Soil overload, what works best?

[Mikey P]

We've all cleaned carpet that is literally "overflowing" with grime.

HWE alone will get 3/4 of it out and the rest comes you to haunt you as it dries.

VLM alone (get 5% out and push the restv tiki the bottom)and it looks good for a bit longer but looks dull and lifeless once the check clears.

Are there any manufacturers or iicrc gurus promoting a proper multi step process?

Vacuum, aggitate or Rotary extract, let dry then buff or bonnet clean? Why is that so hard to sell, not only till carpet cleaners but to the carpet owners?

No, instead we have giant truckmounts that can suck all the way to China and miracle microfiber pads that can hold 50 gallons of goo in a quarter inch of foam..


Its all about shortcuts...


When there really isnt one in an overloaded situation.

 

[Zee]

Why is that so hard to sell, not only till carpet cleaners but to the carpet owners?



.

Because most carpet cleaners are so conditioned to the run run run where even an extra dry stroke is foreign to them. So to spend more time on a job cannot allow them to be the cheapest price...and it would force them to explain/sell a better process.
Which brings in the next problem: either "no habla ingles" or simply can't talk to a well dressed decision making manager straight up. I believe a lot of rug suckers feel inferior, small, embarrassed, when in conversation with decent white collar personalities.
It could be also the missing teeth... Or just insecurity of knowing that he stinks of cigarettes and sweat.

Let's think about it: can you or could you be a conversation partner at a dinner with your customer at a nice restaurant? Could you be friends with them on a social level? (not social media but personal)


Or its just because the carpet owner was cheap enough- or just ignorant - about proper maintenance... and why would they want to spend big bucks now?

 

[hogjowl]

Actually, it because most customers are conditioned (by you idiots) not to pay.

 

[Mikey P]

Uncondition them with logic..

 

[Zee]

Uncondition them with logic..

Yeah..one needs to have logic first to do that.

 

[Bob Pruitt]

Once we are over scheduled we will skip steps like the pre-vac. A good vacuum with a beater bar and brush that is adjusted properly so it is loosing up the deeper soil should never be the step thats missed. There will be jobs that the vacuuming of the carpet will take far longer than the HWE.

Let's think about it: can you or could you be a conversation partner at a dinner with your customer at a nice restaurant?

I always thought it was funny that I was a guy cleaning their carpet in their very nice home but was probably making much more money than they were. True they have better benefits but few make more money that us...at least in my experience. I wouldn't have an employee that felt small...etc.

 

[Zee]

I always thought it was funny that I was a guy cleaning their carpet in their very nice home but was probably making much more money than they were. True they have better benefits but few make more money that us...at least in my experience.

Maybe we're not talking about the same customers... Or you don't work in real high end hoods where making a couple hundred grand -like many carpet cleaners do- is not really something to write home about.

 

[steve_64]

Tell them to replace it and lower expectations. I also tell them to clean more often then im off the hook.

 

[Bob Pruitt]

Or you don't work in real high end hoods where making a couple hundred grand -like many carpet cleaners do- is not really something to write home about.

Hoods? No I don't speak that way and neither do my Clients so maybe we are talking about different people. Maybe I know them because I am one of them, I live in their neighborhood and go scuba diving with them, to dinner with them etc, I know that these guys carry huge debt. They have expensive cars, houses and wives...usually another wife somewhere that is getting alimony etc. so they are making payments...like us.
There are the trust fund rich but you aren't going to get in there unless someone invites you in.
200 thousand is great money even to them so not sure what you are saying. 300 is better than 2 and 4 is better than 3 so that's why we add vans, employees who are trained to do more than clean carpet and a service like fabric protection or a rug cleaning plant.
I'm not arguing but I have been around a long time and my experiences seem to be different than yours...that's all.

 

[Zee]

....

 

[J Scott W]

From my experience, the people who allow carfpet to get into a soil over-load condition do not hgihly value cleanliness and won't pay the cost of a throough multi-step process.

YEs, I know there are exceptions and all of you are such great salesmen that you wil get $1 per sq. ft..

 

[ruff]

What is the question:

1. What is the best procedure for soil saturated carpet?
2. Do we actually do it when needed?
3. Can or will we sell it (extra $) to the client?

The answer is

1. Yes, you nailed it, as long as I don't follow with encap (bonnet passes are good, if not done with encap juice imho, as it just pushes it down.)
2. Yes if the client is willing to pay and I was smart enough to catch it before starting. Or, I will decline the job.
3. Yes, if I was smart enough to catch it before starting. Declining at times is a good move.

 

[Larry Cobb]

Cleaning carpets overloaded with soil is always a multi-part process.

1. Certified Pile Brush to remove dry soil and stand up fibers (Shaw require.) .

2. TM Extract with rotary extraction, using minimum amount of strong conc. prespray to remove apparent soil.

3. Extract with quality OP machine equipped with plenty of dry microfiber pads.

4. Dry with 360' fan system. Check results when dry.

 

[Mikey P]

Ive often dealt with managers will are new to a location who are willing to pay, but don't have the time or manpower needed for a two day process..

 

[ruff]

My experience is that if you do all the steps described, followed by a bonnet dry passes while carpet is still damp + fast drying (fans), that it rarely necessitates a return visit.

Unless we're talking super crazy dirty.
Which means you're trespassing Jimmy's turf. Call the master, no doubt he's on your quick dial button (he is on R. Chavez's) pronto- Problem solved!

 

[Desk Jockey]

I love James.

 

[BIG WOOD]

 

[Desk Jockey]

Zipper?

 

[BIG WOOD]

I had to do 2 HWE on this one. I tried the blue and grey post bonnet, and it didn't touch it.

This is where we need to charge a restoration price vs a normal cleaning.

 

[Cleanworks]

Cleaning carpets overloaded with soil is always a multi-part process.

1. Certified Pile Brush to remove dry soil and stand up fibers (Shaw require.) .

2. TM Extract with rotary extraction, using minimum amount of strong conc. prespray to remove apparent soil.

3. Extract with quality OP machine equipped with plenty of dry microfiber pads.

4. Dry with 360' fan system. Check results when dry.

Don't forget to crank the vacuum up to at least 17 inches or higher.

 

[Desk Jockey]

We don't see much trashed carpet but when we do, we Cimex for agitation and Zipper to flush.

 

[BIG WOOD]

The water that came out of my waste tank the 2nd time around was just as black as the first time. I was considering cleaning it a 3rd time, just by the way the waste water looked, but it was just a rental, so I left it as you see.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Thats nasty! Two times and that dirty. LOL

 

[Nate The Great]

Cleaning carpets overloaded with soil is always a multi-part process.

1. Certified Pile Brush to remove dry soil and stand up fibers (Shaw require.) .

2. TM Extract with rotary extraction, using minimum amount of strong conc. prespray to remove apparent soil.

3. Extract with quality OP machine equipped with plenty of dry microfiber pads.

4. Dry with 360' fan system. Check results when dry.

Uncle Larry, You can't say Pile Lifter Shaw required then say Rotary Extraction in the same post........ That's a manufacturing/supplier no-no.... Please edit your post...........

 

[rwcarpet]

You gotta pre agitate the agitation on the nasties. Usually I will Cimex the prespray in, follow up with good hot hi flow flushing. Slow strokes, and dry strokes. The biggest problem with super nasties is proper stroking......you can't leave a pool of solution at the beginning or end of the stroke. That's just asking for trouble blending it back in. I'd guess that this is where a Zipper or Spinner Zipper would shine, or even a rotary (with brush, preferably) Follow up with a padding. I prefer cotton bonnets, but the micros will work. Charge accordingly for the extra time you put in.

Or.........you can use the new Saiger Sauce and the dirt will just.....evaporate! (sar)

 

[Larry Cobb]

Uncle Larry, You can't say Pile Lifter Shaw required then say Rotary Extraction in the same post........ That's a manufacturing/supplier no-no.... Please edit your post...........

We ARE the experts !!

 

[dgardner]

We ARE the experts !!

Ex = has been
Spurt = drip under pressure

 

[BIG WOOD]

You gotta pre agitate the agitation on the nasties. Usually I will Cimex the prespray in, follow up with good hot hi flow flushing. Slow strokes, and dry strokes. The biggest problem with super nasties is proper stroking......you can't leave a pool of solution at the beginning or end of the stroke. That's just asking for trouble blending it back in. I'd guess that this is where a Zipper or Spinner Zipper would shine, or even a rotary (with brush, preferably) Follow up with a padding. I prefer cotton bonnets, but the micros will work. Charge accordingly for the extra time you put in.

Or.........you can use the new Saiger Sauce and the dirt will just.....evaporate! (sar)

that job I posted on here was scrubbed with both a red pad and a brush on a 175 two different times

 

[Desk Jockey]

that job I posted on here was scrubbed with both a red pad and a brush on a 175 two different times

So you had great agitation. Your flushing could be improved with a RE or a Zipper.

BUT maybe it still needed two cleanings??

 

[Mikey P]

Or three.


Just as important is knowing when to quit


And when to just skim the surface if physics and finances don't allow for a full flushing..