What To Charge For Light Clean And Condition Leather Sofa?

[Richard Cole]

One of the directors of an office i occasionally clean has asked me to clean his carpets in his flat and also whether i can clean a pair of leather sofa's, i don't generally do this work but do have some of Nick's Solution Leather Cleaner & Conditioner i purchased for another job last year. I won't have chance to inspect due to flat being 30 miles away and the fact he is not there during the day, he will be away also when the clean is to be carried out but i'm to collect key from workplace.
Ideally i would like to get someone else to carry out the leather cleaning but failing that and assuming it is only a light clean and no restoration, which i will make quite clear, how much would be a fair price to charge for cleaning? £25 per seat? (which is what i charge for extraction cleaning).

 

[Judy Bass]

It is never easy to give quotes without seeing the work when you are dealing with leather - there is so much more to take into account..
It is vitally important to establish the type of leather prior to any cleaning as methods and products will vary from leather to leather.

Customers are very good at thinking their leather just needs cleaning and that this will make it look better without understanding that a lot of what they perceive to be dirt is actually damage in which case cleaning is not going to do a great deal of good.
Most damage is caused by them not taking the proper steps to maintain and protect it from the start.

Hope this helps
Judyb
P.S. Clean and protect rather than condition, conditioners are counter productive on some leathers and can cause problems

 

[Richard Cole]

Knew you would say that Judy but i won't have access to property till day of the clean, i'm not even dealing direct with the director but his PA just to complicate things, so it is already a three way conversation.

 

[Ian Hare]

If someone wants a professional to do a job then they have to act professionally and actually engage with the tradesman. An interchange of information to enable him to carry out the job in said manner, is almost always necessary.

An irony of title when a director cannot deal direct.

 

[jason w lawal]

I would quote 30/seat and either clean it or not . Customer does not care less about how you do it .just get on with it ,other bits of advice on this thread are akin to a mechanic looking at a car bonnet and giving a sharp intake of breath . Customers want action not waffle about this or that reason it's going to be an awkward job .

 

[Judy Bass]

I partly agree Jason but it will not look very good if a professional cleaner does not know the type of leather or how it should be cleaned correctly to get the desired results. I do not expect people to waffle about an awkward job but there is a fine line in leather between what can be cleaned and what needs to be restored - a professional should know where that line comes.
Cheers
Judyb

 

[Andrew Evans]

Hi Richard Judy is quite right as you would expect. You need to know firstly the leather finish/type then whether or not it is actually a clean or restoration job, sometimes if it is a pigment coated sofa it is the hide showing through which people confuse with dirt. I have still cleaned these carefully but only after explaining the outcome. You will also have to pinch your wife's hair dryer!!

In my books there is no such thing as a light clean it is either cleaned or it is not, as for price pigment coated I charge £45.00 per seat and for analine £50.00.

But as in all things you need to know what you are dealing with if you try to clean an analine in the way you would a pigment you will ruin it, feel free to give me a call if you need to.

Even better do one of Judy's cleaning days well worth the money.

Andrew

 

[Andrew Evans]

The first picture is one of 6 chairs ruined by someone "Just cleaning it" all had severe splash stains where a wet sponge had been applies. The second picture is after I have recoloured it "they wanted an antique distressed look" Just as well then

 

[Robert Bailey]

Nice one Andrew

 

[Shaun Ashmore]

Richard you may be surprised how long a leather suite may take to clean even if it has no cushions to take off I can assure you that body contact areas take far longer than you may think.

 

[Richard Cole]

Bit irrelevant now as it turns out after further questioning that it is suede or faux suede and he also wants some calico covered chairs cleaning, without having access to pre-test and due to the distance from me to go and quote it is not going to be worth my time.

 

[Judy Bass]

I suppose this proves why it is important to ascertain what you are working on before going to do the job!!
Interesting discussion though
Cheers
Judyb

 

[Andrew Bines]

Agree with others, if there is grease which customers assume is dirt you could be into a lot of hours and materials and ideally a return visit following day after taking the correct time to get it right. We never quote without seeing it, we lose jobs that way but would not want those clients anyway as they are not after a professional job.