encapping stairs
- Thread starter FFA
- Start date
I use a Hoss Cyclo with extension pole.
Here's a pic of it on the tool box I carry it in.
I use the small length bar, but in the hole where the larger pole is.
Pre-spray the treads & risers, stand with the machine in front of me & clean the risers bottom to top.
Stand two steps below & clean the treads as I come back down.
Very little bending of the back.
The Makita can also be used in a similar fashion on LIGHTLY SOILED stairs, but more back bending is required.
Here's a pic of it on the tool box I carry it in.
I use the small length bar, but in the hole where the larger pole is.
Pre-spray the treads & risers, stand with the machine in front of me & clean the risers bottom to top.
Stand two steps below & clean the treads as I come back down.
Very little bending of the back.
The Makita can also be used in a similar fashion on LIGHTLY SOILED stairs, but more back bending is required.
Mikey P
Administrator
We tend to use HWE.
Encapping the soil load found on staircases is sort of lame..
Encapping the soil load found on staircases is sort of lame..
Well heck, im as lame as it gets..
encapman
Member
Here's a simple approach that works pretty easily on stairs. Have a look at the customer reviews tab...
http://www.excellent-supply.com/8-inch-Drill-Driver-Carpet-Cleaning-Accessory_p_10.html
http://www.excellent-supply.com/8-inch-Drill-Driver-Carpet-Cleaning-Accessory_p_10.html
Goomer
Member
Not encapping, but scrubbing................
Goomer
Member
Why do you want to modify it?
Im wanting to buy cotton bonnets for the oreck. Talked to John from bonnet pro since hes local and he seems to think the pad driver will rip the bonnets up. Ive heard the same from others. Velcro will do the same too. So im wanting to modify it to accept a regular pad driver with the brissels.
I read something that you had posted somewhere about the different pads that you have used and certain issues with slippage. Can you elaborate a little and share your experience?
Goomer
Member
True, the stock Orbiter pad driver double sided barbs are very sharp and aggressive, especially when new, and can damage some pads, mainly because they embed themselves in the material and have to be practically torn out.
I used some strips of this.........................
.......On one of my old Oreck drivers that had most of the barbs worn down and or broken off.
Although I have not used it with cottons, it works fine with MicroFiber combo pads which were also getting damaged with the original driver barbs.
The barbs are rounded and less aggressive.
I think the driver bristles of a standard floor machine pad driver need a little more than 35 pounds to be effective, so a little bite on an Orbiter driver is probably necessary despite how rough they are on some pads.
Nampa Carpet Cleaning
Member
I would say encaping stairs is not a good idea. It takes longer with less results than HWE
In other words; You work twice as hard and get half the results. I hate when that happens
In other words; You work twice as hard and get half the results. I hate when that happens
ruff
Member
If you're already there encapping, no one that I know would like to also bring in a portable.
True Mikey when they're filthy, that's when we also rinse/extract.
We don't chase the grotties that live in
ig: styes. 
Mikey P
Administrator
how many clean commercial staircases do you run across?
The machine in the picture is a modified orbitec towel machine, it's easy to modify weighs about 50 lbs and cleans like a full size machine.
If you run across someone selling an old towel machine I would suggest buying it, it's one of my favorite tools.
To modify the oreck pad driver just peel off or grind down, you can do this on a concrete sidewalk, the tee hooks then you can buy some peel and stick velcro at wal-mart, get the industral.
The only problems I've had with pads slipping are with thick cotton, when they get full of moisture they won't stay under the machine, that's with using a full size op machine, they work great under a rotary, I don't use the thick cotton with the oreck orbitor so haven't really had any pad problems with it.
Mikey P
Administrator
I actually got a request to quote on my first COMMERCIAL stair case just before Christmas - four levels of it, plus all the carpets.
Due to time & other work booked in, I was unable to handle a job of that size.
I don't know of any other commercial properties in Cairns that have internal staircases in carpet.
Most are of marble, concrete, etc;
Old Coastie
Supportive Member
We do. We use a spot extractor to do the stairs. Elf A is encapping with the Duplex, Elf B does the stairs and grody spots. Works pretty well.
rwcarpet
Supportive Member
Only on the 12th floor of an office building, which is where I use my Oreck orbital, first with beige fibre pads, then with the microfibre pad to finish up. I will always choose to HWE if within reach of the TM.
Danny Strickland
Member
shouldn't the majority of soil be on the first few stairs? if the stairs ajoin a carpeted landing even less soil???
I have a small oreck orbiter and a Von Schrader Esprite for sale. works great on stairs!!
I have a small oreck orbiter and a Von Schrader Esprite for sale. works great on stairs!!
steve_64
Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2012
- Messages
- 13,372
We use our oreck on stairs.It really works well.
