Alltec Rotavac

« **on:** February 28, 2004, 05:54:41 pm »

I'm thinking of buying a Rotovac but would like to find out what other cleaners think of it before I do. At the moment I Bonnet Buff first then clean with a HWE machine

« **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2004, 06:18:29 pm »

William,

I have never use a Rotavac but was intrigued by your current method.

Bonnet buffing is a fast, low-moisture method most commonly applied to 'maintenance' cleans since its' effect is mainly a surface clean ( on low-soil, low profile synthetic piles its results can be close to HWE).

HWE is a deep cleaning method.

I have used bonnet buffing subsequent to HWE for various reasons - rapid drying, tile joint-wick problems etc., but never the other way round.

Why do you do this?

John.

« **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2004, 06:26:34 pm »

Use of a bonnet in this way, may seem unusual, but it's just like agitating prespray on upholstery with a hand mitten, or towel.
It performs the same function on carpet.
It is more usual to perform the other way round, though.

« **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2004, 06:52:58 pm »

I use this method as I have found that it cuts down the overall cleaning time and on badly soiled carpets it works wonders without me having a cardiac arrest

« **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2004, 07:08:02 pm »

Clive at Astra Clean has one for sale.

contact-us@astraclean.com

« **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2004, 07:46:14 pm »

William,

I had thought that pre-spray agitation was likely to be the reason but surely a brush is more appropriate since not only will it give better pile penetration, breaking up impacted soil at pile-base but, not being absorbent, will agitate without removal.

Examine the purposes of pre-spray agitation:

1] To homogenise treatment - here absorbancy is dissadvantageous.

2] Mechanical disturbance - the physical loosening of insoluble particles and the mixing of soluble elements of the soil with the solvent, dispersant, degredant or emulsifier being employed. The advantages of bristles are obvious here.

3] Physical pre-conditioning of pile to enable more efficient extraction - the 'flattening' effect of the bonnet does not achieve this.

I can accept that in rare instances, agitation by bonnet will have some advantages but not in the general run of cleans

Absorbent agitation on upholstery is a different matter due to the relative thickness of the fabric, the nature of the soiling and the relative absorbancy of the substrate.

I am not saying that what you are doing is wrong, only that there is a better way that requires no more time and no additional effort on your part.

Regards,

John.

« **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2004, 08:25:51 pm »

Hi John,
your observations as to pile depth on carpet and a brush being more suitable are correct.
Using a bonnet to agitate does seem rare, but in some cases may be effective. I'm sure William will learn from trial and error, what is most suitable for him personally.

« **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2004, 09:57:03 pm »

Rotavac - Sheffield Shauns got he thinks it was well worth the MONEY!
Dave

« **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2004, 10:35:37 pm »

Hey Dave

That one is sold to the FAT Bloke from Dewsbury for 5 Eccles cakes.

« **Reply #9 on:** February 29, 2004, 04:16:17 pm »

John

There have been several instances when I have used a bonnet prior to HWE.

Example.... very old carpets where the 27" strips have been sewn together and the quality of the stitching is questionable.

Vacuum thoroughly, pre-spray, bonnet and HWE reduced to a minimum....works a treat.

Cheers
Derek

« **Reply #10 on:** February 29, 2004, 04:35:00 pm »

Derek,

That make sense but on the occasions I have come across that situation I was not brave enough to bonnet - hand pile brush seemed a safer option.

Thankfully these days hand-stitched carpets are relatively rare and 27" strips even rarer

John.

« **Reply #11 on:** February 29, 2004, 05:40:39 pm »

John,

Sadly the hand stitched 27 inch wide carpet is making a bit of a comeback in London. Quite a few times in the last year I have come across recent installations of this type of carpet. It seems to be some kind of status symbol to have this kind of carpet - no doubt at considerable cost :

. I have cleaned alot of it over the years and have not yet experienced any problems.

Alot of my older clients have had this style of carpet in their homes for 30 plus years and it is still in excellent condition. This is testament to the theory that they don't make things the way they used to.

Nigel

« **Reply #12 on:** February 29, 2004, 07:48:58 pm »

Too right Nigel

I am still occasionally coming across the thirty year old versions.

John... I have carried out this type of combination clean on some real 'iffy' seams ( that's a Leicester technical term) successfully

Derek

« **Reply #13 on:** February 29, 2004, 08:44:04 pm »

Strange how experiences vary - I cannot recall coming across narrow-band in the last 20yrs or so. Much that I did encounter was in such poor condition that I had to do some re-stitching before I started the clean.

The problem was partly due to the fact that, when working with such narrow widths, it is hard to avoid seams in doorways.

I suspect that the new installations Nigel is encountering will be in households where the extent of deteriation will not ever reach the real problem level.

In any even I'll be retired before these installation become old.

John.

« **Reply #14 on:** February 29, 2004, 11:36:14 pm »

When the fat bloke has the readies I'll delivery it to his door, but he's had a bad time of it of late and spends all of his disposable income or porn

re 27" carpet, that was my first carpet clean, a crossley sultana and I think if memory serves me correctly don't they also call it 'body carpet'

Shaun

« **Reply #15 on:** April 04, 2004, 02:04:49 am »

27" carpet is correctly known in the carpet trade as 3/4 body. The reason being that 27" is 3/4 of a yard. It is still used for stair runners and also for splitting in half down the lengh when being used in border work.

« **Reply #16 on:** April 05, 2004, 01:25:45 am »

Most of my carpet jobs involve cleaning small areas of dirty carpet and very much larger unsoiled areas.

I bonnet as first choice if appropriate, and follow up with a small HWE handy for deep or stubborn stains, and obstinate traffic lanes.Results are very good indeed. Clients are happy and so am I.

Very very occasionally, I am not happy with the bonnet result and I then do the whole lot again with HWE.

« **Reply #17 on:** April 05, 2004, 01:53:34 am »

Is the rotavac an exclusive Alltec product or are they just buying it from some other manufacturer?. I know nothing about it but I have an Alltec Rotabrush which I never thought was as good as Extractas Scrubba De Luxe

« **Reply #18 on:** April 05, 2004, 03:09:13 am »

Fintan

Take a look at

http://www.carpet-cleaning-equipment.net/

I have been using a Rotavac for the last 3 weeks results are fantastic after I robbed it from Sheffield Shaun who stole it from Dave Lee who wishes he had never parted with it.

« **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2004, 01:56:01 am »

Just as I thought John, so Rotavac is not really an Alltec product at all , they are merely stockists.

« **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2004, 01:52:38 pm »

John,
By your own admission, you are not the rightful owner of the said Rotovac, you have RECEIVED it as proceeds of the original crime. Knowing you John, repentance is your only saviour -SO HAND IT BACK!

Dave.

« **Reply #21 on:** April 11, 2004, 02:48:24 pm »

"Lord please forgive me for I have sinned"

Swap yer it back for yer RX and a few Chorley cakes and an Easter Egg.

:

« **Reply #22 on:** April 13, 2004, 07:19:33 am »

Again looking at prices of equipment on US site, Makes me distrust UK suppliers.

In an International Market place I am puzzled why we pay such high prices.

Or why can we not make the machines in UK

« **Reply #23 on:** April 13, 2004, 11:39:15 am »

I think this country companies are charging to much, for example if you buy a 2 jet wand in the U.S.A you will pay $231.00 which = £141.09, whereas the same wand is sold in this country for £295 + vat which is a whopping £346.62 and over double what America will charge you.

« **Reply #24 on:** April 13, 2004, 11:55:48 pm »

Ian

Sadly gone are the days of British manufacturing industry the Governments made sure of that in Taxation be national or local. Just a word of thought a friend owned a precision engineering com who done work for the MOD this was put out for tender who got it the Taiwanese!!!! Ooo I forgot the unions

Once Again I’m on my high horse.

I don’t distrust UK suppliers they need to make a profit the same as you and I.

Len

« **Reply #25 on:** April 14, 2004, 06:53:19 pm »

just buy direct from the states,you will have to pay import duties & tax but still a lot cheaper.

http://www.magicwandco.com/

Lee G

« **Reply #26 on:** April 14, 2004, 08:10:30 pm »

Does anyone actually use one of these machines.

Going by the reaction so far it seems not.

« **Reply #27 on:** April 14, 2004, 08:46:20 pm »

Woodman read the full post, I use one, bloody great.

« **Reply #28 on:** April 14, 2004, 08:57:07 pm »

This could be a guideline to actual costs when importing from the States. Carriage varies according to size and weight, but the biggest EXTRA is duty etc. which is a percentage of cost. I worked it out that the price in $$s is roughly what you would pay in £s when everything has been added on. e.g. In the states item costs $200,
Import it and cost is £200. I dont think this guideline is too far out.
Dave.

« **Reply #29 on:** April 15, 2004, 01:05:13 am »

Dave,

You have probably explained why UK look so high.

Did not realise we had to pay duty, just thouht it would be transport plus vat.

Cant remember paying duty when I sent contents of house back to uk from Canada but I guess that was personal stuff.

« **Reply #30 on:** April 15, 2004, 01:24:33 am »

Yes Ian,
Before new EU rules in fact when it was EEC. We moved back to UK after four years in Germany (Army). Didnt have to pay duty on any of our furniture, car and white goods as we had owned them more than two years, but got done for our camping trailer only owned 18 months and had to pay up.
Incidently, another guideline that seems to bear out - is that what you can buy for a pound in the UK - you can buy for a dollar in the States - no wonder the yanks have more disposable income than we have (on average.)
Dave.

« **Reply #31 on:** April 15, 2004, 01:50:48 am »

Dave hows your legs holding up? or should I call you Don Brennan :

Shaun

« **Reply #32 on:** April 18, 2004, 02:03:37 am »

Just as a matter of interest does anyone know what Alltecs price for the Rotovac is.

« **Reply #33 on:** April 18, 2004, 03:11:24 am »

Fintan,

£1795.00 + vat its on the alltec webiste

www.alltec.co.uk

Mark