Miracle Machine Carpet Cleaning
Quarterly Newsletter
Volume 6, Issue 2 November, 2004 – David M. Van Geffen, Editor
Owners
David M. Van Geffen
Michele L. Van Geffen
Certified Technicians
Bob Wilson
Butch Rogers
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Pictures from Pensacola
Our Pile of Tear-Out Debris
Section of I-10 Missing
Sea Sludge in the Hall Bath
Major Mold behind the Wall
Survivin’ Ivan! By David M. Van Geffen
Or How We Spent Five Weeks in Gulf Breeze, Florida Helping
Residents Restore their Homes from Hurricane Damage
Let me preface this article first by telling you that my wife and I and our three boys
did evacuate from Metairie when it appeared as if Ivan was heading for the New Orleans
area. Our destination was actually a hotel in Hope, Arkansas, but we only made it as far as
Erath, Louisiana which is just past Lafayette because of the traffic nightmare. As anyone
else who evacuated from this area knows it was taking six to eight hours just to get to
Lafayette on the Tuesday before the storm. We had pretty much decided we would be
sleeping in our Suburban when my brother-in-law called us and told us we could stay with
his sister in Erath. She was gracious enough to house us (along with our two dogs) for two
days until it was safe to return to New Orleans. Naturally, I was fed up with the whole
evacuation business by the time I got home and was telling my wife that once again it was a
waste of time because the storm didn’t hit us. This was how I felt then. I feel very
differently now.
Two days after Ivan hit Pensacola, I received a call from a fellow carpet cleaner and
water damage expert who was heading to the Florida gulf coast to help out another friend of
his who has a water damage restoration business in Gulf Breeze, Florida. My friend, Keith,
told me that this could be a great opportunity to really learn what true hurricane restoration
was all about and a way to get plenty of experience in case New Orleans is ever hit with this
big of a storm. I really didn’t think I would be able to go and I wasn’t even sure if I wanted
to, but after discussing the phone call with my wife, Michele, we agreed that it would be a
great opportunity and that I definitely should go. Michele felt that with Bob and Butch
handling the carpet cleaning and technical problems and our new awesome office assistant,
Carla, helping her out with the administrative duties that there should be no problem with me
taking off to Florida for a few weeks. She gave me the encouragement I needed and within a
few hours I was in Home Depot buying the supplies that Keith told me to get. Keith, Jason
(another local water damage professional), and myself headed out the very next day to
Pensacola, not knowing what to expect. At this point it was Sunday, only three days after
Ivan had hit the gulf coast, and we were in for more than we ever bargained for.
The entire Pensacola area was like a war zone. Over 90% of the city was without
power, there was absolutely no gas available, the water supply was contaminated, almost
every road was blocked with fallen trees and debris, roofs were either totally missing or
heavily damaged at just about every building we saw, and entire forests looked like so many
broken matchsticks. A bridged section of I-10 that crossed Escambia Bay had totally been
washed away by the tidal surge of the storm. National guardsmen and Florida state troopers
were everywhere trying to keep the peace and prevent looting. I truly felt like I was in wartorn Iraq that first day. I have to say though that everyone in the city was working together
those first few days to try to establish order and to help those who suffered worse than
themselves. It was truly amazing how this entire city pulled together at this time of crisis and
did what needed to be done.
The next day, Monday, we got set up in a neighborhood in Gulf Breeze called Tiger
Point on a street called Greenview Lane and immediately we were knee deep in water
damage restoration. These houses had all gotten three to five feet of seawater into their
homes and they are almost a mile from the Gulf of Mexico. Everything these people owned
was strewn about the front lawns in a desperate effort to salvage what they could.
Unfortunately every bio-contaminant known to man had probably flowed through these poor
peoples’ furnishings. Most of the homes we worked in had also received major roof damage
Continued on Page 2
More Pensacola Pictures
Roof Damage on Greenview
from the hurricane and we had to totally gut two of them from floor to ceiling of all of the
sheetrock and insulation. We pulled out cabinets and appliances and bathtubs and huge
built-in entertainment centers. Then we had to pressure wash the exposed studs and treat
everything with a concentrated bleach solution and a powerful antimicrobial before we could
put in the dehumidifiers and air movers to dry everything up. It was certainly unlike
anything I had ever done before and I learned a great deal. Luckily, I was able to get Bob to
come there for two weeks and help us out while Butch stayed in New Orleans and cleaned
carpets. He was with me for the worst of it and I know he appreciated the experience.
Throughout the course of the five weeks I spent there we were able to restore eight
homes on that same street to the point that the residents could begin reconstruction. We got
to be great friends with all of the neighbors and we hope to visit them again in a year or so to
see how their homes all turned out. I truly was homesick after a while and missed my wife
and kids desperately, but I am happy I was able to go and help out. I know now that at least
eight homes that fell victim to “Ivan the Terrible” are going to be alright and will be mold
and pathogen free for those families to enjoy again.
Oh, and one last thing, if there is ever a category three storm or bigger bearing
down on New Orleans – GET OUT OF TOWN! You don’t want to be there for it. A
couple of days before I came home, a debris clean up crew on Pensacola Beach found sixteen
more bodies that were victims of Ivan’s wrath. It may be a nightmare sitting in traffic with a
car full of screaming kids and nervous pets but after what I have seen the past few weeks of
what a storm that size can do – DON’T HESITATE, PLEASE EVACUATE!
One Client’s Amazing Testimonial!
“A Meatball Miracle” by Connie Baer
Bob and Butch performed a “miracle” at my house today. They saved my
oriental rug and two wing chairs from the garbage truck!
Gutting behind the Fireplace
Beached Sailboat at the Harbor
Over the weekend, my daughter was having an end-of-school swimming party at our
home with about 50 friends. It was about 30 minutes before all of her friends were to
arrive and I decided to start putting out the food. My kitchen is on one side of the
house and the covered patio is on the other. My den is in the middle. In my haste, I
decided to cross through the den with about 100 meatballs in tomato sauce. I thought
the door to the patio was opened, but it was not. So I paused in the den and within a
minute the container the hot meatballs were in collapsed. It was like a volcanic
eruption of meatballs! About half of them hit the rug and floor, and the sauce popped
out everywhere. It went as high up as my lamps and splattered on everything including
both of my cloth wing chairs. My family and I were in shock. I think my husband and
daughter were just glad that I had made the mess and not them. With guests arriving
there was no time to cry. I just scooped up the meatballs, rolled up the rug, mopped the
floor and turned down the lights in the den. Luckily the party was outside so no one
had to see the mess.
On Monday I called Miracle Machine, as I have been using your service for several
years. Although I was certain that my rug and chairs were ruined, I thought I should
at least see if they could be saved. The alternative was replacing these pieces and that
would have cost us several thousand dollars. Everyone was very accommodating and
an appointment was set up for the same day. When Bob and Butch arrived, I showed
them the damage. They were cautiously optimistic and took all of the damaged pieces
outside to clean them. Bob even said that if he couldn’t get out the stains, he wouldn’t
charge me. To my amazement, they were able to get every bit of the red tomato sauce
out of the chairs and the oriental rug. I called my husband and he was thrilled too,
probably because we didn’t have to replace anything!
I was pleased with Miracle Machine before today, but now I’m your greatest fan and
most devoted customer. Thanks to Bob and Butch for making my meatball disaster go
away.
Your grateful and devoted customer for life,
Connie Baer
Bob Playing in Ceiling Insulation
2
2004 in Review
Miracle Machine’s
Most Exciting Events of 2004
Top Ten List
10. Paul and Susan de St. Germain
decide to retire which allows David
and Michele to purchase 100% of
the stock.
9. Butch Rogers becomes certified
in Upholstery Cleaning and David
Van Geffen becomes certified in
Color Repair.
8. As vice president of the Gulf
South Carpet Cleaners
Association, David co-sponsors
Cleanapalooza trade-show event in
Slidell. It was a great time!
7. Finally, after 12 years of
running this business out of a
house – we start leasing an office.
We never knew what a difference
this would make in our lives!
6. Add pick up and delivery of
oriental rugs to our list of services.
5. Purchase two new vans, one
new cleaning machine, and retire
our original van, “Christine,” after
twelve years of service. Farewell to
a faithful friend!
4. Hire our wonderful new office
assistant, Carla, to help Michele
out at the new office. Welcome
aboard, Carla!
3. Promote Bob Wilson to
Operations Manager to assist
David with the technical aspects of
the business. Great Decision!
2. David and Bob get extensive
water damage restoration training
helping out Hurricane Ivan victims
on the Florida Gulf Coast.
1. Miracle Machine is on track in
2004 to have its most profitable
year ever thanks to all of our
fantastically loyal clients and
employees!
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Thanks to every one of our friends and clients who have so unselfishly raved
about our business and have generated so much new business for our little
company. We truly appreciate it and as you all probably know by now you get
$10 in either cash or gift certificates for every referral that becomes one of our
new clients. Here are all the people and businesses that referred us since the last
newsletter – June through October 2004.
June 2004 – Bridget Naccari, Cheryl Walker, Eileen Amato, Keith Melton, Isabel
Reynolds, Pat Massarini, Shirley Bernadas, JoAnne Guillot, Sally Hampton, Debbie Spera,
Kris McCullough, Lauren Pays, Dawn McBurney, Tanya LaCoste, Stephanie Benson, and
Diane Nowick. Special thanks to Maid to Perfection, Perque Flooring, Lakeside
Camera, St. Augustine School, Brown & Demare, Jim Owens Flooring, Prudential
Gardner Realtors and George Young.
July 2004 – JoAnne Guillot, Laurie Fulham, Camille Chiarella, Mary Centanni, Melissa
Hildreth, Glen Charouleau, Jack Collins, Darlene Frosch, Jane Bordelon, Ron Kippers,
Tim Armstrong, Alma Roohi, Ann Kimball, Chris Lanson, John Unger, Julia James,
Valerie Larmeu, Shawn McBride, Nelda Turner, Julie Asprodites, and Stacie Hicks.
Special thanks to Perque Flooring, Billy Lavene, Prudential Gardner Realtors, Modern
Flooring, Stirling Properties, Elliot Floors, and George Young.
August 2004 – Ann Kimball, Glen Charouleau, Nick Glorioso, Tim Armstrong, Kendra
Shorter, Debbie Spera, Kathy Burkham, George Ball, Joe Moerschbaecher, Dale Messina,
Nicole Hipps, Mary McConnell, Donna Dalton, Dare Richards, Deloris Perkins, Robert
Galaforo, Janet Keller, Debbie Spizale, Sheila Pippen, Shirley Hyde, John Unger, Sandra
Hunt, and Charlene Persich. Special thanks to St. Martin’s School, Perque Flooring,
Modern Flooring, Prudential Gardner Realtors, Lukinovich Law Firm, Jim Owens
Flooring, and George Young.
September 2004 – Melissa Lowentritt, Fran Vincent, Tim Armstrong, Jackie Madden,
Alma Roohi, Bonnie McGuinness, Donna Goodlett, Shirley Hyde, Mike Skertich, Martha
Villavasco, Sherrie Perque, and Brenda Mastio. Special thanks to Prudential Gardner
Realtors, Jim Owens Flooring, St. Augustine School, Perque Flooring, and George
Young.
October 2004 – Loretta Martin, Gaynell Reuter, Peggy Ramano, Barbara D’Aunoy, Kathy
Owens, Patty Lannon, Brian Lindsey, Norma Heurtin, Rae Bryan, Alma Roohi, Stephanie
Benson, Tina Toups, Billy Bath, Cindy Van Geffen, Marcie Miller, Trisha Grieshop, Rosie
Carroll, Ron Kippers, Camille Chiarella, Beth Coman, Carolyn Seigel, Dawn Duxworth,
Sandy Ward, and Connie Dietrich. Special thanks to Prudential Gardner Realtors and
Perque Flooring.
Thanks again for spreading the word. We truly appreciate it!
Miracle Machine Carpet Cleaning
454-1705
Miracle Machine Carpet Cleaning
454-1705
Holiday Carpet
Cleaning Special!
Holiday Upholstery Special!
One Room Cleaned Free When
3 Other Rooms Are Cleaned!
One Piece of Upholstery
Cleaned Free When 2 Other
Pieces Are Cleaned!
(Use before or after the herd of relatives
comes through your house!)
Have any 3 rooms cleaned and get one room of
equal or smaller size cleaned for free! Use on as
many rooms of cleaning as you like. Stairs may
be substituted for one room. You may not use
this with any other carpet cleaning specials.
Coupon Expires 1/15/05
Happy Holidays from Miracle Machine!
Time to Beautify your Furnishings!
Have any 2 pieces of upholstery cleaned and get
another one cleaned for free of equal or smaller
size! Use on as many pieces of upholstery as you
like. You may not use this with any other
upholstery promotions.
Coupon Expires 1/15/05
Happy Holidays from Miracle Machine!
3
Inside This Issue:
Page 1 – Hurricane Ivan Story
Pictures from Pensacola
Page 2 – A Meatball Miracle
More Pictures
Page 3 – Referrals
The Miracle Machine Unbelievable Guarantee
If you are not totally delighted with the results of your cleaning, we
will re-clean your carpets or upholstery as soon as possible. If you
are still not delighted, we’ll refund your money AND if you find
another cleaning company that gives you better results than we did,
we’ll pay their bill, guaranteed!
2004 in Review
Coupons
Page 4 – Unbelievable Guarantee
Stain Protection Coupon
Dupont
Teflon®
Miracle Machine Carpet Cleaning
454-1705
Super Stain Protection
Holiday Special!
3M
Scotchgard™
Have 3 Rooms Of Carpet Stain Protected and Get the Next One of Equal
or Smaller Size Stain Protected for Free! Use on as many rooms as you
like. Stairs may be substituted for one room.
And / Or
Have 2 Pieces of Upholstery Stain Protected and Get the Next Piece of
Equal or Smaller Size Stain Protected for Free! Use on as many pieces of
upholstery as you like.
You may combine this coupon with either the carpet cleaning or upholstery cleaning
specials (or both) in this newsletter but no other discounts can be used in conjunction
with this special. Coupon expires 1/15/05
Miracle Machine Carpet Cleaning
1100 24th St. Suite I
Kenner, LA 70062
(504) 454-1705
www.miracle-machine.com
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“Avoid Uneducated, Uninformed, & Downright
Unscrupulous Carpet Cleaners!”
Instead, Call Miracle Machine at 454-1705 Today!