Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: cleaningjack on August 25, 2004, 11:26:46 am
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hi guys just a question i have a job cleaning carpet tiles
in a office block and the tiles are on floor boards
could you recommend a metod of cleaning as the tiles in some areas are quite soiled and i dont want to damage the boards underneath
need your advice cheers
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Texatherm or Dry Fusion.
If not available, then the usual prep, pre -spray with solutions no2 and roto off using charley pads.
Good Luck
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While the subject of carpets tiles has been brought up. I've only got one cleaning system i.e. HWE machine with Extracta's Scrubba Deluxe power brush. I've always cleaned carpet tiles with this and results have been good. But I suspect that I'm leaving alot of water behind with no pile to get good suction. Could someone enlighten me. Am I using a most inappropriate system for cleaning carpet tiles? And could someone recommend a better method.
Chris
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Chris & CJ,
My preferance is to use a wand on these as it affords me greater control over both the water put down and extracted.
I know that many have problems with wick-back on these tiles and although I have never had the problem myself, I ofter recommend a LM approach such as sugested by Woodman.
John
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Hi Chris
I thought I just had above ;D
HWE is not the best method IMO but as you've discoverd does a reasonable,passable job in most instances.
On the other hand the other week I had to call on a firm that had their carpet tiles HWE cleaned by a the cleaners and they looked awfull still damp in places,browned and soiled.
I corrected this with texatherm no problem and a job was won ;)
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Thought I would add this to the thread as it's sort of relevant.
Revolutionary new commercial carpet care technology called ReadySpace (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040825/cgw028_1.html)
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I have 200 sq m of tiles to clean soon. I have a dry system using "sponges" (chicken feed) also HWE - microsplitting.
What do guys think is my best bet?
Jacko
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Jacko, of the two systems you mention,microsplitters is best in my opinion,agitate well and you should be able to extract succesfully, use plenty drying passes.
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I'd say Texatherm all the way fella for speed, noise, and dry with 30 minutes. And the results are good
alex
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Texatherm or Dry Fusion would be best but unfortunately Jacko has only a choice between solvent soaked sponges or hwe and of the two he would be better going with hwe.
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Whenever i clean commercial grade lowprofile carpeting or tiles i always hwe then apply solutions to a tex pad & spin over the entire area.using this method gives you the best of both worlds,the apperence of the carpet looks better after padding .
ps
i have a low profile carpet in my kids playroom this is were the dogs & kids play,it leades streight on to my garden so you can imagen the dirt being brought in by kids & dogs.
well i heavely pre vaced carpet applies a pre spray (no names mentioned) scrubed let dewll then padded over entire area using new clean pads when needed.6 hours after cleaning carpet very patchy & dull apperence to entire area.
now this is on a dommestic carpet not heavely trodden in dirt & grime only surface dirt.
Lee G
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Serves you right, should have used a t/m. ;D ;D ;D
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Ive used HWE on tiles for yrs,never had a problem with drying times or wicking, ive got a twin vac machine,and if you take care,you can get good drying times, about an hr, but loop pile polyprob,the only way is Hwe the good old bonnett. imo!! :-X
Dave
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CleaningJack;
I don't think I may add alot more to the recommendations above; however, this would be my approach:
1. I would recommend using a 12" wand because this offers greater versatility for much better extraction if the floor or tiles are alittle uneven.
2. (If available) Utilize high CFM's/Airflow for a more through extraction just in case the floor is alittle uneven.
3. Ofcourse, a good pre-spray and dwell time may be required if the tiles are extremely dirty.
Good Fortune to you;
Ed Valentine
cross-american corp.
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Not so worried about technical details as most of you but could someone explain what my old mate Ed means by if availalable utilitize high cfms airflow.
If not available how do you get it.
Also how do you stop the tiles from lifting?
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2. (If available) Utilize high CFM's/Airflow for a more through extraction just in case the floor is alittle uneven.
turn unit to full power (vac)
to keep the tiles from lifting DONT TAKE YOUR WAND OFF THE TILES.
LeeG
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Ian,
Airflow is measured in Cubic Feet per Minute.
When working on an uneven surface and the carpet cannot be lifted to the wand-mouth to effect a seal, the amount of airflow across the carpet is more important that the total vacuum lift
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John , did wonder if a personal message would be more suitable Ed says if possible use high cfms? How do you do it
The only control Ive got is to switch a vac off, which would not help/ I have not added a third vac .
Perhaps Eds machine has a gadget
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When extracting carpet tiles which have rubber or bitumen backings and very little pile, to increase air flow at the wand tip i lower the handle so raising to front of the vacuum slot, i usually do this as a second dry pass.
Does the Recoil have a high air flow wand (vented) ???
Paul
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I dont type fast but I know how to get a good result on carpet tiles. Texatherm or Dry Fusion is the best way. If hwe is the only system available pre spray with Spitfire Advance.you get it from Dry Fusion c50 quid for 25l.Neutral ph increases air flow fast drying wont cause browning.Can be used on bad night club carpets and fine fabrics.The best pre spray on the market and Ive tried most of em.After youve sprayed on the Spitfire Advance work it in with a brush then wand it out with yer favourite detergent. You cant beat a good waz over with a bonnet on the bad bits to improve the finish if necessary. Better to invest in Dry Fusion though having said all that ! Good luck comrade> Mike T
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Ian,
The only way to increase airflow with your existing machine (without modification is with wand technique.
Paul has mentioned lowering the wand to induce airflow at the front lip on the second dry pass, but remembering that not only the quantity but the proportion of water recovered diminishes rapidly in a few seconds after application I feel this not to be the best approach.
By raising the handle slightly whilst spraying airflow is increased at the jet-side lip, inducing a flow of the injected water horizontally through the surface fibres, enhancing both water recovery and flushing action. As soon as the wand has passed a section of carpet any remaining water starts its' downward journey into the lower structure of the carpet.
Now, with the first dry pass, the requirement is to raise water from deeper in the carpets' structure. The proportion of water (complete with any additional soil collected) that is recoverable is necessarily reduced but to maximise this proportion, water lift, rather than airflow becomes the prime concern so a foreword push stroke with both lips seated is best.
On a very dirty tile or glue-down it is now worthwhile to to a further, quick, wet pass using the wand at the angle of the first pass, to flush this raised soil. Subsequent dry passes then use high airflow at the leading lip.
The Recoil does not come with a vented wand. I am sure that as a cleaner/designer with a passion for the industry and more interested in improvements to the available equipment than simple pushing out machines, Ed did consider wand-venting. My own views on that topic could fill a length post but for now I will confine myself to simply saying that a vented wand is always vented in the same way, whereas the venting of a non-vented wand is in the control of the operator and subject to his/her wand skills.
The 'gadget' Eds' machine has is the total design concept - AO all the way.
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Hello Guys
Did this job today and went fine. Agitated well, and 3 drying passes of wand. Tiles were dry within 30 mins (and there was very little ventilation as the top of a big Church) I used my air mover to good effect. Job took 10 hours. Only hassle was removing lots of gum (but made easier by Solutions Chewing Gum Remover) - thanks Nick - excellant product.!
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There are several problems of cleaning carpet titles with the wet cleaning methods.
#1. A lot of carpet tiles are on computer raised floors where electrical wires run underneath. If water makes it's way underneath sub-tile-floor and gets into the electrical, there can be more than just damage to the carpet tiles.
#2. Carpet tiles are glued down. To much moisture along with hot water will be more than enough to cause the adhesive to loosen and thus carpet tiles can not only come up from the the sub-tile-floor, but the adhesives that actually hold the carpet tiles together. In otherwords, you have adhesive between the floor and the tile and adhesive between the fibers and the backing. It's almost a guarantee that if you wet clean carpet tiles you're going to have problems. I hate to be blunt, but that's the truth of the matter.
#3. Yellowing and browning are very common problems with traditional wet cleaning in general, but on carpet tiles is even more-so.
#4. The system that I have been using over 20 years is called the Host Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning Method. Host is a moist granule cellulose sponges that have the similar principal as your kitchen counter top sponge. Those cellulose granule sponges are very capable of loosing, trapping and absorbing dirt and grime without leaving the carpets sopping wet, uneven, dull, or even watermarks. Those problems aren't a problem with Host. Carpets are usually able to be put back into use immediately after cleaning (no down time). You won't have any problems with all of the above listed, and no water marks, browning, delimitation, etc. And best of all, you don't have to worry about putting any protectors back underneath your furniture after cleaning. Very little furniture needs to be moved anyway, and no water will travel under the carpet to get existing furniture wet. This system is a true time-saver and can even be used to clean Sisal products. Wet cleaning is strictly discouraged by the manufactures who make them. Most of those manufactures will tell you to "Host Dry Clean Only." I have been cleaning with Host for over 20 years, belong to the HPCA and have had personal experience in cleaning carpet titles in a building I use to work in. That was a 24 communications building in which the workers would either only have their break time or either stand aside from their desk while I cleaned their carpet tiles. Then they were back working immediately after cleaning.
If you would like a Host Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning professional in your area, simply leave your post with all your contact information (email, city, state and country) and I'll be happy to forward it onto you.
I hope all this information helps.
Charles
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I use cahrly pads on tiles seems to work fine most of the time and dries within 20-30mins
Nick
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Charles,it is dirty capettiles we speaking about not clean ones,of course on the latter Host truly excels.
David