Looks like the start of another tedious CFR /Eclipse debate. Without entering into the combat arena. I volunteer some of my “real world“ findings just because I use a CFR.
I don’t have much experience in using different machines. I started with a Prochem Steameasy 400 and now I have a CFR machine. The Steameasy was a great machine and before the days of micro-splitters I found it gave a good result. (I recall some unkind things said about it on this forum). The results from the CFR were similar but required much less effort. There is much more control with the CFR for tackling tricky items, silks, tapestries and such.
Because I only clean rugs you may consider me unqualified to answer your questions but there are several items that I have first hand experience of. Also, there’s always a queue of friends and relative who need their living room carpet cleaning.
1 – Very dirty carpets.
No problems here. The CFR cleans well.
On rugs I have to use the 5” or 7” hand tool. I find the glide wand leaves the rugs very wet and frankly its not effective on rugs. Strange - as I used it on my carpets at home 80/20 wool twist and got a brilliant result. Amtech are lending me a roller wand to try. I understand they and bringing in another sort of GTI version soon.
2 – Body fluids. Phew we seem to get a lot of these stinkers.
No problems. I stick to the recommended products and all odour is removed. I can’t quite understand the problem of cross contamination. I look in the tank and if the water has turned to a gooey stinking sludge I change the water. This type of soiling tends to be very localised and I would tend to flush it through before I clean the whole rug.
3 – Heat.
I only use cold water. It reduces the possibility of colour run. I have tried using my steamer to give the micro-splitter a boost prior to extraction. The difference wasn’t worth the effort.
4 – Dye Transfer.
You can imagine that cleaning rugs I have come across loose dyes a few times. First I always test. Did I say always? Rest assured if the water turns red when I’m cleaning, the recycled water does not tint the pale colours. I don’t know how or why. It just doesn’t. Don’t expect the CFR to save your life here because the reds will just bleed as it dries so you’re stuffed anyway. Also if the water is red I’d change it before I started on another job, and you would too.
5 – Truckmount.
Don’t know. But they blooming well should be better for the money they cost.
6 – Walk behind
Don’t know.
7 – Other chemicals
I use Prochem fibre and fabric rinse (see Q4) but a de-foamer is essential.
8 – Long hose.
A long hose is a good idea. It’s a noisy blighter and I like to listed to Wogan I the morning. I put mine in the next room. Leaving it outside. Where would you plug it in? It’s a portable machine very easy to move around.
Mike
Your point
“the reason it gives fast drying times is because the water only skims across the top of the carpet”.
I think is very valid. Whatever machine you use, the result I suspect is purely cosmetic. If you have never sprayed a clean terry towel with Onestep or Solutions and gone over a carpet you have already cleaned and dried. I think you would be shocked at what comes off. We have to do the best we can with the variety of tools available. It’s quite possible to make a machine that will remove all of the muck but such an intense process would almost certainly destroy the carpet. In any case, the final result is wholly dependent on the competence of the operator.
Phew...any questions?
Alan