Dual-method carpet cleaning
by Jeff Cross
All too often, a carpet cleaning project doesn't go as well as originally anticipated.
You spend a large amount of time cleaning the carpet, using the right equipment and chemicals, and it looks better, but just not good enough.
After the job is completely dry, the appearance is simply not acceptable.
When this happens, it's time to think outside the box.
Dual methods
Furniture cleaners often use dual methods of cleaning because they have to be concerned with the chemical reaction on delicate fibers and dyes.
They might use a shampoo solution with high agitation (that which is appropriate to the fabric), and then use hot water extraction to rinse loosened soils.
The result is a superb cleaning job. You can do the same for virtually any carpet, especially those with heavy, ground-in soils.
You can use a shampoo solution with a rotary scrubber, and then follow it up with hot water extraction.
Or, you can use hot water extraction and follow that up with absorbent or oscillating pad cleaning.
The tremendous cleaning results of doing this come mainly from the extra agitation and soil suspension.
And in the case of the absorbant or oscillating pad cleaning after hot water extraction, you have not only more agitation but also more soil extraction.
More than one tech
When using dual-method cleaning, a two-man team is smart.
It is difficult for one person to be cost-effective when having to switch from one cleaning method to another.
With two people, one can start cleaning with one method while the other moves furniture, sets up cleaning solutions and prepares the next method.
This way, no time is lost.
Cleaning is always taking place in the home or business, with no downtime.
Encap and HWE
Gaining popularity is the use of encapsulation cleaning as a stand-alone system, but also as a cleaning method to be used after hot water extraction.
When a carpet is heavily soiled, and hot water extraction cleaning is used, the well-known problem of "wicking" means an unsatisfactory job after drying occurs.
Running an encapsulation system a day or two after the wicking occurs makes the cleaning job successful.
You need to anticipate this and work with the problem instead of hoping it doesn't happen.
Wicking is going to happen on any carpet after it is wet cleaned... what matters is what wicks to the surface.
Is it cleaning residues alone, or cleaning residues full of soil that weren't removed in the original cleaning?
If it is the latter, the carpet will look soiled after it dries, even if you think you removed a huge amount of soil.
Many cleaners are utilizing encapsulation rinses, which will leave behind a better residue and help hinder unwanted wicking of soils.
Extra agitation
Don't forget that - even if you use dual-method cleaning - using extra agitation techniques will also give you better results.
The simple use of a carpet rake after applying preconditioner can easily double your cleaning results because the detergent effectiveness is increased and soil suspension is enhanced, making your hot water extraction (if that is your method of cleaning) much better.
The use of a electric-powered cylindrical brush will work detergents into the carpet pile, cutting down on actual cleaning time and also increasing soil removal.
And, best of all, more soil removal means less wicking and less callbacks for recleaning.
