Green machine
February 1st 2008

Award winning eco-carpet cleaning specialist,Chris Straker, founded Straker Cleaning in 1989, covering domestic properties in what he describes as Nappy Valley, in Clapham Junction and surrounding areas.Today, his most prestigious client is the House of Lords. Brendan Coyne reports

Based in Cheam, Surrey, Straker Cleaning is carving out a niche in ecologically-sound carpet cleaning.Covering London and Surrey, the company was highly commended in the 2006 Sutton Green Guardian Awards green business category.Then last year Straker won the category in the Wandsworth equivalent."I didn't expect it," says Straker."I was up there on the stage with the flashbulbs popping in jeans and a polo shirt." The publicity has generated new business as the demand for greener cleaning services shows no sign of slowing. But while his key selling point is eco-friendly cleaning, Straker says equally important is impressing clients with better results than previous contractors, and carpets that are dry within 30 minutes.

Which is how he wound up working regularly at the Houses of Parliament. Although Straker is keen to emphasise that parliament will not endorse any company, and that many other cleaning firms do the majority of the parliamentary work, to be involved at all is no mean feat for a one-man band.

"It's an amazing place," says Straker of his most notable client."The size of some of the rooms – you end up in a different postcode to the one you started out in. And the best bit is the parking's free.You don't even have to lock the van – because there's always someone to keep an eye one it. And they've got machine guns." He bagged the parliament job through an upholstery supplier for whom he'd previously cleaned.Needing curtains and upholstery cleaned and dried rapidly for a parliament function, the supplier recommended Straker, whose use of microsplitters meant he could ensure the cleaned areas would be dry swiftly after cleaning."I priced the job and took three days to do curtains, carpets and 29 armchairs. I could have done it in two days, but wanted to show how much effort was being made, and the price was just the same. From there someone in the Lords saw it, and asked me to do their tea room – and the jobs kept coming." This year Straker aims to increase commercial work, where he says a domestic background lends an advantage."I do a couple of offices and they sing your praises for shaving 25 per cent off their bill. It's £2.5K for a weekend's work, and with the microsplitters I use (Solutions'M-Power) they notice the difference.Whereas the previous cleaner did it every three months, I do it every four. So they save £2.5K a year.While there are some very good professionals in the business, too many cleaners put a bit of pre-spotter in the machine, give it a scrub and then walk away – because it's regular work and that's the way they want it. But coming from a domestic background, most households can't afford to see you for six months or a year.You have to treat it and leave it neutral without leaving a residue.And make sure you do a good job or you won't see them again." Alongside the Solutions kit ("I've been accused of being Solutions' poodle but I have no commercial interest – the products make my life easier and are environmentally sound"), Straker says Alltec's Ultimate Master, One Step spotter bottles from Cleansmart ("their service is fantastic") and Prochem's Pure Clean are all very reliable products.

He says using ecologically-sound products means customers are willing to pay higher prices, which is furthered by the award win.

"You're adding something extra to the mix.We're not always the most expensive, but they aren't the type of customers who want the cheapest quotes.They are happy to pay for a service that matches their ethos and gives them peace of mind. It's hardly reassuring if you tell an expectant mother 'Yes the carpets look clean but don't put the baby down on them or it will melt'..." While Straker's happy with the products he uses,he says there are ways manufacturers could make life easier for carpet cleaners."If microsplitters came in powder form it would be brilliant – much easier to carry around a 4kg tub that lasts for months than lugging heavy bottles of liquid around. But I'm not sure how that could be done." After strong growth in the last few years (which he says was helped by joining the NCCA and the ecocarpetcare.co.uk network), Straker now needs a full-time assistant to take on more work.With the market for green carpet cleaning on an upward curve, it could be a wise career move.

www.strakercleaning.co.uk