First Detail w/ Bissel LGM - My Beater Corolla

[imported_Quenga]

I`m starting up a side detailing business and I`m building my portfolio. I`ve been learning about detailing for the past 4 years, but am now starting to actually hone in my skills. My goal is to start this full-time by next summer. I already work and go to school full-time, so I don`t have much time to do this, but detailing relaxes me.



This is my 1996 Toyota Corolla I bought as a commuter car. I hate driving this car over my M3, but it saves me almost $100/month between insurance and gas. So, I decided to show it some love. Great for business promotion I`d say. Here`s what I accomplished today. I just bought a Bissell LGM hoping it would shorten up my time versus the shop-vac method I`ve been using. It took me near 4-5 hours to get this far. I`m definitely saving for a real machine. Had to do multiple passes and it`s very time consuming on heavily soiled cars like this. The spray kept going out between tank changes, even though I never let it run dry. I almost gave up one time after 5 minutes of messing with it didn`t get it to spray! Touch ups, spot removals, etc, no problem, but there`s no way I`m signing up full interior shampoo`s with just this thing. I do think it`s worth the $100 if anyone`s thinking about getting it. But if you`re trying to make money, save up for a real machine. I`d almost bet my shop-vac method is faster...:nervous:.



I`ve also got video that I`m editing, but right now here`s some photo`s while I edit and drink some beer. Back is killing me!





Process:



Sprayed with 3D APC diluted 10:1 to soak the carpet

Folex used on heavier parts and lightly sprayed to help out the APC

Scrubbed with my heavy duty brush on the first tank

APC only on 2 follow up cleaning passes with a regular carpet/upholstery brush

After 3 tanks, 1 more tank to rinse. I sectioned the entire passenger side into 5 sections. So, used a total of 20 tank changes!! Which is only like 4 or 5 gallons of water!



Each time I sprayed, scrubbed and then let it sit while I emptied the tank and added fresh water. I didn`t use any chemical in the LGM itself. A waste if you ask me because it doesn`t spray hard enough to actually do anything. I do think it heats up the water pretty well.



Also, the hose is small, so I had to use the LGM inside the car. But, this helped as I used the fan outlet the was blowing warm air as a dryer for the side I finished. LOL. I`ll show that in tomorrow`s detail (girlfriends Jeep).



Last tip I did was I scrapped the carpet with my heavy duty brush before I extracted anything. This got a lot of foam out of the carpet and not into the LGM where it could mess with the vac/pumps.



http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/1996%20Corolla/P1050277.jpg



http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/1996%20Corolla/P1050278.jpg



http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/1996%20Corolla/P1050279.jpg



http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/1996%20Corolla/P1050280.jpg



http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/1996%20Corolla/P1050284.jpg



http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/1996%20Corolla/P1050283.jpg



http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/1996%20Corolla/P1050282.jpg





I`ve seen a few people say they use this thing in their business, but I don`t know how you do it. This takes way too long! Sorry LGM, no matter what people say about you, you are not a business man. LOL :tongue2:

[imported_sal329]

Great turnaround

[imported_Quenga]

It got dark so I packed up and brought the seats up to my apartment. I couldn`t sit still, had to clean so I started on the seats...



http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/1996%20Corolla/P1050286.jpg



http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/QskateboarderQ/1996%20Corolla/P1050287.jpg

[lostdaytomorrow]

The results are good though. Would you mind sharing your shop vac method?

[TLMitchell]

I`ve seen a few people say they use this thing in their business, but I don`t know how you do it. This takes way too long! Sorry LGM, no matter what people say about you, you are not a business man. LOL :tongue2:



The LGM takes a back seat to a professional caliber extractor but you can`t argue with your results! Like you I use mine to rinse and extract. The heater seems to raise the water temp by 10 degrees or so. I cranked my home hot water tank to the max, around 170 degrees... and the LGM was much more effective with the hotter water. I sure got a rude awakening the next morning in the shower though! :shocked



Nice turnaround on a challenging job.:clap2:



TL

[hamza7]

Results look fantastic, but I see what your saying with the hose not being long enough...I just use by shop vac and nothing else for now

[Brad B]

That`s a really impressive improvement. I love it when change is this dramatic. It just makes you feel so much better about driving the car.

[08Sunburst]

The LGM is on my want list as well, just for cleaning my own personal car(as i detail for fun).



I think with how clean i keep my car, it would be worth having, especially after seeing those pics. Not the greatest thing in the world, but im not looking to remove dried up coffee stains from a few years ago either.

[autoaesthetica]

Holy cow thats a great job on the carpets. I think thats a testament to your determination to do a great job more than the LGM, but awesome no less!

[gav'spurplez]

i bought a LGM 7 years ago and it always did the job.

isnt it so much easier when the seats are out ? :rockon1:

[imported_Quenga]

The results are good though. Would you mind sharing your shop vac method?



Thanks. The shop vac method is literally the same, but two steps. I spray water on the carpet with a continuous pump sprayer and the use the shop vac to suck it up. I rely more on chemicals than the actual machines. Either way, I only use them for rinsing.




The LGM takes a back seat to a professional caliber extractor but you can`t argue with your results! Like you I use mine to rinse and extract. The heater seems to raise the water temp by 10 degrees or so. I cranked my home hot water tank to the max, around 170 degrees... and the LGM was much more effective with the hotter water. I sure got a rude awakening the next morning in the shower though! :shocked



Nice turnaround on a challenging job.:clap2:



TL



Thanks! I can`t wait until I get my Mytee. I can go it one right now, but I`m being stubborn and waiting for one to pop up on Craigslist. I am posting a video up right now of me using it. Not my favorite tool, but for only $100, I`ve already made my money back cleaning a few floor mats for people. I take my co-workers mats home with me, do it over the weekend and return them for an easy $20. Not many things you can do for $20 on your own free time while drinking beer. LOL.




The LGM is on my want list as well, just for cleaning my own personal car(as i detail for fun).



I think with how clean i keep my car, it would be worth having, especially after seeing those pics. Not the greatest thing in the world, but im not looking to remove dried up coffee stains from a few years ago either.



If it`s for your own personal use or the occasional friend/family member, it`s worth it. I use it around my house a lot too, I seem to spill something every day.






Holy cow thats a great job on the carpets. I think thats a testament to your determination to do a great job more than the LGM, but awesome no less!



Thanks! And yes, it`s not really the LGM that does anything. I`m creating a review of the different methods to clean interiors with. I`m only waiting until I finally buy my Mytee to finish it. Everyone asks what machine/extractor I use, but I always tell them...worry about what chemicals you use and how much effort you`re willing to put into it. Even the Mytee will be my glorified rinser! LOL.




i bought a LGM 7 years ago and it always did the job.

isnt it so much easier when the seats are out ? :rockon1:



I love taking the seats out! It`s how I`ve always done big jobs like this. I get more interior details than anything else! Hence the need for a professional unit.

[imported_Quenga]

I posted a thread in the car detailing section about how I use the LGM, but here`s 1 of the videos that relates to this car.



<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/af4rJcu_HxI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>



Edit again...



I finally got the video done. About time!



<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/q0EkMjZK8OE?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[imported_Erik Mejia]

Good turnaround, the results are a night and day difference in that carpet.

[chrisguga]

Great job! I too am looking to do a few cars on the side for a small profit. I figure I`ll aim to do one car per month and I too bought the Bissell LGM last night. I can`t wait to give it a try!

[imported_Quenga]

Great job! I too am looking to do a few cars on the side for a small profit. I figure I`ll aim to do one car per month and I too bought the Bissell LGM last night. I can`t wait to give it a try!



It`s pretty useful and I`m glad I bought it. It`s a PITA when you`ve used bigger/better machines, but now that my beater is ready to go, it`ll be used for spot treatments as intended. I just contacted someone to buy their rug doctor for only slighty more than I paid for this :). Not a fan of RD, but for what they are asking...I am not complaining.