There are people who can show you how to complete a cleaning process. Then there are people who help you understand what you are looking at, why a problem has happened and what to do when the job in front of you refuses to follow the textbook.
Jared Long belongs firmly in the second group.
With more than 25 years in the carpet cleaning trade, Jared has built a reputation for sharing practical knowledge in a way that cleaners can actually use. Through Train to Clean, he has helped people at every stage of the industry—from complete beginners preparing for their first job to experienced technicians wanting to sharpen their knowledge, reduce risk and take on more specialist work.
On Saturday 26 September 2026, Jared will be joining us at Cleanspec: On the Tools in Penrith. It is a chance to meet him, ask questions and find out what proper, hands-on professional training could do for your skills and your business.
Experience that has been earned on real jobs
Twenty-five years in this trade teaches you a few things.
It teaches you that two carpets which look similar can behave very differently. It teaches you that a stain is rarely impressed by confidence alone. And it definitely teaches you that the answer is not always another splash of chemical from the back of the van.
Jared's knowledge has been built through years of working with carpets, upholstery, fibres, fabrics, cleaning chemistry and the awkward problems that only seem to appear when the customer is watching.
That real-world experience is what makes his training so valuable. He understands the gap between learning a process in theory and standing in a customer's home having to make the right decision.
Training that explains the reason—not just the routine
Good training should never leave you with a list of steps and no idea what to do when one of them does not work.
Jared's approach is built around understanding. Why does the fibre matter? What is the soil doing? Which chemistry is appropriate? How much moisture can the fabric safely take? What risks should have been spotted before the machine was even switched on?
That detail helps cleaners stop guessing.
Instead of relying on one familiar method for every situation, delegates learn how to inspect properly, identify what they are dealing with and choose an approach based on the job in front of them. The result is not simply more knowledge. It is better judgement, safer working and the confidence to explain professional decisions to a customer.
From first-time cleaners to established businesses
One of Jared's strengths is his ability to teach people with very different levels of experience.
A new starter needs clear foundations without being made to feel lost in technical language. An established cleaner may already have years of experience but wants a deeper understanding of fibres, stain chemistry, delicate fabrics or risk. Both deserve training that meets them where they are and moves them forward.
Jared has helped many cleaners build that next level of confidence. For some, that means completing their first professional carpet clean without second-guessing every decision. For others, it means adding upholstery cleaning, tackling more technical stain work or finally feeling comfortable quoting for higher-value jobs they once would have avoided.
That is the real value of good training: it follows you back to work.
The knowledge behind Train to Clean
Jared is a co-founder of Train to Clean, delivering its professional courses alongside fellow trainer and co-founder Lee Breen.
Together, they combine practical trade experience with detailed technical knowledge. Their courses are designed to cover far more than how to operate a machine. They explore the science, judgement and problem-solving behind consistent professional results.
The current programme includes:
Carpet Cleaning & Stain Removal
This detailed two-day course moves from the essential foundations into more advanced technical understanding. It covers carpet construction, fibre identification, soil behaviour, cleaning chemistry, inspection, process selection, stain theory and methodical stain removal.
It is designed for newcomers and experienced cleaners alike, with a strong focus on understanding why a process is chosen—not simply copying it.
View the Carpet Cleaning & Stain Removal course
Upholstery Cleaning & Delicate Fabric Care
Upholstery can be a profitable addition to a cleaning business, but it is also an area where limited knowledge can quickly become expensive.
This two-day course covers fibre and fabric identification, pre-inspection, colourfastness testing, risk assessment, cleaning methods, chemical selection, stain treatment and moisture control. It helps cleaners understand how to approach everyday suites as well as delicate and higher-risk fabrics more safely.
View the Upholstery Cleaning & Delicate Fabric Care course
Why Jared has helped so many people
The best trainers do more than know their subject. They know how to make that knowledge useful to somebody else.
Jared is approachable, honest and generous with what he has learned. He knows that people arrive at training with different levels of confidence, different equipment and very different plans for their businesses. His job is not to make the trade sound mysterious. It is to help cleaners understand it.
Questions are encouraged. Real job problems are discussed. Mistakes become lessons rather than something to hide. There is room to ask the question you think everyone else already knows the answer to—because chances are, several other people wanted to ask it too.
That relaxed, practical approach has helped many delegates leave with more than notes and a certificate. They leave understanding their work better.
Meet Jared at Cleanspec: On the Tools
Jared will be at our On the Tools Open Day on Saturday 26 September, representing Train to Clean and sharing his experience with visitors throughout the day.
Thinking about entering the industry? Speak to him.
Already cleaning carpets but considering upholstery or more specialist stain work? Speak to him.
Bought plenty of chemicals but still not entirely sure when to use half of them? Definitely speak to him.
The Open Day has been created for honest conversations like these. You can meet experienced trainers, see professional machinery and systems in action, try selected equipment and work out what could genuinely help you or your business. There is no obligation to buy anything on the day.
Adult tickets are £15 and include the full event, live demonstrations, practical sessions, guest speakers, lunch, snacks and unlimited tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer and wine. Children are welcome and do not need a ticket.
Bring your questions
Training is an investment, and choosing the right course matters. The Open Day gives you the chance to meet Jared before committing, understand how Train to Clean teaches and ask which route best suits your experience and goals.
Come for the demonstrations. Stay for the conversations. Leave with a much clearer idea of what you could learn next.
Cleanspec: On the Tools
Saturday 26 September 2026 | 10AM–5PM
Cleanspec Cumbria Ltd, Penrith, CA11 9BL
