Kieran's business is literally cleaning up

TO suggest that Kieran Hennessy is cleaning up in his latest business venture is certainly true, writes Tom Gillespie.

The Youghal, Co. Cork, native launched Carpet Cleaning Solutions, a new residential and commercial carpet cleaning service, three years ago.

Based at Breaffy, Castlebar, he provides maintenance packages and once-off cleaning of carpets and upholstery to the commercial and domestic sectors.

Before establishing Carpet Cleaning Solutions, Kieran served his time as a hotel manager and was a publican in London for 13 years. He returned to Ireland in 1996 and settled in Mayo where he met his wife, Emer.

Kieran took up the story: “My brother has a cleaning business in Dublin and he had been on to me for the longest time to put a van on the road. He is very busy and he was hoping we would join up together eventually providing a carpet cleaning service from east to west.

I was with Munster Joinery and about three years ago I took the bull by the horns. I went out and did courses in carpet cleaning and then I bought all the gear and three years down the road I am happy out.

I deal with all soft furnishings, carpets, rugs, upholstery, curtains, leathers and mattresses. I do some hard tile cleaning as well. I am going to bring on marble polishing as well. I have to go to the UK and do a course on that first. I have all the machines, just to get the expertise.”

Kieran uses all modern high-tech machines, which he describes as ‘top of the range stuff’.

He added: “You would not know I was in the place. I have an incapulasating machine, there are only two others in the country, and it leaves carpet dry in half-an-hour. It blows warm air on the carpet as it is being cleaned. It is great for the likes of businesses where they can use the carpet again straight away.”

A fan of hurling and golf, Kieran is now providing a fire retardant service, for which he is full certified.

The fire authorities are clamping down big time on bed and breakfasts, ensuring that curtains and furniture or oil-based paint work are fire retardant.

We are now offering the option of applying a fire-proof retardant/spray to curtains, furniture and painted timber products. Furniture would include beds, chairs, bar furniture and any painted surface commonly found in the home, hotels, bars, restaurants and bed and breakfasts.”

Returning to the carpet cleaning, Kieran said: “Your carpeting not only represents a significant capital investment for your company, but also plays a major role in contributing to the overall image of your business environment.

You can help maintain both the economies and overall beauty of this investment by letting us create a custom-tailored carpet maintenance plan for you. This specialised programme will reward you with years of dependable, economical service and maximise the life and appearance of your carpet.

Following a comprehensive analysis of your facility, we will design a maintenance programme ideally suited to your specific needs. This programme will preserve and maintain your carpet, producing a brighter, fresher appearance year after year. Best of all, it can be easily adjusted as your organisation requires.

The maintenance programme will include, but is not limited to, annual deep cleaning, interim cleaning for heavy traffic areas and 24/7 spot cleaning.

Carpets, whether in your home or in your office, can quickly collect dirt, bacteria, dust mites and allergens. Though not always visible on the surface, these contaminants can actually pollute the air quality that you breathe every day. Carpets that often appear clean may, in fact, be much dirtier than you think.

Think of your carpet as a type of air filter in the office. When things like dust, dirt, bacteria and dust mites collect on your carpet, in time you will start to breathe in that build up. Merely using household carpet cleaners to remove dirt and spills is not enough to ensure the air you’re breathing is as clean as possible.

To remove allergy-causing contaminants and dust mites, we use carpet cleaning techniques that use deep-down extraction yet still follow manufacturers’ recommendations and warranty requirements.

Paying special attention to high traffic areas, we’ll remove ground-in dirt and stains that carpet shampoos simply cannot handle.”

Carpet Cleaning Solutions also provide stain protection for your carpets, area rugs and upholstered furniture so they can only look their best and free of stains.

It will repel both oil- and water-based stains in all kinds of carpets and upholstery fabric to keep them looking new,” Kieran explained.

Our stain-resistant protective coating protects your carpets and upholstery from stains, spills, spots, dirt and more.

We are equipped to properly care for all types of area rugs and Oriental rugs, giving them the specialised care and attention they deserve. We will determine the cleaning methods best suited to your rug's particular weave, fibres and dyes.

We use the most advanced processes available today to thoroughly clean your rugs and remove any dirt, stains, or odours.”

And what for the future? “If things pick up and the work is there I would have no problem putting another van on the road if I have the business for it.

I am three years on the road now and I have built up what I consider a very good trade. I have my clients, among them seven hotels. In another three years if I can multiply that by 50% I would be delighted.”

Carpet Cleaning Solutions can be contacted on (087) 9436481, (094) 9033007, email info@carpetcleaningsolutions.ie, for visit their website at www.carpetcleaningsolutions.ie.