Walk behind extractors

[Jim Williams]

So the maintenance head guy at a retirement center that I clean apartments at regularly with my old Ninja portable has called me and wants me to bid on all the hallways. Hundreds of thousands of sq. ft. to be done every month. The only problem is that the carpet manufacturer (Masland) will void the warranty if I use a rotary of any kind. HWE is acceptable but there's no way I can do all of that with the Ninja. They are currently using a host machine but can't get employees right now.

Anybody had experience using walk behinds like the Clarke or any other machine where I could get high production rates?

If so, how many sq. ft. per hour are they capable of? I appreciate any advice!

 

[encapman]

I've worked with a couple different walk-behinds in our commercial business in years past. They were sorely disappointing for us. Here's why... These machines have a cylindrical brush that massages the sprayed solution into the fiber — ahead of the wide vacuum orifice. With these machines there's simply no way for the wide vacuum slot to pick up the solution efficiently as you walk it across the carpet. The end result is a poor cleaning with a very high potential for wicking, particularly when it comes to CGD.

 

[Cleanworks]

I've worked with a couple different walk-behinds in our commercial business in years past. They were sorely disappointing for us. Here's why... These machines have a cylindrical brush that massages the sprayed solution into the fiber — ahead of the wide vacuum orifice. With these machines there's simply no way for the wide vacuum slot to pick up the solution efficiently as you walk it across the carpet. The end result is a poor cleaning with a very high potential for wicking, particularly when it comes to CGD.

Check with the facility as to the age of the carpet, Maslands warranty seems to be for 2 years only. Very limited warranty with many exclusions. Probably not worth the paper it's written on. Discuss that with the facility management. Sounds like the perfect setup for a Cimex and or an orbital machine.

 

[encapman]

Since they're obviously not opposed to cylindrical brush machines / since they had Host before, why not consider using a 20" CRB machine. Preferably with an onboard sprayer?

BrushEncap Machine - 20-inch CRB 20 Counter-Rotating Brush Carpet Cleaning Machine TM5 with Set of Brushes, 1 Gallon Releasit, Sample Adsorb

The BrushEncap machines are genuine Austrian Made CRB machines. We do NOT sell the Strong Dry machine. Excellent for deep scrubbing. Encapsulation cleaning. Dry absorbent cleaning. Traffic lane preparation. Tile & Grout cleaning.

www.excellent-supply.com

 

[encapman]

Check with the facility as to the age of the carpet, Maslands warranty seems to be for 2 years only. Very limited warranty with many exclusions. Probably not worth the paper it's written on. Discuss that with the facility management. Sounds like the perfect setup for a Cimex and or an orbital machine.

And if they don't have their heads too firmly buried in the sand, they may also be open to considering an Orbot — since those orbitals are actually CRI approved.

 

[Cleanworks]

And if they don't have their heads to firmly buried in the sand, they may also be open to considering an Orbot — since those orbitals are actually CRI approved.

Does Orbot still make the Sprayborg? I prefer that over the Vibe.

 

[Clean Rug Doug]

And if they don't have their heads to firmly buried in the sand, they may also be open to considering an Orbot — since those orbitals are actually CRI approved.

And if they do, use your portable for the worst areas.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

The Crb is a good option along with your Ninja. You can even put two crb’s together and go to town.

 

[encapman]

Does Orbot still make the Sprayborg? I prefer that over the Vibe.

Yes, we have them here.
https://www.excellent-supply.com/pr...yborg-17-inch-oscillating-pad-orbital-machine

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Walk behind carpet machines really are for janitors. And bad ones at that

 

[Cleanworks]

Yes, we have them here.
https://www.excellent-supply.com/pr...yborg-17-inch-oscillating-pad-orbital-machine

I prefer the Sprayborg over the Vibe because of the interchangeable 2.5 gallon jugs. I have a Sprayborg and a Trinity Phoenix which uses the same system. I prefill 4-6 jugs before I get to the job, usually park near the elevator and just run back and forth to the truck to get a fresh jug and pads. You can get replacement jugs from uline if your local distributor doesn't have them.

 

[Jim Williams]

Check with the facility as to the age of the carpet, Maslands warranty seems to be for 2 years only. Very limited warranty with many exclusions. Probably not worth the paper it's written on. Discuss that with the facility management. Sounds like the perfect setup for a Cimex and or an orbital machine.

Good point on the warranty. I'm almost certain that the carpet is quite a few years old.

Since they're obviously not opposed to cylindrical brush machines / since they had Host before, why not consider using a 20" CRB machine. Preferably with an onboard sprayer?

BrushEncap Machine - 20-inch CRB 20 Counter-Rotating Brush Carpet Cleaning Machine TM5 with Set of Brushes, 1 Gallon Releasit, Sample Adsorb

The BrushEncap machines are genuine Austrian Made CRB machines. We do NOT sell the Strong Dry machine. Excellent for deep scrubbing. Encapsulation cleaning. Dry absorbent cleaning. Traffic lane preparation. Tile & Grout cleaning.

www.excellent-supply.com

That looks like a good option. Any idea of how many sq. ft. per hour that's capable of?

 

[Jim Williams]

Walk behind carpet machines really are for janitors. And bad ones at that

I'm a high class janitor. When I was a kid a I always thought it would be cool to be a school janitor. Except cleaning up barf from snot nose kids.

 

[Cleanworks]

Good point on the warranty. I'm almost certain that the carpet is quite a few years old.

That looks like a good option. Any idea of how many sq. ft. per hour that's capable of?

The brush encap machines can do a good job but even with the trays attached, eventually they start spitting out dirt and debris which has to be vacuumed up. You need to periodically take the machine down to the parking lot and flush the brush roll with a garden hose. At least, that's been my experience. I would much prefer an Orbital machine.

 

[encapman]

Good point on the warranty. I'm almost certain that the carpet is quite a few years old.

That looks like a good option. Any idea of how many sq. ft. per hour that's capable of?

The 20" model with onboard sprayer can easily hum along at 3,000+ Sq Ft per hour.

 

[Numero Uno]

Flip the guy a hundred.
Do it your style.
Not like there gonna truly care.
They want clean or kinda clean.
Give him a few extra have him pull the hoses also...

 

[Kenny Hayes]

I'm a high class janitor. When I was a kid a I always thought it would be cool to be a school janitor. Except cleaning up barf from snot nose kids.

That is funny. I never, or did it ever occur to me that I would be a school janitor. But, here I am, with 3. I guess I’m high class, I don’t do vomit except after the janitor already has his go at it

 

[Kenny Hayes]

When Jesus says, I have a job for you, you go do it. Then, he starts multiplying it

 

[Jim Pemberton]

If there is any one device that created a market for encapsulation, it was walk behind "extractors".

These poorly designed residue spreaders that extract about 50% of what they put down on the best of days are among the worst things invented in the cleaning industry.

Couple these machine's poor extraction characteristics with the cleaners tendency to over use the detergent they put into them (prespray is alien to most janitors or building service contractors), and the resoil rate can be astronomical.

Encapsulation will clean better, faster, and with more than acceptable resoiling rates.

There is zero reason to own or use these contraptions

 

[Jim Williams]

When Jesus says, I have a job for you, you go do it. Then, he starts multiplying it

He might be telling me I need to hire an employee.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Are you listening

 

[scotty747]

Does anybody here pad after brush? Got some big apt halls coming up and finally have a helper. Seems like it would get the the top layer better than the crb alone.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Yes, always. Only reason it would be good option for Jim is the box they’re putting him in. Dang, a Cimex would really be the ticket!

 

[Cleanworks]

Does anybody here pad after brush? Got some big apt halls coming up and finally have a helper. Seems like it would get the the top layer better than the crb alone.

I just pad. No need for the crb. An orbital machine with a microfiber pad is a great scrubber. What I'm doing today in a few minutes.

 

[Jim Williams]

Are you listening

I've been avoiding it like the plague.

Yes, always. Only reason it would be good option for Jim is the box they’re putting him in. Dang, a Cimex would really be the ticket!

I'm going to go talk to the guy one day and get a feel for what He's willing to let me use. A Cimex would definitely be nice. Also need to get measurements on the whole place. 4 story building chocked full of old folks. Massive place. It may be more hours than I could put in, but then again it might also be nice to cut back on residential.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Cimex is the ticket around old folks.

 

[sassyotto]

be careful. I have a friend that got the contract to clean 23 floors of the Time/Life Building in Chicago. he was there every weekend, worked only 2 days a week and netted more than I did in week working 5 days. I was very envious of him until Time/Life moved their offices to New York and he had no work....

 

[Rob Grady]

Did they take the building with them?

 

[Giorgio]

Bonnets are more gentle on carpet seams than CRB's.

 

[Jim Williams]

be careful. I have a friend that got the contract to clean 23 floors of the Time/Life Building in Chicago. he was there every weekend, worked only 2 days a week and netted more than I did in week working 5 days. I was very envious of him until Time/Life moved their offices to New York and he had no work....

That definitely crossed my mind. Bad idea to rely on one account for a huge chunk of income.

Bonnets are more gentle on carpet seams than CRB's.

Shows you how much some manufacturers know about cleaning.