For many years, truckmounted hot water extraction (HWE) cleaning has been the method preferred by carpet cleaners and their clients.
Although some will disagree with the foregoing statement, numbers of cleaning units in use and square feet of carpet cleaned back it up.
However, recent years have seen a growth spurt among several low moisture (LM) cleaning methods, including shampoo, bonnet and orbital pad cleaning.
A key reason for this new interest in low moisture cleaning is the technological advance made in encapsulation chemistry.
Encapsulation or crystallization cleaners can be applied using any of the low moisture methods mentioned.
It's a popular choice for commercial carpet care. (See "Encapsulation cleaning the commercial cleaning choice?" on right.)
The first advantage provided by low moisture cleaning is the obvious short drying time that allows carpets to be returned to service quickly.
Faster production rates, lower start-up costs and reduced possibility of soils wicking to the surface of the carpet are additional reasons cited by low moisture cleaners and their pleased clients.
Looking at the numbers
An examination of the numbers may help you decide if a low moisture method would be the right addition to your cleaning tool box.
Start-up costs for a low-moisture machine and supply of cleaning solutions should cost you under $3,000. For some machines and solution package, that figure will be well under $3,000.
What about cleaning solution costs in an ongoing operation? Product usage will vary with type of carpet, soil level and of course the product selected.
It's always less than one cent per square foot, with three to four tenths of a cent typical.
What about production rates?
How fast can I clean carpet? Once again there are a lot of variables.
For ease of comparison to hot water extraction rates, pre- or post-vacuuming times are not included.
When low moisture cleaners were surveyed about production rates for cleaning low-pile commercial carpet with average soil load, the most common response was 1,500 to 2,000 square feet per hour.
When one must go into and out of offices and around obstacles the cleaning rate may be as low as 400-500 square feet per hour.
On open unobstructed carpet, rates above 3,000 square feet per hour were reported.
Let's talk about the money
Comments about pricing normally invite disagreement.
Many have been successful at getting commercial accounts in the .20 to .35 cents per square foot range. But, this is the exception.
Bids are likely to range from .08 to .12 cents per square foot. On very large or attractive accounts, bids can be even lower. Often bids are submitted in tenths of cents.
Is it even worthwhile to compete for commercial work in this price range? If your schedule is booked with every technician having a full schedule cleaning at .25 cents per square foot or more and you have no desire to expand, then this foray is not right for you.
But if working some evenings or weekends or putting on a second shift can be worked into your schedule, consider the income potential.
At the low end of the production rate and pricing scales, one tech cleaning 1,500 square feet per hour at .08 cents per square foot would bring in $120.
A great hourly gross income considering the relatively low start-up costs!
Only for interim maintenance?
Although low moisture methods are considered by most in the industry to be a maintenance or interim cleaning method, companies report good results using this method only.
Sales of equipment and chemicals designed for low moisture cleaning emphasize the truth that a growing number of cleaners are reaping the rewards of low moisture cleaning.
They have happy, repeat customers to back them up.
Scott Warrington operates a carpet cleaning and restoration business. He also teaches IICRC-approved and other related classes and seminars for Scott Cleans Seminars of Winchester, TN. Scott can be reached at scottcleans@vallnet.com or (931) 967-2806.
From the November 2004 edition of Cleanfax magazine.
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