Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: kinder clean on July 11, 2008, 12:17:12 am
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I have a commercial job next week cleaning some fabric sofas, when I've cleaned domestic suites I have always used OneStep fineline M/S but wanted to go out and buy something with a bit more wack, as some looked pretty grubby. I use a CFR upholstery tool which I find excellent and I like to pre spray my chemicals.
So whats the best chemical to buy for this purpose?
Paul
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Hi Paul,
I use prochems fabric restorer followed up with fibre & fabric rinse. Spray, let dwell and rinse after 10 or so mins.
Most of the time no need for agitation unless really trashed.
Cuts work time down compared to using m/s and having to agitate everything and eats up grease and stubborn dirt first time around.
All the best,
Jason.
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Hi Jason
Thanks for that - I've never used a rinsing agent in the machine before, If I only used water to rinse would there be Consequences ?
Paul
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Hi Paul,
Fabric restorer is ph9 so by using fibre and fabric rinse (ph4) will neutralise leaving fabric fairly much ph neutral.
I wouldn't use a plain water rinse after fabric restorer the ph needs bringing down, plain water rinses are ok after using microsplitters as thats what their designed for and their close to ph neutral already.
All the best,
Jason.
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Citrus fabric pre wash is very effective and has extra bite ......... still part of the Alltec Healthy Home range ;)
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fabric restorer has always worked for me with an acid rinse. though i do always attemp it with fineline first.
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Ultrapac renovate and rinse with f/f rinse
mark
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Prochem Pure Clean.
Kinder,
Why don't you use anything in your machine to rinse?
Simon
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Simon
This lad has been trading for about 2 weeks , he knows as much about carpet cleaning as you no about dogging in Coventry
John
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Paul,
You have done some training before going out to do cleaning peoples valauble furnishings?
Why do you rinse with water? and yes it will have consequences if your using alkaline chemicals, you do know what they are dont you
Tom
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Dogging, what's that?
Simon
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Always use Microsplit from Craftex. For the head & arm grease i mist Solutions Special Spotter on (replaced ECOspotter).
To be honest have never used conventional chemicals. But always use Prochem Fibre & Fabric Rinse - it leaves fibres in great condition.
Would maybe try something else if made job easier (like no agitation)....
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Hydramasters natural orange for me.
Mark
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Yes I did training but the guy was all for M/S cleaning, he told us the only thing that should go into your machine is water and up till now the results i've been getting have more than satisfied myself and my customers, but I did a grubby suite a couple of weeks back and really had to go some to move the heavy grime, so I thought with this being a "cleaners forum" where better to ask for advise.
Besides our "training" which for most of us is a 2-4 day course, it only really starts when you get out there, like any other job its hands on experience where you gain the knowledge.
There are of course the odd exception to this rule who were simply born a cleaning god. ::)
Paul
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You are doing alright with the questions Paul.
Presume you know why the training guy advised only water in your clean tank - that is to protect the pump against settlement of undisoved powder and chemicals that can harm the pump seals and bits.
Truckmounters usually have an integrated post pump spray device so its no big problem to them pre spray or to rinse without anything passing thro the pump itself.
You too can buy an attachement to do that if you wanted - bit like the device that you can fit on the end of your garden hose that sucks up a liquid fertiliser from a conainer and mixes it with the water as it exits the spray point - except it can be up to couple hundred pound new.
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I extract about 90% of my jobs with fresh water.
Its only on really bad trashed ones that I use a chemical booster in the rinse.
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Paul,
Given that you are a newbie I should have given you a more thorough answer.
If you're going to be cleaning commercial upholstery then you have to be ready to do whatever it takes to get things clean. Prochem Pure Clean is a good place to start, but it might be necessary to spray the arm caps with fabric restorer and quite literally scrub it in. If it's restaurant seating you may need Powerburst to shift the grease which is often heavily engrained and that too might need to be scrubbed in to get a perfect result. You can also use brightening additives to bring out the colours a bit.
The problem is that if you're only using water in your machine then you cannot use the likes of Powerburst because it is a quite strong alkaline and needs to be acid rinse with PC's Fibre & Fabric Rinse or HM's Clearwater Rinse, both of which a liquids.
You have to experiment at bit with the first chair of each type and find a way to unlock the soil. And don't forget, quality is in the detail, If you don't get the piping, seams and difficult to get at pieces they will stand out like a sore thumb when the fabric dries.
Simon
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Prochem Pure Clean is FANTASTIC on carpets & upholstery. MS are suited to light or medium soiled carpets/upholstery. Prochem Fabris Restoror is a amazing upholstery cleaner, it must be rinsed with a acid rinse though as should all high Ph chemicals or you could mist over the carpet / fabric with the acid rinse. Adding Prochem or HM acid rinse agents to your machine will help keep parts clean and keep your machine scale free from hard water deposits.
Richie.
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Must admit to loving my Minitex for upholstery ........... especially grubby arms ;D
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Nice nail varnish Simon :)
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Shhhhhhhhh, don't tell the wife! ;D
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Find Pureclean or M/S fine for most rinsing with Clearwater rinse.
Like Simon will use Fabric restorer or even in exceptional circumstances Powerburst but care must be taken.
Does the Minitex save much time on Domestic jobs?
Mark
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It's a bloody dream!!! The more you do the more it makes sense to use a minitex. You'll love it as soon as you use it
I've also found that using a lightweight fold-up table is an awesome way to do cushions more comfortably.
I bought mine off eBay, it's tubular steel framed with aluminium strip around the edge holding hardboard table surface, a bit like this:
h
ttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EXTRA-WIDE-MULTI-PURPOSE-FOLDING-PASTE-TRESTLE-TABLE_W0QQitemZ230125799227QQcmdZViewItem
I was in two minds about it to begin with, but after doing several suites and not having to scramble round all ove the floor doing the cushions.... my knees and back thanked me!!
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Take it none of you guys turn an armchair onto its front and use the back as the surface to clean cushions on has to be the oldest trick in the book
Mark
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Yep, have done that in the past using the sofa as a work table.
How would you react if you took your car in for MOT and the mechanic put his tool box on the bonnet?!
Besides the fact that it might raise an eyebrow from some customers (questioning your professionalism, I mean), not all sofas will stand on their front face and provide a work surface, they'll either rock around or fall over. If it goes forwards into the gas fire, smashes a picture frame and spills a vase of lilies all over the floor you're going to be in deep doo-doo!
Yes it is a little bit of extra effort carrying the table around, as I only have a Scudo so it kind of has to go on top, but it really does make sense after you've used it a couple of times!
Just my opinion, anyway :)
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Only time customers seem happy to see upholstery on its back is when i am cleaning polish marks from front skirt :o
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Chris, it's not practical to wear a skirt when cleaning upholstery, I normally stick to shorts in the summer ;D
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Have to wear my shorts to below knee so i do not offend customers ;)
Sadly at parliament job in morning, empty building but still must wear long trousers :o Luckily my work trousers zip off to shorts when i leave there ;D
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Thanks for all the good advice, its appreciated.
Re - the Mintex machine, have seen these on E-bay and thought they were expensive - is it just me, or could a bosch/black and decker orbital sander do the same job?? (without the sanding disc obviously ::) ) has anyone tried that? re the bonnets, I'm sure the wife could knock something up on the machine that would fit, vet bed would be the ideal material to use!! ( god I'm tight ;D )
Paul
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A black & Decker orbital sander!!!?????
You are joking, right?
Buy the tools you need for the job and the job will always make sure you have got money in your pocket.
Simon
Simon
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Oh lordy, forget the Black & Decker idea please!
The Minitex is purpose-built for the job. Check out all the accessories you can get for the machine, how are you going to create home-made equivalents?!
h ttp://www.texatherm.co.uk/
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Talking of black and decker they do a thing called a scumbuster that we use, it's cordless but not sure if they are available in the u.k. I had to get the last one from Italy. Well worth the money. one rechargable battery usually does one suite, it's a lot lighter than our minitex too.There are 2 types but the one to have is the one without the inbuilt water feed.
All the best
John
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Theirs one in Edinburgh
h ttp://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/82/23304182.html
Len
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Simon
What does the Minitex sell for and how does it compare to the Host Esprit?
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Have a look at the machine and decide which accessories you might need (it comes with the studded plate and 5 bonnets as standard I think)
Then Give Mark a ring on 01934 521155 and have a chat with him, he's a really helpful, honest guy :)
I had one a couple of months ago for a little over 300+VAT and that was with some extra accessories like the tampico brush and scrubbing pads for hard floors. I'd recommend a nylon brush too, both the normal one and also the one with the bristles round the edges, for getting crud out of stair angles.