Cleaning really bad carpets

L

LDPaul

New member
We detailed a truck the other day and the customer was really concerned with the carpets. He asked if we might be able to get them clean. After looking at them (first photo), we told him that we would do the best we can. After vaccuming them for over an hour, we pretreated and let them set for about 15 minutes. Then we steamed cleaned them with our durramaid and the second photo is the finished product. Scott and I keep saying that one of these days we should do this for a living and get paid :grinno:



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It was hard work, but the customer is so happy and we will get referrals from this one!!
 
Good job with the steam!!!



How much would full list price be to replace those carpets? I would say charging half would be very fair.
 
I feel your pain Rick, really I do.



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BTW, I have a customer with a trailer. Gel coat and faded. What are you using that gives the best results on something like that?
 
that work is most excellent!



Please explain the process you used with your steamer. I just received my cheapo Saeco Piccolo steam cleaner a few days ago and tried it out last night with less than satisfactory results. I know it is my lack of knowledge in using the tool and would like to learn how you used a steamer to remove the spots.



Thanks!!
 
If he was really concerned with the carpets he would not let them get that way in the first place. Nonetheless, beautiful before and after you did there...
 
Scott, on the trailer with gel coat failure - it will depend on how bad. I some products that produce different results depending on the how bad it is. If you run your hand across it and it comes back white, then that is the worst. If he wants to bring it back to orginal then it will take about 5 steps compound twice, med compound, then polish, and then a good wax. 3m stuff works the best on compound and polish of gel coat. Any good wax is fine. PM me later if you need any additional information.



As for my process with my steam cleaner one thing really helps - real hot water and a good pretreatment. That is all we do and it works just about everytime.
 
rick and i did go above and beyond on that detail and the customer that owns it bought it that way thats why he wanted it cleaned, he also mentioned that new carpet was around 200 dollars and thats not including the install
 
scottlee said:
rick and i did go above and beyond on that detail and the customer that owns it bought it that way thats why he wanted it cleaned, he also mentioned that new carpet was around 200 dollars and thats not including the install
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I don’t consider bringing something back from the “dead� as detailing. It should fall under the category of “reconditioning�. As you may know the word change dictates a higher premium. $150 to 175 to recondition “just� the carpets. That’s why in most cases we ask a lot of questions to identify the price we can quote. From what I have read it would of been fairly easy to sell this at a premium.
 
doged said:
I don’t consider bringing something back from the “dead� as detailing. It should fall under the category of “reconditioning�. As you may know the word change dictates a higher premium. $150 to 175 to recondition “just� the carpets. That’s why in most cases we ask a lot of questions to identify the price we can quote. From what I have read it would of been fairly easy to sell this at a premium.
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we knew what we were getting into with this detail it belongs to a mechanic at a boat dealer we subcontract with, we do all their boats, so one hand washes another in a sense, if it wasnt

for the fact that we work with and for these people we would have charged alot more i am sure,Rick could comment more he is the boss :grinno:
 
it took us about 5 hours for the whole truck and i suppose we spent around 2 hours extracting the carpet AND seats
 
scottlee said:
we knew what we were getting into with this detail it belongs to a mechanic at a boat dealer we subcontract with, we do all their boats, so one hand washes another in a sense, if it wasnt

for the fact that we work with and for these people we would have charged alot more i am sure,Rick could comment more he is the boss :grinno:
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Ah, you guys greased the Mechanic. :hifive:
 
joburnet said:
How long did it take you? I spent about 5 hours on a trashed range rover with similar results and equipment.
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I once spent nearly 5 hours on the interior alone on a Windstar. Every single thing in the interior was sticky. Everything. :hairpull
 
Why is it at this exact point in filth, people decide it needs detailing? They have been driving around for countless miles like this? My hunch is someone else told them they needed it cleaned, for various reasons. The seconded most obvious reason is it’s for sale. We just did a interior detail for a lady who got tired seeing her father-in-law drive around that way. She bought a gift certificate for him.
 
Thats an amazing job, I have been doing some auction cars lately that start out looking like that, but I haven't got results as good as that, what pretreatment did you use before the steam?
 
I think he said it earlier in the first couple of posts.....vacuum, pretreat with carpet cleaning solution, let it soak, steam it out with a durramaid.....



I have to find a good deal on one....I dont have the revenue needed to buy one of those yet, but at the same time, its kinda like a business start up tool that you just might need one day....as of now, I am doing them by hand and they are coming out pretty good, but there have only been 3 interior "scrubs" and only one I got paid for....probono was the other and also my own truck, but neither of the free ones were really dirty....I wish it was cheaper to just antee up and get a steamer/extractor....
 
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