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ncca
November 2014
The official journal of the National Carpet Cleaners Association
Features:
Success this year Wood floor finishing Photograph ŠTimorous Beasties Collection by Brintons, Noir Butterfly
Contents
Published monthly by:
03 From the Editor 06 Natural fibre flooring - then and now 09 Carpet resoiling
The National Carpet Cleaners Association, 62c London Road, Oadby, Leicestershire, LE2 5DH. Tel: 0116 271 9550 E-mail: admin@ncca.co.uk Website: www.ncca.co.uk
10 A guide to customer complaints (part 10) 12 One in four businesses think their marketing isn’t performing 13 Press releases -another part of your marketing plan 14 Rugs... what lies within 16 Skin health in the cleaning industry 18 The ‘Do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ of advertising 20 Wood floor finishing - drying conditions 21 Should I stay or walk away? 22 What would you have done? 24 Regulatory offending - a changing environment 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. ©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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Editor Nicky Law Editor in Chief Keith Robertson Design Editor Nikki Law CEO/Technical Director Paul Pearce Vice President/Admin Director Nigel Lay Company Secretary/2nd Vice President/Training Director Glyn Charnock Membership Director Martin Johns Marketing Director Keith Robertson Corporate Director Allan Simmons Events Director Billy Russell Co-opted Franchise Director Denise Pitt www.facebook.com/NCCAFloorCare www.twitter.com/NCCA_floorcare_
From the Editor - success this year
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e've had an extremely busy year with NCCA staff and Directors working very hard to make further improvements to the Association. Much has been accomplished over the last twelve months and we would like to thank all of you for your help and support, which has been fundamental to these achievements. Here are some of the more notable successes of 2014‌ TrustMark TrustMark is a government endorsed consumer confidence referral scheme for tradesmen, operating a framework under which 26 Scheme Operators work in the RMI (repair, maintenance and improvement) sector. Earlier this year the NCCA was awarded TrustMark Scheme Operator status and the 'Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners' category was launched on the TrustMark website. TrustMark membership within the Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners category is ONLY available to NCCA members and, since its launch in April this year, this listing has been searched over 27,000 times. Put simply, that's over 27,000 times NCCA members' company details have been searched by consumers looking for a tradesman on the TrustMark website! To apply to become a TrustMark member please ring the NCCA office on 0116 271 9550 or email: admin@ncca.co.uk (to see joining criteria, go to 'Benefits and Schemes' in the Members' Area of the NCCA website).
ISO 9001:2008 Meetings regarding ISO 9001:2008 have taken place and we are on target to achieve this Nicky Law within the next 1 - 2 months. Newslink Editor Achieving ISO certification (within a twelve-month period) was a condition of our being awarded TrustMark Scheme Operator status earlier this year. ISO 9001:2008 is a standard of requirements against which our Quality Management System can be evaluated. By demonstrating and verifying our compliance to the requirements of ISO we are actively advertising the Association's commitment to quality, traceability and continual improvement. Social Media Marketing Social Media Marketing (SMM) provides the ideal opportunity to generate exposure for the Association with no cost involved. Our industry-facing Facebook site, launched in 2011, has proved an excellent additional tool for communicating news, views and events with our members and others within the cleaning industry. In respect of this, earlier this year we made the decision to 'spread our wings' and have now added a consumer-facing site and closed Group Area to our Social Media marketing. Consumer-facing site - Aimed predominantly at homeowners, together with buildings facilities managers, the purpose of the consumer-facing site is to educate the end user about the services Continued on next page
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NCCA members offer and the flooring and soft furnishing cleaning industry as a whole. The NCCA consumer-facing site can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/NCCAcarpetcleaning Closed Group Area - An area within the existing industry-related site exclusively for NCCA members - a place where 'members only' are able to share ideas, advice, opinions and daily stories. If you would like to join the closed Group Area for members only, simply log on to our industryfacing site at: https://www.facebook.com/nicky.law.315 and send us a request to join the Group. If you are a member of the NCCA, we will add you on. Both of these new additions have proved an enormous success. Since their launch our number of 'Likes', 'Shares' and 'Reaches' have increased considerably, with several posts on the Consumer site reaching in excess of 1000 people. Posts are also frequently being shared by both member and non-member companies, with one post being shared forty one times! The Carpet Cleaners Carnival 2014 In September this year we held our fourth annual Carpet Cleaners Carnival at Wicksteed Park in Kettering, Northamptonshire. This year’s Carnival was undoubtedly the best yet, with a bigger exhibition than in previous years and an unprecedented number of visitors through the door. This year we also introduced a programme of seminars - a huge attraction for visitors - which
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ran alongside the exhibition throughout the day. Since the event we have received a lot of positive feedback from both the visitors and exhibitors, many of whom have already expressed interest in attending again next year.
New NCCA Members Servicemaster Clean Torquay, Devon RE-JOINED Pennywise Cleaners Ltd Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Member referral report Since publishing a referral statistics report in the June issue of Newslink there have been 101 recommendations for full members provided by the NCCA. This number is made up of 56 referrals from the NCCA office, 43 potential customers contacting members direct through the website and 2 referrals to members without an email address, which have been tracked by the office.
NCCA Shop Are you making the most of your membership? Have you got an NCCA tie, badge, leaflets, survey forms or van stickers? To see all the NCCA items for sale, log on to the Members' Area of the NCCA website at: www.ncca.co.uk
Natural fibre flooring - then and now
Keith Robertson
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f we were living five hundred years ago we certainly wouldn't have been able to make a living from carpet cleaning or, for that matter, the cleaning of ANY type of floor. In fact, if we were to have found ourselves cleaning floors, it is most likely that it would have been in the capacity of our being a servant. That being the case, it might even have been in a property similar to Little Moreton Hall (pictured) - a unique timber framed building set in a beautiful and tranquil part of Cheshire. Little Moreton Hall (now looked after by the National Trust) is one of the most famous Tudor country houses in the United Kingdom, but it had a much more lowly start in the early 1500's as little more than a single roomed property. The remainder was constructed in stages by successive generations of the Moreton family, until about 1610 when it became the property that we see today. The original building (which became the great hall) has a fine flagstone floor, but even that will not have been an original feature. In its early days, there would have been an earthen floor. If there was some accessible lime nearby it may well have
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Little Moreton Hall
been mixed into the soil to help bind and provide a reasonably solid surface. There has been much discussion as to what was historically used to cover earth floors. When I visited Moreton Hall my guide took the view that the floor would have been covered by layers of straw or rushes, which were added to throughout the year until there was a considerable depth. It is suggested that this was known as thresh and was contained or restrained at the front door by a piece of wood or stone, which became known as the threshold. There is an alternative view that the fresh rushes were gathered and, instead of them being loosely spread on the floor, they were woven into mats
which were then laid on the earth floor. I don't know if either or both of these are, in fact, true or not. However, I would have thought that a deep pile of rushes on the floor would have proved awkward for the women of the house to walk through wearing the long clothing that would have been fashionable at the time. Certainly, across the country in Derbyshire (in Hardwick Hall) some of the rooms are carpeted with professionally woven rush mats made by a company that will make them for your home. It's not a particularly cheap option as a made-to-measure, handplaited, interwoven with herbs, hand-sewn with jute mat, will cost you ÂŁ165.00 + VAT per square metre. No doubt if we had been alive five hundred years ago some of us might have learnt this skill and been able to make our own. There are many people today who like to use natural fibre flooring and, although they may not be able to afford rush matting, they are able to find a wide range of attractive products to furnish their homes. This is obviously of interest to us as carpet cleaners, as we are well aware that ALL carpets require professional care and cleaning. The problem with some of these natural fibre carpets is that they need special care, so perhaps some of us shy away from them. Whereas soiled pure wool carpets react best to warm water
cleaning and extraction, others such as Seagrass, Coir, Jute and Sisal do not respond as favourably and require a method that is specifically designed to suit them. The reason for this is that these natural fibre carpets are hygroscopic, so depending on the relative humidity they can either absorb or give off moisture. Although this is quite natural and acceptable, the saturation of the fibres that can be caused Rush matting by many cleaning methods is undesirable, causing water marking, colour loss or dimensional change. That obviously rules out wet shampooing or using any method that involves water saturation. There are a few carpet cleaners that have found that by using the minimum moisture setting on a portable carpet cleaning machine, and by using a careful continuous application of the cleaning solution while ensuring they steadily move the wand to prevent excess moisture in any spot, they can successfully clean these natural fibres. They understand that complete moisture extraction is not possible, as the course structure of the fibres absorbs air and reduces the effectiveness of vacuuming, and that any uneven application is almost guaranteed to leave visible watermarks after the carpet has dried. This is not for the faint hearted. You do not get Continued on next page
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a second chance and it can still go wrong if, for example, the carpet has been glued down with a water soluble adhesive or if too little adhesive has been used. There are some people who have found other low moisture methods of cleaning, some of which may use a rotary machine and pad or bonnet mop. Those who use this method still have to guard against an overly wet pad being laid on the fibres and take into consideration potential damage to loose fibres by using a rotary or orbital cleaning machine. Personally, although I have used and experimented with a number of different cleaning methods, I prefer to use the dry extraction carpet cleaning system where millions of tiny natural, soft, absorbent, organic, premoistened sponges are applied and brushed through the carpet. There are a number of dry compound cleaning agents available on the market and, believe me, they are not all equal. I advise you to test and not be put off by a product that costs more in favour of one that costs less unless you have proved it works as effectively. It is the case that the better products do include a unique emulsion of water, detergent, deodorant and safe-to-use solvent charged with cleaning agents which, when mechanically brushed through the pile, have the ability to dissolve both water soluble and solvent soluble soils and then to absorb and hold these soils until they are removed by vacuuming. Although this
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may sound like a glib piece of marketing it is, in fact, true. The complaint is that quality dry compound cleaners cost too much ‘per square metre cleaned’ when compared to other cleaning products. It is true that they do cost more, but the simple answer to that is to charge more. If you have decided to add the cleaning of natural fibre carpets to your business, do so as a 'specialist' and not as a 'general practitioner'. Clients who purchase special fibres need specialist care from a ‘specialist’ who charges specialist prices. If you are not prepared, or unable, to charge realistically for the service you offer then take my advice and keep well away from natural fibre carpets. On the other hand, with the right products and the right equipment this can be a lucrative little niche. That said, this is a niche where you must be prepared to precondition your customers so that they fully understand exactly what is achievable. They must be made to understand that if they have ‘messed up’ badly they will have to live with some of the consequences. There is a lot that you can do and some of these may well seem to be miracles, however, despite your professionalism you have yet to learn how to walk on water. And anyway too much water is bad for their natural fibre carpets. The 16th century might have been an interesting time to have lived in but I think you will agree, for most of us, we are much better off than we would likely to have been back then.
Carpet resoiling
Ken Wainwright
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f you have your carpet cleaned, does it get dirty quicker afterwards? This is a question asked by prospects and customers all the time. Well, this could actually be true, but not for the reasons you may imagine. When cleaning a carpet, it's almost certain that it has been exposed to foot traffic and other means of soiling, wear and tear. The carpet is now, therefore, part worn. Let's say ten percent of the face yarn has worn away. This means that there is now ten percent less pile to absorb and hide soil, so the freshly cleaned carpet will look dirty quicker than from new because there are fewer soil hiding fibres. This is no fault of the cleaning process, just normal wear and tear. We must also consider the fact that, with all the best will in the world, we cannot remove one hundred percent of soil from a carpet. If we were to leave, for example, five percent behind, then the carpet would be five percent soiled towards the next cleaning cycle. This is a limitation of our on-site cleaning processes but, again, the cleaning process itself has not accelerated the soiling process. So, what about detergent residues? Certainly with the earlier generations of carpet cleaning solutions, sticky, residual shampoos promoted rapid resoiling. Modern day cleaning solutions are formulated differently. Any residues are typically hard and crystalline. When dry, they do not attract soil. But this is dependent upon the correct product being used for the purpose and the
manufacturer's instructions being followed. All too often we come across cases whereby a technician has incorrectly used an aggressive, inappropriate and possibly high pH rinse agent “because it's effective and works quickly�. Problems frequently come to light in a typically short time when accelerated resoiling occurs. A customer who has experienced rapid resoiling may never return to the offending company. By following industry accepted best practice and using high quality cleaning solutions in the way recommended by the manufacturer, rapid resoiling caused by poor cleaning practices will become a thing of the past.
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A guide to customer complaints (part ten) Lewis Scroby (NCCA Standards and Fair Trading)
In the final article in this series, NCCA Standards and Fair Trading Officer, Lewis Scroby, provides a summary of advice featured throughout this year's articles on dealing with complaints. ŸHave a written complaints procedure that you
and others can follow to ensure matters are properly dealt with every time. ŸMinimise the risk of complaints by following standard procedures on every job. Adhere to PAS 86. ŸTalk to your customers. Ensure they are aware of what you're doing and what can be expected and take the opportunity to raise any concerns you may have yourself. ŸListen to your customers. Take in what they tell you. What are they most focused on in terms of results? Have they said anything that worries you? ŸDon't be afraid to turn down a job if you have a concern about a customer or the items that need cleaning. ŸSchedule your day to avoid running out of time. Add extra time for jobs you know may be more difficult. ŸArrive when you agreed to or inform the customer if you may be late. ŸSurvey. Every time. Identify the carpet, look for damage and deterioration, check for fitting issues, test colours, record everything in writing. ŸQualify. Ensure you're customers are made aware
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of your survey results and anything that may affect the way the items will be cleaned or the potential results. ŸMake the customer fully aware of any risks the cleaning process may present. Consider a liability waiver if there is the potential for any damage to arise. Verbal agreements are inadvisable. ŸClearly bring your terms and conditions to the attention of the customer before starting any work. Make sure they are informed of anything you need them to be aware of and get them to sign an acknowledgement if required. ŸImplement a continuing education system. Stay up to date with developments in the industry. ŸRegularly review Health and Safety regulations and your own H&S procedures. ŸKeep your equipment and vehicle clean and in good working order. ŸDon't smoke on site. ŸFollow any and all recommended processes when cleaning. Especially if you list procedures in your advertising. ŸDon't over-sell yourself. Under-promise and overdeliver. ŸAvoid guarantees. It is very rare you can be sure of every detail. ŸIf you aren't getting many repeat bookings, look into reasons why customers would not want you back. It may be they were happy with the cleaning but something else has put them off. ŸUndercharging. If you can't spare the time to deal with a problem or refunding the price of your
Diary Dates 2014/15
cleaning will not cover the cost of rectifying a simple mistake, you need to review your pricing structure. ŸWhen responding to complaints, always deal with facts rather than opinions or assumptions. ŸRemain calm, even if your customer is not. Try to diffuse, rather than escalate, a dispute. ŸNever argue. Listen to the customer. Allow them to speak without interrupting (even if you don't agree) and wait for your opportunity to respond. ŸAsk for information in writing to assist your understanding. This is also useful if a customer is confrontational in discussion or face-to-face. ŸDon't ignore complaints or complainers. They will never go away and it will only make matters worse. ŸThe NCCA Code of Practice includes guidelines and timescales for dealing with complaints. ŸYou can be assuring without committing to meeting the demands of a complaining customer. Focus on your process for dealing with the matter rather than what the outcome will be. ŸKeep the customer informed, especially if there will be delays in responding. ŸA free legal helpline is provided for members (0117 934 2600) if a customer threatens action via a higher authority. The NCCA is always available to assist when a complaint arises. You can contact us for advice or simply discuss a scenario to help your understanding and options for dealing with the matter. Our arbitration service can be offered to customers, but always try to resolve a situation yourself. By following the above advice you should be in a good position to properly respond and address any complaint and hopefully avoid many arising in the first place.
NCCA COURSES Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning 23rd - 24th January 2015 20th - 21st March 2015 22nd - 23rd May 2015 10th - 11th July 2015 18th - 19th September 2015 20th - 21st November 2015 Advanced Spot & Stain Removal 20th February 2015 26th June 2015 9th October 2015 Health & Safety for the Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner 19th February 2015 8th October 2015 All above courses held at NSPCC Training Centre, Leicester unless otherwise stated. Visit: www.ncca.co.uk for booking forms and further details. IICRC COURSES (HERTFORDSHIRE) Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician with Paul Pearce 2nd - 3rd December 2014 Held at Alltec Network, Royston, Hertfordshire. Tel: 01763 208222 IICRC COURSES (SURREY) Carpet Cleaning Technician with Adam Jankowski 24th - 25th March 2015 10th - 11th September 2015 Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician with Adam Jankowski 31st March - 1st April 2015 25th - 26th November 2015 Held at National Flood School, Surrey. Tel: 01252 821185 Visit: www.iicrc.org for further details on all IICRC Training Courses.
One in four businesses think their marketing isn’t performing
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lmost a quarter (24%) of UK based businesses believe that their marketing isn't performing as it should be, with a third of these (33%) complaining that the difficulty of making an impact with the advertising they do, is the biggest barrier to success. The report was put together from the results of studies into the corporate marketing strategies of 300 UK organisations. Respondents to the study were drawn from a diverse mix of businesses, both B2B and B2C, which spanned multiple industry sectors. Ian Simpson, Managing Director of Catalogues 4 Business (C4B), which carried out the study, comments: "Marketing plays a huge part in developing a successful business. Without an effective marketing plan, that's properly implemented, the chances of success are severely hampered. The fact that one in four businesses are concerned about the value of their marketing is an eyeopener." “What's particularly interesting is the amount of businesses that believe advertising is ineffective, yet still use it as a marketing tool. Surely they
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should consider a different approach if this is the case? There are many different forms of marketing out there which businesses can undertake." Despite some businesses expressing concern about the success of their advertising, it was still regarded as the second most successful deliverer of sales, with 19% of businesses attributing their sales specifically to the medium, placing it second only to 'networking' at 24%. Ian says: “It's interesting to note that despite advertising not working for a lot of businesses, it
still provides a real sales boost to others. It just goes to show that businesses need to adapt their marketing to suit their offering. Some forms of marketing work much better than others but its all dependent on the type of business that you run. Who is your target demographic? How are you most likely to reach them? For some that could be social media, for others it could be using field sales, and for yet more it could be via a brochure or a catalogue. It all changes depending on the product that you're looking to sell." In addition to firms continuing to use advertising, despite a perceived inefficiency, this method of marketing was the third most popular. When it came to prospect marketing, 9% of the businesses questioned say they planned to start using advertising over the next 12 months. Only 'social media' (10%) and 'Search Engine Optimisation' (also 10%) appeared higher in the list. Ian concludes: "Advertising still looks set to be a popular inclusion in the marketing mix over the next year. However it is interesting that relatively modern marketing techniques have surged to the fore. Social media is a comparatively new medium as is search engine optimisation. The results of the study suggest that tech savvy firms are looking to keep up with modern trends and exploit modern practises in order to stay ahead of their competitors and to progress.� To see the full report go to: www.catalogues4business.co.uk/report.php Article reproduced with kind permission of Cleanzine
Press releases - another part of your marketing plan (NCCA Library) Do you publicise your business and activity by sending Press Releases to your local newspaper? There are a number of articles, which have been written especially for you to use for this purpose, in the members' section of the NCCA website. You can simply copy and adapt them for your company and post, email or fax them to the publications you have chosen to target. On the other hand you may prefer to write your own copy, but for it to be successful there are a number of basics which are necessary. Fortunately, Heather Fuller, Editorial Director of eReleases decided to produce a list of what she believes are the necessary factors of a professional Press Release. The list contains 10 essential tips that should be checked carefully before you actually send out your Press Release. 10 essential tips for a successful Press Release: 1. Is the topic newsworthy? 2. Does the headline need a tune-up? 3. Is the first paragraph strong, essentially summarising the release and containing the 5Ws (who, what, when, where and why)? 4. Is it too short or too lengthy? 5. Does it follow AP (Associated Press) style and is it grammatically sound? 6. Does it set an appropriate tone, avoiding overdescription, exaggeration, editorialisation (too much of one's own opinion) and ad copy? 7. Is it fact-based and adequately documented? 8. Is the contact information complete, including a person's name, telephone number and email address? 9 Does the message match your target audience? 10. Is it media-friendly (not link heavy or unorthodox)?
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Rugs... what lies within Derek Bolton (Honorary Member)
A) ABRASH
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have seen some strange things over the years in relation to rugs. Manufacturers are extremely clever at making rugs that are very pleasing to the eye, which is why we buy them, but if you are cleaning these items you must be very careful… what you see is not always what you get! It is up to you, as the cleaning technician, to look carefully and identify what a rug is made of, how it is put together and to assess what may have been done to it during the manufacturing process; this is especially important when dealing with Oriental rugs. It is well known that in the early years of their life many of these rugs will suffer quite dramatic colour fade until they reach a point where they tend to stabilise. Sometimes Oriental rugs undergo some weird and wonderful procedures during the manufacturing process. Chinese rugs are often washed in a Chlorine bleach solution which dissolves parts of the Wool fibres to make the rug more appealing; this process will smooth the Wool fibres, enabling increased light reflection and enhancing the rugs overall appearance. We are all taught, on the various training courses we attend, that Chlorine bleach will dissolve Wool fibres so, as you can imagine, a procedure such as this has to be carried out under very strict guidelines. I remember, many years ago, visiting a rug processing plant where rugs were being given an antique appearance, a process that prematurely faded them. The rugs I saw were Afghan which are usually a deep red, almost burgundy, colour. During the antiquing process the deep red colour on these rugs went through various shades of paler red until,
in the end, some were almost pink whilst others ended up an antique yellowy colour. The actual feel of the antiqued rugs, due to the process they had been subjected to, was vastly different to their original texture; they felt quite limp in comparison. Interestingly, when I asked the question “could this process take years off the life of a rug?” I was answered indistinctly with “we are giving the customer what they want” and “what's a few years off the life of a quality rug which, with care, could last over a hundred years?” So, as you can see, it really it is important that you check out every rug thoroughly prior to cleaning. You should always test with your cleaning chemicals for a possible reaction, especially if the
B) STRANGE MARKINGS Photograph ŠDerek Bolton
rug’s fibres have been previously chemically treated. Tease open the tufts to see the true colour in the base of the fibres, this can indicate just how much colour has been lost over the years one way or another. Turn the rug over and check out the colours on the back, there may be a significant difference between the colours there to those on the surface fibres due to sun fade. Look also for imperfections such as Abrash, the coloured stripes across the width of a rug that will indicate the use of colour from different dye batches. This can be clearly seen on the small picture above (A). Sometimes, just as with carpet, damage can occur to a rug once it has been installed in your
customer's home. Take a look at the odd shaped light marks clearly evident on the small picture above (B). I suspect that those marks were caused deliberately during a marriage spilt up; it was only whilst talking to the client that this possibility emerged. There were nine similar rugs to be cleaned all with identical discolouration; the rugs had been in storage for some time whilst the marital conflict was resolved. Of course the pre-clean inspection should also pick up any other existing damage too, so make sure this is undertaken thoroughly. Oriental Rugs can be very expensive to replace, so make sure your insurance cover is sufficient to cover these expensive items.
Skin health in the cleaning industry
S
NCCA Library
kin health is a major issue for Dermatitis can be extremely many people. There has not painful and very hard to treat been much evolutionary change in skin structure, except with regard to hair distribution, since Neolithic times. Had we had evolutionary changes to the skin to match the chemical and physical insults heaped upon it on a daily basis, then many of us would have had to acquire an outer layer (dermis) akin to the back of a crocodile to provide us with the necessary protection. In the cleaning industry the skin is frequently frequent wetting and drying will cause exposed to the loss of the skin's outer protective oily chemicals and coating, leaving it dry and undefended water, allowed to against irritants. evaporate to If you fail to protect your hands when dryness, abraded cleaning, your skin may be affected in with fine sharp two ways: powders and Cotton liners underneath your main gloves can help protect your skin 1) Direct reaction to a known irritant, for rubbed against example a caustic chemical. hard surfaces. Just 2) Allergic reaction to a chemical you are using imagine a fabric designer's dilemma if asked to (often not immediate, but can develop from design a material to cope with this type of use‌ continual use over a period of time). that'll give you some idea of what your skin really A skin allergy may initially seem less problematic goes through in a day! than a direct chemical injury, but it is worth Unlike a fabric, of course, the skin is a selfbearing in mind that an allergy can produce a regenerating body coating. The deep layers are complex reaction within the body which is often continuously producing new cells to replace the re-stimulated, with merely a trace exposure to the outer layer as this dies off - a constant and (in chemical, long after the initial allergy has healthy people) unnoticed process. However,
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quietened down. This can result in a long-term problem which is sometimes very hard to treat. Avoiding skin issues in the first place is always better than trying to cure the problem once it has occurred. Here's what you can do: ŸEnsure you know what you are handling and what the consequences of misuse may be. Study the safe handling advice data sheets and Ÿ do what they say. ŸNever take short cuts even if exposure is likely to be brief and occasional. ŸAlways use protective impervious gloves when placing your hands in water and when in direct contact with chemicals. Remember, however, that the skin does need to breathe (not true respiration, but a process of cooling allowing moisture evaporation) and the continuous use of impervious gloves on their own will stop this happening and may even make matters worse. A way round this is to wear cheap cotton liners, changed, washed and dried frequently, underneath your main gloves. ŸIf a chemical comes into contact with skin wash the exposed area thoroughly at your soonest possible opportunity. Some skin irritations can be very slow to heal and quite disabling; after all, there are few jobs where your hands are not needed. If this advice has come too late for some, then specific treatment from a doctor will be required with avoidance of exposure (where possible) until fully recovered. When recovery is achieved, rigid attention to skin protection should be applied at all times.
Email addresses The NCCA are increasingly contacting members via email to circulate relevant Association information. As such, it is MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER that we have your current email address logged on our database. If you change your email address at any point could we ask that you please notify us immediately so we are able to update your details. This will ensure that you do not miss any important information circulated by us. To inform us of any changes, please email: admin@ncca.co.uk or phone the NCCA office on: 0116 271 9550.
NCCA membership ID cards Have you got an NCCA membership Identification card? This card will enable you to introduce yourself to clients, and is a considerable asset, particularly when calling at secure premises such as banks, stores, etc. It is FREE to NCCA members and their technicians and should be renewed annually. If you would like to order an ID card you must supply a photograph, with a forward facing head-and-shoulders shot (we can crop out any background if necessary), either by post or electronically. You must clearly indicate the name to be displayed on each card requested. To order your ID card send your request, together with photograph, to: admin@ncca.co.uk or by post to the NCCA office.
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The ‘do’s’ and ‘don't’s of advertising
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obody has an unlimited budget to spend on advertising, so it is extremely important that the adverts you do have are in the right place and get the right message across to the right people in the right way. Here are some hints and tips to help you in creating your advertisements: ŸDON'T create advertisements that are overstated. Think about what you, personally, would pay attention to and what you would dismiss as over-indulgent, over-confident or a con. Others will have the same values. ŸDON'T alienate, insult, patronise or bore the audience - keep them hooked. ŸDON'T fill your advert with jargon. Use minimal technical detail so everyone can understand the point you are making - the detailing can be communicated when the advert is followed up. ŸDON'T stop your advertising because it is evident it has been successful. If you stop your advertisements then the product (your service) has to work without support. You don't have to increase budgets, just keep them fixed. ŸDO be original and striking. You're competing for the same customers as the rest of the adverts surrounding yours, so be memorable - if your
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NCCA Library
advertisement is utterly forgettable, so is your company. ŸDO have a strong headline featuring a key selling point. It's the part of the advert that customers look at first, so make it count. ŸDO keep copy or text concise and to the point. Reinforce the statement made in the headline and use facts to back it up. ŸDO make sure your advert really says something - you've paid for it so use it to the full. ŸDO use a tag line or catchphrase that sums up your company and services. ŸDO remember that presentation is extremely important. Make your advertisement crisp and clear. If you are using visuals, be economical with the wording to avoid the feeling of clutter. ŸDO give your potential customers a sense of confidence in your service. Doing this within your advertisement will make your final sale to the customer a lot easier. And finally… ŸDO spend your money wisely. One good advertisement will do more to sell your services than ten bad ones.
Wood floor finishing - drying conditions Terry Guilford (The Ultimate Floor Sanding Co.)
O
ne of the least understood of all the issues surrounding wood floor finishing is the importance of drying conditions when applying finish products to the newly sanded floor. There is loads of information out there about how to sand a floor (some of it is even accurate!), there are also YouTube clips showing 'experienced contractors' applying finish using rollers, 'T' bars Eazee Ways, 'lambies' etc., etc., but if the drying conditions are wrong all the hard work put into the floor can be wasted. The easiest factor to understand when discussing drying and curing times is that of film thickness. We all know that to achieve maximum durability any product has an optimum film thickness and, in order to reach that thickness, up to four coats of product are going to be applied. Each layer of finish dries from the top down, meaning that a film is being formed right at the top and the wet finish beneath that has to dry through this film. It also means that, as subsequent coats are added, the first coat has to finish its curing through these later coats (which is why it is important not to apply more than three coats in one day!) The second factor to consider is the importance of air temperature. We all know that if we paint
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something in very low temperatures the paint remains wet for longer as the solvents 'flash off' much slower in low temperatures and cold air has less capacity to carry vapour. Likewise, if the air in the room is already very moist, it doesn't matter what the temperature is it will have less capacity to absorb more moisture (imagine trying to get a lacquered board to dry in a steam room!). This is known as Relative Humidity. However, increased capacity to carry vapour is only useful if the moist air can be removed from the area and so we reach what is considered to be the most important factor in successful finishing, air movement. Manufacturers often give figures for temperature and Relative Humidity (normally around 18 -24 degrees centigrade and 35% - 65% RH) that can be checked on site, but as airflow is
not easily quantifiable it is often forgotten about and sometimes with disastrous consequences. In most cases it is sufficient to open a door and a window to allow warm air within the building to flow gently across the floor and out of the window (don't do this immediately, allow the finish to level out for 10 - 20 minutes with no air flow first). So what are the disastrous consequences of insufficient airflow? Quite simply, the molecules in the product will not end up in their rightful place and therefore will not bond correctly; this will result in a soft finish that will mark very easily and is often wrongly attributed to poor quality product, whereas in reality it is more a reflection on the contractor. So what should you look out for when quoting and carrying out the work? First off, will the temperature range be achievable when you do the work (in other words if it is winter, is the heating working?) Secondly, is there any reason why humidity should be high (recent plastering work for example)? Thirdly, can you create reasonable airflow to get the moisture laden air away from the finished area? Finally, how much time do you need to allow each coat to dry sufficiently before applying subsequent coats? One last thing, very often hairdressing salons provide very close to 'the perfect storm' in terms of poor conditions for site finishing. Ok, the temperature is always within the range, but obviously the air can be quite moist and it is often impossible to create decent airflow as windows don't open at the back and the door cannot be left open at the front. You have been warned!
Should I stay or walk away? NCCA Library There will come a time when you will have to decide whether to stay and clean a carpet, or item of furniture, or simply swallow your pride and walk away. Trying to be a hero to please a very nice customer can sometimes go horribly wrong and that 'nice customer' can suddenly become your worst nightmare. So, when should you consider walking away? 1. When you are faced with furniture fabrics that you do not feel confident in tackling or that you are unsure of. There are two choices here, A) You can walk away or B) You can delay any decision until you have sought advice (i.e., by ringing the NCCA office and asking for technical help if you are an NCCA member). 2. When the item you have been asked to clean shows obvious severe damage and you feel that any cleaning process would incur even further damage. 3. When items are so heavily soiled that even a 'resurrection' clean is unlikely to satisfy the customer. 4. When pre-inspection tests indicate that there is a defect within the fabric or fibres that could become visually evident through the cleaning process. 5. When items have been damaged from a previous clean. 6. When you have a distinct 'gut feeling' that something isn't quite right and that maybe the customer is leading you up a very prickly garden path. If they have asked you several searching questions as to whether you are fully insured‌ BE DOUBLY AWARE! Just remember, there is nothing wrong with walking away from a job providing you deal with the customer in a polite and diplomatic way.
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What would you have done?
I
recently received an enquiry from a couple in a fairly affluent area who wanted their carpets cleaned. I had cleaned the carpets at the husband's parents' house just the week before and, when he’d gone to visit them, he'd been amazed by the results he’d seen. His parents’ carpets were synthetic and had been down for about twenty eight years but when we'd finished cleaning them they looked as though they were new. After we’d finished the job we had left them with a voucher (for a free trial area of carpet to be cleaned), for them to pass on to friends or family so they could see 'risk free' what we could also do for them. In response to this, AND because of the results he had seen, the man had then decided to call me and ask if I could quote for cleaning his carpets too. There's nothing better than a recommendation like this of course, as not only has your cleaning business been recommended by an obviously satisfied customer but also (importantly) the price is known too - hence there's no risk of 'sticker shock'. So, unless they really don't like you, a booking should be a foregone conclusion. We always make an initial visit to measure up and quote, as well as qualify what stains may not be removed, so this was done and a price was left with them - nearly £400. The couple said they would talk it over and phone soon. The wife, in particular, kept saying how well her in-laws carpets had been cleaned and how badly her own carpets needed cleaning. A few days later a message was left on our
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David Coker answerphone at the office... “We're pleased to accept your quote if you can take 10% off the invoice. If you wish to go ahead please phone me.” Now, what would you have done? After all, this was not a small job. It would still have amounted to about £350! Well, here's what we did.... I phoned back and said that he already had one of the rooms covered by the free trial offer and that this was actually worth more than the 10% discount he wanted, so I couldn't reduce the price any more. With that, he simply said that he would look elsewhere for someone to clean his carpets. Many cleaners would think me foolish for turning down a job that would still bring in about £350 for the sake of quibbling over £40 or so, but here's my reasons for doing it. In Larry Steinmetz's book 'How to Sell at Prices Higher Than Your Competitors' he makes the point that there are consequences to dealing with people who try to knock you down on price. Included are: ŸThey will brag to their friends how they beat you down on price so any referrals will do the same. ŸPeople who want discounted prices are the most likely to complain about every little thing. In the end you may wish you'd never taken them on. ŸPeople who want you to lower your prices for no reason are the most difficult to deal with generally and don't appreciate what you do. ŸThey are typically disloyal and will switch to another company whose price is lower. ŸWhen they want more work doing, they already
NCCA Corporate Members + Allied Insurance Services Ltd: 0844 8156211 (I) + Alltec Network: 01763 208222 (C/M/F/T) + Amtech UK: 01444 232211 (C/M)
know that they can get you to lower your prices simply by asking. Incidentally, we never heard from the couple again and don't expect to. Yes, I've lost ÂŁ350 in the short term but probably a lot of needless hassle in the long term. The most important thing is that a good service business is built largely on quality repeat and referral work.
+ Ashby's Cleaning Equipment: 01795 436999 (C/M/E) + Asset Finance Solutions UK Ltd: 01254 584404 (FI) + Bio Productions Ltd (inc. Stapro): 01444 244000 (C) + Camberford Law (insurance brokers): 0208 315 5000 (I) + Chemdry Franchising Ltd: 01482 872770 (C/M/Fr) + Chemspec Europe Ltd: 01274 597333 (C/M/T/D/F) + Cleanerswarehouse Ltd: 01772 434333 (T/C/R/M) + Cleaning Systems UK: 01334 656787 (C/M/T/F) + Cleansmart Ltd: 0115 8240034 (T/C/R/M/K) + Cleantec Innovation Ltd: 0870 733 7733 (T/C/W/M) + Columbus Cleaning Machines Ltd: 01772 426527 (M) + Crisp & Brite: 01509 881137 (C/M)
NCCA Member Benefits
+ Dri-Eaz Products Ltd: 01908 611211 (C/M/T)
Adelante Merchant Services: 01628 820500
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BeValued - Home Options (specialist claims management - insurance work): Call Shaun Mulvey on 01323 418432
+ Furniture Clinic Ltd: 01207 279964 (C/Tr)
Control Account PLC: 01527 882901 Hibu (previously Yell): ask for Corporate Advertising Department: 0808 100 7890 HMCA (free legal & counselling helpline): 0117 934 2600 HMCA (medical health cover): 01423 866985 Payatrader: 01296 660177 SiteWizard (website creation): 08450 608860 Thompson Local: ask forCorporate Advertsing Department: 01252 390385 TrustMark (NCCA Office): 0116 271 9550
Corporate Member Benefits 20% off RESEARCH and CITRUS products for all NCCA members at Cleaners Warehouse! Go to www.cleanerswarehouse.co.uk (A registration page has been set up on the site for NCCA members)
+ Get Booked Up Software: 01405 813665 + Gleaming Insurance (insurance brokers): 0845 4740068 (I) + Hi-Tec Cleaning Group: 02866 341416 (C/E/F/M/T) + Host Von Schrader Ltd: 0151 347 1900 (M/C) + Hydro Dynamix: 01622 664993 (Fr/T) + LTT Leathercare: 01423 881027 (T/Tr) + Mailboxes Etc: 01628 633336 + McGregor Lloyd (insurance brokers): 0121 706 0616 (I) + NSL Restormate: 01670 590099: (M/C/Tr) + Nu Life Stone Care Ltd: 0161 480 7284 (M/C) + Oates Laboratories (Europe): 01772 433711 (C) + Prochem Europe Ltd: 0208 974 1515 (C/F/M/T) + Rainbow International: 01623 422488 (M/C/Fr) + Restoration Express: 01252 726106 (M/C/T/A) + Robert Saunders Marketing Mentor: 08450 537129 (K) + Sebo UK Ltd: 01494 465533 (M) + ServiceMaster Ltd: 0116 275 9000 (M/C/Fr) + Stainshield Ltd: 01372 841467 Š + Textile Cleaning Solutions: 01934 521155 (M/C) + The Big Clean: 0208 3934778 (M,C,W,K) + The Ultimate Floor Sanding Co.: 00353 91846488 (M/C/Fr) + The WoolSafe Organisation: 01943 850817 + Vaclensa: 0161 728 1800 (M) + Worldwide Cleaning Support: 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.
Regulatory offending - a changing environment Simon Winterburn (Eversheds LLP)
R
egulatory (i.e. health and safety and environmental offences) are heard within the criminal Court system. Often, a Court that has been dealing with more 'typical' criminal offences then has to consider the appropriate fine for a company that has committed regulatory breaches. The potential fine is often unlimited and may even include custodial sentences, for individual offending. Unlike more 'typical' crimes such as theft or burglary, there is very little guidance available to the Court when it has to determine an appropriate sentence. Whilst previous fines for similar offences may be of assistance, they cannot be binding. Helpfully, in respect of environmental offences, guidance has now been issued by the Sentencing Guidelines Council ('the Guidelines')š. The Guidelines were published at the end of February 2014 and apply to all those sentenced for environmental offences on or after 1 July 2014, regardless of when the offence occurred. We are now seeing the Guidelines come to fruition and be used in Court and that has an impact on those in the cleaning industry. The Guidelines are split between 'corporate' and 'individual offenders'. For the purposes of this article we shall focus on the regime for corporate offenders, which is based on a twelve-step approach. The two most novel, and arguably important, steps are considered below. Step 3 - Determining the offence category The level of fine has to bear some resemblance to the seriousness of the offence. The Guidelines require the Court to consider two variables in order
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to determine the offence category: Ÿthe culpability of the offender from deliberate or reckless offending down to negligence or no culpability at all; and Ÿthe harm caused, or the potential for harm - from major adverse effects down to a risk of minor harm. The Court has some flexibility as to how to determine levels of culpability and harm as not all offences will fit squarely between brackets. However, the Guidelines should allow an element of consistency, with different levels of offending being capable of rudimentary comparison by the Courts. The relevance of categorising offences becomes evident during Step 4, however, Step 3 may be one of the most contentious for dutyholders, who will want to ensure offending is accurately represented to the Court. For anyone suspected of committing an environmental offence, it will be important that they properly understand the alleged harm, where expert evidence may be required, and the alleged culpability. Regulators considering the alleged culpability will likely be interested in company documents and records, such as meeting minutes,
risk assessments and safe working procedures. Step 4 - Starting point and category range Rather than rely wholly on the discretion of the Court, Step 4 incorporates a more scientific approach to the fining process. The 'culpability' and 'harm' ratings are cross-referred to one of four tables within the Guidelines in order to determine two figures: Ÿthe starting point for the fine; and Ÿthe range of the fine (i.e. the lowest and highest fines). The figures are tabulated, for ease of reference, and vary depending on the size of the organisation being sentenced (on the premise that fines are intended to send a message to the shareholders, and are therefore likely to be larger for organisations with greater wealth). The four tables are separated according to the wealth of the offender. For the majority of organisations reading this publication, the proposed fines for 'micro' companies will be of most interest. A 'micro' company will have a turnover of less than £2 million. ŸFor 'micro' companies at the most serious level of offending (i.e. deliberate high risk offending), the starting point for a fine is £50,000, with a range between £9,000 and £95,000. ŸFor low risk and low culpability offences, the starting point (£200) and range (£100 to £700) are drastically lower. Additional steps Once the mathematical element is complete, the Court is still afforded discretion to adjust the fines depending on a number of factors, including: Ÿrelevant mitigating and aggravating factors;
Ÿa prompt 'guilty' plea, which often attracts a onethird discount on any fine; Ÿthe overall proportionality of the fine; and Ÿimposing such a fine that it removes any economic benefit derived from the offending. The above discretion may compromise the consistency that the Guidelines aim for, but it is right that the Court is given some freedom so that fines can properly satisfy the purposes of sentencing. Application to individuals The Guidelines, as they apply to individuals, operate in a similar fashion to those that apply to organisations, detailed above. It is still necessary to consider the culpability and risk of harm involved; however, the need to consider turnover and the size of the offender is removed. Conclusion The priority for those reading this magazine is to avoid ever having to attend Court. The examples of poor performance and bad behaviour set out in the Guidelines should act as signposts of 'what to avoid' for those seeking to improve their own compliance. Those facing environmental offences, such as the illegal disposal of waste, should benefit from greater consistency when being fined by the Court. However, the 'trade-off' is that fines are likely to be consistently higher. If the Guidelines work, and are well received by the Court, there is the possibility that they are adopted for health and safety offences, with similar results. ¹ The new guidelines can be found at: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk/docs/Final _Environmental_Offences_Definitive_Guideline_(w eb).pdf
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Items for sale BUSINESS FOR SALE Small, 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. EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Prochem 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 aquadriinfo@btconnect.com for further information or contact Andy on: 07970 544806. BUSINESS FOR SALE Small 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. EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Ashbys Sensei Carpet cleaning machine with dry cleaning facility, comes with dry clean hose and curtain hand tool and hose bag - £800.00. Dry fusion rotary machine with drive board - £600.00. Power flite 500psi twin vac carpet cleaning machine, only used as back up, two years old £1400.00. Esprit Von Schrader upholstery machine still under warranty only used 5 times - £2500.00. Ashbys power brush - £300.00. Ashbys spotting machine with hose and hand tool - £300.00. Ashbys V2 steam attachment only used twice - £300.00. All Items plus VAT. If interested please call Peter on 07866 905 424, or 0208 850 2085, or Email: peterscarpetcare@aol.co.uk Buyer collects from south east London.
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TRUCKMOUNT Banclene 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: derek@aquamasteryorkshire.co.uk COMMERCIAL VACUUM CLEANER Sebo BS 36 Comfort commercial vacuum cleaner for sale. Excellent condition apart from a few scratches - hardly used. Includes three attachments: dusting brush, upholstery tool & crevice tool - hardly used. Also 9 new waste bags and instructions. Excellent buy for £175.00 ono. Collection only. Contact Andrew on 07730 203008. EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - IDEAL FOR NEW BUSINESS Everything 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 SALE 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.
Items for sale EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Airflex 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: Jledmunds@hotmail.co.uk. Tel: 07795 546037. Items located in North Cornwall. VAN & TRUCK MOUNT + EQUIPMENT VAN: 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: 07775 507227. Email: re_nulife@btinternet.com VACANCY & BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Experienced 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 glynn.norcutt@gnccontractservices.com (with full CV, etc.) or telephone: 01672 871882 or mobile: 07831 172743. 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 davidkendall40@aol.com for further information or phone David on 07768 667824 or 01277 824546.
TOOL AND CHEMICALS FOR SALE One 5.4kg tub of host powder (unopened). Retails at around £29 - only £12. Also Kleenrite curtain cleaning tool - £25.00. Contact Lester Gale (oxfordshire) 07949 207777. FREE CLEANFAX MAGAZINES Andrew Hoyland, of carpet cleaning company Freshclean in Cheshire, is offering 75 FREE Cleanfax magazines (ranging from 1998 up to 2005) to anyone who can come and pick them up. They are a few years old but still full of very useful information for carpet cleaners. He lives in Lowton near Warrington. If interested please call Andrew on: 07973 399903 or email: hoylandandrew@hotmail.co.uk EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Victor Sprite 12" Rotory Machine. Used once. Was £855 - Accept £450. Collect from Coventry. Tel 02476 620444. EQUIPMENT FOR SALE HOST freestyle (dry carpet cleaning system) VGC £1800... NO OFFERS. ASHBY'S NINJA 2X3 VAC 130psi (water heater needs fixing). Also included: 2 jet wands, separate v2 steam kit, 2x hoses, 2x bags, 2x carpet rakes, Kleenrite upholstery tool, Prochem power brush, 2x stair tools, 1x curtain tool. Excellent back-up machine, all can be used again after servicing - £950 o.n.o. TURBO air mover Sahara Pro £85 o.n.o. Dowding & Plummer contrator400 carpet/floor scrubber/polisher (slow speed - 105 rpm approx.) including buckets with stand and mops and pads (also including a wet/dry vac). All can be used again after servicing - £450. Call Jon on 07736 512527 up to 8pm. Based in West Midlands.
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.
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Going Going - Gone! BEFORE
Say e dby goo ains! t to s
AFTER
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. No need to mix - just spray - wait and the stain is gone.* *pre-test carefully and rinse out after stain is removed with cold water.
Chemspec Europe, Tong Park, Otley Road, Baildon, West Yorkshire, BD17 7QD. Tel: 01274 597333 Fax: 01274 597444 E-mail: info@chemspec-europe.com Website: www.chemspec-europe.com