NORTH JEFFERSON —
Johnny Manasco is the owner and operator of Ray’s Carpet Cleaning, which services all of Jefferson and Blount Counties and some of Shelby County.
“Ray” is Manasco’s father, who started the business in 1979 and turned it over to Manasco about eight years ago.
“When he went to the bank to get a loan to start the business, they said he’d never make it,” said Manasco.
Manasco and his one-man staff drive a truck outfitted with a sophisticated steam-cleaning machine Mounted onto it; it’s nothing like the portable ones that many people buy in stores. The cleaners run hoses and special shampooing vacuums into customers’ homes or businesses use their special steam-cleaning detergent to get the job done.
Although he hasn’t owned the business long, Manasco worked for his father for years; he started cleaning carpets in the afternoons when he was in high school.
“I learn something new every day,” he said. “Every house is different.”
He said he likes his job because he escapes the monotony of a desk job. His customers are as varied as the houses he cleans.
“A lot of your customers you never see,” he said. “They’ll just leave a key for you or the garage door open. But when you’ve been cleaning for somebody that long, they trust you like that.”
He said the difference between a dirty carpet and a cleaned one is “like night and day.” He said he’s even had some customers moved to tears after seeing their carpets cleaned.
To contact Ray’s Carpet Cleaning, call 631-7797.
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Related Photos
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Johnny Manasco steam cleans a carpet at a Gardendale home. Manasco has been in the business since high school.
Discussion
Carpet cleaner inherited dad’s business
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