Hi Derek,
Scott Warrington gave some good advice above. If you're seeing wicking while using Encap-Clean
DS2, "the issue may be more with the process than the chemical used".
When you're working with a good quality encap detergent that can truly dry to a crystal, it has the potential to capture and hold soil, and minimize the chance for wicking. If you are seeing a wicking problem more than likely you're dispensing too much solution through your Cimex.
Encapping With a Cimex:
1. Make a fairly fast wet-pass with your Cimex. Hold the valve wide open and walk at a brisk pace.
2. Then make a fairly slow dry-pass. You can tap the trigger lightly every couple of steps to keep the pads damp on your dry-pass.
Note: Always avoid applying too much solution.
Making a quick wet-pass, and a slow dry-pass does the trick. You should be able to clean with a limited amount of moisture. If you feel like you need to increase your amount of solution that your applying (fight the urge). More is NOT better.
If you have a particularly problematic carpet, shoot for limiting your moisture and getting the carpet to dry fast. You could mix the detergent 50% stronger than normal. The stronger mixture will allow you to achieve the results you want using even less moisture. And apply air movers to speed up the drying.
Another trick for wicking problem carpets is to use a hydrogen peroxide based encap detergent. We have Encap-
HydrOx, Interlink has Encapuclean O2. The hydrogen peroxide and acid base will help to get browning, and wicking under control.
And if you're struggling with recurring spill stains, you can use this trick that I've been sharing with people for years. It works! Here's a copy & paste...
How To Eliminate a Recurring Spill Stain:
1. First: Scrub the spot for at least 60 seconds (scrub for 2-3 minutes if the spot is a tough one). Scrub it with next to no moisture in the pad (practically zero moisture). So you're scrubbing the daylights out of that spot with MINIMAL moisture. I will normally scrub a circle around the spot with the Cimex first, leaving the spot bone dry. Then I'll run the machine over a section of dry carpet for a few seconds to dry out the pads. Then without squeezing the solution valve, I'll criss-cross over the spot for a minute or more as outlined above. The only moisture is coming from what gets picked up from the perimeter of the spill stain.
2. Next: Spray a few good mists of concentrated Releasit Encap-Clean DS2 onto the area using a trigger sprayer. The concentrate is mixed 1:3 if you're using Encap-Clean DS2.
3. Final Step: Work the concentrated Releasit down into the fiber by running the machine back across the spot one last time.
This process works perfectly just about 100% of the time, if it is performed to the letter. You've got to scrub intensely with minimal moisture first. Then apply the concentrated Releasit. Then work the concentrated Releasit down into the fiber. The fluoro-chemical retards the wicking process during drying, and the concentrated polymer crystallizes any spill residue remaining at the base of the carpet. BaddaBing-BaddaBoom the recurring spot is gone for good. Even if the carpet is cleaned later with HWE, the spot won't reappear. Follow this little trick carefully, and prepare to be amazed.