Post in-person training guide for A1 Carpet Cleaning Technicians. Everything you need to deliver outstanding results.
Follow these steps at every job, in order. Consistency is what separates a good technician from a great one.
Have a genuine chat with the client about the job. Connect with them — it sets the tone for the whole visit.
Look for one item you can ask if they'd like cleaned. Log it in the app. You earn 20% on everything you upsell — best items are rugs, mattresses, armchairs and scotch guarding.
Identify and treat stains before prespraying. On couches, start with high-traffic areas: headrests, armrests, footrests, and around control buttons.
Turn on and warm up on the first job of the day. Let it idle for 5 mins before running full throttle. Connect water.
Bring in the solution line and prespray gun. For carpet, do it all at once. For couches, max 4–5 seats at a time — don't let it dry out, especially near strong aircon.
Connect the appropriate tool and set the throttle. Generally 400 PSI for carpet, 300 PSI for upholstery. Be methodical. Going too fast leaves items crunchy — extra dirty items may need a second round.
Show the client the finished result and confirm they are happy with the work before moving on.
Lightly deodorise all items at every job. A little goes a long way.
AC as cold as it goes, fans as high as they go — windows open if no AC. Seek client permission where needed and warn them of risks if drying setup is poor.
Return everything to its position in the van. Double-check. Clean up all rubbish (gloves, toilet paper). Don't let the hose knock the van bumper.
Let the client do a quick check of the work. Take payment, mark the job as complete so they get the review request. Let them know a positive review really helps.
We never guarantee stain removal — but we don't undersell our service either. Understand the stain type, set expectations early, and treat accordingly.
Coffee, tea, wine, vomit, faeces. Best treated with acid. Use wool-safe acid on wool only — too much can whitewash the carpet. Blood often responds better to enzymes.
Use a UV torch in a darkened room to find all affected areas, then charge for any extras. Soak with enzymes and let sit for 13 mins. Smell before and after. Pets and young kids only — no adult urine jobs. On wool, colour removal is difficult even when fresh.
Ink, slime, gum, paint. Requires solvent with agitation — may need multiple attempts. Can also soak with prespray for a faster result. Some will be permanent. Watch for clean circles on grimy couches — even out with heavy solvent if this happens.
Try acid first, then solvent. Can be difficult to fully remove — manage client expectations upfront.
Dirt: soak with extra prespray — detergent helps lift it. Grime (often on couches): may need a second round of prespray or direct solvent if stubborn.
Most food stains come out with acid or on their own. Exception: turmeric requires UV peroxide treatment, which we no longer offer since moving to all-natural cleaning.
Natural fabric — requires careful drying. Use extra suction and multiple dry passes if airflow is poor. Holds stains more than synthetic. Wool-safe acid only — too much whitewashes it.
Processed bamboo pulp — looks like silk. Very delicate; fares poorly against moisture. Light PSI, prespray only (don't soak). Dry thoroughly. Inform client of risks. Under 40% viscose: can steam if client accepts the risk.
Both temperamental. Always inform client before cleaning. Silk has shiny threads; jute is coarse. Labels under rug corners or under couch cushions. Under 20% jute: can steam if client accepts risk.
Check labels for jute, viscose, silk — all need careful handling. Check the backing: no backing means moisture sits under the rug and can damage the floor beneath. Always clean furniture sitting on a rug first.
Do not run the wand along wood or vinyl floors during cleaning.
In rural areas, verify the water is clean and the pressure is adequate. Very weak pressure means constant stop/start — the job can't be completed properly.
Even a perfect job can result in an unhappy client if expectations are out of step. Manage them early, keep clients updated, and let them check the work before you pack up.
Use it between every changeover on the solution hose — keeps things efficient and prevents pressure build-up.
Carry carefully — it dents easily. Place it down gently to prevent wear on the trigger.
Use corner guards on client walls wherever the hose runs through. Duck guards have extendable feet for stairs. The stair hook keeps the pipe from sliding back down.
Use to wipe excess prespray on couches. Leave one at room entrances when cleaning carpet so you don't track dirt. Use at home entrances too.
Lightly wet armrests and seats. Flush prespray from the injection sprayer first with a 2-second spray. Sides and back of couch only if needed.
4ml into 2L of water. Spray carpets lightly with sprayer at maximum range. Turn fans off so mist doesn't blow back into your face. Turn them back on once done. Mask available if preferred.
UV torch in a darkened room to find all areas. Soak with enzymes, sit for 13 mins. Steam and extract thoroughly. Check with torch or smell. Charge for all areas found.
The wand jets sit behind the vacuum — spray edges before starting your cleaning pass. Use fingers to pull debris from trapped carpet edges.
Clean furniture resting on carpet or rugs first so any prespray runoff gets picked up when you do the carpet beneath.
Assume wardrobes are included unless told otherwise or they're full. Steam only — no prespray needed as they're not walked on.
Leave pillows upright after steaming to help them dry faster and more evenly.
Dilute at 4 parts water to 1 part enzyme. Black colour means they've expired and are ineffective. Keep out of heat and sunlight — they're a live product with a shelf life of about 12 months.
None of our products require a filter mask, but it's available for your discretion in unhygienic environments.
Used for cleaning the waste basket. Connects to the solution hose or truckmount fitting. Should restore it to near-new condition.
Always let customers know floors may be slippery during and after cleaning.
For Airbnb hosts, commercial cleaners, or furniture makers — they often need photos as proof of work. Take them before packing up.
In the van for fires near the vehicle or truckmount. If you're in danger, move away first. The jerry cans are the biggest risk.
"Hi, you've called [Name] from A1 Carpet Cleaning. Please leave a message and I'll call you back as soon as possible."
Set Waze as your default maps app in Google Calendar (Settings > Apps). Best for speed limits, hazards, and van-specific alerts.
Arrive at least 10 minutes early to the first job — accounts for traffic and anything you might have forgotten.
Submit your invoice every Friday afternoon. Include hours worked each day, plus reviews and upsells. See the invoice template for details.
Don't let the solution hose knock the bumper. Don't run hoses so tight they rub on the van body.
Keep toilet paper in the van to check the oil level at the start of each day — must be done on a cold engine. Report any low or high levels to Jordan before adding or removing oil.
Always keep foam blocks in the van. Place under real wood or metal furniture left on wet carpet — these materials will cause a permanent stain. Plastic furniture is fine without them.
You can reverse up to the house when doing so won't direct exhaust fumes through the front door.
If a client wants items cleaned to kill dust mites, turn the temperature all the way up — it's the heat that eliminates them.
Best cleaned with the stair tool, followed by an extra dry pass. Check for any pre-existing tears that cleaning could worsen. Use the upholstery tool if you need to be more gentle.
A couch may look clean but have a dirty film causing a subtle colour shift — use a strong prespray to lift it. Conversely, if a new couch just needs steaming for dust, you can skip prespraying.
A positive attitude. How you show up mentally affects the quality of your work, your relationships with clients, and the team around you.
Responding to the team (calls or messages) comes first, then completing your current work. Don't leave the team in the dark.
Keep it closed to prevent fumes filling the car. If fuel won't release and the tank looks sucked in, open the nozzle to release the pressure.
Set the aircon to 18°C specifically — not just "on". If it's left at 24°C the carpet won't dry properly, and that becomes our problem.
You can clean a small item (e.g. a door mat) for free — particularly for high-spend clients ($500+). For standard cleans, we don't clean items for free otherwise.
1. Complete the current job properly. 2. Be on time for the next job. 3. Upsell extra items. Quality and reliability come before sales.
If a client becomes abusive or threatens you, clean up any hazards if possible, then leave and call Jordan immediately.
This is a physical job. Looking after your body isn't optional — it keeps you performing well and reduces injury risk.
Some form of resistance training is strongly recommended. Injuries happen when your only exercise is work. Building back and core strength reduces strain. Cardio fitness helps manage the workload too.
This job makes you sweat. Replenish electrolytes — mineral salts in a lemon water at the start of the day is ideal. Coconut water or spring water also helps. Sunshine Coast tap water is high in chlorine and low in minerals.
Get 15 minutes of direct sunlight daily. Despite working outdoors, you often don't get enough direct sun. It's the most effective immune support available.
Foods high in Vitamin C (wild blueberries, citrus). Magnesium glycinate before bed for deeper sleep and muscle recovery. Oyster capsules for zinc. Grass-fed beef organ capsules for broad micronutrient support.
Wash regularly with Dettol soap from your van if you feel unwell, after jobs where someone is sick, and before eating. If you're confirmed unwell — take the day off.
Fresh shirt each day. Look neat, smell good. Black shorts, socks and sneakers where possible. It's part of the service and reflects the brand.