How do you clean carpets POLL

« **on:** February 21, 2005, 03:09:22 pm »

Just wondering how we all clean carpets especially as microsplitters are so widely used. Vote your primary method that you use for the bulk of your work.

Assume that spotting is done as and when required.

thanks
Mark

« **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2005, 05:23:27 pm »

Thanks for the replys.

For the guys who HWE only is this with a truckmount or portable? And have you tried any other way of cleaning or is this the way you where taught. No criticism intended only curiosity (sp).

thanks
Mark

« **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2005, 05:33:27 pm »

theres just too many saints on ths board

65% of you always pre-vac....

yea' I bet you do!!

the amount of carpet cleaners vans I've seen, and not a vacuum cleaner in sight :

I carry a kirby in my van but I'd be lying if I said it came out of every job.

Mike

« **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2005, 07:19:27 pm »

ya, pre vac my ar_e
what they mean is the customer has already vacuumed for them. same thing but not quite.
i had a look at my oreak the other day. it was in the van but under everything else. the thing was moldy, i wouldn't dare plug it in!!!

« **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2005, 07:57:26 pm »

Horses for courses, if you're using MS then of course you will at least pre-spray, agitate and extract thats the nature of the MS beast.

If you do not use MS then most will generally pre-spray the heavily soiled areas with any number of different products and then HWE.

However, if there is little soiling and you have a good quality machine, then there may not be any need to pre-spray as the HWE will generally clean the carpet to a very good standard by itself. Some of you puritans may describe this as "splash 'n' dash", I don't.

Personnally, we use the Extracta Scrubba Delux Power heads which agitate as they extract and give a better finish to the pile than using wands only, pre-spray when its required....thats my honest opinion anyway.

« **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2005, 08:10:28 pm »

Ian makes a very valid point.

If using detergent rinse, if untrafficed areas do not appear to have any atmospheric soiling either, then the wand should do all you need. If you are using a freshwater rinse, then an all over pre-spray would be the norm, possibly not agitating the untrafficed areas being a timesaver. Personally, I have always pre-sprayed everywhere, whether M/S or detergent, for years and years and years....My approach to cleaning is that a quick once over with a wand isn't going to remove a years or more soil. It needs softening up and breaking down first.

As for the pre-vac, I must be a saint

Safe and happy cleaning

Ken

« **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2005, 10:39:23 pm »

I'm one of the four who HWE only. I use a t/m and very rarely pre spray. When I have to I use blitz and a sebo otherwise just clean with hydradri. Most of what I do is domestic, (private and letts), find that 400psi at 230 ⁰f gets it as clean as its ever going to be.

« **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2005, 10:46:39 pm »

I have been cleaning carpets just short of 2 years now and have to say I have never done one with out pre vaccing.
I would not call myself a saint so dont shout at me Mike, but I feel that the first stage of the clean ( removing dry/debris dirt and dust) makes the wet clean alot easier.
There has been occassions when the customer has already vacuumed and weird as it may be I still get the sebo out and do it my self.

Paul

« **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2005, 10:49:06 pm »

As professionals I would say that you know the results you are looking for irrelivant of which steps you take, me personally, I use a vac, spray a bit of Zoflora and job done, best £5 I ever did earn

Shaun

« **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2005, 10:49:49 pm »

Hi Guys,

One of the interesting chats I had after Carpex was how many really prevac .

A well respected member of this forum said 'we all know that most don't pre vac much , but nobody admits to it!'

Cheers,

Doug

« **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2005, 10:58:46 pm »

Shaun
Is Zoflora woolsafe

paul

« **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2005, 11:02:57 pm »

I must admit that i have begun to see the advantage of vacuuming after Sebo Duo on very well maintained carpets ( regularly hoovered, as they say).
Naughty me

Wait till Mr Holman sees this thread.........................

« **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:52:32 am »

I always pre vav on all jobs including upholstery.

But then I am a saint

« **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2005, 10:05:21 am »

Hi Guys

Ahh the old Zoflora.
Always carry a couple of bottles for the smelly old carpets that have had there day.
it's amazing how much you can charge for a cap full. Come on we all do it.
Just off to Sainsburys.

Regards Kevin

« **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2005, 10:21:23 am »

Well well well... I must say i am deeply dissapointed,

the importance of pre-vaccing is paramount to a professional clean. All these courses we go on allways tell you to pre-vac first!! why would they tell you this if is wasn't important

I would ask all the HWE guys who dont pre vac to do a test next week pre vac every job and then the following week dont, them come on here and tell me theres no point in pre-vaccing

You will be suprised how easier it is to clean a carpet that has been pre vacced and how you vac moters will last 3years without breaking down

All the best

King of pre-vac

Nick Holman

« **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2005, 11:49:01 am »

TOLD YA

« **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2005, 07:25:03 pm »

I have always resisted getting into a discussion, and would certainly never argue about the necessity to pre-vac, as everyone has their own opinion, often formulated over a long period of time, and these opinions are difficult to change, assuming anyone would wish to !!

In my early days I vacced everything religously, because I was taught to, but then started to have doubts.

In 20 years I have done many, many comparative tests on both domestic & commercial. I have come to the conclusion that in 90% of domestic scenarios, it makes no significant difference to the end result, or the time taken using HWE to to achieve that result.

Some situations obviously do require the use of a vac, such as Orientals, some upholstery etc: but I believe in the majority of cases it is both a waste of time & effort.

This also applies to commercial to a slightly lesser degree.

I have no doubt that many will be horrified by my apparent lack of professionalism, but as I said we all have our opinions & these are not easily changed.

Bryan

« **Reply #17 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:13:53 pm »

I am horrified

Also spelling Brian with a Y

Y

« **Reply #18 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:16:22 pm »

Bryan,

Nice , honest answer.

Cheers,

Doug

« **Reply #19 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:19:51 pm »

I think young Robert maY have something to say about this topic!!

This topic has cropped up a number of times over the last 2 years and Rober wrote an article for the NCCA called 'The Importance of Pre-Vaccumming'

Something like that anyway

Regards

Nick

Poll

How do you clean carpets?