100% VLM ???

SteamwayPro

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Apr 8, 2012
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376
Name
George
Interesting discussion going on here. I'll start by saying that HWE is still the most efficient way to flush the highest level of contaminants from the carpet in a single shot. And that can be helpful in the case of a pigged out neglected carpet. However, to think that HWE alone can remove everything from the carpet is not realistic.

When we apply pre-spray we're adding a strong detergent, because we need the firepower to break up and emulsify soil. Now we have 2 components to rinse (1) pre-spray and (2) carpet grunge. We'll call that combination the "HWE target load".

So can HWE work to eliminate all of the "HWE target load"? No, it simply can't.

To illustrate: Consider taking 1 gallon of red paint / representing the "HWE target load". Now let's dilute the gallon of bright red paint 5 to 1 with 5 gallons of hot water. What do you have? It's still bright red! Dilute it with 10 more gallons of water. Still bright red. Add 25 more gallons of water. What do you have? Still red. It would take hundreds of gallons of water to get the water to a level that you can't see a trace of red.

That illustration describes the HWE process. The "HWE target load" is reduced (somewhat). But through the process of dilution and extraction, there will always be some remnant of the "HWE target load" left in the carpet. Anyone can easily recognize this fact. Even when an extremely effective HWE cleaning is performed, there would still be some "HWE target load" (i.e. red paint) left behind.

With encapsulation the soil can continue to be recovered after the initial cleaning / providing that you have an encap product that dries to a brittle crystal polymer that can be extracted through routine post vacuuming.

To be 100% honest, no cleaning method is completely perfect. So to say that any method achieves 100% soil removal is ridiculous. Our place as cleaning professionals is to reduce the "HWE target load" to the highest level that's reasonably acceptable. To imply that a method delivers total sanitizing, when we're dealing with carpet fiber, is simply not realistic.

This video about encapsulation pre-spray explains how adding an encapsulation component to our pre-spray can further reduce the "HWE target load".


This week I did some furniture cleaning at 2 Houses. I did one on Monday and after the sister saw the job she called me to do hers

Both Sisters have 2 German Shepherds that lay on the furniture. Lucky for me both Sectionals were dark blue but still were atrocious

I used Punch as a Rinse Detergent at 1 oz per gallon in my Heated Portable ( water gets to 200 degrees ) and was very pleased with the results and so were the customers

After doing those jobs I thought maybe I should have used it at 2 oz. It says on label 1-2 oz per gallon for portables but I think that is for carpet not furniture



What are your thoughts on using Punch as a Rinse Detergent on TRASHED Furniture



image000000 (39).jpg
 

SteamwayPro

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376
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George
I wouldn't put it in my portable🤷🏼‍♂
I'd mist it on.

Most of the time I just rinse with water but this furniture was nasty. It needed more than just water

Why not in portable ?

And what would you recommend I use on TRASHED Furniture with portable ?
 
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Kenny Hayes

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Apr 17, 2009
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Kenny Hayes
I'm not suggesting not using Punch, I just wouldn't run it through my porty. That's just me. It
says you can, but it is an encap. I use it when using a polisher on chairs.
 

jessi

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Aug 29, 2024
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Name
Jessi Lopez
I’m not anti VLM. VLM/encapsulation absolutely has its place. We use it in quarterly rotation with HWE on commercial and we will often use it in conjunction with HWE in residential. Typically post bonnet.

But for residential carpet, hot water extraction should be the primary system. VLM just doesn’t check all the boxes.

I’ve had quite a few homeowners ask me about VLM after someone tried to sell them on it as “the new, better way.” I always ask them one simple question. How do you think they clean their bonnets?

They’re not spritzing them with a little encap, wiping them with a rag, and giving them a quick vacuum at the end of the week. Those pads have to be properly washed between jobs.

Once I explain that, most people instantly get why I lead with HWE for residential and only use VLM/encap as a tool, not a replacement.
Bingo
 

bob vawter

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bob vawter
I'm not suggesting not using Punch, I just wouldn't run it through my porty. That's just me. It
says you can, but it is an encap. I use it when using a polisher on chairs.

I'm not suggesting not using Punch, I just wouldn't run it through my porty. That's just me. It
says you can, but it is an encap. I use it when using a polisher on chairs.
Why does my phone say I'M ignoring certain memories!!!¡!!
 

encapman

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Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
2,373
Name
Rick Gelinas
This week I did some furniture cleaning at 2 Houses. I did one on Monday and after the sister saw the job she called me to do hers

Both Sisters have 2 German Shepherds that lay on the furniture. Lucky for me both Sectionals were dark blue but still were atrocious

I used Punch as a Rinse Detergent at 1 oz per gallon in my Heated Portable ( water gets to 200 degrees ) and was very pleased with the results and so were the customers

After doing those jobs I thought maybe I should have used it at 2 oz. It says on label 1-2 oz per gallon for portables but I think that is for carpet not furniture



What are your thoughts on using Punch as a Rinse Detergent on TRASHED Furniture



View attachment 133127

Glad to hear about your good results on a challenging job! Yes, you could use Encap-Punch at 2 oz per gallon for a rinse on synthetic upholstery.
 

SamIam

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Aug 9, 2012
Messages
11,460
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sam miller
That just tells me (when you had a machine that looked like a good truckmount) that you didn’t HWE carpet properly
I bet you
-did your wet passes in the triangle pattern
-had a 2 jet wand that was 2-3 flow
-rinsed at maybe 350psi
-didn’t do slow dry passes.
-never changed your blower belts because it was “too hard” to get access
-had your lift set around 11-12

Which made your mind calculate that HWE was terrible method. I understand. That’s why there’s mental facilities for those who were just taught the wrong way. It’s called a class and they teach you the proper way to HWE carpet.
If he had that low of flow, he might of actually dried a carpet like the rest of us.

Soaker hahahaha

I'm a fan of my fans

PXL_20250620_201756769.jpg PXL_20250620_204537550.jpg
 

SteamwayPro

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Apr 8, 2012
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376
Name
George
I will NEVER go back to those days when I needed fans to dry carpet FAST

Now I get Residential Carpet CLEAN and DRY in 1-2 Hours without fans

It's not the 1990's anymore

My 4 Dri Pod - 2 Air Path - 2 Turbo Dryer just collect dust today


LESS water MORE agitation !!!

image000000 (47).jpg
 
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SteamwayPro

Supportive Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2012
Messages
376
Name
George
If he had that low of flow, he might of actually dried a carpet like the rest of us.

Soaker hahahaha

I'm a fan of my fans

View attachment 133136 View attachment 133137
Excellent Work !!!

You can still do it that Way - The Old Fashioned Way

But there is a BETTER Way, a FASTER Drying Way, and a MORE Profitable Way to clean Carpet in 2025


I love VLM !!!
 
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  • Haha
Reactions: Kenny Hayes

SamIam

Member
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Aug 9, 2012
Messages
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sam miller
I will NEVER go back to those days when I needed fans to dry carpet FAST

Now I get Residential Carpet CLEAN and DRY in 1-2 Hours without fans

It's not the 1990's anymore

My 4 Dri Pod - 2 Air Path - 2 Turbo Dryer just collect dust today


LESS water MORE agitation !!!

View attachment 133139
Your agitating alright 😂
 

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