July 2014

ncca July 2014

The official journal of the National Carpet Cleaners Association

newslink

Features:

Spot & Stain Techniques

The Carpet Cleaners Carnival

The Cragside Carpet

Photograph©Grosgrain Straw by Tintawn

Contents

03

04

06

10

13

21

22

24

26

28

From the Editor

Spot and stain techniques

Turkoman rugs (part six)

Is it time to diversify?

A guide to customer complaints (part six)

NCCA Carpet Cleaners Carnival 2014 -

eight-page pull-out-and-keep guide

(includes full seminar and exhibitor info)

NCCA hard floor cleaning and

maintenance course coming soon

A sticky subject

Pests I have encountered in the course

of my work

08

Underfoot and overlooked, cleaning

the Cragside carpet

Silvey fuel cards

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/Admin Director

Company Secretary/2nd Vice President/Training Director

Membership Director

Marketing Director

Corporate Director

Events Director

Co-opted Franchise 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.

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©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.

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The carpet cleaning event of the year - everyonewelcome (FREE for members) - book your place now!

Nicky LawNewslink Editor

here's now just under two months to go until the T next annual Carpet Cleaners Carnival (CCC).Taking place on September 20th, at Wicksteed Park in Kettering, the Carnival is open to everyone within the industry, together with their friends, partners and children.

The event includes an exhibition along with seminars and various activities to run throughout the day. It is an excellent place to network with like-minded people and provides a great opportunity to keep up-to-date with industry developments and learn something new.

The exhibition will be populated by top industry manufacturers, suppliers and advisors from within and outside the Association... and we've got some great companies lined up to exhibit this year (see centre pages pull-out-and-keep guide for more information on exhibitors).

This year we are also holding a number of seminars, hosted by industry experts (ALL FREE FOR ATTENDEES). The topics arranged so far include: The Use of Bleaches in Carpet Cleaning (including demonstrations of oxidising and reducing bleaches), Marketing, Stone Floor Cleaning & Maintenance, General Equipment Maintenance and Carpet Repair. Remember, seminars of this quality would often cost you money to attend at many other industry events, so don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to learn something new (see centre pages pull-out-and-keep guide for more information on seminars).

However, the Carpet Cleaners Carnival is not just 'all about business', it's also a great day out and there will be plenty for family and friends to do whilst you are browsing the cleaning equipment and/or attending the seminars.

Situated within the exhibition hall there will be women's interest stalls (great places to buy gifts), together with various attractions and entertainment for the children. Attendees will also have the chance to take part in a 'FREE ENTRY' £100 PRIZE DRAW. All you need to do is keep hold of your voucher (included

in the March edition of Newslink along with the first two tokens) and then collect your further tokens from subsequent issues of Newslink and place them on the voucher (the LAST two tokens for your voucher will be situated within next month’s centre page pull-out-and-keep guide). If you are not in possession of all the tokens provided so far, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0116 271 9550 and we will email/post them to you.

Visitors and their families will also be able to enjoy the many features within Wicksteed's acres of beautiful parkland. Wicksteed Park is the ideal setting for a fun family day out and boasts many attractions including a fairground and large playground (see:

for more information). The NCCA have negotiated discounted rates on wristbands for the fairground and feature rides and these are available for ALL attendees who register with us before the event.

This year we will also be holding a barbecue on the Friday night. This is your chance to kick-back, chill-out and enjoy the company of like-minded people in a relaxed and informal atmosphere before 'getting down to business' the following day. There will be some beer on tap; all you need to do is bring your own food and anything else you want to drink

NCCA Members (including their friends and family) will receive FREE entry to the Carnival plus FREE parking and discounted rates for entry to the fair and feature rides. For non-members there will be a £24 (inc. VAT) entry fee per group/vehicle.

If you would like to attend, please contact the NCCA office on: [email protected] or 0116 271 9550 to register. It is important that you contact the NCCA office as soon as possible to receive your FREE PARKING VOUCHER and your DISCOUNT VOUCHERS FOR THE FAIR AND FEATURE RIDES!

We look forward to seeing you there!

www.wicksteedpark.co.uk

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Spot and stain techniques Paul Pearce

ever read or

listen to the

hype about Ncertain products and

then purchase them

expecting them to

work no matter what.

Practice and

education is

paramount in the use

of the cleaning

solutions you have in

your vehicle. Talk to

the people that sell

you the product and

learn the best way to

use it, read technical

articles that explain

procedures, attend

educational seminars

and, whilst there, talk

to others that use the

products and learn

from their mistakes

and successes.

We use various

techniques and procedures to treat spots or stains

and a lot of how we deal with it depends on the

nature of the stain and the type of fabric, fibre or

indeed construction of the item stained. For

instance a stain may be wet or dry, compound

(both wet and dry) or hardened. On some

surfaces, you may not be able to use techniques

such as scraping or tamping. A stain may be more

successfully rinsed from a loosely woven fabric

than from one that is tightly woven such as printed

cotton, but a tightly woven fabric will withstand

treatment such as tamping more successfully.

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Some spots, such as those formed of dried mud,

may be completely removed by brushing. More

often brushing is only the

first step and indeed

would be followed up by

vacuuming. It is a good

idea to have a variety of

brushes to use in spot

and stain removal

including a toothbrush,

nail brush, paint brushes

of various sizes (these are

used for application more

than anything else) and of

course several hand

brushes, ranging from

soft and absorbent to

hard bristle. All have their

uses but none should be

used too harshly because

of possible damage to the

item being worked on.

Rinsing is used to

remove loosened staining

and any residue from the

stain removal agent. This

is an important step in

the process as any

cleaning solutions left in the fabric or carpet may

cause additional staining or even damage the

item. When rinsing a stain, you will need to

control the flow of water carefully. For the really

small soils, you may want to rinse with something

as simple as an eyedropper and blot with kitchen

paper. If you are carrying out spot or stain

removal in a small area then a hairdryer is a

necessity. If the area is

dried before you leave

then, if there was to be a

wick back, this would

show it and you can re-

rinse. This reduces the

possibility of a call back.

Of course, if you leave

soil-attracting residue in

the item, such as cleaning

solution or even the

original soil, then this will

not be seen until days

later, with another call

back.

Cleaning solutions are,

of course, important and

you will certainly need a

variety of products to

cover most situations.

There doesn't seem to be

a 'one product does

everything' solution. Of

course some products

will only be required now

and again and you would

be forgiven for not having these in your arsenal.

However, buying a kit is not a bad idea if you

want to be able to tackle any and every stain you

encounter, but you must learn how to use all the

products… and remember, NEVER practice on

your customer's soft furnishings.

©NCCA Library

©NCCA Library

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Turkoman rugs (part six) Peter Collins (Honorary Member)

amarkand rugs were first woven in East S Turkestan (current-day western China) among

the villages of Kashgar, Khotan and Yarkand - vital re-

supply points for caravans travelling the Silk Route.

Typically, Samarkand rugs are large, long and

relatively narrow in format. Their structure is quite

soft and they are usually rendered in a glossy wool,

occasionally embellished with richly brocaded silk

and metal thread.

At first glance, an antique Samarkand may be

mistaken for a Chinese rug. This is because the

patterns used are very similar to those used in

Chinese rugs from the same periods. However,

whereas Chinese rugs tend to be boldly coloured,

the Samarkands are more subdued with simplistic

and spacious designs.

Their main field colour is usually a muted red,

salmon, fawn, light brown, yellow or yellowish

white. Distributed in the central field area are

usually floral medallions, although sometimes

Chinese devices, such as the dragon, fish, pheasant

or flowers appear. These medallions are mostly

round or polygonal. Occasionally there is a single

large one in the centre with rectilinear floral forms

around it.

The borders of these rugs are quite large and

exhibit the various shapes and colours displayed in

the central field of the rug, or there are decorative

symbols of animal origin but floral form, bearing the

mark of Persian treatment. Yellow and red

predominate in the borders, giving the fibres a warm

tone.

In some Samarkand rugs, the field and its

medallions have been abandoned for an all-over

floral display. The colours on these rugs are more

often

Final in the series: Samarkand rugs

vivid, with bright reds, yellows and even blues.

Samarkand rugs are also sometimes decorated

with symbols 'borrowed' from carpets from other

countries. This is because they were crafted along

the major Silk Routes and traders going East and

West would bring to the local markets items from

along the entire route, exposing the Samarkand

weavers and designers to many different and

unique patterns from all over Asia and the Middle

East.

From the 1970s onwards, the Samarkand rugs

produced have tended to veer slightly away from

the traditional styles of their ancestors and, in

addition to the classic regional designs, they have

been reproduced (often on a large scale in big

factories) with Caucasian motifs. Although these

rugs have no real artistic value they have met with

great success, simply because their overall

attractiveness, moderate prices and general

sturdiness appeal to many people.

And that brings us to the end of our Turkoman

travels... at least for the time being. I hope you

have enjoyed reading the series as much as I have

enjoyed writing it.

newslink page 8

t is often recommended that we should

diversify, because having a number of strands

to our business is financially beneficial when Iother parts of the business are quieter than usual.

However, if diversification is the order of the day,

there is still the question of what area you should

branch in to. If you have recently started your

business, it may be that all your time has been

devoted to carpet and

upholstery cleaning and so it

would be logical to examine

just how far you can specialise

in either, or both, of these

before starting something

completely new. There are four

principal carpet-cleaning

methods so, if up to now you

have only made use of one system, perhaps you

should be looking at the some of the others. If you

are currently majoring on Spray Extraction, why not

look carefully at the alternative systems and

consider whether there are benefits in adding one

or more alternative methods to your carpet

cleaning repertoire.

For example, have you noticed that a number of

your customers have Seagrass or other natural

fibres that you would normally not consider wet

extracting? It could be that employing a Dry

Compound system would allow you to take on the

cleaning of these surfaces. If you then had the

equipment to work with dry compounds, it is

possible you would also be able to reassure those -

who are particularly concerned about the over

wetting of their carpets - that you can offer an

Is it time to diversify? Keith Robertson

alternative system, particularly if they are willing to

subscribe to ongoing maintenance on a regular

basis. There are also some very expensive carpets

that can react to the use of water and Dry

Compound is the safest system to use on these.

If you are considering pitching for large

commercial jobs in hotels and business premises it

is worth considering that, even though Spray

Extraction may technically produce

a cleaner carpet, it takes longer

than some other cleaning methods

and - in the case of some short

piled carpets and carpet tiles - it

often just doesn't produce the

appearance that some Bonnet and

Pad systems achieve. The time

saved using a rotary or oscillating

machine for that type of work allows you to pitch a

cost that is likely to be more acceptable.

If you have a standard speed rotary machine, the

addition of a carpet cleaning brush would allow

you to shampoo carpets. If you are selling your

cleaning services to restaurants and licensed

premises - where carpets tend to be left until they

are extremely dirty - a combination of pre-

shampooing followed by extraction is very

effective.

Once you are in a position to clean all types of

domestic and commercial carpets you should

check that you fully understand, and can offer, as

many related add-on services as possible. Too

many of us fail to maximize our selling of

protectants, but this isn't the only add-on service

that we can offer. It may be that you would prefer

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to keep away from pesticides or fireproofing, but

let's not forget that stain treatment can be a service

in itself.

Set a sensible figure as your minimum call-out

charge and explain that it is for up to an hour

including travel. Further time is charged

incrementally. You might also decide that, as stain

treatment is a specialty, your price for cleaning

carpets excludes specific stain treatment and that

this will be charged separately at £15.00 per

15minutes (or whatever price suits you).

Remember, you have had to invest in the stain kit

and the training, so why shouldn't it earn you a

little extra.

If you are cleaning upholstery, do you clean

mattresses? Hotels and care homes can be

profitable because of the number of mattresses you

can clean in a visit, but you could also offer it as a

purchase incentive as an alternative to a free room

of carpet cleaning.

What about curtain cleaning? You could offer a

freshen-up service where you vacuum and chemical

sponge the curtains against the alternative of full

dry cleaning. Some dry cleaning companies are

delighted to find a partner who is willing to take

down and re-hang curtains. Pitch for high-end

business and there is scope to double the normal

dry cleaners charge and make the work worthwhile.

You may be surprised that I have not mentioned

anything about cleaning resilient floors, wood, tile

and grout or natural stone. There is a simple reason

for this and that is, in my opinion, that it is

foolhardy to consider venturing into areas you

know nothing about until you have learned

everything about your primary business.

KISS (or Keep it Simple Stupid) was a sales acronym

I was taught some forty five years ago and it as true

now as it was then. Think very seriously before you

dip your toes into a new pool of business. Too

many people are jumping headfirst into deep water

that is quite happy to drown them.

If you are building a multiple-operator business,

the time will come when you may very well want to

add new skills, but don't be stupid and try to do too

much too quickly.

A two-day course may teach you the

fundamentals of hard floor care, or a 'hands on'

stone course may teach you how make a floor

shine, but there is much more to learn and too

many people only see the 'gold nuggets' and not

the back braking digging or mining that is involved.

Worse still is the attitude that it “can't be difficult,

so why should I spend hard earned money on a

course?” The handouts or manuals from a well-run

course will contain a wealth of information but,

even so, experience is vital.

If you are determined to follow a new direction,

for goodness sake practice before you attempt to

offer a new service to the public. Practice in your

workshop or garage; do work in your own home or

for relatives and friends until you gain some

experience. Don't settle at being 'Jack of all trades

and master of none'.

If you are an owner/operator, first ensure your

initial diversification is to maximize your earning

potential from carpets and fabrics and then, and

only then, decide which other associated work

would be logical and appropriate for you to do. It

might be that you will be better off sticking to

carpet and upholstery cleaning rather than diluting

your time and resources by taking on a number of

other activities.

page 10newslink

A guide to customer complaints (part six)Lewis Scroby (NCCA Standards and Fair Trading)

NCCA Standards and Fair Trading Officer,

Lewis Scroby, continues his series on dealing

with customer complaints. This month's

article focuses on company policies, attitude

and presentation.

t is vital for any successful company to track

their business. Information can be quickly I attained and simply logged for future

reference. It is recommended to keep a record of

the following:

Exposure - Where did your customers find your

details? This will assist in determining which

advertising sources are providing the most

referrals.

Influence - What was it about the

company/advertisement that made the customer

call? This will provide feedback on your

promotional material and which advertising

methods or offers/incentives are working.

Conversion - What convinced the customer to

employ your company? We know it is easier to

obtain a booking after the initial introduction to a

customer. This will help keep a record of the

specific reasons the customer felt comfortable

taking you on.

Once you are aware of the reasons why

customers consider and employ your company,

you can start to look at the reasons why you may

NOT be considered or booked again. Repeat

Ÿ

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bookings are staple of most carpet cleaning

companies business and keeping customers

satisfied will ensure they have you in mind when

future work needs to be done.

From my discussions with members, they

seem to get a good idea about their customers

and whether they would be likely to book again

in the future. There will obviously be a lot of

customers that never consider booking again -

mostly this will be down to not considering

regular cleaning a priority or not wanting to pay

for the service too often. However, there may be

some that have potentially been put off.

Some of the reasons customers will avoid

using you again are the same concerns that add

weight to complaints. A customer may appear

satisfied and pay for the service, but at the same

time have it in mind that they won't be

employing you in future. It may not be down to

anything specific that you have done wrong, but

there are several general things you can look at

to ensure your professionalism is fully

demonstrated.

Communication - Talk to your client, ensure

they are aware of how you plan to carry out the

work and give them an opportunity to ask you

any questions.

Attitude - Remember your manners and

courtesy. Remain friendly and calm throughout,

even if an issue arises.

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NCCA COURSESCarpet & Upholstery Cleaning 12th - 13th September21st - 22nd November

Hard Floor Cleaning28th - 29th August

Leather Identification & Cleaning11th September

Advanced Spot & Stain Removal10th October

All above courses held at NSPCC Training Centre, Leicester unless otherwise stated. Visit:www.ncca.co.uk for booking forms and further details.

CARPET CLEANERS CARNIVAL20th September at Wicksteed Park,Kettering, Northamptonshire

IICRC COURSES (HERTFORDSHIRE)Carpet Cleaning Technician with Paul Pearce16th - 17th September25th - 26th November

Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician withPaul Pearce23rd - 24th September2nd - 3rd December

Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technicianwith Paul Pearce30th Sept - 1st Oct

Held at Alltec Network, Royston, Hertfordshire. Tel: 01763 208222

IICRC COURSES (SURREY)Carpet Cleaning Technician with Adam Jankowski15th - 16th October

Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician withAdam Jankowski28th -29th October

Held at National Flood School, Surrey. Tel: 01252 821185

Visit: www.iicrc.org for further details on allIICRC Training Courses.

Diary Dates 2014

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Appearance - Ensure you present yourself well

and have clean and appropriate attire.

Equipment/vehicle repair - Clean and fully

working equipment will give the customer more

confidence in your professionalism.

Smoking - Avoid smoking on-site or around

customers, even if they do it themselves.

Organisation/timekeeping - Survey and schedule

work properly to avoid running out of time, have

the job information to hand, ensure you arrive

when you agreed to (or at least inform the

customer if you may be late).

The negative aspects of all of the above have

been factors (though not often the cause) of

customer complaints received by the NCCA. They

are also reasons a customer can lose faith in your

service.

It is understood that a dissatisfied customer will

tell more people about their experience than a

satisfied one. It may be that the cleaning work

was to the highest standards, but the customer

was put off by something you may feel is

completely irrelevant. Although it can be difficult

to identify these minor areas to improve upon,

especially when customers will rarely point them

out, it is important to review things outside of

your cleaning services to ensure complete

customer satisfaction. This should provide more

of the repeat bookings and recommendations

vital to every successful company.

Next month the series continues with

unavoidable complaints and NCCA procedure.

An exciting new position is being created with a long established industry leader.

A General Manager with a proven knowledge of textile cleaning and a passion for service quality is now required.

Performance driven individual who can work with and manage an efficient team to deliver excellence in our field of operations.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate past successes and formulate future goals within a high end business.

Experience of curtain cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaning are vital to this role.

Ability to motivate and manage staff to fulfil targets is essential.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record in driving sales and commitment to quality service.

********

Please apply, including C.V. to: G.W.D. Selection,15 Bonser Road, Twickenham, TW1 4RQ.

GENERAL MANAGER REQUIRED

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

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

Payatrader: 01296 660177

SiteWizard (website creation): 08450 608860

Thompson Local - ask forCorporateAdvertsing Department: 01252 390385

New NCCA Members

I Need My Carpets CleanedLondon

Excell FM Services LtdLoughton, Essex

ChemDry BlossomRayleigh, Essex

Clean4ShawKettering, Northamptonshire

Writing for NewslinkContributions for Newslink are always welcome. So...

why not put 'pen to paper' and add 'author of published

article' to your skillset. Don't worry if you feel your

writing skills are not up to the job, as all articles undergo

an editing process before they are included.

If you feel you'd like to send something in, just give

Nikki in the office a ring on 0116 271 9550 or email:

[email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you.

There's now just under two months to go until the next annual Carpet Cleaners Carnival (CCC).

Taking place on September 20th, at Wicksteed Park in Kettering, the Carnival is open to everyone within the industry, together with their friends, partners and children. So why not come along and join the fun!

The event includes an exhibition featuring top industry manufacturers, suppliers and advisors from within and outside the Association and we already have some excellent companies signed up to exhibit this year (see overleaf for more information on exhibitors).

This year we are also holding a number of seminars, hosted by industry experts (ALL FREE FOR ATTENDEES) to help you in your business. Seminars of this quality would often cost you money to attend at many other industry events, so don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to learn something new (see overleaf for more information on seminars).

Along with the exhibition and seminars, the Carnival will also feature entertainment and women's interest areas, providing attractions and activities for everyone in attendance. (For full information on this year’s event, please see the editor’s piece on page 3 of this month’s Newslink).

NCCA Carpet Cleaners Carnival 2014

Wicksteed Park, Kettering, on 20th September

Your pull-out-and-keep eight-page guide to CCC 2014

Wicksteed ParkBarton Road, KetteringNorthamptonshireNN15 6NJ

Fun day out for all the family!

Organised by the NCCAŸOpen to everyoneŸNetworking opportunitiesŸSupplier exhibitionŸEquipment for saleŸSeminarsŸFamily friendly formatŸOrganised activitiesŸFun day outŸExcellent venueŸFREE attractionsŸFREE parkingŸCamping facilities onsiteŸ

Come and join us at the Carnival

SEMINARS AT THE CARPET CLEANERS CARNIVAL 2014

Pull-out-and-keep guide

SEMINARS AT THE CARPET CLEANERS CARNIVAL 2014:

THE USE OF BLEACHES IN CARPET CLEANING - PAUL PEARCE (Country House Carpet Care)

Paul will be carrying out a series of stain removal techniques using various bleaching agents and their additives. This will be demonstrated on a variety of carpet surfaces, with a selection of stains, and on rug fringes (to demonstrate dye removal). He will be using heat and ultraviolet light, as well as oxidising and reducing bleaches. You will see what works and what can go wrong. You will learn, amongst other things, the pitfalls of being unprepared and when it is best to use an oxidiser or a reducer.

MARKETING - ALLAN SIMMONS (GetBookedUp)

A seminar full of practical ideas from someone who 'walks the walk' and uses these ideas in his own five-van carpet cleaning business. Whether you're a one man owner/operator, or a multi-van business with office staff, you'll get ideas you can implement immediately (and cheaply) that will start to make a massive difference to your business and, don't worry, you don't need to be a technical wizard to use these ideas. This seminar received some rave reviews at the TACCA event earlier in the year so, if you missed it, make sure you get to the CCC and see it there. The slides will be available to all those attending on the day, just to make sure you don't miss anything.

CARPET REPAIR - JOHN BRYDEN (Bryden Enterprises Carpet Fresh)

John is a Master Rug Cleaner with many years' experience assessing, cleaning and repairing damaged carpets/rugs and is also an experienced advisor in the rug cleaning industry. He teaches and lectures all over the world in carpet and rug restoration and also carries out research for all the leading international carpet manufactures. He will be talking to you about the problems he has encountered during his many years cleaning carpets - focussing on problems such as delamination and carpets that have been badly fitted - and what you can do to help your customer with these types of issues in order to offer an all-round better service. The seminar will include some practical demonstrations.

STONE FLOOR CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE - AMIR PATWA (Chemspec Ltd)

Amir Patwa, one of the world's best known authorities on stone care and maintenance, has supported the Carpet Cleaners Carnival from the outset. His company is the only official UK distributor for Klindex, the leading Italian manufacturer of professional stone restoration equipment. Amir will be talking to you about stone floor cleaning, maintenance and care. So, if you are thinking of extending the range of services you offer, and fancy introducing yourself to the world of stone flooring maintenance, then this is the seminar for you.

GENERAL EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE - CHRIS THOMAS (Eastby Services Ltd T/A Alltec Network)

Chris has over twenty years' experience designing, building and maintaining portable carpet cleaning machines. He will be talking to you about how to keep your portable machinery in good condition and what you should do regularly to ensure it remains in good working order (so you can fulfil your cleaning contracts without worrying about equipment failure). He will cover topics such as: weekly and monthly maintenance, inspection of jets, valves, cables and brushes, when to have a service, and the pitfalls of the great British winter!

Unlike previous years, this year we are holding a number of seminars to help you in your business. The topics arranged so far include: The Use of Bleaches in Carpet Cleaning (including demonstrations of oxidising and reducing bleaches), Marketing, Carpet Repair, Stone Floor Cleaning & Maintenance and General Equipment Maintenance. See full details on seminars below.

(PLEASE NOTE: Information on any additional seminars organised will be included in next month’s Newslink, so keep an eye out for this).

Your guide to CCC 2014

EXHIBITORS AT THE CARPET CLEANERS CARNIVAL 2014:

ALLTEC NETWORK - The Home of Professional Carpet Cleaning Equipment & SuppliesNestled in the Hertfordshire countryside, Alltec Network manufacture their industry renowned Alltec portable carpet cleaning machines right there on site, each one built to order with a wide range of options available. They have experienced workshop technicians who can service and repair 'any make, any model' of portable, plus they have an expert team of specialised Truck Mount fitters and engineers - ensuring minimal downtime on your machinery. In addition they offer free 'over the phone' diagnostics and advice, plus a unique 'out of hours' emergency advice service.

They also manufacture their own comprehensive range of carpet cleaning solutions, including specialised stain removers, spotters and protectors plus a wide selection of the US Bridgepoint products. This year they have teamed up with some of the leading professionals in the industry, Nu-Life Stone Care and LTT Leather Care, to bring you their range of specialised products.

To complement their machinery and solutions, Alltec also stock an extensive range of spares and accessories; from jets to sprayers, hand tools to safety equipment, ramps, hoses, brushes, buckets and much more!

It's your one-stop-shop for all your carpet, upholstery and hard floor cleaning needs! Tel: 01763 208222 E: Web:

ASSET FINANCE SOLUTIONSAsset Finance Solutions was formed in 2005 and has quickly grown to be one of the UK's leading independent funding providers. They offer finance solutions and can assist businesses in the carpet and upholstery cleaning industry by arranging specific funding for cleaning equipment and vehicles.Tel: 01254 584404 E: Web:

[email protected]

[email protected]

CHEMSPEC EUROPE AND DRI-EAZ PRODUCTSChemspec Europe are looking forward to exhibiting at the CCC 2014, loaded with literature and ready to show visitors a selection of their pioneering, problem solving products. Highly experienced technical staff are looking forward to seeing customers and shaking hands with old and new friends.

Chemspec Europe and Dri-Eaz UK recently became part of the same group so there will also be a selection of Dri-Eaz equipment at the CCC, including carpet and hard floor driers and a new economy dehumidifier that's ideal for those carpet cleaners who are extra keen to impress their customers.

Chemspec have been manufacturing carpet and upholstery cleaning chemicals since 1968. They love helping to solve industry challenges through product innovation and they are passionate about supporting customers and the trade associations to which they belong. Tel: 01274 597333 E: Web:

CHEMSPEC LIMITEDChemspec Ltd - who have supported the Carpet Cleaners Carnival from the outset - are one of the world's best known authorities on stone care and maintenance and the only official UK distributor for Klindex, the leading Italian manufacturer of professional stone restoration equipment.

At the CCC this year they will be showing various machines and consumables for restoration and maintenance of stone surfaces.Tel: 01784 259814 E:

CLEANERS WAREHOUSE LTD‘Cleanerswarehouse.co.uk' is the popular online trade warehouse, stocking a wide range of cleaning products from market leaders that helps cleaners UK wide order their cleaning supplies at the touch of a button.

Cleanerswarehouse.co.uk supplies cleaning equipment, chemicals and consumables to the cleaning industry. With brand names such as Dry Fusion, Research Products, Prochem, Citrus Resources, Nilco and Cleaners Warehouse own label brand, buyers won't go 'off their trollies' wasting valuable time and money visiting wholesalers; they

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[email protected]

As in previous years, the Carnival includes an exhibition (with demonstrations of the latest industry products) and we've got some great exhibitors lined up for you this year...

Continued on next page

EXHIBITORS AT THE CARPET CLEANERS CARNIVAL 2014


can simply visit cleanerswarehouse.co.uk and in a few clicks restock and be ready for business.

Customers can be assured that cleanerswarehouse.co.uk is a completely secure online shopping service. However, not only is it safe, it is speedy too. If a customer places an order before 3.00pm then they will receive their goods the next day. If the order was placed after 3.00pm, they will receive them only the day after.

Cleaners Warehouse is offering an impressive 10% discount to any customer, who places an order for any Cleaners Warehouse products, if they present the promotional voucher available on the stand at the Carnival 2014.Tel: 01772 434333 E: Web:

COLUMBUS CLEANING MACHINES LTDThe Wrennalls Group works exclusively with German based floor cleaning machine manufacturer, Columbus Cleaning Machines. This new operation trades as Columbus Cleaning Machines Ltd and operates as a division of the Wrennalls Group.

Columbus is an integral part of the long established Staehle Group, a family run business with a turnover in excess of € 75 million. Columbus has based its success on designing and manufacturing a wide range of automatic scrubbers, single disc machines, wet and dry vacuum cleaners and spray extraction machines for any environment.

With a comprehensively application-orientated product range of over 60 machines, Columbus is synonymous with efficient cleaning and has perfectly adapted its innovation strengths to today's requirements. Columbus mains or battery operated automatic scrubbers score high marks for their compact design, versatility and excellent handling.

Latest examples of the market-oriented automatic scrubbers made in Germany are the extremely agile, hand-guided automatic scrubber RA 43/55 B/BM 40, with or without driving motor, the compact ride-on automatic scrubber ARA 66/80 BM 100 and the newly launched RA 66 BM 60 with its automatic spin-on/spin-off system for brushes and pad holders.Tel: 01772 434333 E: Web:

[email protected]

[email protected]

CRISP & BRITEView our full range of Kleenrite Machines plus a complete range of Chemspec cleaning supplies for the professional cleaning company at: www.crispandbrite.co.ukTel: 01509 881137 E: Website:

DRY FUSION LTDThe benefits of the Dry Fusion system are already well publicised with thousands of satisfied customers having had their carpets cleaned via the innovative process that has made its name by being cleaner, fresher, drier, faster and safer than many of its competitors.

Following years of intensive research and development, the new enhanced Dry Fusion machine allows for better ease of operation and much improved safety. The innovative and patented rotary cleaning machine heats an Activator solution to provide an amazing cleaning and stain removal action. The Dry Fusion process is pH neutral and does not rely on water flushing to clean. In addition, the 'Pure Fusion' range of cleaning products for use with the Dry Fusion system is odourless, colourless, non toxic, anti-static and more environmentally friendly.

As with the original Dry Fusion carpet cleaning system, and perhaps most importantly for the end user, the impressive drying time for carpets cleaned with the new Dry Fusion system remains at only 30 minutes.

The Dry Fusion carpet cleaning system will be part of ongoing demonstrations at the Carpet Cleaners Carnival.Tel: 01772 433711 E: Web:

GETBOOKEDUP - CLIENT DATABASE MARKETING SOLUTIONSGetBookedUp is software specifically designed by, and for, the carpet, furnishing and hard floor care industry. It helps businesses of every size market better, quote clearer… and book more!

The developers of this product still run their own carpet cleaning company and, with over twenty five years in the industry, they know the challenges of running a successful business. That's why they developed this software… to make it systemised and easier.

[email protected]

[email protected]/store

Continued from previous page



They've grown and streamlined their own carpet cleaning business into a multi-van operation with admin staff by using the marketing tools built into the software.

Other carpet cleaners could see what a difference it had made to the developers' carpet cleaning business (especially in terms of an increase in their return on advertising spend and reduced administration) and, after repeated requests from those cleaners, in 2006 a decision was made to further develop the software and make it available to others within the same industry. Now, with hundreds of users, there is an edition to suit every size of business, from owner/operators through to multi-van operations with admin office support staff.

So, if you want to free up time by reducing and streamlining your administration, and want more money by marketing more effectively, this could be the solution for you.Tel: 01405 813665 E: Web:

KIRSTY'S KIDSNCCA members John and Jan Bryden are at the Carnival again this year with their charity Kirsty's Kids.

Kirsty’s Kids is a non-profit making charity aimed at helping sick and underprivileged children, where EVERY PENNY donated goes straight into projects which directly benefit the kids.

The charity is currently working with underprivileged children to teach them the benefits of learning to create things themselves, using the materials around them, and how satisfying this can be.

John has recently created his own loom and is using it to weave his own carpet utilising traditional weaving methods. This project has now become an integral part of his current work with Kirsty's Kids.

At the Carnival this year John will be displaying his loom, so if you are interested in learning how to hand-knot your own rugs with your own handmade loom (and John's current work at Kirsty's Kids), pop along to their stand and have a chat.Web:

PROCHEM EUROPE LTD - Celebrating 40 years (1974 – 2014)Founded in 1974, Prochem Europe Ltd is a leading manufacturer of cleaning and maintenance products

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www.kirstyskids.org

for carpets, fabrics and floors. Products are manufactured at the Company's UK manufacturing site and are available from an extensive network of distributors.Cleaning Products - Prochem cleaning products have a worldwide reputation for outstanding performance in the professional, commercial and institutional cleaning sectors. Specialist products cover a whole range of requirements for carpets, fabrics, floors and surface cleaning technologies and maintenance. Formulations are developed in-house to meet strict performance, safety, quality and environmental criteria.Cleaning Equipment - The Prochem brand is synonymous with quality cleaning equipment. In particular, Prochem is industry renowned for professional carpet and fabric soil extraction machines, from compact spot cleaning extractors to the most powerful truck mounted extraction equipment.

Industry recognised training courses for carpet, upholstery and floor cleaning and maintenance supplement the Prochem range.Tel: 0208 974 1515 E: Web:

SEBO UKMade in Germany, SEBO are the world's biggest selling professional upright vacuum cleaners. Examples include:

SEBO BS 36 & 46 Comfort: utilising the latest Ÿ

innovations making the machines easy to use and improving on their legendary reliability. SEBO DART twin motor uprights: designed to be Ÿ

lightweight and highly manoeuvrable. DART UHS Polisher: converts the Dart into an ultra Ÿ

high-speed polisher.SEBO Professional D8 Cylinder: a high quality, Ÿ

powerful machine, with lots of new technology providing high performance and robustness in a very quiet way.SEBO DUO carpet dry cleaning system: easy to use Ÿ

and ideal for maintaining carpets in peak condition.With changes to all dry vacuum cleaners (introduced by the European Union) you can be sure SEBO will have the experience, innovation and technology to produce effective, reliable machines to work in the

[email protected]



THE UTILITY WAREHOUSETel: 07801 547762

Email: [email protected]: www.greatopportunity.org.uk

CRISP & BRITEPROFESSIONAL CLEANING PRODUCTS

Telephone: 01509 881137Email: [email protected]

Website: www.crispandbrite.co.uk



demanding world of professional cleaning.

Tel: 01494 465533 E: Web:

THE UTILITY WAREHOUSE

If a second income stream interests you, one that can be dovetailed into your existing carpet cleaning business, then working with the Utility Warehouse could be the perfect fit. Carpet cleaners around the country are building up substantial businesses with this FTSE 200 company, and the beauty of the income is that it's passive. You get paid year after year for doing something once! It's like cleaning Mrs Jones carpets once, and being paid every year, without having to go back.

Come and see us at the Carnival to find out more about this opportunity.

Tel: 07801 547762 E: Web:

THE WOOLSAFE ORGANISATION

The NCCA and The WoolSafe Organisation share many of the same goals, principally to improve the standard of professional carpet cleaning in their industry. They have been working together for their mutual benefit for decades with many of their

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[email protected]

members belonging to both camps. It is therefore with great pleasure that The WoolSafe Organisation will once again be exhibiting at the NCCA Carnival, keen to show visiting carpet cleaners the exciting developments that have been keeping their busy team occupied over the past year.

These are exciting times for WoolSafe with many new developments coming to fruition. The Carnival will provide an ideal platform for WoolSafe to answer any questions NCCA members might have about becoming an Approved Service Provider and participating in the Wool Owners Warranty initiative that launched this year.

Come and see them for a chat at their stand, just inside the entrance, to find out more.

The WoolSafe Organisation is a resource for information and advice about carpet and rug care and a range of carpet care services to carpet owners, carpet suppliers and the providers of carpet care products. WoolSafe provides:

Networks of accredited carpet cleaning companies Ÿ

Networks of registered carpet inspectors Ÿ

Advice on how to care for carpets and rugs Ÿ

Testing and accreditation of wool carpet cleaning Ÿ

and maintenance products

Tel: 01943 850817 E: Web:

[email protected]/uk




Tel: 01784 259814Email: [email protected]

CHEMSPEC LTDOne of the world's best known authorities on

stone care and maintenance.

The only official UK distributor for Klindex (the leading Italian manufacturer of Professional Stone Restoration Equipment), Chemspec Ltd not only

supply a full range of stone cleaning equipment and materials but also offer regular 'Free' training

courses.

Chemspec Europe, Tong Park, Otley Road, Baildon,West Yorkshire, BD17 7QD. Tel: 01274 597333

E-mail: Website:

[email protected]

A market leader, Chemspec Europe supply a large range of specialist cleaning products to the

carpet and upholstery cleaning industry.

Call in for a coffee with us at the CCC in September. We’ll be on stand number four. See you there!



EXHIBITING AT THE CCC

If you would like to exhibit at this year’s event, please call NCCA Corporate Director, Allan Simmons, on: 01405 813665 or email:

[email protected]

Once you have booked your stand space you will have the opportunity to advertise your company (for FREE) within the next (August issue) pull-out-and-keep guide in

Newslink. To take advantage of this excellent opportunity, email Nicky at:

[email protected] for more information.

page 21 newslink

ore carpet cleaners than ever are

facing stiff competition when gaining M work. Because of this, many have

decided to improve their existing business and/or

branch out and extend the range of services they

offer.

You may have noticed lately that a good number

of homes you go to have hard floors. It's never been

unusual to see hard flooring in the kitchen and

bathrooms, but we now also see it in lounges,

dining areas and bedrooms, with a variety of

different surfaces.

If you currently only clean soft furnishings there's

no need to feel threatened by this. It could actually

present a brilliant opportunity for your business to

expand.

Some of the equipment needed you probably

already have; some of it you may not have used for

a while and you're probably thinking you need to

have a clear out. Well don't do that just yet…

If you'd like an introduction to Hard Floor

Cleaning, then why not come along to our next

course on the 28th - 29th August.

Our popular two-day school deals with resilient

floors, engineered and natural wood, ceramic tiles

and touches on natural stone. The training covers:

Learning to recognise different types of flooring Ÿ

and understanding what is achievable.

Learning how to strip and seal vinyl floor surfaces. Ÿ

How to maintain linoleum and marmoleum. Ÿ

What really can be done to natural wood and Ÿ

engineered wood without sanding?

Is it worth getting into Tile and Grout cleaning? Ÿ

A primer to entering the world of natural stone Ÿ

maintenance.

Health and Safety, Risk Assessments and hazards Ÿ

involved in using equipment.

This is not a theory only course but includes

practical hands-on training. Everything you learn

will be documented in a 70+ page manual which is

yours to take home. This manual includes complete

'How to' instructions and lists of procedures and

equipment requirements. You will also receive a

professional Certificate of Attendance.

The course instructor is NCCA Director and hard

flooring expert, Keith Robertson, a professional

with over thirty five years' experience running a

floor care company in Edinburgh. As well as being a

committed affiliate of the National Carpet Cleaners

Association, Keith is a member of the British

Institute of Cleaning Science and writes regularly

for the trade press.

Places will be booked on a first-come, first-served

basis so early booking is advisable.

For further information, or to book your place,

contact the NCCA office on: 0116 271 9550 or log

on to our training page and download a booking

form at: www.ncca.co.uk/training.php

NCCA hard floor cleaning and maintenancecourse coming soon!

©Keith Robertson

newslink page 22

A sticky subject Terry Guilford (The Ultimate Floor Sanding Co.)

t is Sunday the 13th of

July, I am in Cambridge

and it is raining. IRemarkable? No, of course

not, but yesterday's weather

was just about as

spectacular as it gets in this

country, suffocating sticky

heat followed by a

thunderstorm of quite

frightening power and

intensity.

So anyway, whilst the

climatic conditions in the

flatlands of the English

countryside may not seem

the most appropriate of

subjects for Newslink, what those storms signify is

actually very, very relevant. You see, in the build

up to the percussion and fireworks, there was the

most stifling humidity I have ever experienced

(outside of more exotic locations of course) and it

is this humidity that is significant to wood floor

installers and wood floor sanders.

I am pretty sure that by now most of you know

that wood is hygroscopic (it likes water). Its little

cells sit around for months on end, doing nothing,

and really not getting to meet anyone outside of

their own circle of friends (i.e. other wood cells).

So you can imagine how excited they get when the

'circus' makes its annual trip to town. The 'new

kid' in this case not being Billy Smart, but

HUMIDITY (okay, I know that analogy is stretching

it a bit but, bear with me, its Sunday morning…

anyway it's only going to get worse!).

So going back to Cedric Cell and Hubert Humidity

(told you it would get worse), once the formal

introductions are over, Cedric - being a very

hospitable type - immediately offers the newly

arrived Hubert board and lodging, at least until the

winter time when the heating goes on and it's time

for Hubert to make his annual migration. So, once

happily ensconced in his snug little cell, Hubert

does what every new young arrival does and invites

his mates over to stay (okay I won't give them

names, I do have some shame you know!). Now of

course you can imagine that it's all getting a little

bit cramped inside Cedric, so he puffs his little walls

out to make room for all these new arrivals (to be

Humidity can causebuckling in wood floors

page 23 newslink

honest he is a little bit too accommodating in my

opinion but, hey, it's his business). The real

problem is that all Cedric's neighbours have been

equally obliging and they are all doing the same

thing… making themselves bigger.

Okay, I am now coming out of 'Children's Author'

mode and am going to spell it out; it is technically

possible for a hardwood floor, in an average size

sitting room, to expand by 25mm over its width if

installed at factory moisture content, with no

acclimatisation, at this time of year. Now add to

this, moisture in the form of floor lacquer and it

gets worse still. And if you think that just sanding

old floors means you are safe, forget it! A great

many hardwood floors are fitted by people who

have absolutely no training or experience in

hardwood floor fitting and so they do not create

the necessary space needed around the perimeter

of the floor. These floors can be down for years

and are just about remaining flat even though they

are touching the walls, door frames or other

obstructions. However, you come along - at this

time of year - and sand and lacquer the floor and

you are lighting the blue touch paper. That floor is

going one way… and that way is UP!

The next couple of months spell trouble in our

industry and, for that reason, when you quote for

wood floor sanding be sure to look for the

following warning signals:

1) Absolutely no gaps whatsoever between the

staves.

2) Slight buckling appearance to the wood.

3) Springing in the floor.

4) Bulging near door frames or walls.

5) Floor pushing against pipework or other

obstructions.

6) Lacquer cracking due to pressure.

If you spot any of the above, you can investigate

further by removing skirting

boards or scotia and checking for

expansion gaps; however it is

very tricky to create expansion

gaps if they are not there,

especially around pipes and

under door frames. Whatever

you do from here on in the client

WILL blame you if that floor rises.

So, at this point, you have a few

choices available to you - you

may choose to walk away, you

could advise they get someone to

put the problem right or, if you

are feeling brave, you could do it

yourself. Good luck.

A wood floor reallyshouldn’t look like this!

newslink page 24

I was wondering what to write about this

month and then it came to me in a flash!

Maybe it was the phone call I received

from the Newslink editor (asking me for

my monthly article) which prompted the

subject; not that I am suggesting that the

editor is a pest… of course not… would I?

ver the years I have come across O my fair share of pests that I have

had to deal with. I have decided to split

them into categories... and here they are:

Some Clients - I did some work for an

elderly lady last week (a long-standing

customer) who is well into her eighties and rather

sweet. So… why is she a pest? Well, every time she

calls me to book in some work I instinctively know

that the initial appointment is going to be

cancelled; she does it every time without fail! In

fact it usually reaches the third attempt before I

finally get to do the work. Why do I do it? Well you

do, don't you. She's such a lovely lady and every

time I visit her home to do a job I am there for

ages (nattering); it's more like a social visit than

work really.

Children - Especially those who pester you whilst

you are trying to work, with endless questions

such as “What are you doing that for?” “What are

you going to do next?” and not forgetting that oft

repeated question that can drive you mad….

“WHY?” Children hanging around whilst you are

Humans:

cleaning can also be dangerous because you can't

keep your eyes on them all the time; to avoid any

disasters I politely ask the client if they will take

them out of the area for me and explain that - as I

will be using water and electricity - they could

easily be harmed by touching something they

shouldn't.

Moths - We have all come across, and have had to

deal with, moth damage from time to time. A

thorough inspection (looking for the little white

eggs that have the appearance of small 'grains of

rice' around the damaged areas) will determine

whether the infestation is ongoing. It is paramount

that any discovery of infestation is qualified with

the client and that remedial procedures are fully

explained.

Infestations of insects and other living things:

Pests I have encountered in the course of my workDerek Bolton (Honorary Member)

page 25 newslink

Maggots - Yes, you did read that right… maggots! I

remember, many years ago now, arriving at a

client's home to clean a three piece suite. On

inspection, I discovered an infestation of maggots

under the cushions… along with remnants of the

client's various meals and other such revolting

things. I did the job, and hated every minute of it,

but it was in the early days of running my business

and 'work was work' so I wasn't about to turn it

down. OK, it cleaned up well, but that night when I

got home I had tremendous itching around my

ankles. It turned out that they had fleas in their

carpet too… yes, I got a call to do the carpet the

following week! My price suddenly went up, but

happily they accepted it.

Mice (and not pets either!) - This was, again, early

on in my career and involved another three piece

suite - one of the old style Dralon covered sort that

everyone had in those days, although this one was

a bit different in that it had a family of mice living

in it. Yes, that’s right... mice! When I

pointed this out to the customer

they didn't seem at all bothered

about it (and remember that

these weren't pets!). So I

cleaned it, received payment,

and left. At least the mice had

somewhere clean to live.

Cats - now these

creatures are not my

favourite animal that's

for sure. It hasn't helped that on a couple of

occasions I have been stalked by Siamese cats

Household pets:

hunting in pairs. This particular breed of cat is

fearless and once almost caused me to have a

heart attack by leaping from a kitchen cupboard

onto my shoulders whilst I was cleaning a kitchen

carpet (remember Ronnie and Reggie Paul?). As

soon as an extraction machine is switched on

though, most cats will run a mile… although NOT

the Siamese.

Dogs - I am more at ease with dogs than I am with

cats, providing the client puts them somewhere

out of the way. I remember being in a flat on

my own, cleaning yet another three piece

suite, and my only company was a delightful

Beagle puppy. This puppy, lovely as he was,

took great delight in pinching my

upholstery brushes at every opportunity

and running off around the room with

them. I think I was his primary source of

amusement that morning.

These are just a few of my

experiences over the years, there are

many, many more. I am sure that you

will be able to relate to some, if not all, of them.

Just remember… you are not alone!

newslink page 26

Underfoot and overlooked, cleaning the Cragside carpetPart two - Pre-clean testing, methods and equipment Glyn Charnock

In February this year, the National Trust Textile

Conservation Studio in Norfolk collected a 19th

Century Templetons chenille dining room carpet

(from Cragside House in Northumberland) for

conservation.

The carpet first needed to be cleaned in order to

avoid additional damage and, following our

successful tour of the Conservation Studio last

year, NCCA Director Glyn Charnock was

personally asked if he could undertake the

cleaning work to be done.

Last month we featured the first in a series of

articles on Glyn's time spent cleaning this delicate

and historic carpet. This month he continues the

series with pre-clean testing, methods and

equipment.

When Ksynia Marko, the Head Conservator for the

National Trust Textile Conservation Studio, first

approached me about whether I could help them

clean the dining room carpet from Cragside House

in Northumberland, I didn't really know where to

start.

This carpet had a considerable amount of

damage including pile loss due to both general

wear and 'inherent vice' (degradation of the wool

face fibres caused by the iron mordant used to fix

dyes when the carpet was made). In the worn

areas there were broken cotton catcher warps

significantly weakening the carpets structure, wool

warp and weft damage and most worryingly, from

a cleaning perspective, exposed areas of fragile

jute stuffer yarns which could potentially swell or

even crumble and disintegrate when wet, causing

extensive further damage.

After my research into how the Ardabil Carpet

(in the V&A Museum) was cleaned failed to inspire

me, I agreed initially to spend a day exchanging

knowledge and ideas with Ksynia and her fellow

conservators to see if we could work out how to

safely clean this very fragile carpet, using my

knowledge of modern carpet cleaning systems and

the conservators knowledge of the care of such

fragile textiles.

Having already seen the modern purpose-built

Textile Studio and the conditions the conservators

now work in, it was obvious how much things had

moved on for them since cleaning the Ardabil

carpet, but they still had little idea of what

equipment and processes are available to us as

professional carpet cleaners.

I managed to 'borrow' an old piece of wool

Axminster carpet, which had been laid in my Dad's

garage for twenty years, to perform our tests on.

This was as close as we could hope to get - in

terms of fibre type, construction and level of

soiling - to the Cragside carpet, and it proved

invaluable in assessing the processes and products

we were to use.

We began our tests looking for ways to improve

dry soil removal from the carpet prior to wet

cleaning. All of our mechanical methods for

beating rugs would have been far too aggressive

for the Cragside carpet, but the conservators'

usual method of tamping the back of the carpet by

page 27 newslink


hand using rubber paddles would have been

incredibly labour intensive and time consuming.

We tried my first suggestion as to how we could

proceed, and this proved as effective as hand

tamping, but was less aggressive for the carpet.

Ksynia was delighted -

we had solved the first

problem before

lunchtime!

We discussed vacuum

cleaning next, and the

conservators have a very

well documented and

effective method of

vacuum cleaning,

designed to produce the

best possible results

with the minimum loss

of pile fibre. They test

the carpet by vacuuming

small measured sections

for timed periods at

different levels of

suction, collecting the

soil removed and

analysing both the

amount of soil and its

composition, to determine what level of suction

should be applied, using what tools, and for how

long. The carpet is then gridded out and

vacuumed one section at a time using the

'formula' generated. This had already been done

for the Cragside carpet before it was brought

down to the Studio, so a plan for vacuum cleaning

was already in place.

This is a bit more thorough than our usual vacuum

cleaning methods which can generally be summed

up as 'vacuum in two directions, spend longer on

the traffic areas and don't forget to do the edges

with a crevice tool'. This was my first real insight

into the level of care and

attention to detail the

conservators take. It also

highlighted that they

document absolutely

everything they do in

minute detail for future

reference. They are

working to preserve

items for the distant

future and keeping

accurate records of what

has been done is vital for

possible future

preservation. Everything

the conservators do is

expected to preserve the

item for the next fifty

years, so I started keeping

notes about everything,

ready for producing the

report I knew I would

need to write if we went ahead with the clean.

We then looked at cleaning methods. Given the

delicate state of the carpet, I ruled out low

moisture methods - such as encapsulation and

rotary brush or bonnet cleaning - straight away, as

the agitation required for these methods to work

effectively was simply too much. Dry compound

Photographs ©Glyn Charnock

Cleaning tests

Tamping tests

newslink page 28


cleaning was also discounted because the chemical

composition of the cleaning compounds I use

wasn't clear and the level of vacuum cleaning

required to remove the product following

application would have been too aggressive for the

carpet.

This left wet extraction as the only option, so the

challenge was how to wet clean a carpet which

was so prone to potential water damage.

Looking at all the various wet extraction methods

and extraction tools I use, it seemed fairly obvious

that those used for cleaning upholstery would be

far more suited to the Cragside carpet than those

for carpets. I use a wide variety of brushes with

different bristles, from really stiff nylon to downy

soft sable. I also regularly clean through netting to

protect damaged fabrics. The level of suction

applied by my low moisture hand tool can be

varied to suit different fabrics, and the amount of

rinse water applied is infinitely variable through

the machine pump pressure and a flow control

valve in the solution line close to the tool.

I have a 50cm square frame with polypropylene

netting stretched over it, which I use for protecting

delicate areas when cleaning rugs, and I

demonstrated to the conservators how I proposed

to wet clean the Cragside carpet using a high-

powered portable extraction machine (kept in the

van outside to ensure indoor air quality was

maintained), a low moisture upholstery tool, my

netted grid and hand brushes for agitation.

The effectiveness of the clean was obvious on my

Dad’s old carpet, and the conservators were very

impressed with how gentle the clean could be and

how quickly the carpet dried. I think their

favourite among all the pieces of equipment I

demonstrated was my little downdraft air mover.

So, we had a dry soil removal system, a

vacuuming protocol to follow, and a wet cleaning

system all lined up. All I needed to do now was

choose which of my products would make the

clean most effective. How wrong could I be?

Next month: The carpet finally arrives and the

fun really begins.

Looking for a fuel card supplier who is more competitive?

Silvey… always goes the Extra Mile!

The Silvey group as a whole physically delivers in

excess of 60 million litres of fuel into the Keyfuels

and UK Fuels network each year. Offering 65% of

the UK fuel network at one fixed weekly price they

provide a consistantly effective solution, not only

on coverage, but also cost.

For network coverage please go to this link:

http://map.interface-test.com/silvey.htm

The Silvey fuel card solution is simple

Discounted fixed price per week. Ÿ

No contracts. Ÿ

No minimum spend. Ÿ

No minimum draw. Ÿ

Free fuel cards. Ÿ

Up to 21 Days credit Ÿ

A weekly usage statement.Ÿ

Reclaim 100% of your business fuel VAT.Ÿ

For more information you can call Ben on 01454

333022, who would be delighted to speak with

you, or email: [email protected]

Items for sale

newslink page 30

BUSINESS FOR SALESmall, long-established, reputable 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

email: [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 Chris on: 02380

898 212 or 07970 040729 or email:[email protected]

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.

TRUCKMOUNTBanclene truckmount 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 separately. Selling due to retirement and will consider the highest offer. Call Derek at Aquamaster on 01845 537640 - mobile 07976 218304

or email: [email protected]

EQUIPMENT FOR SALEWhole 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.

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 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.

BUSINESS FOR SALESmall, 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.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALEAirflex Storm 800psi, Solution hose 25ft(high pressure),

25ft x 1.5" vacuum hose with 1.5" cuff fitted at each end, Westpak 4" stainless steel hand/detailer tool with splash guard, 6" stair tool, Upholstery Pro Sapphire Hand Tool,

HOST Reliant agitator, Sebo BS36 upright vacuum cleaner, Dri-Eaz Air Mover Sahara E 3 speed, Magma heater 1313, Assorted horse hair brushes, Furniture Foam Snap Blocks x 360, Orion 6L Sprayer with nozzle set, 10 Litre Bucket x 2, Carpet Sliders x 8, pH Test Paper, Corner guard, Hose

hook, Pumptec Powersprayer BOM, Mesh hose bag. Assorted cleaning chemicals - some opened.

Bereavement forces sale. Cost: £4500 ONO (Bought as new in 2013 for £7500). All items used a maximum of 5

times so in 'as new' condition. Please contact Jamie Edmonds at: [email protected]. Tel:

07795546037. Items located in North Cornwall.

WHOLE ROOM DRYER360 degrees air mover, ex company stock used for 18

months only (Truvox) - Cost new: £500. Selling cost: £150. Contact: 02380 898212.

newslink

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. Please phone Pete Collins on 07885 804560.

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.

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.

VAN & TRUCK MOUNT + EQUIPMENTVAN: Fiat Ducato 35 Multijet LWB / Only 3,200 Miles / Taxed April 2015 / Ply Lined / Linex Coated / Shelving. TRUCK MOUNT: Phoenix 570i / Only 91 Hours / LPG

Gas Conversion / All Tanks Hoses & Reels / Water Softener/Filter. EQUIPMENT: Evolution Wand / Pre

Sprayer / Carpet Rack / Stair Tool / Upholstery Tool / Ramp / Von Schrader Esprit Dry Cleaner. Genuine

enquiries only please. Mobile: 07775507227. Email: [email protected]

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.

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:

+ Cleansmart Ltd:

+ Cleantec Innovation Ltd:

+ Columbus Cleaning Machines Ltd:

+ Crisp & Brite:

+ Dri-Eaz Products Ltd:

+ Dry Fusion UK Ltd:

+ 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:

+ Worldwide Cleaning Support:

0844 8156211 (I)

01763 208222 (C/M/F/T)

01444 232211 (C/M)

01795 436999 (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)

0115 8240034 (T/C/R/M/K)

0870 733 7733 (T/C/W/M)

01772 426527 (M)

01509 881137 (C/M)

01908 611211 (C/M/T)

01772 433711 (C/M/T/W/Fr)

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 ©

01934 521155 (M/C)

0208 3934778 (M,C,W,K)

00353 91846488 (M/C/Fr)

01943 850817

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.page 31

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.*

BEFORE AFTER

Say

goodbye

to stains!

Carpet

cleaners

carnival

2014Call in for a coffee with us at the Carpet Cleaners Carnivalin September. We’ll be on stand number four. See you there!

Documents

July 2014