Cleaning fluid maker maps plans for China. (Chemspec Inc.)

An East Baltimore company is breaking into the carpet cleaning business in China.

Chemspec Inc. has started a joint venture with a Chinese company to sell cleaning equipment and chemicals in that country.

The deal is worth $6 million to Chemspec, and the company expects an additional $500,000 to $1 million in annual sales to the Chinese firm, according to David Ritterling, Chemspec's director of sales and marketing.

"This may well double their revenue in a 12-month period," said Peter O'Neill, manager of the trade development group in Maryland's Office of International Business, which helped put the deal together.

Ritterling declined to name the …