Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Chris R on August 22, 2004, 03:39:38 am
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This is getting interesting
Michel
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With a fresh water rinse I sometimes feel the need to re-apply the pre-spray on bad areas. :(
Chris
I've only been using micro-splitters a month.
I find a fresh water rinse sufficient but on traffic lanes I have found a 5:1 mix works much better than say a general cleaning mix of 15:1. So I have a micro-splitter "general cleaner" and a micro-splitter "traffic lane cleaner", if that makes sense.
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Intersting topic Chris.
There is nothing wrong with using a detergent rinse with your microsplitting solutions, and as you have found, it can reduce your cleaning time. However, I personally find it to not be required, is an unnecessary additional expense and also removes one of my USP's in that, with HWE, I like to leave the carpet/upholstery as near residue free as is possible.
From what you have posted above, one thought comes to mind. That very important part of the cleaning pie called AGITATION. It suggests to me that you are reducing the agitation and increasing the CHEMISTRY segment to balance the equation.
Let me explain how I make microsplitting work for me using my twin vac 100psi portable. Naturally I pre-vac thoroughly. I apply my solution through an adjustable Spraymaster in line sprayer. Typically at 1:16 but in very highly soiled areas I may turn the dial to 1:8. I then agitate with my HOST Machine. For residential wool or nylon I use the extra soft gold brushes, for polyprop the standard white and Flotex the black brushes. I continue to brush and brush and brush until the carpet "looks clean". I will sometimes use a spotting mix of M/Splitter on stubborn spots and spills whilst brushing. Only when I'm satisfied that the carpet's soil has been broken down will I then rinse the carpet. It is exceptionally rare that I need to repeat the process and apart from an occasionally acid rinse, I haven't used, or needed, a rinse agent for over 3 years.
As I stated at the beginning, there is nothing wrong with your method. You are filling the cleaning pie in a different way to myself. Your way has the benefit of reducing the time taken for agitation and, hopefully, the time taken to complete the job.
The Crystal Green you are using is a superb, premium quality detergent. In many cases I feel it would be a bit of overkill. As most of my residential work is on wool carpets, it's I product I wouldn't use myself.
Safe and happy cleaning:)
Ken
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Chris,
I totally endorse Kens' post to the letter.
With this approach the only tank additives I have used when using micro-splitters are bactericidal odour neutralisers (nursing homes) and, very occasionally, an acid rinse agent for dye stabilisation.
By adding detergent to the tank you are negating one of the main advantages of these pre-conditioners. If you feel that you must continue with this practise I would urge you to use something milder than Crystal Green and to use no more than half the normal amount.
John.
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Hi Guys
Well said John, The whole point of microsplitting technology is no detergent, if you wish to add a small amount of deodorsiser to either to the microsplitting prespray or the rinse tank it will have little effect on the cleaning capability of the Microsplitter, the secret is to keep the pre spray, agitation and rinse cycles close together and not to over spray the carpet or upholstery. Many people seem to still seem to consider additional dwell time, this is NOT an advantage.
Best regards Nick
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Thats right Nick ;D
I have found like Ken that aggitation is the key but it is hard to change your ways once you are set in them, i sometimes aggitate for 10-15 mins in traffic lane areas with my sebo duo. This is something i never would have done with my old Prohem range but it works.
allthough i must say Nick it diddnt work on that black top chinese restaraunt carpet did it Nick DID IT !!! ;)
Regards Nick (Holman)
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Just for Nick,
With the blacktop, which is pretty much waterproof, the micro-splitters require a little help beyond agitation to get into contact with the soil in order to work.
Prior treatment with either an enzyme or saponifier will be required.
John.
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Chinese black top - flamethrower works every time! :o
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Yes John i know that ::) i used enzyme last time with a good result but Nicky boy told me otherwise and at 2am sweating your boll ox off its not funny >:(
STILL GOT PAID AND CUSTOMER WAS HAPPY IN THE END ;D
regards Nick
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Nick,
So the Pixie let his enthusiasm rule his head ;)
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I think im just far too trusting with people with the same name as me :D
I stll love him though ;)
Nick
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TWO TIMING biatch :-*
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I am still expermenting with Micro Splitters
However the otherday I was cleaning a carpet to which I had applied Micro Splitters I had aggitated but not with Sebbo Duo or host
Carpet was discusting.
Started to extract results not happening fast enough.
Added Ultimate Master to tank hey presto excellent result.
Question should I have spent longer aggitating.
If so is this not inefficient as I obtained the desired result quicker using Ulitimate Master.
We also recently tested Ultimate Master against Ashbys Supreme my unbiased son said Ultimate Master gave best result, and should carry on using it He is between Chemistry Phd projects and is helping me out.
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John will you answer this one :D
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Ian & Nick,
Micro-splitters work on contact, but because they are applied with a fine mist-spray, they do require the agitation to bring them into contact with all the soil.
Having not agitated sufficiently, they had not had sufficient soil contact so failed to function fully, hense the poor result.
I, like many others, have found that used properly, overall cleaning and drying times are improved and the look and feel of the finished carpet is better than with conventional chemicals.
The added bonuses are that I believe these products to be the safest for me and my customers and are very cost-effective.
John.
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Thanks John
I knew the answer i just diddnt know how to explain it ???
I also find that a thorough pre vac makes for a better job sometimes a sebo duo and another pre vac is required.
Thought that might help ;)
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Can you get enough agitation with a brush or do you actually need sebo duo Paul
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i used a pile brush for about 2 days :( then brought a sebo!!
i had used a pile brush for the previous 13 years but for the required result for yourself and the client a sebo or host machine is required.
In my opinion anyway ;D
Nick
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Thanks John and Nick. I did aggitate bad bits for about five minutes with a pile brush.
Not sure if I want SeboDuo or Host.
Would like Rotavac but not sure if investment is worth it.
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Ian,
My Host T5 cost me about £1000 in 1985, but is still going strong. It is now out of production and second-hand ones are like rocking-horse droppings.
Before commiting to a Sebo Duo at least have a look at the Envirodry - more expensive but more robust.
John.
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In the summer of 2002 One Step gained WoolSafe approval for a product called ‘Fineline’. At the time I was working for a One Step distributor who also operated a national carpet cleaning division using truck mounts specialising in cleaning carpets in the retail and leisure industry. We had been using the standard One Step Carpet and Upholstery cleaning concentrate to great effect on nightclub carpets removing the tar like protein based soiling effortlessly. With the introduction of Fineline we found no difference in performance but obviously with its WoolSafe approval it was the better option for us to use on customer’s woollen carpets.
We applied One Step Fineline via a Hydroforce inline sprayer at 1:16 and fresh water rinsed with super heated water with no agitation. The carpets were left clean and remained cleaner for longer periods. We put this down to better soil releasing properties than detergent based equivalent products and the fact that the manufacturer also stated One Step would also help to release previous cleaning residues as well.
In the same week of its WoolSafe approval we ran a One Step seminar in Nottingham, which was attended by 44 carpet cleaners. Paul Baker of the Woolsafe Organisation was a guest speaker at the seminar and came to talk to the attendees about the WoolSafe programme. The day before Paul asked if he and his colleague Jim Smith (Woolsafe USA) could attend a nightclub clean and see One Step ‘Fineline’ in action for themselves. We duly cleaned a woven wool carpet with thick ‘black top’ and restored the clean appearance of the carpet. They were both satisfied that it cleaned to a very high standard.
There are a handful of non-detergent based cleaning products now available in the UK that claim to be based on One Step ‘Microsplitting’ technology and I have tested them all. Whilst one or two come close with their cleaning ability none match the actual soil removing ability of One Step.
If you haven’t got the result with the non-detergent based product that you are using then I would recommend trying One Step.
Whilst this post could be considered biased as I promote One Step, please remember that I am a professional carpet cleaner with my own cleaning business and providing the best possible results for my customers is paramount.
Regards
Steve