Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Big_Fish on April 15, 2005, 07:38:23 pm

Title: AGITATION
Post by: Big_Fish on April 15, 2005, 07:38:23 pm
Hello,

Now I don't want anyone to get agitated over this topic, I've said enough today on that score ;D

But... what do all you lot use to agitate carpet after applying MS?

Nicky

Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: paul@ctcs on April 15, 2005, 07:48:07 pm
Hi Nicky,

I use a Sebo duo which does a reasonable job and is very good value costing under 200 pounds. I would however prefer either the enviro-dry or host machines which I'm reliably informed are considerably better tools than the duo.

Paul
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Singrey on April 15, 2005, 08:46:16 pm
I was speaking to Nick (Solutions) about this very topic only the other day. As previously stated he recommends the ‘Host’. A slow speed orbital floor machine such as a victor sprite with a soft shampoo brush would do just as well for large areas I would assume.

S
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: stu_thomson on April 15, 2005, 08:58:01 pm
Sebo duo on residential and victor rotary on commercial.
  stu
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Singrey on April 15, 2005, 09:01:01 pm
Stu,

Which if any do you think gives the superior result Rotary or Orbital?

S
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: stu_thomson on April 15, 2005, 09:12:22 pm
have used rotary for past 10 years or so  with great results, trouble being lot of hassle in and out of van and back breaking so decided this year to change things to make life simpler/easier. Hence scrubbing now with sebo (alot lighter) and cfr machine (easier than my old heavy pro plus) Would still use rotary on commercial though as sebo prob not quite up to it, great tool though.

 stu
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Dynafoam on April 15, 2005, 11:53:16 pm
Rotary:


Contra-rotating machines:



My favourite contra-rotator - The Host, with Envirodry in second.
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Singrey on April 15, 2005, 11:57:44 pm
John,

Once again a  ‘what can anyone add to that’ answer to a discussion topic.

My hat is off to you sir.
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: ian richards on April 16, 2005, 12:36:06 am

Started with a Duo, now use a Host, and a massive difference, makes the Sebo look like a Toy!!

Ian
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Big_Fish on April 16, 2005, 07:15:18 am
Thanks for that. Have also tried a Sebo Duo and like Ian, thought it felt flimsy and like a toy. Also hated cleaning all the fluff and muck that got caught up round the brushes.

We use a rotaty to agitate MS on low profile carpet and have found really excellent results. So it's a toss up between the Envirodry machine or the Host for all other carpet. That's all that's left?

These machines are obviously designed for dry compound agitation. We had a trial with Envirodry and were very disappointed with the results. Is it worth purchasing an Envirodry or Host machine with the intention of just using it to agitate MS?

Nicky

Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Nigel_W on April 16, 2005, 09:38:04 am
Nicky,

The only other agitation device I occasionally use is a vacuum turbo head. See below:-

http://www.vacuumsdirect.co.uk/e-comon/tcb.gif

You attach it to your vac hose and the air flow drives the brush. It provides excellent agitation when used with a truckmount/high vac portable on certain carpets. It is cheap. light, easy to carry and does not need plugging in or cleaning much. It can also double up as a vacuum tool if used in conjunction with a dust downer to protect your vacuum blowers.

It is not a replacement for the other agitation devices but I am occasionally very pleased to have it on the van.

Nigel

Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Barry Pearce on April 16, 2005, 09:53:16 am
Hi Nicky
There used to be a very good system called Rotawash? I Use a Karcher triple brush on a raised table and I clean the heads after evey job, but I have never done more than 3 rugs a day.
Barry
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: ian richards on April 16, 2005, 10:37:43 am

Big-Fish

You will find, if you look at both makes, that there is a huge difference on price!!
So again it's about afordability!!

Ian
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Bryan H on April 16, 2005, 11:00:21 am
I use an ordinary carpet brush in most cases,  more physical effort, but it works OK and keeps the waistline trim.

On dirtier carpets I use a host which is better but I hate having to hump it around, especially upstairs !

Bryan
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Big_Fish on April 16, 2005, 11:23:47 am
Thanks for all that.
No replacement for hard work then ;D

I was aware that prices vary on the different makes and have looked at this umpteen times over the last few years.
Just wondered if there was a quick and easy way that we had missed.
Seems it's each to their own but I see a gap in the market for somebody to design something to fit the purpose (that doesn't include woman on the end of a long handled carpet brush!).

Nicky
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Mike Halliday on April 16, 2005, 12:50:50 pm
I've got a Sebo, rotowash rotory & a Oreck orbitor.

on domestics I use the 12inch Oreck, but on commercials I use the 17inch rotory mainly because I like to post-bonnet the carpet when I'm doing large open areas.

I did an old cinema which is now a large meeting room when I went up to the balcony and looked down it was like a patchwork quilt with some areas cleaner than others, so I post-bonnet to even it out,

just out of interest here's the bonnets afterwards, just shows you never remove all the dirt :o :o
 (http://img218.echo.cx/img218/152/pads4wa.jpg)
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Dave_Lee on April 16, 2005, 07:13:30 pm
Mike,
When you post bonneted, did you just go over the area with dry or damp bonnet or did you also apply a bonnet cleaner.
Dave.
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: rob middleton on April 16, 2005, 07:30:07 pm
how much are the host and envirodry machines. ive used a sebo and was quite impressed so these must be good if they are better than that.
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on April 16, 2005, 09:56:16 pm
I'm sure Ken Wainright bought another make of Aggitation machine at the NEC for about £500 perhaps if he's lurking!

Calling Ken!!!!

Shaun
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: paul@scc on April 16, 2005, 10:44:22 pm
I use the old brush still as well never had any problems with it maybe get something better when i go into the commercial side a bit more. Or make my first million whichever comes first
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Dynafoam on April 17, 2005, 12:15:33 am
Shaun,

Ken bought an Envirodry and pensioned off his trusty Host.
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Mike Halliday on April 17, 2005, 07:31:38 am
Dave I run a dry bonnet over the damp carpet.

Mike
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: jacko on April 17, 2005, 09:39:16 pm
Hi

I use the Sebo Duo for my core business which is domestic, it is light, gets into corners, around furniture etc, and highly effective. For larger areas i use the Envirodri machine. I tend to do stairs by hand with nylon brush - i wish somone would invent an electric gadget for stairs!  It is possible to use above machines but can be a bit clumsy.
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on April 17, 2005, 10:00:04 pm
Jacko try a plug in YTS student, cheap but unreliable ;D

Shaun
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: jacko on April 18, 2005, 12:22:16 pm
Never tried to plug a YTS student.......
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Barry Pearce on April 18, 2005, 12:46:06 pm
Jacko
Hollaways and Von shreider did a hand  held scrubber.
Barry
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: jacko on April 18, 2005, 12:51:44 pm
Cheers Barry, i will investigate....
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Dynafoam on April 18, 2005, 01:28:55 pm
Jacko,

Also look at the Texatherm Minitex - it's made for the job.
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Ian Rochester on April 18, 2005, 03:44:19 pm
I am using my extracta scrubba for agitation, works very well, agree sould do with something handheld for doing stairs, ideally a mini vacuum without the suction part, bought a little vacuum from Nick at the show which would be ideal if it could be modified
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: Dynafoam on April 18, 2005, 04:35:40 pm
Ian,

The modification would be easy but not worthwhile.

The brush roller is belt-driven and inclined to slip even when dry but with the lubrication afforded by the pre-spray, would be unusable.

Also, though the Hunter vacuum is very good value for money, this type of vacuum is not robust enough to last long  in commercial use if used on carpet. Save it for upholstery/curtain use where it performs well enough and should give you a longer service life.
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: garyj on April 19, 2005, 01:05:47 am
Did my first carpet clean today using my new Rotowash. Still pre-vac'ed + pre-sprayed with m/s and then Rotowashed with weak solutions mixture, then HWE!! A bit of overkill, but the results were amazing.

Rotowash expensive and heavy but very good, hope I keep using it!!! Its a pain to lug around!
Title: Re: AGITATION
Post by: david_m on April 19, 2005, 05:42:38 pm

i use an oreck 12 inch machine
can also be used on stairs with  very good results
i also used it on some very dirty suite's great for draylon suites
i would probly say its a lot faster than the mini tex & a lot cheaper
if you can get one second hand. i also use it for doing stairs and small
landing if iam useing my texatherm system. all in a very good versatile
machine.
                  davy.