Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: cheryl new on December 11, 2004, 11:21:24 pm

Title: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: cheryl new on December 11, 2004, 11:21:24 pm

Good evening all,

I recently cleaned a 100% pure wool beige loop pile carpet (mine) which I've let the kids and dog run riot on for the last 6 months.  It was filthy to say the least - ideal for training :D

The room is 12x24, I vac'd, used No.4 ms, agitated north-south, east-west, 2 rinses, 4 dry runs.

Result : The carpet dried patchy and I think it still looks dirty.  If I'd paid someone to clean it and it came up as it has done, I'd want my money back (I am my own worst critic).

To avoid overwetting I didn't want to increase the number of rinses - was this a mistake?

What is the best approach to this type of problem.

Many thanks.

Best regards
Cheryl

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: Dynafoam on December 12, 2004, 12:30:53 am

Cheryl,

By coincidence I have answered a similar question tonight on another forum.

See: http://www.another forum.co.uk/?board=carp_clng;action=display;num=1102811297

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: Ian Gourlay on December 12, 2004, 04:46:59 am

Why not try other products besides MS.

Not all of is our enthusiasists.

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: Dave_Lee on December 13, 2004, 12:35:14 am

Cheryl,
We all develop over a period of time our own particular wand techniques. These will vary according to our each individual strengths and biomechanics. Make no mistake carpet cleaning is by any means (when cleaning very heavy soiled carpets on a daily basis) very hard physical work, and simply drawing back the wand in a rinsing pass is not enough on anything but lightly soiled areas. I personally have developed a technique of fast multiple back and forth passes, as many times as neccesary until there is no further improvment. This requires speed and additional pressure upon the wand to avoid overwetting and to maximise extraction, but works very well for me with none of the problems you encountered. As you may know I remain not fully convinced about MS for every occasion and on a wool berber like you describe I would have used Ultimate Master with confidence. Perhaps I should just add that when using any solution on the alkaline side on a wool berber - maximum extraction to avoid overwetting is essential to avoid brown patches appearing on drying.
Dave.

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: paul@ctcs on December 13, 2004, 09:01:38 am

Hi Cheryl,

Did you agitate with a pile brush or a machine like a duo??
Micro splitters should produce great results and agitation really is the key to breaking the soil binders prior to extraction.
 One advantage is how little pre spray can be applied as during the agitation process it is posible to monitor the losening of the soiling, then if needs be simply apply another misting of pre spray(but not too much!!) this will avoid overwetting and flushing soiling down the the carpet base.
If the soiling is very heavy it may be worth using Number 2.

Paul

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: Cleanguide on December 13, 2004, 03:28:24 pm

Do you dry vac he carpet first?

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: Dave_Lee on December 13, 2004, 05:33:56 pm

Paul,
Good points, but I would hesitate at agitation with Sebo Duo or the like , on a wool berber as fuzzing or pilling is very likely. What say you Ken?
Dave.

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: Ken Wainwright on December 13, 2004, 05:58:37 pm

Dave

I don't have a Sebo Duo, but use a Host T6 with the softest brushes. I would agitate in one direction only with the "pile" direction. This is usually diagonally on Berbers. Find out by placing a sheet of paper on the carpet, place a piece of dowel or a pencil on it and roll it backwards and forwards. The paper will gradually move in the direction of the "pile". Obviously, always watch whats happening with your machine, constantly looking for any signs of damage or fuzzing occuring.

Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: mark_roberts on December 13, 2004, 06:55:52 pm

These carpets can be the worst to clean especially being so light in colour.  Try a rinse in your tank ie. alltimate master as suggested or similar with mild ph.

Other wise your carpet may just be trashed.  Now think of a way to explain this to a potential customer.

Mark

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: Len Gribble on December 13, 2004, 06:59:00 pm

Kristy

To answer your question yes you do, preferably not with a backpack a good upright is a better option.

Len

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: cheryl new on December 13, 2004, 09:45:27 pm

Good evening all,

I'm pretty sure it was my wand technique.  The one described by John is the same I used on another carpet and it came up a treat.  I simply needed to put in more elbow grease and acheive the best extraction position from the wand.  Once I had this sussed and got into a rythm I was A for Away.

On my carpet I used the duo for agitation.  There was already a certain amount of 'fluff' and the pile had been flattened with time.  To me, the duo rid the majority of fluff and brought the pile back up.

I haven't used Ultimate Master before.  Is it applied by prespray or in the solution tank.  If in the tank, does it require an acid rinse?  As my cleaning times are still relatively slow, I couldn't afford to slow myself down any further by rinsing with a detergent and then applying a stabilising rinse.  Many thanks your guidance on this one.

Thanks again.

Best regards
Cheryl

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: Dave_Lee on December 14, 2004, 12:34:34 am

Cheryl'
Utimate Master is a self neutralising detergent that goes in the tank, and doesnt need an acidic rinse, I have opted for it, many times over the years on suspect carpets and upholstery with no problems. There seems to be an air of "The big bad Detergents" going on with some people, why - I dont know, Take it from me detergents are here to stay. Using the right ones, you can get predictable excellent results. IMO a lot of people opt for a supposedly safer option out of a needless fear and convince themselves that the results are as good - are they?
I and many others also use MS's but get the desired result in safety using detergents on a day to day basis
If we ever get together I will show you what I mean.
Dave.

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: Ian Gourlay on December 14, 2004, 01:12:20 am

I had to clean a carpet today covered in builders dirt, Seems to be a regular occurance.

All I can say is it took a lot of hard work several cleaning and drying passes. lots of agitation Air Mover And yes there was a coal fire grate yet again.  And Ultimate Master.

I tried to avoid naming Ultimate Master in previous post.

Customer pronounced job as briilliant. Then the dogs came in Country House and put 30 paw prints over my nice clean carpet.

I was using a machine with a two stage vac. due to lack of time to put motor in main machine, and the need to carry machine upstairs to revive  a carpet that had been dumped in builders skip. And Guess what another triumph.

Title: Re: How Do You - Avoid Overwetting Dirty Wool Carpet
Post by: The Great One on December 14, 2004, 10:20:58 am

Hi

The fluff you got out of the carpet would of been 'dead carpet fibres' which that kind of machine brings out. With wool use the softest brushes you can as you don't want to pill the carpet in question.

Regards

Martin 8)