[garyfindlay]

i`m cleaning a communal stairs carpet  made of a corduroy type, and it is proving to be very time consuming. I`ve tried a dyson, sebo, huntervac, and henry. Anyone cleaned this type before?

[Kevin White]

Sympathise with you, there is no magic cure.
We tend to end up cleaning with just the nozzle on the henry.

They might be hard wearing carpets but they are a sod to clean.

Even worse in offices, trying to pick staples up is a nightmare.

Keep plodding on mate.

[glenda hollis]

You need something with a revolving brush and a stiff revolving brush at that. In this situation it is not about the suction power of the cleaner - but then again commercial carpets rarley are as they are stuck-down (unlike domestic flooring which floats) and so the carpet cannot be lifted by the suction and into the nozzle of the cleaner. Agitation is the key, like i say a stiff revolving brush will do the trick.

This is the sort of thing you need: http://www.rawlins.co.uk/floor_cleaning_catalogue_1.asp?category=5&cat=4339&id=4396

 it is not cheap and there are  no on boards tools so you will need your henry still, but one of these will last you a lifetime.

[glenda hollis]

sorry, just realised you said stairs carpet, therefore the upright is no good. Using the crevice tool in left-to-right actions is probably best. The same rules apply, its the agitation not the suction that loosens the dirt. The agitation of the crevice tool is as good as it gets.

[Fox]

might sound a bit odd but try damp mopping

[garyfindlay]

never thought of damp mopping, but does that lift crumbs, stones etc. checked out another potential job, and guess what same again aaaahhhhhhhhh. looks like small crevice tool, and double the time.

[glenda hollis]

If its double the time then you have to charge accordingly. I have doubts that damp mopping will remove all the debris from the stairs but it will help somewhat. This carpet is a populat choice in so many places, the fact it needs a lot of time to deep clean it needs to be addressed with the people who are paying you - tell them that it will take a long time to clean it and charge for it OR tell them what to expect from a general vacuum-clean. Dont forget that it will quickly get dirty anyway, when i lived in a flat they were cleaned on a wednesday but by the evening they were just as bad. The main thing is that you do a good job and get no complaints.

[Joe H]

On stairs you could try a stiff hand brush to sweep it to one place then a quick suck.

These ribbed carpets can be a pain for carpet cleaners as well.