Homeowners and business owners turn to cleaning professionals to do the jobs they don’t want to do and the jobs they don’t know how to do. Being able to offer specialized services like upholstery cleaning and water restoration to your clients not only sets you apart as a cleaning specialist, but the ability to perform these tasks successfully earns you more revenue and a solid reputation. The Delicate Nature of Upholstery Cleaning Upholstery cleaning is one area where customers trust in experienced and fully trained individuals to get the job done carefully, efficiently, and correctly. But many cleaning companies consider upholstery cleaning a risky business. The last thing you want to do is damage someone’s furniture because you misjudged the type of fabric it has or used the wrong kind of cleaning equipment. Furniture makes a statement in a person’s home, and so do upholstery errors, such as:
- Water marks. Edges, middle, sides, or top, anyrings and circles on upholstery caused by a cleaning, can be difficult to correct. Being unfamiliar with an upholstery material and how it will react to cleaning agents can lead to water marks.
- When a piece of fabric turns brown, it has usually been made too wet, dried too slowly, or was cleaned with the wrong type of cleaning agent. Certain types of fabric are prone to browning because of the composition of the fabric. Knowing the material you’re working with is essential in upholstery cleaning. Browning is one mistake you want to avoid – it isn’t always completely correctable.
- Two of the worst words you can hear in the upholstery biz: “It shrank.” While this issue is less likely with today’s upholstery fabrics, it can happen, particularly on furniture skirts or rayon or cotton blends.
- When the colors run on a piece of upholstery, there is usually no moving the color back where it belongs. You can try to reclean the bled area or use high-pressure air to force the dye back into the fabric, but these are extreme measures. Better to avoid bleeding in the first place.
Upholstery cleaning is one of the highest profit-per-hour services, but with great rewards come great risks. Best to know exactly what you’re doing when you promise to clean a customer’s upholstery. Be a Reliable Water Restoration Expert In times of water damage and flooding, being an expert gets you the emergency calls and the reputation for reliability. Whether burst pipe or flooded basement from melting snow, a water intrusion is panic-inducing, and all the customer wants is the problem to be fixed – right now. When you and your team are familiar with all areas of water restoration, you will carry out the job safely and using the required personal protection equipment. Knowing the first steps to take to reduce and mitigate loss and understanding the chemistry of cleaning supplies and water damage allow you to do a thorough job and satisfy your customers. Get professional skills training plus proven business development strategies from the experts to expand your own skills, train new employees, and boost overall team productivity and results. Take an Upholstery Cleaning Class (November 14, 2017) or First Response Class (November 15, 2017) from Michigan Maintenance Supply. Both classes are $25 each and will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. RSVP to mark@michiganmaintenance.com or call 586-757-5930. Contact MMS for more information.