How do you clean Smartstrand?

[Steve Lawrence]

Acidic detergent, alkaline detergent with acid rinse, pure water only, or alkaline detergent with water rinse and tell the customer the not-so-soft feel is what they get for buying this crap?

Those of you who deal with Smartstrand often know what I'm talking about. What is your remedy?

 

[Sierra Clean Care]

5 gal of gas, and a zippo....

 

[J Scott W]

Smartstrand is a name brand for triexta fiber. This is a cousin of polyester. It is an oil loving fiber. Oil is usually the main problem. It also is more likely to develop van der Waals forces that attract small dry particles to the fiber. They stick to the surface in a similar way to how a fly stays on a ceiling or a disperse dye sticks to a fiber surface. These particles are also hard to remove. Smartstrand does not absorb water and tend to shed water-based stains.

You can use a high alkaline prespray and an acid rinse (Flex powder with Citrus Solv and Flex Ice) to focus on the oily and greasy soils. If you observe issues with particle soils, use an alkaline prespray with a cationic hydrotope to break the charges of the van der Waals forces and loosen those particles (Traffic Slam). Any rinse that adds a cleaning boost is useful in this situation. (Flex Fire, Flex Ice)

 

[SCC]

I don't have issues with smartstrand. I've had great luck using flex and traffic slam with my hydro force or a few different encap products in a pump up sprayer.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

A little bit of extra agitation helps.

 

[hogjowl]

Just like everything else that I clean, I just clean it like normal and let the rest of you idiots tell me it’s complicated later.

 

[Mikey P]

same, dont see any issues other than some premature wear.

almost any pre spray above 10, ICE rinse and a good scrubbing.


Poly can smell your fear too....

 

[steve_64]

Guys he wants to know how to get it feel soft when it dries.

 

[Cleanworks]

Van der Waals forces, next time the polyester doesn't come clean, you can tell your customer it's because of all the little Dutchmen sticking the dirt on the carpet. Nasty little buggers.

 

[Dolly Llama]

Guys he wants to know how to get it feel soft when it dries

run a vac w/aggressive roll brush over it to reduce the "crunchiness" that comes from heavy use/need of powdered pre-sprays and/or water based protectants

.L.T.A.

 

[steve_64]

Sorry Steve I tried.

Guess you just tell them to vac it I've had no luck neither.

 

[Living The Dream]

High ph and Citrus rinsed with Flex Ice and post bonnet with encapuguard green. Soft as soft can get!

 

[Mikey P]

pure water only

tap or Softened?

 

[Larry Cobb]

SmartStrand is "oil loving".
This one a Mohawk rep & IICRC instructor Jim Smith brought in for cleaning.
6 months old, couple with no pets or kids. Premature traffic lane grey.
Uncleaned on the left:

Had to add POG to our PowerMax powder to get it clean.

 

[steve_64]

SmartStrand is "oil loving".
This one a Mohawk rep & IICRC instructor Jim Smith brought in for cleaning.
6 months old, couple with no pets or kids. Premature traffic lane grey.
Uncleaned on the left:
View attachment 78135
Had to add POG to our PowerMax powder to get it clean.

Was it crunchy when it dried?

 

[SamIam]

With a wand!

 

[Cleanworks]

With a wand!

Magic wand to get it really clean.

 

[Hack Attack]

I've never had problem getting it clean something high pH with a splash of delim and acid rinse, my brother was stupid enough to buy some so I see it regularly after I've cleaned it. Its never been crunchy its been flat and looks like a sheet of cardboard but not crunchy

 

[Larry Cobb]

Was it crunchy when it dried?

The three of us didn't notice any harsh hand when it was dry.

 

[Mikey P]

The three of us didn't notice any harsh hand when it was dry.

You, Mats and JW?

 

[Kenny Hayes]

O my Gawd, I almost bought some. #ididnt know They told me Dyson would void the warranty because of suction. I’m like, what the crap, what’s my truckmount gonna do? Course I do have one Bane

 

[Desk Jockey]

Just like everything else that I clean, I just clean it like normal and let the rest of you idiots tell me it’s complicated later.

No I said you're complicated!

IDIOT!

 

[Mark Saiger]

We have some smart strand in our home giving us no trouble...

I have seen and cleaned SmartStrand that can make you look like it is your first day of cleaning as it is stained and will never come clean (well...looking clean).

A test is sometimes the clean white rag test....see if any soil transfer even using a De-Limonene on a rag or a pog to see if any transfer...and most of the time, the carpet is clean (in these bad cases) but the fibers are damaged....

Just the way it is and we have been able to give some heads up to clients before cleaning as to maybe what to expect.

 

[SCC]

If you struggle with smartstrand maybe you should try another career.

 

[Dolly Llama]

They told me Dyson would void the warranty because of suction

Mill rep told us once, it was the aggressive roll brush, not vac/suck.
If memory serves, he mentioned the Dyson Animal specifically killing carpets
Don't recall if "warranty" was mentioned

and who's "they"?
the carpet retailer?

if so.......way too many of them wipe their azz like this






..L.T.A.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

10-4, I told them I could understand the beater bar easier. There’s no differentiation in which Dyson. Two different stores told me the same thing. Now, a hand held is ok, which I have too. The difference in truckmount is you’re only doing that occasionally. I’m just glad I didn’t go there. My master bed was costing me $1,800. Nope, I hate carpet anyway.

 

[hogjowl]

Idiot

 

[Dolly Llama]

The difference in truckmount is you’re only doing that occasionally

TM and wand only is pretty gentle at reasonable pressure and heat

it's that nu army of CRB trendy pack followers I'd be more concerned about ......

..L.T.A.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Idiot

Bahaaaaa, cause I hate carpet, cause I looked at smartstand, cause I own a Bane among my tools, cause I’m on this board on Saturday, I’m confused. #moron

 

[Cleanworks]

Isn't there a book we can buy? Smartstrand for Dummies?