About types and methods of carpet cleaning, carpet cleaners and extractors

About Carpet Cleaning

EXTRACTION: AN CARPET EXTRACTOR USES A DETERGENT SOLUTION OR A RINSING AGENT THAT IS FORCED INTO THE CARPET BY A PUMP THEN THE SOLUTION IS SUCKED OUT OF THE CARPET WITH HIGH POWER VACUUM MOTORS. PUMPS RANGE IN POWER FROM A STANDARD 100 PSI TO OVER 500 PSI.  VACUUM MOTORS RANGE FROM 135 CFM TO OVER 200 CFM.  HEATERS CAN BE ADDED TO THE MACHINES EITHER INTERNALLY OR EXTERNALLY.  HEATED WATER TENDS TO BREAK UP GREASY DIRT FASTER.  GOOD CHEMICALS, SEE CARPET CLEANING CHEMICALS FOR INFORMATION, WILL DO THE WORK FOR YOU.  EXTRACTION LEAVES THE CARPET WETTER THAN OTHER SYSTEMS IF DONE IMPROPERLY.  NORMALLY A CARPET SHOULD DRY WITHIN 3 TO 4 HOURS.  EXTRACTION CLEANS DEEPER THAN ALL OTHER METHODS.

SELF CONTAINED CARPET EXTRACTION MACHINE: SAME PRINCIPLE AS A EXTRACTOR BUT HAS A BUILT IN BRUSH THAT SCRUBS THE CARPET BETWEEN PUTTING THE SOLUTION DOWN AND VACUUMING IT UP. THIS SYSTEM IS GREAT FOR LARGE COMMERCIAL AREAS.  SELF CONTAINED EXTRACTORS TEN TO LEAVE THE CARPETS WETTER.

EXTRACTION RESTORATION:  THE PROPER WAY OF DEEP CLEANING A CARPET.  THIS IS A TWO STEP PROGRAM DESIGNED TO DEEP CLEAN THE CARPET.  1) PRE-SPRAY CARPET WITH A GOOD PRE-SPRAY OR USE A NON-RESIDUE SHAMPOO IN A SHAMPOO TANK.  AGITATE CARPET WITH A ROTARY BUFFER WITH A CARPET BRUSH. THIS LOOSENS UP THE DIRT THAT IS ON THE TOP AND DEEP IN THE CARPET.  LET THE CHEMICAL SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES TO ACTUALLY BREAK UP THE DIRT AFTER YOU SCRUB.  2) EXTRACT THE CARPET WITH A GOOD EXTRACTION CLEANER (LIKE THE CHEMSPEC 90) OR USE A RINSING AGENT (LIKE TEXTILE RINSE FROM CHEMSPEC OR RINSE OUT FROM CELLO).  THE RINSING AID WILL FLUSH OUT ALL CHEMICALS AND DIRT FROM STEP 1 AND FROM PREVIOUS CLEANINGS.

HINTS: APPLYING A AIR MOVER OR BLOWER TO A CARPET AFTER EXTRACTION WILL SPEED DRYING.  USE OF A RINSING AID TENDS TO DRY FASTER THAN A DETERGENT.  USE OF A RINSING AID IN YOUR EXTRACTOR TENDS TO KEEP THOSE CARPETS THAT TEND TO BROWN FROM NOT-BROWNING BECAUSE OF ITS ACIDIC PROPERTIES.

BONNET CLEANING:  BONNETS ARE MADE OF SYNTHETIC, NATURAL OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH MATERIALS.  BONNETS ARE ROUND PADS THAT GO UNDER STANDARD SPEED FLOOR BUFFER.  THE BONNETS USE FRICTION TO PULL DIRT FROM THE TOP OF THE CARPET FIBERS.  THIS IS A GOOD SYSTEM WHEN CLEANING A CARPET FREQUENTLY, WHEN THE CARPET NEEDS TO BE DRY SHORTLY AFTER CLEANING OR WHEN A BROWNING PROBLEM OCCURS. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT A DEEP CLEANING METHOD.  IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CARPET BE SPRAYED WITH THE DETERGENT THEN BUFFED WITH A DRY BONNET, WHEN THE BONNET GETS DIRTY FLIP IT OVER OR USE ANOTHER ONE.

ROTARY BRUSH OR DRY FOAM: USES A FOAMING SHAMPOO THAT MAY DRY TO A LIGHT POWDER OR CRYSTAL. THE SHAMPOO IS APPLIED WITH A BRUSH AND A STANDARD SPEED FLOOR MACHINE, THE BRUSH GENERATES FOAM AS IT SPINS OR A SPECIALIZED MACHINE THAT GENERATES FOAM BEFORE GETTING AGITATED WITH A BRUSH. THIS SYSTEM IS LIKELY TO LEAVE THE CARPET WITH A STICKY RESIDUE IF NOT USED PROPERLY.

ENCAPSULATION:  THIS SYSTEM IS SIMILAR TO ROTARY BRUSH OR DRY FOAM CLEANING.  WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY THIS TYPE OF CLEANING TENDS TO LEAVE LESS RESIDUE THAN ITS PREDECESSORS.



NOTE: ALWAYS VACUUM CARPET THOROUGHLY BEFORE CLEANING, IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND SAVE YOUR EXTRACTOR

 MACHINES

Carpet cleaning machines - EDIC EQUIPMENT

Home owners - 6, 11 or a 12 gallon with heat like the Mercury, Ninja or Galaxy 100 psi or the 6 gallon Sensei.  I also like the 4 gl spotter extractor.
Mobil Detailer - A single corded machine unless your running a generator.  Either a 6, 11 or  12 gallon.
Detail shop - 100 psi, dual 3 stage or 2 stage with heat . Either 6, 11 or12 gallon. If you are wish to run a long hose upgrade to a more powerful pump and vac and you can clean as far as 75' away from the unit.
Janitorial Company - Most janitorial companies purchase a 11 or 12 gal extractor with a standard 100 psi pump and dual 2 stage vacuums which can be used almost anywhere.  If you can get a unit with heat then do so. You can also use a self contained for large areas.
Carpet cleaners (commercial) - Go with 100 or 200 psi, dual 2 or 3 stage vacs with heat.  If your going to run more than 30' of hose upgrade to a larger pump. Remember if you do a prespray scrub you will do the best possible cleaning.
Carpet cleaners (residential) -  Depending on electric,  I like the Mercury 2-100H, EDIC 2000SX-HRH, or Ninja N221HMO all of which are very versatile.

 

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