Home / Housekeeping / DIY / Tips For Cleaning Laminate FloorsTips For Cleaning Laminate Floors  106 Comments    Print     EmailWe recently had gorgeous laminate installed in our living room and I just had to take the opportunity and ask the installer what he recommended for washing it. Although it’s much easier to care for than real wood flooring and I’ve had it for years in other parts of the house, I want to maintain the high gloss that this one has (it would be a shame for it to dull over time or be plagued with streaks from washing).Here’s the advice he gave me…Directions:Regularly use a soft brush attachment on the vacuum or use a swiffer style tool for picking up dirt and hair. Sweep or vacuum in the direction that the pieces are laid so that you pick up all the crud between the grooves instead of trapping it (especially if it’s mock-hardwood style that has the grooves between each “plank”).Mix a couple quick squirts of gentle liquid dish detergent in a pail of warm water.

Wring out the mop well so there won’t be any water dripping then use to damp mop the surface. No special cleaner/fluid required!My sister-in-law has a tried and true recipe that she finds will give a streak-free result:1/2 cup of vinegar1 to 2 squirts of liquid dish detergentBucketful of warm water (about a gallon)Using this homemade remedy for the last 7 years hasn’t affected the gloss/shine at all and she would notice it–she’s got very particular eye for that sort of thing. If there are streaks, increase the vinegar amount gradually until the solution is just right.Did You Know: Many manufacturers require that only their brand of cleaners are used or the warranty is voided. On one hand I understand it (For example: if bleach was used to hose things down–should you really be eligible for all new product under the warranty?), but on the other hand–total ripoff considering there are suitable solutions that are cheap and effective (you’re locked into buying their product for the lifetime of the warranty–which can be up to 30 or 50 years for some brands).

Just a heads up that checking the warranty guide first is a good idea before rolling up your sleeves and trying a homemade batch.Put felt pads on everything, underneath furniture legs, tv stands, coffee tables to help prevent scratching.carpet cleaning machines cape town hirePlace an area rug in the common seating area (by the couch in front of the tv for example). best pools in las vegas hotels 2011Helps prevent damage in this high-traffic area as well as a layer of protection for accidental spills from beverages.vacuum cleaner parts lincolnLift furniture when moving pieces rather than sliding them.host carpet cleaning machine prices

Remove tough stains like shoe polish, spilled nail polish, tar, etc., with an acetone based nail polish remover. Print     Email Published: August 28, 2009Updated: November 7, 2012rent a carpet cleaner melbourne The steam power to clean, degrease and sanitize more deeplybest way to clean slate tiles Alphabetical (A - Z) Alphabetical (Z - A) DRESS CARE STEAMERSTEAM CLEANERADJUSTABLE STEAM POWER Carpet CareEncapsulantSpot/Stain RemovalEquipmentDyeing/Color MatchingChemicals Carpet Cleaning Pricing And Production Rates On one hand, the pricing of a carpet cleaning job appears to be a simple mathematical calculation. However, you may realize that there are numerous variables involved that will impact how long the job takes and which processes, chemicals and equipment will obtain the best results.

You also have to consider the condition of the carpet and the customer''s expectations. In this article, we provide many different price and production rates. Variables That Impact Time And Cost Here''s a short list of some variables that should be taken into consideration when pricing a carpet cleaning job: Is the work you are doing residential or commercial? Is it a big job or a small job? Is there anything special, out of the ordinary or unique about the job that will take more time? Are you doing interim cleaning or deep/restorative cleaning? What is the soil level and are spots present? Are pre-vacuuming, pile lifting or pre-spraying and agitation required? Are you hiring employees or using sub/independent contractors? Is it a one-time job or a repeat job you can do several times per year that will likely lead to additional work? Are There Hidden Profit Opportunities? What can you do to make the job more profitable than the cleaning itself that may allow you to be more competitive in your pricing?

This includes such things as: Repairs; Beyond carpet, are there opportunities for hard floor maintenance? Examine your costs for the following: Profit: 20 to 400 percent or more for markup on labor and supplies Overhead: 10 to 40 percent for markup on labor and supplies — 15 to 20 percent is common Labor and staffing: 40 to 75 percent Chemicals: 2 to 5 percent Fuel: 2 to 6 percent Equipment: 2 to 8 percent Supplies: 2 to 3 percent. Bidding And Estimating Strategies Cost per square foot: Commercial: 4 to 25 cents for wet extraction; 3 to 15 cents for low-moisture interim processes. Note: Larger commercial work is often bid at a cost per square foot that is half or less than rates charged for residential jobs of 1,000 to 1,200 square feet. Set rate per hour and cost of supplies, $20 to $65 or more per hour, $100 minimum. $25 to $65 or more per hour. Per program or user-definable, commercial and residential programs are available.

A systematic approach to pricing involves tracking the production time for every job. In addition, the following difficulty factors can be assigned a weighted score to arrive at a composite score. With some tweaking, the total score can be totaled and divided by two. This computation then becomes your price per square foot. Obstacles to go around Carpet cleaned on a regular schedule Numerous small rooms to clean (congestion level) Rake cut pile when finished Setup and put away time Total score (divide by two to arrive at your final price per square foot). Listed below are average production rates for various systems and processes. Hot-water extraction (using a truckmount with wand): 600 to 1,400 square feet per hour Hot-water extraction (using a truckmount with rotary wand): 800 to 1,500 square feet per hour Hot-water extraction (using a portable/box unit with wand): 600 to 1,200 square feet per hour Hot-water extraction (using a pull back/self-contained unit): 800 to 1,800 square feet per hour

Hot-water extraction followed by bonnet cleaning: 400 to 500 square feet per hour High-flow extraction rinse (with auto dump and fill): 1,500 to 2,500 square feet per hour Encapsulation (with an 18- to 20-inch planetary head): 1,500 to 2,000 square feet per hour Encapsulation (with an 18-inch cylindrical brush): 1,000 to 1,250 square feet per hour Encapsulation (dry foam with a 24-inch cylindrical brush and vacuum): up to 12,000 square feet per hour Encapsulation (with walk behind 12- to 15-inch machine with a cylindrical brush): 500 to 1,200 square feet per hour Walk behind extractor: 1,800 to 4,000 square feet per hour Riding extractor: 5,000 to 15,000 square feet per hour Rotary shampoo (with a 17- or 20-inch/175 revolutions per minute (RPM) machine): 1,000 to 1,500 square feet per hour Rotary shampoo and extract (with a 17- or 20-inch/175 RPM machine): 400 to 500 square feet per hour Spin bonnet (with a 17- or 20-inch/175 RPM machine): 1,500 to 2,500 square feet per hour

Dry absorbent powder: 750 to 1,500 square feet per hour at 2 to 7 or more cents per square foot for materials. 12- to 14-inch upright: 2,000 to 3,000 square feet per hour 16- to 18-inch upright: 3,500 to 4,500 square feet per hour 24-inch upright: 4,000 to 6,000 square feet per hour Backpack: 4,000 to 11,000 square feet per hour Edging: 2,000 to 7,000 square feet per hour. 28- to 32-inch: 5,000 to 12,000 or more square feet per hour 48-inch: 10,000 to 15,000 or more square feet per hour. Pile lifting (16- to 18-inch): 1,500 to 2,500 square feet per hour 3 to 4 cents per square foot. Repairs And Spot Removal: Small, medium to large spots: $20 to $250 or more Red stains: $20 to $60 Urine: $50 to $1,000 or more Loom oil: $65 to $600 Adhesive: $50 to $85 Roll crush: $50 to $300 Other specialty spot removal: $30 to $250 or more Repairs (re-stretch, seam repair, burns, patch, re-burl, etc.): $45 to $150 or up to $85 or more per hour.

Spot: $30 to $100 or more per hour Full room: 20 cents to 45 cents per square foot — minimum charge of $100 Side match/feather blend correction: $15 to $25 per linear foot — minimum charge of $250. Pre-spray (prior to cleaning): 1 to 3 cents per square foot at 4,000 to 6,000 square feet per hour Deodorizer: 10 to 30 cents a square foot Disinfectants and sanitizers: 10 to 20 cents a square foot Anti-stats: 7 to 10 cents a square foot Stain/soil repellant: 12 to 25 cents a square foot Remove carpet: 15 to 30 cents a square foot Sell carpet, cushion and install: Markup of 30 to 40 percent Install carpet: $4 to $6 a square yard Mini blinds: $4 to $10 each Draperies: Check local services rate per pleat, per linear foot or per pound Upholstery: $20 to $220 or more per item; $15 to $45 a linear foot Ceiling cleaning: 10 to 35 cents per foot Window cleaning: $35 to $55 per hour or per unit or job Hard floor maintenance: 5 cents to $1.35 a square foot

Tile and grout cleaning/sealing: 75 cents to $2 a square foot Stone polish: $1.50 to $2.50 a square foot Stone restoration: $2.50 to $15 or more per square foot Inspections: $75 to $1,000 or more Consulting: $85 to $250 per hour Specialized cleaning services: $100 to $250 or more per hour or per job. Woven, Oriental, specialty and machine-made: $2 to $3 per square foot Handmade: $2 to $3.50 per square foot Specialty rugs, furs, hides, silk: $4 to $5 per square foot Domestic area/designer rugs: $1.58 per foot Pickup and delivery: $150 within 25 miles Repairs: $40 to $60 per hour. Hourly pay rate: $9 to $15 per hour, plus 5 to 7 percent of billable amount as commission Commission only: 15 to 30 percent of billable amount, with company providing and paying for everything, except technician labor. Sorry, No Magic Answer There are many factors that enter into determining the final pricing for any job, carpet cleaning in particular.

Things like discounts for a large account, regularly programmed service schedules or traffic lane maintenance versus a one-time job are all factors that need to be taken into consideration when pricing each job. As a professional, it is also good to discuss with each customer the value and importance of prevention as it relates to cost, re-cleaning and production. Such things as adequate entry matting, topically-applied protectants, pile lifting, vacuuming, spotting, repairs and the need for a regular maintenance program are things that will benefit the customer and make your work easier the next time you clean the customer''s carpet. Wm R. Griffin, president of Cleaning Consultant Services Inc., has over 25 years experience in the industry. He is the author of the Comprehensive Custodial Training Manual, How to Sell and Price Contract Cleaning, How to Start and Operate a Successful Cleaning Business and other books and manuals, as well as hundreds of industry-related articles.