Too Wet stairs?

[Onfire_02_01]

Hey guys I have a question for you. I have had a couple of people tell me that I am leaving the steps significantly more wet than I am the rest of the carpets. I am using a 1.5 inch stair tool with 2 jets to clean steps, with about a 6-8 foot lead of 1.5 hose. But if I take a shortcut and clean the steps using my 2 inch floor wand they supposedly come out dry as a bone. is this even possible? Is my stair tool really putting down that much water and not recovering it?

 

[Todd Millar]

Do you do a dry pass after you rinse? If not I highly recommend a dry pass, its only a few more seconds per stair but speeds up dry time.
Also you might want to see it that tool has something blocking it

 

[Desk Jockey]

I prefer the 2 inch barrel and 2-inch hose.

Its possible you are choking it down too much and not leaving it as dry. Doubtful though!

Maybe its jet size??? Maybe you need to make extra dry passes????

Possibly you need to pop the hose back on the wand and vacuum the tread to assist in drying???

 

[Bob Pruitt]

I believe Mark S has a video on cleaning stairs...

 

[Mark Saiger]

What stair tool?

Jet size?

Glide?

 

[Onfire_02_01]

I don't normally do dry passes unless I am really scrubbing the carpet to remove stains.
Where can you find a 2 inch stair tool? I have been wanting one but I have never seen one. I did ask PMF if they made one and they told me there was no demand so they were not making one and had no plans to.

 

[Onfire_02_01]

just checked the jets and it has 2x 9503
I don't know who makes the tool but it is an s bend wand about a 3 footer I would say (normal size I see every stair tool in)
there is no glide just the extra large lips that are welded onto the head.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I think Olsen has them made up special for him. Its just like a cilut down wand. The only negative is you do get a steam bath from being so close to the stair tool head.

 

[Cleanworks]

I use a similar stair tool. I usually give the stairs a good work over as they are sometimes the most heavily soiled carpet in the house. After prespraying heavily, I flush the stairs with the trigger held wide open. I the dry vac several times, paying special attention to the bullnose. Last step, I cuff the bulnose and risers.

 

[Mark Saiger]

Dry passes do remove more water, but dry passes are important to remove other suspended soils too.

Rather than look for a different wand right away, try dry passes would be my first thought...

And 6 flow is pretty good flow, but a glide can help pick up more water. Downside you loose agitation.

Stair Cleaning with Saiger's Steam Clean, Grand Rapids, MN: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg45027waKT-XCPAHeGIbp4XJLlLrzP7I

 

[Cleanworks]

You know I just had to watch that video, again, but I do like that swivel. My tool is fixed and it is a pita to do the risers

 

[D Luke]

Can really only be one of two things.

Either your flow/vac balance or your technique.

 

[Doug Rice]

What pressure are you using on the stairs? I usually turn mine down to 200 PSI as I: have a ProChem single jet tool. I also place an air mover at the bottom of the stairs as I finish up the rest of the job.

 

[Cleanworks]

I use 500psi at the truck

 

[SamIam]

Do some dry passes and point a snail up the stairs when finished.

Hero not a zero!

 

[SamIam]

I always do dry passes and leave a fan

 

[Onfire_02_01]

I liked my swivel a lot better than the fixed on I have now. I really should get my other one welded.
I am using the same pressure 3-400 for the steps as I do the carpet.
Air mover would be nice but I always leave the steps for the last so that my pre spray has the entire job to dwell. so it wouldn't get the air time that the other rooms get with my fan.
I have wanted a 2 inch stair tool just so that I don't have to carry around the roll of 1.5 hose. I have tried a reducer at the end of the hose but I always hated takeing one of putting the other on, cleaning and then doing it in reverse again, Plus the reducer always felt wonky to me.

 

[GeneMiller]

you don't need a new tool you need a new technique. clean and then dry each step. when you hit the bottom go back up cleaning and vacuuming the risers. once back at the top vacuum down again. they will be nice and dry. takes 12-15 minutes. add the reducer permanently to the stair tool. your 2" should fit right over it, thats what i do.

 

[KevinL]

I would also cut your jets down to 9502's and clean and dry as the other guys said.

 

[Mikey P]

Get a Grumpy..

 

[Desk Jockey]

 

[FFA]

I was using the stubby stairtool for awhile. 1 jet 1.5 incher. And it would leave the carpet significantly wetter. Now just use my Dang stair wand. Its an 18 inch, 2 jet, 1.5 with 2 inch flare. So i dont have to use a whip. Its heavier but it leaves the stairs dry to the touch. And it has a glide on a 6 inch head.

 

[Onfire_02_01]

Get a Grumpy..

Your funny!

 

[steve_64]

Make sure your tool is clear of debris. Put the lips in the light and look through the tube for light.

Stairs are usually dirtier than the carpet with hair and debris.

 

[Rick J]

Get a Grumpy..

Sounds like his customer is Grumpy! LOL
Yes , dry passes. I also sometimes wipe the noses down , it they were bad with a bonnet or clean towel.

 

[ronbeatty]

I clean the stairs with a Prochem TI wand and then vacuum the entire staircase with a 6" plastic vac tool like the car washes use. In 40 years never had a complaint on clean or extended dry time. It takes about 2 minuets to vacuum the stairs.

 

[SamIam]

View attachment 15583 View attachment 15584

 

[SamIam]

I know wipe down the blower

 

[Mark Saiger]

View attachment 15597


I know wipe down the blower

Carpets look good though

 

[jcooper]

Air mover would be nice but I always leave the steps for the last so that my pre spray has the entire job to dwell.

I'd say there is your issue.


If pre spraying at start of job and they are still wet an hour(or so) later(after cleaning other areas), more than likely this is the problem.


Too much pre spray, staying wet for too long, soaking down(deep). The quantity of pre spray to keep something wet for a long time could simply be too moisture.