
A personal note from Pierre: some big changes are coming to Careclean, and most trace back to the fire at Highlands Farm.
A personal note from Pierre: some big changes are coming to Careclean, and most trace back to the fire at Highlands Farm.
A personal message from me, Pierre
This is a little longer than my usual update.
But if you can set aside five minutes to read it, it would mean a lot to me.
Because some fairly big things are changing at Careclean.
They affect how we communicate with you, how we use water and fuel, how we clean your carpets, and ultimately, how we keep giving you a great service every time you trust us in your home.
And strangely enough, much of it goes back to the fire at Highlands Farm.
If you have used Careclean before, you probably know roughly what to expect from us.
You book your clean. One of our technicians arrives. The hoses come through the door. We clean your carpets, explain what we have done and then comes the familiar bit.
“Try to keep off them for a few hours while they dry.”
You may have heard us say that to you more than once.
Until recently, I did not question it very much either.
Then the fire and explosion happened.
It has left a scar on Careclean that will stay with us for a long time.
Perhaps that scar should stay.
Because every time I look at it, I am reminded that rebuilding everything exactly as it was before would be a missed opportunity.
You trusted us before the fire.
You stayed with us afterwards.
So, if we are rebuilding Careclean, I want what comes next to be better for you.
And two changes in particular are starting to do exactly that.
You may notice the first change quite soon.
Careclean is becoming much more digital behind the scenes.
I know. A new computer system is hardly the most exciting thing I could tell you about over a coffee.
But what it means for you is much more useful.
Your technician can let you know when he is on his way.
Your invoice can arrive by email rather than another sheet of paper being handed to you at the end of your clean.
The information we need to look after you will no longer depend so heavily on one office, one filing cabinet or one physical location.
That last point became rather important after the fire.
When you suddenly cannot get into the building where things live, you quickly discover which old ways of working make life harder than it needs to be.
We also started noticing how much paper we still use simply because we have always used it.
So, we are changing that too.
Isabel, our Office Manager, has led much of this work, with Deb still firmly part of the office team. You may know Deb’s voice already. She looked after the Careclean office for many years and, although she has now reduced her hours considerably, she is still one of us.
I asked Isabel to explain the bits you are most likely to notice.
A personal message from me, Pierre
This is a little longer than my usual update.
But if you can set aside five minutes to read it, it would mean a lot to me.
Because some fairly big things are changing at Careclean.
They affect how we communicate with you, how we use water and fuel, how we clean your carpets, and ultimately, how we keep giving you a great service every time you trust us in your home.
And strangely enough, much of it goes back to the fire at Highlands Farm.
If you have used Careclean before, you probably know roughly what to expect from us.
You book your clean. One of our technicians arrives. The hoses come through the door. We clean your carpets, explain what we have done and then comes the familiar bit.
“Try to keep off them for a few hours while they dry.”
You may have heard us say that to you more than once.
Until recently, I did not question it very much either.
Then the fire and explosion happened.
It has left a scar on Careclean that will stay with us for a long time.
Perhaps that scar should stay.
Because every time I look at it, I am reminded that rebuilding everything exactly as it was before would be a missed opportunity.
You trusted us before the fire.
You stayed with us afterwards.
So, if we are rebuilding Careclean, I want what comes next to be better for you.
And two changes in particular are starting to do exactly that.
You may notice the first change quite soon.
Careclean is becoming much more digital behind the scenes.
I know. A new computer system is hardly the most exciting thing I could tell you about over a coffee.
But what it means for you is much more useful.
Your technician can let you know when he is on his way.
Your invoice can arrive by email rather than another sheet of paper being handed to you at the end of your clean.
The information we need to look after you will no longer depend so heavily on one office, one filing cabinet or one physical location.
That last point became rather important after the fire.
When you suddenly cannot get into the building where things live, you quickly discover which old ways of working make life harder than it needs to be.
We also started noticing how much paper we still use simply because we have always used it.
So, we are changing that too.
Isabel, our Office Manager, has led much of this work, with Deb still firmly part of the office team. You may know Deb’s voice already. She looked after the Careclean office for many years and, although she has now reduced her hours considerably, she is still one of us.
I asked Isabel to explain the bits you are most likely to notice.


We are moving to a new system to manage your details, cleaning and quotation appointments, invoices and communication.
Most of the changes will happen quietly behind the scenes, but you may notice a few differences.
Our new system does not use titles such as Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms, so these may disappear from some of our communications.
We haven’t forgotten our manners.
Your technician can also let you know when they are on their way and give you an estimated arrival time.
We're also reducing our use of paper.
Instead of your technician handing you a printed invoice at the end of your clean, we will normally email it to you.
If you don’t use email, or you would prefer a paper copy, please tell us. We will happily provide one.
Your quotations and invoices will look slightly different too. On your invoice, Amount Due is the total payment required, with the subtotal and VAT shown separately.
There may be the occasional little adjustment while we all get used to the new system.
The people looking after you, and the care we put into doing it properly, haven’t changed.
Isabel Ryan
Office Manager
We are moving to a new system to manage your details, cleaning and quotation appointments, invoices and communication.
Most of the changes will happen quietly behind the scenes, but you may notice a few differences.
Our new system does not use titles such as Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms, so these may disappear from some of our communications.
We haven’t forgotten our manners.
Your technician can also let you know when they are on their way and give you an estimated arrival time.
We're also reducing our use of paper.
Instead of your technician handing you a printed invoice at the end of your clean, we will normally email it to you.
If you don’t use email, or you would prefer a paper copy, please tell us. We will happily provide one.
Your quotations and invoices will look slightly different too. On your invoice, Amount Due is the total payment required, with the subtotal and VAT shown separately.
There may be the occasional little adjustment while we all get used to the new system.
The people looking after you, and the care we put into doing it properly, haven’t changed.
Isabel Ryan
Office Manager
“With this system, we won’t need the door sitting open for the hoses in winter.”
— Connor, Lead Technician



This one started with something as ordinary as an LPG tank.
For many years, our large van-mounted carpet cleaning machines, using LPG gas, have been a big part of Careclean.
We started using this type of equipment around 2005.
At the time, it was a major step forward.
The machine stayed outside. Large tanks carried the water. Long hoses came into your home. We cleaned and extracted the carpet, then ventilation and time finished the drying.
It works.
It has worked extremely well for us for many years.
And I want to say this very clearly.
There is nothing wrong with that way of cleaning.
Hot water extraction remains an established professional carpet cleaning method.
We trust it.
Some carpets and levels of soiling still make it the method we recommend.
Our van-mounted machines are not disappearing.
But the winds of change have been blowing for a while.
We have all become more conscious of fuel.
Recent hosepipe restrictions have reminded us how valuable water is.
Electric technology continues to improve.
Then the fire happened.
Suddenly we could not reach our LPG tank at Highlands Farm.
We found ourselves driving around trying to find somewhere else to fill the machines.
At the same time, we looked at damaged vans and asked what it would cost to rebuild everything we had before.
Large water tanks. Specialist machinery. LPG equipment.
And I found myself asking a question I probably should have asked sooner.
If I were building Careclean from scratch today, would I build our carpet cleaning service exactly as we did twenty years ago?
I don’t think I would.
That doesn’t make the old way wrong.
It simply means we now know more.
And perhaps some old beliefs about what professional carpet cleaning has to look like are ready to be questioned.
Not thrown away.
Questioned.
We went looking for another way.
We attended training.
We looked carefully at different systems.
And a few weeks ago, Connor, our Lead Technician, together with Ross and Carl, our Senior Technicians, spent time on in-depth practical training with the new low-moisture system we are bringing into Careclean.
I was interested in their reaction.
These are our people who actually clean carpets every day.
They know what happens when a hose must travel from the van, through your front door and across your home.
They know what a wet carpet is like in January.
And one of the first things they came back talking about wasn’t the machine.
It was your front door.
“With this system, we won’t need the door sitting open for the hoses in winter.”
That made me stop.
Because they were right.
Think about your next clean on a cold day.
As I write this, we are heading into Autumn.
Before long, the heating will be on properly, and the last thing you want is a front door sitting open while cold air blows through your home.
With our traditional van-mounted system, the hoses need a way in.
So while we clean, a door usually has to stay open enough for them to pass through.
Afterwards, we often encourage good ventilation while the carpet dries.
That is easy enough on a warm day.
On a cold January morning, it feels rather different.
With the new system, no long hoses come from the van.
Your door can stay closed.
Your heat can largely stay where you want it.
Inside.
We may still recommend some gentle airflow, depending on your carpet and the conditions.
But there is far less moisture to dry.
And for a suitable carpet, it may be ready to use again in around 30 to 60 minutes.
That changes something else too.
You may have asked us for a morning appointment in winter because you wanted to give your carpet the whole day to dry.
Now imagine having it cleaned later in the day and still having your lounge back for the evening.
That is the sort of change I get excited about.
Not because it sounds impressive.
Because you can actually feel the benefit in your home.
Would you really miss having a wet carpet for six hours?
I mean that seriously.
Imagine we finish cleaning your lounge.
You make yourself a cup of tea.
Perhaps you get on with something else.
And before very long, the room is yours again.
No protecting a damp carpet for the rest of the afternoon.
No worrying about the dog charging across it.
No telling the grandchildren, “Not in there yet.”
No wondering whether you can put everything back before the evening.
For the right carpet, that is becoming a very real possibility.
And once you experience that, I suspect you might ask the same question we have been asking.
Why did we accept that carpets had to stay wet for hours?
This one started with something as ordinary as an LPG tank.
For many years, our large van-mounted carpet cleaning machines, using LPG gas, have been a big part of Careclean.
We started using this type of equipment around 2005.
At the time, it was a major step forward.
The machine stayed outside. Large tanks carried the water. Long hoses came into your home. We cleaned and extracted the carpet, then ventilation and time finished the drying.
It works.
It has worked extremely well for us for many years.
And I want to say this very clearly.
There is nothing wrong with that way of cleaning.
Hot water extraction remains an established professional carpet cleaning method.
We trust it.
Some carpets and levels of soiling still make it the method we recommend.
Our van-mounted machines are not disappearing.
But the winds of change have been blowing for a while.
We have all become more conscious of fuel.
Recent hosepipe restrictions have reminded us how valuable water is.
Electric technology continues to improve.
Then the fire happened.
Suddenly we could not reach our LPG tank at Highlands Farm.
We found ourselves driving around trying to find somewhere else to fill the machines.
At the same time, we looked at damaged vans and asked what it would cost to rebuild everything we had before.
Large water tanks. Specialist machinery. LPG equipment.
And I found myself asking a question I probably should have asked sooner.
If I were building Careclean from scratch today, would I build our carpet cleaning service exactly as we did twenty years ago?
I don’t think I would.
That doesn’t make the old way wrong.
It simply means we now know more.
And perhaps some old beliefs about what professional carpet cleaning has to look like are ready to be questioned.
Not thrown away.
Questioned.
We went looking for another way.
We attended training.
We looked carefully at different systems.
And a few weeks ago, Connor, our Lead Technician, together with Ross and Carl, our Senior Technicians, spent time on in-depth practical training with the new low-moisture system we are bringing into Careclean.
I was interested in their reaction.
These are our people who actually clean carpets every day.
They know what happens when a hose must travel from the van, through your front door and across your home.
They know what a wet carpet is like in January.
And one of the first things they came back talking about wasn’t the machine.
It was your front door.
“With this system, we won’t need the door sitting open for the hoses in winter.”
That made me stop.
Because they were right.
Think about your next clean on a cold day.
As I write this, we are heading into Autumn.
Before long, the heating will be on properly, and the last thing you want is a front door sitting open while cold air blows through your home.
With our traditional van-mounted system, the hoses need a way in.
So while we clean, a door usually has to stay open enough for them to pass through.
Afterwards, we often encourage good ventilation while the carpet dries.
That is easy enough on a warm day.
On a cold January morning, it feels rather different.
With the new system, no long hoses come from the van.
Your door can stay closed.
Your heat can largely stay where you want it.
Inside.
We may still recommend some gentle airflow, depending on your carpet and the conditions.
But there is far less moisture to dry.
And for a suitable carpet, it may be ready to use again in around 30 to 60 minutes.
That changes something else too.
You may have asked us for a morning appointment in winter because you wanted to give your carpet the whole day to dry.
Now imagine having it cleaned later in the day and still having your lounge back for the evening.
That is the sort of change I get excited about.
Not because it sounds impressive.
Because you can actually feel the benefit in your home.
Would you really miss having a wet carpet for six hours?
I mean that seriously.
Imagine we finish cleaning your lounge.
You make yourself a cup of tea.
Perhaps you get on with something else.
And before very long, the room is yours again.
No protecting a damp carpet for the rest of the afternoon.
No worrying about the dog charging across it.
No telling the grandchildren, “Not in there yet.”
No wondering whether you can put everything back before the evening.
For the right carpet, that is becoming a very real possibility.
And once you experience that, I suspect you might ask the same question we have been asking.
Why did we accept that carpets had to stay wet for hours?
Your technician can tell you when they’re on the way,
with an estimated arrival time, no more wondering
Your technician can tell you when they’re on the way,
with an estimated arrival time, no more wondering
Invoices arrive by email, and your front door can
stay shut while we work, warmth stay inside
Invoices arrive by email, and your front door can
stay shut while we work, warmth stay inside
Extraction when it’s right, low - moisture when it’s
better. you trust us to choose. The guarantee stays
the same.
Extraction when it’s right, low - moisture when it’s
better. you trust us to choose. The guarantee stays
the same.
This does not mean we will use it on every carpet.
This matters.
We haven’t discovered one magical cleaning method that suddenly makes everything we have done before obsolete.
I wouldn’t trust that idea myself.
What we have gained is another professional option.
If your carpet needs extraction, we will recommend extraction.
If our traditional van-mounted system is the better choice for the level or type of soiling, we will use it.
If your carpet is well suited to the new low-moisture process, we can now offer that instead.
Less water.
Less noise.
No long hoses through your doorway.
Less dependence on LPG for that clean.
And potentially a much shorter drying time.
You don’t need to decide which machine we should bring.
That is our job.
Kevin or Lawrence can look at your carpet when they quote.
Connor, Ross or Carl can assess what is in front of them when we clean.
We will look at your carpet, how it has been used, the type of soiling and what matters to you.
Then we will recommend what we believe is right.
You are not buying a machine from us. You are trusting us to decide how best to care for your carpet.
That is how I want Careclean to work.
This does not mean we will use it on every carpet.
This matters.
We haven’t discovered one magical cleaning method that suddenly makes everything we have done before obsolete.
I wouldn’t trust that idea myself.
What we have gained is another professional option.
If your carpet needs extraction, we will recommend extraction.
If our traditional van-mounted system is the better choice for the level or type of soiling, we will use it.
If your carpet is well suited to the new low-moisture process, we can now offer that instead.
Less water.
Less noise.
No long hoses through your doorway.
Less dependence on LPG for that clean.
And potentially a much shorter drying time.
You don’t need to decide which machine we should bring.
That is our job.
Kevin or Lawrence can look at your carpet when they quote.
Connor, Ross or Carl can assess what is in front of them when we clean.
We will look at your carpet, how it has been used, the type of soiling and what matters to you.
Then we will recommend what we believe is right.
You are not buying a machine from us. You are trusting us to decide how best to care for your carpet.
That is how I want Careclean to work.


This is also for environmental reasons.
The fire made us look much harder at the resources behind our service.
When you suddenly cannot reach your LPG supply, you think about your dependence on LPG.
When you are replacing vans carrying large tanks of water, you think about how much water you move around every day.
When hosepipe bans arrive, you think about water again.
I don’t want to turn this into a grand environmental speech.
I believe we should do it if we can give you the standard of cleanliness you expect while using less water, reducing our reliance on LPG, and causing less disruption in your home.
It makes sense.
And it may help us protect something else.
Your price.
Large van-mounted systems are expensive to run.
Replacing vans and installing specialist machinery is expensive.
Heating large amounts of water and relying on LPG all form part of the cost of providing the service.
If extraction remained the only way we were willing to clean, more of those rising costs would eventually have to find their way into what you pay.
I would rather we work smarter.
Where the new system is right for your carpet, we can use fewer resources and still deliver the standard I expect from Careclean.
Where extraction is right, we will use extraction.
This isn’t about finding a cheap way to clean your carpet.
It is about using the right method, and the right amount of resources, for the job in front of us.
This is also for environmental reasons.
The fire made us look much harder at the resources behind our service.
When you suddenly cannot reach your LPG supply, you think about your dependence on LPG.
When you are replacing vans carrying large tanks of water, you think about how much water you move around every day.
When hosepipe bans arrive, you think about water again.
I don’t want to turn this into a grand environmental speech.
I believe we should do it if we can give you the standard of cleanliness you expect while using less water, reducing our reliance on LPG, and causing less disruption in your home.
It makes sense.
And it may help us protect something else.
Your price.
Large van-mounted systems are expensive to run.
Replacing vans and installing specialist machinery is expensive.
Heating large amounts of water and relying on LPG all form part of the cost of providing the service.
If extraction remained the only way we were willing to clean, more of those rising costs would eventually have to find their way into what you pay.
I would rather we work smarter.
Where the new system is right for your carpet, we can use fewer resources and still deliver the standard I expect from Careclean.
Where extraction is right, we will use extraction.
This isn’t about finding a cheap way to clean your carpet.
It is about using the right method, and the right amount of resources, for the job in front of us.

Our new equipment has only just been ordered.
I don’t want us rushing this.
Connor, Ross and Carl have done the training. Now comes the important part: using what they have learnt in real homes and building experience.
Kevin and Lawrence will be using that knowledge when they quote too.
So, during the first few months, we will choose carefully where we use the new process.
If we look at your carpet and think it is a good candidate, we may suggest it.
And if you are reading this thinking:
“Pierre, I would quite like to try that.”
Tell us.
When you next ask for a quotation, mention that you have read this and ask Kevin or Lawrence whether your carpet might be suitable.
Where practical, we can show you on a small area first.
And if you prefer the extraction cleaning you already know that is fine.
If we believe extraction is better for your carpet, we will tell you.
I don’t want a new machine deciding how we clean your home.
I want experience to decide.
This does not mean we will use it on every carpet.
This matters.
We haven’t discovered one magical cleaning method that suddenly makes everything we have done before obsolete.
I wouldn’t trust that idea myself.
What we have gained is another professional option.
If your carpet needs extraction, we will recommend extraction.
If our traditional van-mounted system is the better choice for the level or type of soiling, we will use it.
If your carpet is well suited to the new low-moisture process, we can now offer that instead.
Less water.
Less noise.
No long hoses through your doorway.
Less dependence on LPG for that clean.
And potentially a much shorter drying time.
You don’t need to decide which machine we should bring.
That is our job.
Kevin or Lawrence can look at your carpet when they quote.
Connor, Ross or Carl can assess what is in front of them when we clean.
We will look at your carpet, how it has been used, the type of soiling and what matters to you.
Then we will recommend what we believe is right.
You are not buying a machine from us. You are trusting us to decide how best to care for your carpet.
That is how I want Careclean to work.


Our responsibility to you.
Whichever process we use, our guarantee stays the same.
If you are unhappy with the cleaning, please tell us.
Allow us to look at it.
If something needs fixing, we will come back and fix it.
The equipment may change.
The office system may change.
Some of the way we work will change.
But I never want Careclean to become less human because we become more modern.
The fire changed us
I would never choose what happened at Highlands Farm.
If I could turn the clock back and prevent it, I would.
But I can’t.
What I can choose is what we do next.
That scar can remind me of what we lost.
It can also remind me to keep asking whether there is a better way.
You trusted Careclean before the fire.
You stayed with us afterwards.
I want what comes next to reward that trust.
Easier communication.
Less unnecessary paper.
More thoughtful use of water and fuel.
More choice in how we clean your carpet.
And this winter, something as simple as keeping your front door closed, keeping the warmth inside and having your lounge carpet back before the evening.
We have spent many years learning how to clean carpets properly.
Now we are learning something else.
When an old way still serves you well, keep it.
When a better way exists for your home, be willing to change.
The fire forced us to question things we might otherwise have carried on doing for another ten or twenty years.
That may be one of the few good things to come from it.
Thank you for giving me five minutes of your time.
And thank you for continuing to trust us in your home.
Pierre de Wet
Owner,
Careclean Essex Ltd
Our responsibility to you.
Whichever process we use, our guarantee stays the same.
If you are unhappy with the cleaning, please tell us.
Allow us to look at it.
If something needs fixing, we will come back and fix it.
The equipment may change.
The office system may change.
Some of the way we work will change.
But I never want Careclean to become less human because we become more modern.
The fire changed us
I would never choose what happened at Highlands Farm.
If I could turn the clock back and prevent it, I would.
But I can’t.
What I can choose is what we do next.
That scar can remind me of what we lost.
It can also remind me to keep asking whether there is a better way.
You trusted Careclean before the fire.
You stayed with us afterwards.
I want what comes next to reward that trust.
Easier communication.
Less unnecessary paper.
More thoughtful use of water and fuel.
More choice in how we clean your carpet.
And this winter, something as simple as keeping your front door closed, keeping the warmth inside and having your lounge carpet back before the evening.
We have spent many years learning how to clean carpets properly.
Now we are learning something else.
When an old way still serves you well, keep it.
When a better way exists for your home, be willing to change.
The fire forced us to question things we might otherwise have carried on doing for another ten or twenty years.
That may be one of the few good things to come from it.
Thank you for giving me five minutes of your time.
And thank you for continuing to trust us in your home.
Pierre de Wet
Owner,
Careclean Essex Ltd

We want to make appointments, quotes, invoices and communication easier to keep track of. ServiceM8 gives our office and technicians a clearer view of each job, which should mean fewer loose ends, better updates and less reliance on paperwork. The aim is simply to make Careclean easier to deal with.
No. You can still phone us, email us and speak to a real person. Digital systems will help us organise things behind the scenes, but they are not replacing the personal contact that has always mattered at Careclean.
Probably, yes. You may receive clearer appointment confirmations, reminders and updates, including a message when your technician is on the way. We hope this means less wondering about timings and a better idea of what is happening with your booking.
In most cases, yes. Quotes, job information and invoices will increasingly be sent by email so you can find them easily when you need them. It also helps us reduce unnecessary paper. If you would prefer a paper copy, just tell us and we will do our best to accommodate that.
Absolutely. A digital system can organise information, but it cannot replace a proper conversation. Your technician will still talk you through what they find, explain the cleaning method they recommend and answer questions before the work begins.
That is exactly what we do not want. We are modernising the way information moves through the business, not changing the way we treat people. You should still be able to speak to us, ask questions and feel looked after. If technology ever makes dealing with Careclean harder rather than easier, we want you to tell us.
No. Hot water extraction remains an important professional cleaning method and there will still be carpets where we believe it is the right choice. We are adding low-moisture cleaning so our technicians have more than one professional option available. The aim is to choose the method that best suits the carpet and what needs to be achieved.
We look at the fibre, construction, condition, level of soiling, any stains or spills and how the room is used. You do not need to choose the machine or system yourself. We will assess what is in front of us, explain what we recommend and tell you why.
Yes, when it is the right method for the carpet. A good clean is not simply about how much water is used. Low-moisture cleaning combines professional cleaning solution, heat, agitation and absorbent pads to loosen and remove soil. If a carpet or particular area would benefit from being rinsed and extracted instead, we can do that too.
One of the biggest benefits of low-moisture cleaning is significantly reduced drying time. On suitable carpets, we may see drying times of around 30 to 60 minutes rather than several hours. Carpet type, room conditions and the amount of treatment required can all affect this, so we will always give you a realistic expectation.
Unfortunately not. Some stains can be removed completely, some can be improved considerably, and others may have permanently altered the colour or structure of the fibre. Our technicians will exhaust the sensible cleaning options available to them and explain honestly what they believe can and cannot be achieved.
Yes. In some situations that may be exactly what we recommend. Most of a carpet may respond very well to low-moisture cleaning while one heavily contaminated area or substantial spill benefits from rinsing and extraction. This lets us use more water only where we believe it is genuinely useful while retaining faster drying across the rest of the room.
A personal note from Pierre: some big changes are coming to Careclean, and most trace back to the fire at Highlands Farm.
A personal note from Pierre: some big changes are coming to Careclean, and most trace back to the fire at Highlands Farm.






A personal note from Pierre: some big changes are coming to Careclean, and most trace back to the fire at Highlands Farm.
A personal note from Pierre: some big changes are coming to Careclean, and most trace back to the fire at Highlands Farm.



