Dear VLM enthusiast,
I’m glad you’re here! This is the free checklist I told you about. Click the button below to download your free PDF copy.
Then scroll down this page to explore everything else I’ve included to help you start your VLM carpet cleaning business.
Best,
The VLM Guy
You really only need 6 things to start a “very low moisture” carpet cleaning business.
Last time I checked, it still costs under $1,000 to buy the basics (and that’s with today’s ridiculous inflation prices!)
In fact, you don’t even need a van. You can fit most of this stuff in a station wagon, mini van, SUV, or even a sedan with fold-down seats:
Because VLM cleaning doesn’t involve a powerful truckmount or portable extractor, I highly recommend vacuuming before every job. It’s worth investing in a commercial vacuum that will last through hundreds of carpet cleaning jobs per year.
You’ll need to spray cleaning solutions onto your customers’ carpet. Use either a pump-up sprayer or a battery-powered sprayer. Pump-up sprayers are cheap & effective, but they don’t tend to last very long! Plan to replace them every few months - or rebuild them, if possible. A quality battery sprayer will save your arm and last you much longer, so I would highly recommend upgrading to a battery sprayer as soon as you are able.
You’ll need a cleaning solution made specifically for VLM or encapsulation carpet cleaning. There are a lot of options available these days. You may want to experiment and decide which you like best.
A floor buffer is your main tool as a VLM cleaner. It scrubs the carpet and helps remove soil from the fibers. Many VLM cleaners start with the 13” Oreck Orbiter buffer because it is cheaper. Once your VLM business is established, you can upgrade to the larger 17” or 18” buffer, and keep the Orbiter for stairs.
You might be wondering “how does a floor buffer clean carpets?” Well, the buffer just spins around. It’s these fancy carpet cleaning bonnets (or “pads”) do most of the cleaning work. These pads are usually very absorbent and may have some scrubbing strips to break up soil & stains in the carpet fibers. But at least 10 of these pads to start with, because you’re going to need at least 1-2 pads per room to do a good cleaning job.
Raking the carpet will help it dry faster and give the ‘shark tooth’ look customers love. You can also use your rake to spread stain protector evenly into the carpet fibers.
That’s it! Those are the essential items you need to start a VLM carpet cleaning business.
You can literally buy everything for under $1,000 and start cleaning carpets this weekend.
As you grow your business, your equipment & chemical needs will also grow to meet your customers’ demands.
For that reason, I’ve included more recommendations for VLM chemicals and equipment in the checklist.
Make sure you download the full PDF and read over it!
FTC Disclosure – If you click a link & make a purchase, I may receive a commission. This comes at no expense to you. It’s how I can afford to make this checklist free for as many people as possible 👍~The VLM Guy
What if you could ride-along with a successful VLM carpet cleaner who could teach you all the ins & outs of the job before you got started?
Get ready to learn quickly! In this ▶️ STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL VIDEO, I’ll cover everything you need to know to perform your first VLM carpet cleaning job! All in under 30 information-packed minutes.
From greeting the customer to taking payment, and getting great results along the way! You’ll learn exactly what to you need to do to ensure 5-star reviews.
FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO JOIN OUR EARLY ACCESS LIST! WE’LL NOTIFY YOU WHEN THE TRAINING BECOMES AVAILABLE:
One of the biggest gamechangers in the carpet cleaning industry has been the introduction of easy-to-use software for running your business.
If you’re planning to start a carpet cleaning business this year, give yourself a HUGE competitive advantage by offering online booking, SMS appointment reminders, and “thank you” postcards from day 1.
Housecall Pro offers all of these features, plus so much more.
Request a free demo using the link below, and you’ll receive 50% off your first 3 months when you sign up for a plan (mine costs $123.50/mo, but they have cheaper plans!)
What if you could ride-along with a successful VLM carpet cleaner who could teach you all the ins & outs of the job before you got started?
Get ready to learn quickly! In this ▶️ STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL VIDEO, I’ll cover everything you need to know to perform your first VLM carpet cleaning job! All in under 30 information-packed minutes.
From greeting the customer to taking payment, and getting great results along the way! You’ll learn exactly what to you need to do to ensure 5-star reviews.
FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO JOIN OUR EARLY ACCESS LIST! WE’LL NOTIFY YOU WHEN THE TRAINING BECOMES AVAILABLE:
Disclosure: I use revenue generating affiliate links. If you click a link on this website or in our emails & make a purchase, I may receive a commission. This comes at no expense to you. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn commissions by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Earnings Disclaimer: I can not and do not make any guarantees about your ability get results, book jobs, or earn any money with the ideas, information, tools, and strategies we present to you. This site is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing here is a promise or guarantee of future earnings. I do not offer any legal, tax, or other professional advice.
Other Disclaimers: I can not and do not make any guarantees about the results of your carpet cleaning. Likewise, I am not responsible for any results or damages resulting from work that you choose to perform after reading this material. You are responsible for all work you choose to perform.