advise
the following:
a suitably stocked first-aid Ÿ
kit;
an appointed person to take Ÿ
charge of first-aid
arrangements; and
information for all Ÿ
employees giving details of
first-aid arrangements.²
Where there are a number of
individuals working within one location, there
should at least be one person appointed to co-
ordinate a response (such as calling the
emergency services) in the event that first-aid
needs to be administered. Thought should be
given to whether that individual is always available
during working hours and who will fill that role in
their absence. Where there are commonly
newslinkpage 29
changes in the workforce, employers need to
review the position on a regular basis.
Where arrangements have been established,
employers should make sure that employees are
aware of them. In the event of an incident where
first-aid is administered, you should ensure that
those arrangements worked as expected. Serious
cases of injury in the workplace are often
aggravated by poor first-aid and emergency
response.
In the event first-aid kits are provided, they
should be regularly checked and, if necessary,
refreshed just as would happen with other PPE
and work equipment.
Where employees are given first-aid training,
employers should take note that training
requirements have recently changed. Until
October 2013, any health and safety training
qualification had to be approved by the HSE. As
from 1 October 2013, such approval became no
longer necessary and employers now have the
freedom to select appropriate training providers.
The HSE has also provided guidance on how to
select a suitable provider and this can be found at:
*
The changes to training requirements allow
businesses a greater degree of flexibility and
independence and an enhanced ability to tailor
courses to the specific needs and demands within
their particular workforce. The HSE will only
become involved in cases where there is a
significant risk, a disregard for established
standards or persistent poor compliance with the
law.
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/geis3.pdf
When an incident has been dealt with and first-aid
administered, thought should then be given to
completing the relevant accident book and, for
more serious incidents, whether a report to the
HSE is necessary under the provisions of the
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous
Occurrences Regulations 2013 (“RIDDOR”). Failure
to report an injury as required could lead to
prosecution and the issuing of a fine; one which
may be substantial and damaging for a small
company. By way of example, a company has been
fined £3,500 for not reporting the injuries
sustained by two employees whilst using
machinery and a heat-sealing mechanism.
As well as the changes to first-aid training, there
have also been changes to the RIDDOR provisions.
The main changes relate to the classification of
those injuries considered 'major injuries'; the list of
'major injuries' has been replaced with a list of
'non-fatal injuries to workers'. In addition, there
has been a reduction in the types of 'dangerous
occurrences' that need to be reported. Whilst
employers will still need to investigate non-
reportable accidents and make any changes
needed to prevent a recurrence, an awareness of
these recent changes will assist those tasked with
completing RIDDOR reports should the time come.
* The NCCA has devised an excellent health and
safety training course which is aimed specifically
at the carpet and upholstery cleaner. For more
information phone the NCCA office on 0116 271
9550).
¹ L74 3rd Edition:
² www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l74.pdf
www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/what-employers-need-to-do.htm
Items for sale
newslink page 30
BUSINESS FOR SALESmall, long-established, reputable NCCA Registered,
working carpet, upholstery and soft furnishings cleaning company. Essex based. Owner Operator retiring. To be sold as a complete package only. Mobile HWE and dry
cleaning system. Domestic and commercial clients. Genuine interested parties only please to call 07903
497298 and leave details.
CLEANING AND RESTORATION MACHINERY - EQUIPMENT - ACCESSORIES
Dri-Eaz Dehumidifier 1200 as New Boxed £450.00. Dri-Eaz Sahara Pro TurboDryer - New Boxed £150.00. Dri-Eaz Dri X Airchanger Dehumidifier New Boxed. Normal
Price £1900.00. Our Price £500.00. Plus much more. For a complete list please telephone: 07580 182 325 or
E-mail: [email protected]
VACANCY & BUSINESS OPPORTUNITYExperienced full time Carpet and Floor Care Technician
required. Own van and equipment an advantage but not essential. Good business incentive package (profit share
or buy in). Area coverage M4 corridor from Bristol to London. Apply by email to
[email protected] (with full CV, etc.) or telephone: 01672 871882 or mobile: 07831
172743.
EQUIPMENT FOR SALEMobile container/bin (red) - comes with lid. Heavy duty
container on wheels. L55” x W32” x H31”, ideal hose and other carpet clng equipment storage. List price:
£199 - selling for £75. Whole room drier/air mover. List price: £534 - selling for £99 (no VAT). Contact: Chis on:
02380 898 212 or email:[email protected] phone Chris on: 07970 040729.
BUSINESS FOR SALESmall long-established reputable NCCA registered
working business, specialising carpet, upholstery and hard floor cleaning. Northumberland based
owner/operator retiring. To be sold as a complete package only. Sign written 55 plate Iveco Daily van with fitted Prochem Blazer Truck Mount High pressure and extraction hose reels complete with hoses, including
wands, hard floor surface spinner 3 turbo dryers fans, 4 dehumidifiers, MMs Plus, Sebo vac and duo, Rotary
scrubber, plus lots of other equipment and chemicals. Plus a fully SEO website. Genuine interested parties only
please. Call 01670 787185.
WHOLE ROOM DRYER360 degrees air mover, ex company stock used for 18 months only (Truvox) - Cost new: £500. Selling cost:
£150. Contact: 02380 898212.
OFFICE PRINTER/COPIERDuplo DP-2211 Single colour A3 or A4 duplicator. Full working order, any fair trial. Ideal for low cost Flyers. Some consumables. PC Interface, prints direct from
P.C. or printed copy - £250.00 o.n.o. For further Information Contact [email protected] or
call 0116 2672720. Based in Leicester
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - IDEAL FOR NEW BUSINESSEverything you need to start carpet cleaning,
including: Ashbys Ninja adjustable up to 400psi with Dry Cleaning Functionality built in, 2 x25m vacuum
hoses, 1 x silencer hose, 1 x wand, 1 x upholstery tool, 1 x dry cleaning solvent tool. Sebo Duo agitator. Sebo Vacuum BS36. 1.5hp blower dryer. Truvox high speed
buffer. Prochem Stain Removal kit. 2 x 6 litres pressure sprayers. 1 x 1 litre upholstery/spot sprayer. 1 x vinyl mat for Ninja and 1 terrapaulin sheet. Huge array of
chemicals including: Prochem Power Burst, Defoamer, Prochem Pre Spray Gold, Prochem Natural Carpet Cleaner, Ashby's supreme Anti Grease, Prochem Browning prescription, Prochem Fabric and Fibre
Rinse, Ashby's Extra Fresh, Prochem Odour Fresh. Box of other bits including: shoe covers, brushes,
polystyrene pads, measuring jugs, dry compound. All in excellent condition. Selling as my second business is
consuming all of my time. Selling for £1950. Contact Richard on 07903 841534.
EQUIPMENT FOR SALEProchem 250 ft vacuum hoses for truck mount -
£150.00. Chemspec hose reel for truck mount plastic - £200. Prochem sadle tank for truckmount 227 litre/60
gallons - £250.00.Contact [email protected] for further information or contact Andy on: 07970 544806.
TRUCKMOUNTBanclene truck mount complete with base unit,
stainless steel 80 gallon recovery tank, 100 gallon solution tank, 150 feet of Vaccuum/solution hoses, floor, stair and various upholstery hand tools, inline
heater and misc parts etc..The van has been sold seperately. Selling due to retirement and will consider the highest offer. Call Derek at Aquamaster on 01845
537640 - mobile 07976 218304 or email derek @aquamaster-yorkshire.co.uk
MACHINERY FOR SALE CFR Paramount 1000 PSI machine - delivering 1000
pressure per square inch. 95 litre recycling tank, great for commercial and domestic work £600.00
o.n.o.Contact [email protected] for further information or phone David on 07768 667824 or
01277 824546.
NCCA Corporate Members
+ Allied Insurance Services Ltd:
+ Alltec Network:
+ Amtech UK:
+ Ashby's Cleaning Equipment:
+ Asset Finance Solutions UK Ltd:
+ Bio Productions Ltd (inc. Stapro):
+ Camberford Law (insurance brokers):
+ Chemdry Franchising Ltd:
+ Chemspec Europe Ltd:
+ Cleanerswarehouse Ltd:
+ Cleaning Systems UK:
+ Cleanpro Software Solutions Ltd:
+ Cleansmart Ltd:
+ Cleantec Innovation Ltd:
+ Columbus Cleaning Machines Ltd:
+ Dri-Eaz Products Ltd:
+ Dry Fusion UK Ltd:
+ Forum of Private Business:
+ Get Booked Up Software:
+ Gleaming Insurance (insurance brokers):
+ Hi-Tec Cleaning Group:
+ Host Von Schrader Ltd:
+ Hydro Dynamix:
+ Mailboxes Etc:
+ McGregor Lloyd (insurance brokers):
+ NSL Restormate: 01670 590099:
+ Nu Life Stone Care Ltd:
+ Oates Laboratories (Europe):
+ Prochem Europe Ltd:
+ Rainbow International:
+ Restoration Express:
+ Robert Saunders Marketing Mentor:
+ Sebo UK Ltd:
+ ServiceMaster Ltd:
+ Stainshield Ltd:
+ Textile Cleaning Solutions:
+ The Big Clean:
+ The Ultimate Floor Sanding Co.:
+ The WoolSafe Organisation:
+ Truvox International Ltd:
+ Worldwide Cleaning Support:
0844 8156211 (I)
01763 208222 (C/M/F/T)
01444 232211 (C/M)
01322 227806 (C/M/E)
01254 584404 (FI)
01444 244000 (C)
0208 315 5000 (I)
01482 872770 (C/M/Fr)
01274 597333 (C/M/T/D/F)
01772 434333 (T/C/R/M)
01334 656787 (C/M/T/F)
01582 518467
0115 8240034 (T/C/R/M/K)
0870 733 7733 (T/C/W/M)
01772 426527 (M)
01908 611211 (C/M/T)
01772 433711 (C/M/T/W/Fr)
01565 634467
01405 813665
0845 4740068 (I)
02866 341416 (C/E/F/M/T)
0151 347 1900 (M/C)
01622 664993 (Fr)T)
01628 633336
0121 706 0616 (I)
(M/C/Tr)
0161 480 7284 (M/C)
01772 433711 (C)
0208 974 1515 (C/F/M/T)
01623 422488 (M/C/Fr)
01252 726106 (M/C/T/A)
08450 537129 (K)
01494 465533 (M)
0116 275 9000 (M/C/Fr)
01372 841467 (C)
01934 521155 (M/C)
0208 3934778 (M,C,W,K)
00353 91846488 (M/C/Fr)
01943 850817
02380 702200 (M)
01279 422220 (C/M)
C - Chemicals / M - Machinery / W - Wholesalers / Fr - Franchises / I - Insurance / K - Marketing / T - Technical Services / F - Fire Retardents / A - Auxiliary Services (Restoration Cleaners) / E - Supply/Repair of Curtains and Blinds / Fi - Finance / Tr - Training.newslink page 31
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Whole room downdraft dryer from Power Flite. Versatile air mover - multiple positions. Hardly
used. Was: £325. Accept: £150. Victor Sprite 12" Rotory Machine. Used once. Was £855 - Accept £450. Collect from Coventry. Tel 02476 620444.
MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
3 Ozone plates 4'' x 6'' to fit Jetazone 600 ozone generator - £15.00 for the 3, plus £5.00 p & p.
Chemspec stainless steel 4 jet floor wand in good condition - £100.00 plus delivery charge if
applicable. Please phone Pete Collins on 07885 804560.
BUSINESS FOR SALE
Small, well established carpet, hard floor and upholstery cleaning business (London and Kent borders). Package includes: 57 plate Vauxhall Vivaro LWB Van with 53k miles on the clock,
Prochem Blazer GT Truck Mount machine with only 270hrs on the clock, established interactive
website (which had SEO programme last year), chemicals, turbo drier, 250 feet of solution and
suction hose and van mounted hose reels, together with a property maintenance company
name, website and promotional materials. Contact telephone number 020 8309 6517. Sale price:
£18,000 O.N.O.
The Association advises that all
goods are checked to be in a
satisfactory condition, and
comply to electrical and health
and safety standards, etc. It is
recommended that equipment
serial numbers should be checked
to ensure the seller is the
legitimate owner. The Association
accepts no responsibility or
liability arising from any
transaction or dispute between
the buyer and seller.
Chemspec Europe, Tong Park, Otley Road, Baildon, West Yorkshire, BD17 7QD. Tel: 01274 597333 Fax: 01274 597444 E-mail: Website:[email protected] www.chemspec-europe.com
Going Going - Gone!Dye Gone offers a unique new package and application device to remove the severest of dye stains including: coffee, tea, wine, hair dyes, paints, candle colours etc.
*pre-test carefully and rinseout after stain is removedwith cold water.
No need to mix - just spray - wait and the stain is gone.*
Ask Chemspec about their newwinter/spring training programme for 2014
BEFORE AFTER
Say
goodbye
to stains!