Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: heritagecleaning on September 28, 2013, 05:25:41 pm

Title: Why so much foam?
Post by: heritagecleaning on September 28, 2013, 05:25:41 pm

For the second time in 2 weeks yesterday I sucked a good dose of foam through the vac motors  :(

The problem is I was using a good defoamer and the tank was still 1/3 waste water to 2/3 whipped up foam. I was using Powerburst.

I'll try increasing the amount of defoamer, but could there be some other cause?

Title: Re: Why so much foam?
Post by: M.Acorn on September 28, 2013, 06:05:08 pm

Don't really have foaming probs using p/b,must be the custy using something ?

Title: Re: Why so much foam?
Post by: Carpet Dawg on September 28, 2013, 06:15:03 pm

you might have a small crack in the waste tank or the waste tank lid. Either that or more likely the customer has used something.

Give the waste tank a good clean out then inspect.

Title: Re: Why so much foam?
Post by: heritagecleaning on September 28, 2013, 07:03:19 pm

Thanks, I'll take a good look.

Title: Re: Why so much foam?
Post by: wayne zabel on September 28, 2013, 07:29:59 pm

Is it just me,but i seem to get a lot of foam in the waste tank when using PB.

I always get high foam when mixing the stuff also,I sometimes add a drop of Citraboost and this stops it foaming.

Title: Re: Why so much foam?
Post by: Mike Roper on September 29, 2013, 08:32:26 am

Just to understand -you are using PB as a prespray not directly in the tank?
Mike

Title: Re: Why so much foam?
Post by: wayne zabel on September 29, 2013, 09:27:39 am

I dont know if your post is directed at the OP or me Mike.

I use PB as a pre spray and when mixing in the bucket prior to putting in the sprayer I find it foams up quite a lot.Its better if I mix the powder to the water on not vice versa.

I find a drop of Citraboost in the bucket stops the foaming.

I also find it foams in the waste tank and I have to use a lot of Defoamer.

Title: Re: Why so much foam?
Post by: Mike Halliday on September 29, 2013, 10:39:38 am

I once read that you should suck the  defoamer  down the vac hose to coat the inside, this makes it more effective.... Don't know how true it is.

Title: Re: Why so much foam?
Post by: Steve. Taylor on September 29, 2013, 10:56:34 am

Leave a bar of soap in the waste tank if you can put it in a net bag and keep it from blocking the waste outlet.

mix a little IPA Alcohol in water and suck it through the hose with 1 vac running. most foam problems I have had are from customers using supermarket carpet cleaners before.

Title: Re: Why so much foam?
Post by: heritagecleaning on September 29, 2013, 11:10:25 am

I'll use some SPM tomorrow - see if there's any difference.

Title: Re: Why so much foam?
Post by: Darran Pryce on September 29, 2013, 04:01:49 pm

Quote from: heritagecleaning on September 29, 2013, 11:10:25 am

I'll use some SPM tomorrow - see if there's any difference.

One good thing with SPM I have never had foam in my tank after cleaning.  If custy has used vanish or 1001 a lot on there carpet might be this.