CLEANING BOOKS

The Management and Marketing Manual i 

 A $30,000 franchise with nothing down and no monthly payments! Believe it?  Well, take a moment to read this, I think you’ll be convinced. It ain't short, but it’s complete . . .

The Management and Marketing Manual is a collection of organization, management, finance, personnel, marketing, sales, and administration ideas that have been collected and refined over the course of 30 years.  It’s an invaluable resource for those starting out in the industry, who don’t want to spend tens of thousands on the mistakes that every manager makes.  Experienced managers use it to renew their perspective  and take advantage of more advanced concepts as their company grows and expands.

The purposed of this book is to give you essential information you need to run your company efficiently and profitably. 

Section 1 goes into organizing your company for growth, and how to diversify without destroying company morale and cash flow. 
Section 2  discusses building security for employees with company policies, job descriptions, and employment contracts.  It also covers establishing crew teams for enhanced productivity, and dividing your market into manageable segments.
Section 3 is all about compensation: different methods, their pros and cons, legal commission programs with examples.  A good compensation program covers management objectives - things like avoiding bankruptcy, retaining employees, making profit - while rewarding efficiency.
Section 4 tackles employee selection: finding, hiring, motivating and retaining those “good people” you don’t think exist.  It includes where to look, application forms, interview questions that comply with EEOC rules, and reference checks.  The “good people” are out there.  You just have to learn the right ways to find them.
Section 5 covers finance: the practical information you need from income statements, business insurance, and how to negotiate loans.  The highlight of this section is an income projection program for deciding exactly how much money you want the company to make on January 1, projecting income goals, and watching them become a reality by December 31.  Yes you heard right, and you won’t believe how simple it is!
Section 6 discusses sales and marketing: how to develop a marketing strategy, the elements of effective salesmanship, sales time planning.  It includes sales letters that work, and a detailed section on telephone procedures, especially how to answer the inevitable question, “How much do you charge?”  We demonstrate ways to turn that question into a sales opportunity that literally doubles your average job ticket!
Section 7 is all about inspecting and selling cleaning services.  We tell you how to make up an inspection kit with tools that cement the sale.  We include an example of an option sales brochure that’s guaranteed to add 30-50% to our average ticket in 24 hours.  We’ve invested over $5000 in developing this dynamic tool, and it’s yours to copy and use with the purchase of the book.  We outline an 10-step inspection procedure that’s logical and effective.  We even include a customer briefing sheet that costs you 5¢ to reproduce.  It’s designed to eliminate call-backs by bringing customers face to face with the realities of carpet wear and tear.  Saves you thousands in lost time and jobs each year.  We show you how to follow up on jobs with a Thank You/Critique Card that’s a strong reminder of your professionalism, and a Customer Reminder Card too.  And yes, we include professionally designed samples for you to copy and print.
Section 8 deals with contracts, both residential and commercial.  We tell you how to turn that one-time customer into a life-long client with our Carefree Carpet Cleaning Maintenance Agreement.  It provides a level of cleaning appearance and health that customers have never before experienced.  It evens out cash flow, and it eliminate the competition, while prolonging your customer’s carpet investment - all for less than the monthly cable TV fee.  Included is a sample brochure and contract for you to use in selling this dynamite program. 
Of course, we don’t neglect commercial contracts.  We discuss how to develop a logical pricing guide based on carpet quantity, processing frequency, and furniture density.  Turn great profits, at less than 10¢ per square foot with a properly structured contract.  We even throw in an example of how to format a commercial contract, so your competition isn’t even in the running.
Section 9 gets into clientele evaluation: the target client’s age, income, housing, social priorities, and understanding cleaning services.  With that information you’re in a position to develop a marketing strategy.
Section 10 covers marketing.  On a budget?  Check out marketing without money; dozens of ways to generate business with minimum expense.  Then, we evaluate advertising media, including TV, radio, newspaper, direct mail.  Several samples are included for you to copy and use.
Finally, in Section 11 we get down to the administrative nuts and bolts of running a successful company.  Things like: weekly meetings (management/staff), complaint procedures/forms, work order forms, weekly reports, pricing formats/guides, discount schedules, equipment maintenance forms and checklists.  Things that would take you months, if not years, to develop on your own.  All there.

OK.  If you’re still reading by now, you must be identifying with some of the points I’ve covered.  Indeed, you must be wondering if all this is too good to be true.  Let me assure you, there’s a lot more in the 200+ pages of this book than you’ve read about so far.  “Still a bargain at twice the price . . .”  and all that rubbish!
But here’s the “bottom line.”  Ultimately, it’s up to you.  You’ve got to decide whether you’re going to continue stumbling along with the same frustrating problems and making the same excuses year after year.  Or are you ready to commit to doing something about it?

I’m done!  This is what we call the “closing” in sales terminology.  I can’t make the decision for you.  Remember, we aren’t talking $30,000 franchise here.  The cost of this book isn’t going to break your company.  But if I’m only half right about what this information can do for your company, how can you afford not to have it in your professional library?  Give us a call.  We’ll be glad to answer any remaining questions. And thanks for listening.

The Bishop Management and Marketing Manual, CCS 100   $159.95

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More Answers Than You Have Questions About Carpet Cleaning, Vol. I, the Product   

 Carpet inspectors and experienced cleaners, this is the information you’ve been looking for!

For years, you’ve heard advertising rhetoric from carpet manufacturers about how great all their fibers, pile designs, and manufacturing techniques are.  For the most part they’re right.  Carpet is a great floor covering product.  But perfect?  Problem free? . .

And that’s the purpose of “Answers, I”?  It’s an analysis of fibers, yarns, backings, manufacturing options, styling, dyeing, finishing, even cushion; but it does it from a cleaner’s or inspector’s viewpoint.

Here’s a partial listing of what’s included: We’ll start by discussing what cleaners really clean, what inspectors really inspect - fibers.  We’ll cover both natural and synthetic fibers, along with characteristics  inherent in specific fibers, and how they compare with each other.  When you finish this chapter, you’ll know all about olefin’s resiliency problems and crimp loss in polyester, and how that affects the outcome of your job.

We’ll also discuss the realities of fiber wear and tear, what soil does to fibers over time.  You’ll learn how to brief customers so they won’t call you back to reclean traffic lanes, when, in reality, all they’re seeing is soil shading.  Inspectors will fully understand what causes all those “mat/crush” or “premature wear” complaints.

Next, you’ll learn how fibers become yarns, with discussions on cotton, wool, and synthetic yarn spinning.  You’ll learn all about staple versus continuous filament yarns, and why some are more suitable for residential or commercial carpet.

And because fibers and yarns are so important to the outcome of the cleaning job - indeed, to overall carpet performance - we’ll also cover the 3 methods of fiber identification: visual, burn, and chemical testing.  Included is an easy-to-use fiber ID chart.

We’ll also discuss backing systems: what they’re made of, their evolution from natural to synthetic fibers, how they effect carpet performance.  We’ll be sure to cover potential backing problems, such as shrinkage, browning, rippling, and delamination.

Of course, no discussion of carpet would be complete without covering basic manufacturing techniques: weaving, tufting, bonding, and needle punching.  We’ll follow up construction with styling options, including loop-pile, cut-pile, cut/loop, and combination designs. 

We’ll discuss dyeing with its many variations including: definitions, coloring basics, dye types, and techniques.  You’ll learn how the color gets in carpet at the mill, and how it comes out during use or cleaning!

Finally, there’s a chapter on finishing, which covers backing lamination, pile preparation, and inspection. As an added bonus, we even throw in a chapter on cushion: its purpose, how it’s evaluated, types, and how it affects the life of the carpet - even the result of the cleaning job.

At the end of each chapter in Answers I, we include a Comprehension Quiz.  You can use it to test your knowledge retention or to prepare for carpet cleaning certification courses.  Or, if you’re an owner or manager, you can use it for company training programs, saving you thousands in preparation costs. Simply read a chapter, present the material to your staff in an organized, professional manner . . . and watch them fall asleep!  That is, until you copy and pass out the quizzes.  Next training meeting, everyone’s alert and taking notes!  Amazing!

Answers I is the first in a 2-part series.  Part I covers the Product and Part II covers the Processing Procedures.  Beginning cleaners usually purchase Answers II first.  It’s not until they get blamed for fiber characteristics or manufacturing problems that they finally wake up and discover that they need much more on how carpet is made.   Then they invest in Answers I - usually requesting overnight delivery!

Don’t let that happen to you.  Your investment in education pays rich dividends.  Be sure to include both volumes of More Answers in your reference library.  You’ll be glad you did.

More Answers... About Carpet Cleaning, Vol. I,  CCS 101  $99.95

OK. Here’s one of our most popular books.  It’s the industry’s most comprehensive “how-to” book on carpet cleaning.  It’s designed specifically for those wanting to know more about specific techniques and procedures for professional, environmentally-responsible cleaning.

Answers II starts with carpet installation basics: methods, sub floor prep, tackless installation, cushion and carpet installation basics.  Not trying to make you an installer, mind you.  Just letting you know about some of the installation-related problems that might get blamed you.
Next, we’ll spend time talking about dirt: proper terms, how to keep it out, sources and types, preventive maintenance, real versus apparent soil, water hardness, and dirt’s effect on occupant health. Lots to learn here.

Then, we’ll discuss - hopefully memorize - the five all-important principles of cleaning: dry soil removal, soil suspension, extraction, grooming, and drying. This is what separates the amateurs from the pros.

Next, we cover the juice, or cleaning chemistry: soap versus detergent, pH, proper mixing, and different chemicals for different carpet.  Now relax, I’m not a chemist either.  But you’ve got to know the basics to apply chemicals properly and get quality results.  I’ll use terms that even beginning cleaners can understand.  Then, there’s a whole chapter on specialty chemicals: defoamers, antistats, acid additives, brighteners, deodorants, anti-microbials, and fabric protectors.  These products make you money selling add-on services.

Of course, we have an entire chapter on the 5 methods of cleaning: absorbent compound (dry powder), absorbent pad (bonnet), dry foam, shampoo, and “steam” extraction.  You’ll learn which method to use in different situations, the pros and cons of your system and your competitor’s.  We even have a section on disposing of recovered waste from cleaning, and how to answer consumer questions about Kawasaki Syndrome.

Stain-resist carpet?  We have a whole chapter that covers all 5 generations of nylon carpet, the advantages and limitations of 5th generation, how to identify it, its benefits to cleaners, and how to clean it properly.

And since hot water extraction dominates the market today, we devote a chapter to cleaning tools and associated procedures: drag tools, light wands, mechanical floor tools, and stroking sequences for different soil levels.  This is followed by discussions on pre-cleaning inspections: initial surveys, furnishings, initial drying, customer questions, and post-cleaning inspections as well.  There’s a little 5¢ customer briefing included that can eliminate thousands in complaints and call-backs for recleaning.

Ultimately, we put it all together with crew procedures for either 2- or 1-person production units.  This chapter lists step-by-step procedures including: preparing, briefing customers, processing, completing, preparing for the next job, and finally, getting ready for the next day.

Of course, the carpet can’t be used until it’s dry.  So the final chapter is on drying: how overwetting occurs, in-home and auxiliary drying equipment, and steps to speed up drying.

At the end of each chapter in Answers II, we include Comprehension Quizzes.  Use them to test your knowledge retention or to prepare for carpet cleaning certification courses.  If you’re an owner or manager, you can use it for company training programs, saving thousands in preparation costs.  Simply read a chapter, present the material to your staff in an organized, professional manner . . .and watch them fall asleep!  That is, until you copy and pass out the quizzes.  Next training meeting, everyone’s alert and taking notes!  Amazing!

Answers II is an essential volume for every professional cleaner’s library.  Call us if you have further questions, but don’t put this off another minute. 

More Answers . . . About Carpet Cleaning, Vol. II, CCS 102   $99.95

Don’t let the name fool you.  This is the industry’s only book covering dozens of household fabrics.

It starts with a comprehensive discussion of fibers: natural, mineral, man-made, and synthetics.  It includes a chapter on fiber identification using visual, burn, and chemical testing.

Next, we put it all together with fabric manufacture: weaving, tufting, flocking, dyeing and finishing.  We include actual fabric samples to illustrate different manufacturing techniques.

From there, we discuss how fabrics get soiled, and the principles of cleaning used to remove that soil.

Once we have the fabric made and once it’s soiled, our next logical step is deciding what to use to clean it.  Here we cover dry-solvent cleaning: methods, types, safety, and required chemicals; and wet cleaning: preconditioners, rinse agents, bleaches, and specialty chemicals.

We follow up with a comprehensive discussion on drapery and furniture nomenclature, and inspection procedures.  The highlight of this chapter is a 5¢ customer briefing sheet that shifts responsibility for characteristics, manufacturing, or use-related problems (shrinkage, fabric separation, markings, bleeding, browning, yellowing, fugitive yarns, age, use) from cleaner to the proper party.  Saves thousands in complaints and call backs!

Once we build the foundation, we continue with cleaning procedures for draperies and upholstery.  The unique thing about our approach to upholstery cleaning is that we teach you how to inspect and classify fabrics into 1 of 5 categories for cleaning  (durable colorfast, non-durable colorfast, non-colorfast, problem cellulosic, and salvage situations).  This takes the fear out upholstery cleaning since, once you decide on the category, based on fiber, yarn, fabric, age, and colorfastness, it’s safe and easy to follow the step-by-step cleaning procedures.

We wind up with short, basic discussions on cleaning “all the rest”: silk, crewel, leather and suede, plastic, lamp shades, mattresses, pillows, tapestries, and office partitions.

At the end of each chapter, we include Comprehension Quizzes. Use them to test your knowledge retention or to prepare for certification courses.  If you’re an owner or manager, you can use the book and quizzes for your own company training program, saving you thousand in preparation costs.

Upholstery and Drapery Cleaning: essential for the reference library of any professional cleaning service.

Upholstery and Drapery Cleaning, CCS 107   $129.95

Yet another industry exclusive from Clean Care Seminars for carpet inspectors and professional cleaners!  Here’s what’s included.

We start with definitions, spotting concepts, and the all-important principles.  We move on to fibers, their spotting characteristics and performance.  From there we discuss how carpet and fabric construction effects spotting.

We cover spot identification and composition carefully, followed by the 5 spotting principles, which were developed exclusively by Clean Care Seminars after years of research.  We even throw in a guaranteed, sure-fire “6th method” for removing any stain from carpet!  Got that, guaranteed!  (Repair kit handy?)

We’ll discuss all the equipment and tools included in a complete spotting kit, followed by all the basic spotting agents (dry-side, wet-side, digester) required to remove most spots.  For persistent spots, we include a chapter on special-agent spotters (rust and stain removers, reducers, oxidizers), along with use precautions.

An entire chapter is devoted to classifying spots into 1 of 7 categories: light oils, dried oils, synthetic resins, tannin, protein, color-added stains, and rust.  Then, we list step-by-step procedures for best results.  We include a listing of 175 common products, along with their ingredients and removal category, to help you understand the fastest, most efficient way to get results.

For carpet inspectors and cleaners alike, the chapter on mysterious discolorations is worth its weight in gold!  It helps you explain where all those unknown stains and discolorations come from, and what you can or can’t do about it.

At the end of each chapter, we include Comprehension Quizzes.  Use them to test your knowledge retention or to prepare for certification courses.  If you’re an owner or manager, you can use the book and quizzes for your own company training program, saving you thousand in preparation costs.

Specialized Carpet and Upholstery Spotting, CCS 103    $49.95

 IICRC S001 includes: a consumer checklist for routine maintenance and cleaning, followed by a chart of cleaning frequencies that promote safety and health.  There’s a section on selecting a professional cleaning firm, along with standard procedures consumers have a right to expect in a quality job.

The foundation for IICRC S001 is the 5 Principles of Cleaning: dry soil removal, soil suspension, extraction, grooming, and drying, along with a pre- and post-cleaning inspection checklist for professionals.

IICRC S001 lists the standard steps included in each of 5 industry-accepted cleaning methods, based on the Principles of Cleaning.  The 5 methods include: absorbent compound, absorbent pad, dry foam, shampoo, and “steam” cleaning.  There is no attempt to compare methods or declare a “best method.”  Rather the focus is on specifying standard steps that must be included in the proper use of each.

At only $35.00 per copy, this is one you can’t afford to omit from your library of reference texts. Revised in 2002

IICRC S001, Carpet Cleaning Standard, CCS 115   $35.00