But that’s me. There are guys who swear by their second hand purchased equipment and have never bought a new one. Like cars. The moment you buy a brand new car and its value goes plummeting down. I don’t buy brand new cars as the 1-2 year old ones are a better bargain.

Speaking of used carpet cleaning equipment the best place to find one in a good condition is ebay. Hundreds of offers, different prices, multinational listings included. I won’t go explaining how ebay works but if you are not familiar with this brilliant auction website you can go there and have a read.

Second place you should look for bargains are the cleaning forums. Carpet cleaning professionals normally would list their used equipment for sale there. The good thing is you can chat to the guy selling the goods, you can ask for recommendations from other forum members etc. The purchase transaction itself is not as safe and secure as ebay but following some common sense and being cautious pays dividends. Normally these guys are genuine carpet cleaners and are not some scammers looking for easy prey.

Third place to look is Loot or classified ads directories. Do not hold your breath for a large number of attractive deals. To be honest the time for these type of media has already gone and they are becoming out of time and obsolete, like the printed Yellow Pages book – total waste of time. Well, according to the sales rep Yellow Pages is still going strong and many people still prefer to use the printed edition hence their high prices. Don’t listen to this garbage. Yellow Pages is a goner. End of story. 

So now that you have the info go searching for this lovely used porty and blast those dirty carpets. 

Actually, I get quite a few carpet cleaning jobs over there, plus the odd upholstery clean.  I noticed most people in Highgate own leather sofas hence the less need for a professional upholstery cleaning. Nevermind, carpets make my day too

You may believe me not but I like to walk through the cemetery. I am a perfectly sane guy and aI have a valid reason for doing that – I shoot pictures of grave stones and tombs. I always carry my camera with me so I can take photos of the freshly cleaned carpet I have just finished and maybe the grinning face of the happy customer (if I am allowed, of course. I always ask before turning into a paparazzi with a blazing lens). I also shoot any interesting place I come upon during my travels around London and the Home Counties. Yes, I cover these too.

When I get a carpet cleaning job somewhere in a nice London area (pleasing to the eye and the lens) I pack my trusty D700 with a 50mm f\1.4G beauty and my mind is already screaming with joy. Hmm, I am seriously thinking about offering some carpet cleaning services in the Lake District – I bet I will take the best shots someone has ever taken of this lovely place in the UK.

Keep on cleaning and keep on snapping!

Moths love carpet and fabric. They adore it and eat it whenever they are given the opportunity. They lay their eggs in carpets and it is the larvae that eat the carpet fibres. The damage also spreads to clothes even in tightly closed drawers and wardrobes – wherever the moths can lay their eggs. At that time your only choice is a moth killing chemical (Raid or something similar).

How can all this be prevented (once damaged clothes and carpet cannot be repaired)? Simple – lavender and light. Moths don’t like the smell of lavender and certainly don’t like to be disturbed by light. So, if you stick a few packs of dried lavender or a pi soaked in lavender oil/water

• talcum powder
• cornmeal
• baking soda
• cornstarch

You can also use shaving cream or carbonated water to remove small greasy stains. Let dry, then vacuum.

I need to say that the best way to get rid of your carpet stains is to call a professional carpet cleaning company with tonnes of experience. It is safer and quicker.

We appreciate your business!

Thank you!

Suddenly, you noticed (horrified) a long black mark along the edges of the freshly cleaned carpet. ‘This stain wasn’t there. You made it’, you quickly blame the poor carpet cleaner who had just finished his work.

Let me explain something: the carpet cleaner has no fault whatsoever. The black stuff that you see is coming from under the carpet when sucked with the powerful vacuum motors of the carpet cleaning machine. Unfortunately there has been dirt under the carpet that is resurfacing now and the only way to resolve the problem is to remove the carpet, clean well and fit it back.

I have been trying to justify the purchase of a £15k truckmount carpet cleaning machine for a long time but still can’t find a reason strong enough to make me go and spend this kind of money. And not because of the price tag of the equipment, but the lack of parking and the heavy traffic in London. It is an overkill. An expensive one. So I stuck to porties.

Another useful feature of the Scorpion is the in-line heater. You can connect it just a couple of metres behind your wand and you won’t lose any heat due to the long operating distance between the machine and your wand. Handy when you place the Scorpion at the entrance hall and work on the second or third floor of a large house.

I don’t know if Solution in Cornwall are still making the Scorpion, but if you are after one, I will be selling mine soon. Watch this space for some pictures.

When it comes to carpet cleaning the odds are that you are not going to do a satisfactory job because:

1. You are not a professional carpet cleaner.
2. Your (hired?) equipment’s performance is not even close to the professional carpet cleaning equipment, unless you are prepared to spend a few thousand pounds to get properly kitted up for this one off job
3. You lack the training and experience the average carpet cleaning technician has under his belt. Have you cleaned at least 5 houses every week? I guess so
4. You don’t have the patience to do a proper carpet cleaning job. I don’t. I’d rather be sipping from a nice cool pint down the “Horses” (:)).
5. You are not a professional carpet cleaner. End of story.

There is people and companies for everything. If yu can’t do it the way you want it done, let a professional do it for you. I know it costs money but I’d rather have a nice and clean carpet (not ruined ) than try and make a poor attempt. At the end of the day carpet cleaning London is not that expensive as you might think. It’s more expensive if you have to clean just a tiny landing, but having your whole house cleaned gives more value for your pound.

I have always wondered why people would book a carpet cleaner only when their carpet changes its colour from the grime. Carpets should be regarded as filters that need regular cleaning regardless of whether you can see the dirt or not. There are lots of creepy crawlies not seen by the naked eye but get removed by the carpet cleaning process.

Convinced? I am.

• Quality. The quality of the carpet cleaning services is very important. Ask for references from happy clients.
• How long have they been in the carpet cleaning business? If they are just starting, there is a high possibility of you getting a rookie carpet cleaner who can damage your soft furnishings.
• Insurance. Are they adequately insured? Their carpet cleaning must be covered by a comprehensive insurance policy which will pay in case of a damage to the item worked upon. Many “just started” carpet cleaning companies in London tend to cut start-up costs by taking out cheap public liability insurance policies, which normally will cover any “accidental damage” but the item being cleaned.An example of an accidental damage is the following scenario: you iron a shirt and accidentally drop the iron on the carpet and burn it. If you iron a shirt and burn the shirt – this is not an accidental damage – this is neglegance or a lack of training/care/professionalism, as insurance companies call it. The same applies to carpet cleaning – if the carpet cleaner shrinks the carpet while cleaning it (or does any damage to it during the cleaning process) it will not be classed as an accidental damage and your claim will not be covered. So be careful – ask what the insurance policy will cover and have it in writing.
• Prices. How much they charge? Do not go for the extremely cheap quote for it is normally the worst quality of carpet cleaning. Reputable London carpet cleaning companies have expensive carpet and upholstery cleaning equipment, offices and staff to whom they pay wages so their quotes are not the cheapest, but you can expect a good and reliable cleaning service. If they have been around for a while that is a good sign. There is no chance of someone providing poor carpet cleaning service and surviving for years in the carpet cleaning London business.