Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: mark_roberts on March 14, 2005, 04:34:10 pm

Title: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: mark_roberts on March 14, 2005, 04:34:10 pm
Good customer wants me to freshen up her sisal carpet.  I think its sisal.  natural fibre with a tight open weave.

No stains, just needs a freshen, as she describes it.

Ive never used the host system to clean a carpet before so how do I do it.  Also I'm concerned about getting the powder out of the weave again.

The brushes on my host machine are white and i'll be using Sebos dry powder.

thanks
Mark
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: Harders on August 11, 2005, 09:54:14 am
Hi,
The bitter voice of a bad experience is "don't do it!!!"
Pile lift and vac only is my best advice.
Host sponges should be used to a minimum because of the "clogging" effect.
Get the customer to sign a disclaimer before you use anything else (Woolsafe does not mean a jot to Sisal)
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: DanielWelford on August 11, 2005, 03:38:13 pm
I agree with Steve first & last time I touched sisal cost me a grand! :'(
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: Tony_Browning on August 11, 2005, 05:17:35 pm
Unless your absolutely strapped for work I would give it a miss....but explain to the customer why....Shrinkage, Cleaning Limitations etc. They will appreciate the fact that you know what you're talking about and hopefully accept sound advice.

Rgds Tony.
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: simonc on August 11, 2005, 05:52:29 pm
While it is a bit scary ive done two sisal recently and all was ok. First one was rubber backed and had been removed from stairs while building work , hwe cleaned well. Second was in customers basement and i bonnet end buffed it using minimum moisture after telling customer that it wasent a deep clean like thee rest of her carpets . Still wouldent go out of my way to clean lots of them... Soimon C...
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: rodcope on August 16, 2005, 10:38:18 am
most sisal carpets are flat woven. They have no pile as such. If wetted they will shrink quite quickly. Hot water extraction therfore should be avoided. If you have a real dry foam machine - Von Schrader or advance you know the type - one that pregenertates a very stiff foam, then these can be used with excellent results. The von schrader upholstery deterger is excellent for this type of product on stairs.  I have cleaned many sisal or woven jue products using this method with no problems and excellent results.
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: A J B on August 23, 2005, 08:00:20 pm
Hi rodcope

Are you by any chance The Rod Cope
Formally of Chemco Kidderminster!

If so everyone take note this is a very knowledgable cleaner with a wealth of information, who one would be well advised to regard as a true cleaning GOD.
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: rodcope on August 26, 2005, 08:41:21 am
OK yes I admitt it-----
 back from Turkey at the moment looking to see what you careful carpet cleaners have been doing for the past couple of years. Nice to see the truck mount boys are giving it some stick but just remember we all had to start somewhere and how many of you started with a NUMATIC or victor WE12 ?
Better to start with a small portable and some money in the bank to pay for advertising than totally skint !!!Remember Cleaning is fun and the day youi stop getting a kick out of restoring a grotty carpet  is the time to go and do something else.!!!
Regards to you all
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: Kinver_Clean on August 26, 2005, 07:29:47 pm
Hiya Rod--- nice to hear from you again. Words of wisdom as usual.

I bought my first mc from Rod twentyfive years ago ( dosen't time fly), I also bought the second and third mcs from him as well.

For those new to the scene Rod was the originator of a series of well known cleaning products and has forgotton more than I will ever know about ccing (or perhaps he hasn't)

Trevor
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: Len Gribble on August 26, 2005, 08:48:45 pm
Rodcope

Cc was not apart of my core business then! I sub it out to my detriment to a plonker (which also applied to me at the time) with more or less with a Numatic lost ££, then done some home work and sub it to a TM’er and made money, first machine I brought was a Ninja but still sub out the big work too the TM’er.

As A J B put it

Quote
If so everyone take note this is a very knowledgable cleaner with a wealth of information, who one would be well advised to regard as a true cleaning GOD.

Sorry I don’t know you! As a newbie to me any accolade = zero. What in your opinion is the basic starter machine?

Len
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: rodcope on September 20, 2005, 03:16:47 pm
There are many good machines Extracta, Ashbys NINJA alltek and the prochem range. Looks are not as important as performance and water capacity. Price is not as important as reliability and ease of access to a good service agent. But most important of all is training and helpful back up. So probably Pro-chem fits all the criterea unless your on the manufacturers doorstep.
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: Elite (Ben) on September 20, 2005, 04:10:24 pm
Hi guys, what is sisal made of and how do i recognise it, anyone have any pics.
When i did the NCCA course a few years ago this was not mentioned and i have never come across it.

Thanks
Ben
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: Doug Holloway on September 20, 2005, 04:20:04 pm
Ben,

It's like string , a rough 'hairy' product .

You are unlikely to confuse it with anything else.

I haven't seen any in 6 months , think it's time is over but there is obviously still some about.

Cheers,

Doug
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: Elite (Ben) on September 20, 2005, 04:26:30 pm
cheers Doug, i have never seen it as far as i am aware.
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: Fintan_Coll on September 20, 2005, 09:19:37 pm
You will not see it everyday but you will come accross it from time to time. It would not be worth while to buy  a Von Schrader just to clean sisal, unless you had other uses for the machine. "Sponges" are an option but the results will not be great, as for hwe, no, no ,no.
Title: Re: Cleaning Sisal
Post by: Ian Gourlay on September 21, 2005, 08:47:18 am
Rod Cope,

Thank you for joining us.

Although it would be nice to promote you to God, the only way it can be achieved is by posting reggularly .

I am 110% positive that your knowledge of the industry will be welcomed by all.

There are a few Comedians but just enjoy their wit.