The industry has a low barrier to entry, which means anyone can succeed in this niche. The secret is to deliver top-quality services and excellent customer service, which can only occur if you work with the best carpet cleaning tools. Modern and efficient equipment enables you and your staff to work faster and obtain excellent results. Using carpet cleaning equipment that works—and works well—will keep everyone on your team happy and productive and will significantly impact your bottom line.
Providing top-quality services is the best long-term growth strategy. Your customers will appreciate a job well done and an excellent customer experience, which improves customer retention rates in the long run. Plus, satisfied customers will be happy to refer your company to friends and family, helping you build your reputation and expand your reach.
Modern carpet cleaning tools are green and lean
Before digging into what your carpet cleaning toolkit should include, let’s take a look at the industry trends you should consider when making your purchase decisions.
Green cleaning services: Companies and individuals have become more aware of how their daily choices impact the environment. Consequently, commercial and domestic cleaning services have had to adjust their business models and include environmentally-friendly alternatives to traditional cleaning equipment. When buying your carpet cleaning tools, pay attention to details like power and water consumption, compatibility with green cleaning substances, and the overall impact items have on the environment.
Smart cleaning services: Better technology increases productivity; smart tools enable workers to finish their jobs on-site faster and with less effort. This way, your employees can complete more cleaning jobs in less time, with impressive results. “Smart services” refers to using better tools and automating time-consuming processes to provide seamless interaction with your clients. Use carpet cleaning business management software to enable potential clients to schedule appointments easily and maintain ongoing communication with your business. Furthermore, smart software allows you to manage on-site teams, customize and send invoices, and accept payments in seconds, creating an excellent user experience from start to finish.
User-friendly equipment: Modern carpet cleaning equipment is designed to make it easy for cleaners to do their jobs. The latest equipment weighs less, is easy to maneuver, and can be quickly cleaned between jobs to save time and effort. Sticking to outdated equipment that is hard to move and requires hours to clean will slow your teams down and foster frustration. On the other hand, light machines ease work and are less likely to cause incidents on site.
Now that you know what you should look for when choosing equipment let’s discuss which tools are essential for a professional carpet cleaning business.
The professional carpet cleaning toolkit
Here are the seven carpet cleaning tools that every professional must have to deliver excellent services.
1. Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner is one of the essential carpet cleaning tools your staff will need to complete cleaning jobs. Invest in a vacuum cleaner with an adjustable beater bar to ensure it can be used on various carpet types.
Other features you should consider when purchasing a vacuum:
- Weight: You don’t want you or your employees to have to lug heavy equipment across multiple locations.
- HEPA-microfilter system: Buy a machine that can extract fine dust particles and improve air quality. HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter systems remove 99.97% of pollen, dust, and pet hair.
- Motorized brush: Your vacuum cleaner should have one that can be activated for deep carpet cleaning and switched off to protect the finish on bare floors.
2. Carpet cleaner
Carpet cleaners remove deeply embedded dirt, bacteria, and stains. You can choose between two types of machines: dry carpet cleaners and steam cleaners. Ideally, you want to have both to be able to meet clients’ expectations. Either way, expect to shell out a bit more for a carpet cleaner than for a regular vacuum cleaner.
Also, note that these machines require special detergents, so make sure you read all the product information before making your purchase. When choosing the right carpet cleaner, you should consider price, clients’ needs, and the type of chemicals you want to work with.
3. Defoamer
For some carpet cleaners, you’ll need a defoamer (foam caused by carpet detergents can reduce the machine’s effectiveness and increase drying time). Defoamers contain diluted mixtures of oils or silicone, both effective when you need to remove foam and accelerate drying.
The secret is to choose a product that doesn’t damage your equipment. To do that, you must follow the recommendations in the user manual that comes with your machine. Many carpet cleaner manufacturers sell branded products to prolong equipment’s shelf life.
4. Stain remover
Stain removers (also known as spot cleaning solutions) are detergents that help you remove carpet stains. You’ll want to have several alternatives in your kit, to use on different types of carpets and spots. These products come in various sizes and are priced differently, so make sure you do some research before deciding which to add to your carpet cleaning toolkit. As a guideline, look for products that don’t contain harmful or corrosive chemicals.
5. Air scrubber
Air scrubbing devices are portable air filtration systems that enable carpet cleaners to remove small airborne particles and foul odors post-carpet cleaning.
This equipment is essential because, after a deep carpet-cleaning job, small particles from skin cells, dirt, or pet hair remain in the air. Air scrubbers eliminate them to increase the air quality in the room. Your clients will appreciate you going above and beyond by taking care of what they can see (stains) and what they can’t (particles and odors), especially if they can smell and breathe cleaner air when you’re done.
6. Carpet rake
A carpet rake allows you to get deep down into a carpet’s fibers to eliminate dirt, pet hair, and dust. Moreover, this tool primes carpets so that they more quickly and effectively absorb cleaning solutions.
Carpet rakes are similar to brooms, with more stiff bristles that go deep into the carpet to loosen and dislodge pet hair, debris, and dirt. They can be made out of rubber or silicone and have adjustable handles for increased efficiency.
7. Smartphone
Yes, a smartphone is an essential tool you and your staff can use to work better and faster. With the right app, your smartphone becomes the heart of your business. With a few clicks, you can confirm new appointments, send notifications, create and email invoices, and even accept online payments in seconds.
Having the right software (with mobile capability) enables carpet cleaning professionals to manage their businesses from anywhere. Moreover, you can track teams in real-time and plan routes to cover more clients in the same geographic areas.
Carpet cleaning tools faq
Carpet stretching tools are devices used to stretch and reshape carpets that have become loose or wrinkled over time. These tools are typically used by professional carpet installers or repair technicians, but they can also be used by homeowners who want to fix their own carpets.
There are several different types of carpet stretching tools available on the market, including:
- Knee kickers: These are small, portable devices that are used to stretch and reposition carpets by hand. They consist of a padded knee rest and a long, flexible rod with a pointed end that is used to stretch the carpet.
- Carpet stretchers: These are larger, more powerful tools that are used to stretch carpets over larger areas. They consist of a long handle and a pair of adjustable jaws that grip the carpet and pull it taut.
- Power stretchers: These are similar to carpet stretchers, but they are powered by electricity or air pressure. They are more powerful and efficient than manual stretchers, but they also require a power source and may be more expensive to purchase or rent.
Regardless of the type of carpet stretching tool being used, the basic principle is the same: the tool is used to stretch the carpet tightly over the floor, eliminating wrinkles and helping to keep it in place. This can be done by hand with a knee kicker, or with the help of a mechanical stretcher.
Using a carpet stretching tool can be a physically demanding task, as it requires a lot of pushing, pulling, and knee work. It is important to use proper technique and to take breaks as needed to avoid injury.
As someone with a job to do, you need a reliable machine that can withstand the demands of your work. You don’t have the time or energy to constantly worry about a fragile machine, and you don’t want to waste money on repair shop visits or have to charge your customers for downtime caused by a cheap and unreliable machine. In short, you need a machine of high quality that you can count on to get the job done.
CRB Brush Pro Carpet Cleaner is a professional-grade carpet cleaning tool that is designed to help remove dirt, stains, and other contaminants from carpets. It consists of a powerful brush that rotates at high speeds to agitate the carpet fibers and loosen dirt, as well as a suction nozzle that draws the dirt and debris away from the carpet and into a collection tank.
The CRB Brush Pro Carpet Cleaner is typically used in combination with a carpet cleaning solution or detergent to help remove stains and odors from carpets. It is typically used by professional carpet cleaning companies, but it can also be used by homeowners who want to deep clean their carpets.
Carpet cleaning Chemical Racks
Carpet cleaning chemical racks are storage systems designed to hold and organize the various chemicals, detergents, and solutions used in carpet cleaning. These racks can be made of plastic, metal, or other materials, and they typically have multiple shelves or compartments to hold different types of chemicals.
Carpet Corner Guards
Carpet cleaning corner guards can help to protect the corners of people’s homes and apartment units from getting scratched or damaged by hoses as they are pulled during the cleaning process!
These protective devices are made of durable materials such as rubber or plastic and are designed to absorb impact and prevent wear and tear on the corners of carpets. They are easy to install and can be secured to the carpet using adhesive backing or by tucking them under the carpet.
Getting Started
When you put together your carpet cleaning business plan for 2021, make sure you budget for better equipment. Get feedback from your team—ask your staff what challenges they have regarding equipment and what solutions they can suggest. Involve your employees in buying decisions to make sure you get highly effective and easy-to-use machines for increased productivity.
As of 2020, the carpet cleaning industry has been valued at $4.5 billion, so investing in modern equipment will pay off. If you focus on training your employees to deliver top-quality services and streamlining business operations, your business will thrive in 2021 and beyond.
