liverpoolscarpetcleaner
Member
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2025
- Messages
- 9
- Location
- Liverpool
- Name
- Rob
- Years of Experience
- 22
- Role
- Business Owner
I thought i would share this post from my elder brother who also owns his own carpet cleaning business. It was posted on another forum but i thought i'd share it anyway.
Since 1996, I've been working in the carpet cleaning industry, during which time I have earned a reputation for providing outstanding service to my customers. However, around 2010, I began to suffer from significant pain in my right arm, which was crucial for my daily tasks.
After seeing a medical professional, I discovered that my rotator cuff was severly damaged and that the socket joint was starting to deteriorate—a troubling diagnosis for someone who relies on their physical abilities, especially in a labor-intensive field like carpet cleaning.
Later that year, I opted for a cortisone injection to help manage the pain; it initially worked well and provided relief. For some time after that, everything appeared normal as I continued working without major problems. Yet in 2014 during a routine appointment with my doctor, I learned that my arm required about surgery and i need to take up to six months of rest to heal properly.
As any experienced carpet cleaner would understand, taking six months off is not only impractical but also financially imposible. With bills accumulating, I had to quickly adjust. Determined to keep my business going, I started utilizing my left arm for both the wand and detail tool—a transition that proved quite tough at first. It's one thing to use your dominant hand consistently; it's another entirely to switch abruptly to your non-dominant side.
This shift came with its own learning curve as I worked hard to adapt to using my left arm. Still fueled by the need to stay afloat in this trade it became second nature over time until 2024, until a similar issue occured to the roto cuff on my left arm.
I repeated the same process and switched back to my right arm oncemore as it had completely healed allowing me to switch back and carry on, mainly because i didn't want to under-go surgery.
The moral of the story is that for any newbies out there who are thinking of staying in the carpet cleaning business for a long period of time, try and used both arms...yes become ambidextrous. It might save your business long term.
Great advice i'd say.
Since 1996, I've been working in the carpet cleaning industry, during which time I have earned a reputation for providing outstanding service to my customers. However, around 2010, I began to suffer from significant pain in my right arm, which was crucial for my daily tasks.
After seeing a medical professional, I discovered that my rotator cuff was severly damaged and that the socket joint was starting to deteriorate—a troubling diagnosis for someone who relies on their physical abilities, especially in a labor-intensive field like carpet cleaning.
Later that year, I opted for a cortisone injection to help manage the pain; it initially worked well and provided relief. For some time after that, everything appeared normal as I continued working without major problems. Yet in 2014 during a routine appointment with my doctor, I learned that my arm required about surgery and i need to take up to six months of rest to heal properly.
As any experienced carpet cleaner would understand, taking six months off is not only impractical but also financially imposible. With bills accumulating, I had to quickly adjust. Determined to keep my business going, I started utilizing my left arm for both the wand and detail tool—a transition that proved quite tough at first. It's one thing to use your dominant hand consistently; it's another entirely to switch abruptly to your non-dominant side.
This shift came with its own learning curve as I worked hard to adapt to using my left arm. Still fueled by the need to stay afloat in this trade it became second nature over time until 2024, until a similar issue occured to the roto cuff on my left arm.
I repeated the same process and switched back to my right arm oncemore as it had completely healed allowing me to switch back and carry on, mainly because i didn't want to under-go surgery.
The moral of the story is that for any newbies out there who are thinking of staying in the carpet cleaning business for a long period of time, try and used both arms...yes become ambidextrous. It might save your business long term.
Great advice i'd say.
