What do you use for agitating your pre-spray?

What's your go to tool for agitation?


  • Total voters
    36

jawhit

Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2015
Messages
80
Location
NY
Name
Joe
I've been wondering what everyone's using for agitation. I've been cleaning carpet fit about 10 years. When I was taught to clean carpet we agitated everything with a rotary and a bonnet/pad. Now most folks talk about CRBs, RotoVac brushheads, etc. So I'm just curious if lots of folks are still using rotaries or if that has kind of changed.
 

Chris A

Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2007
Messages
5,475
Location
OH
Name
Chris
Sebo duo if needed in residential, but 80% of the time just prespray/rinse
 

Barry-QDCC

Supportive Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2012
Messages
554
Location
Jurupa Valley, CA - So. Calif.
Name
Barry Rhoads
I've used
1- - nothing at all - afterall not every job needs agitation.
2- - carpet rake, but not in years, not hardly worth the energy spent using it
3- - carpet brush under a 175 - which I thought was the best ever until I tried #4
4- - Carpet "scrub" pads - (also known as 3M pads) I like the FiberMax pads from excellent supply - which I really thought were wonderful but I bought #5 anyway due to all the hype.
5- - 10" CRB which before I bought it I thought was going to be the "end all - be all" in my quest of my favorite carpet pre-spray agitation tools. Turns out it's not. At least for me it's not.

All time favorite - - #4 - - FiberMax pads - they just really make the stains disappear before your very eyes. The CRB does to a certain extent also, but IMHO not as well. However there are times I use both the CRB and the pads. Takes a bit more of time, but those together, combined with a great pre-spray and a bit of dwell time conqueror the worst looking carpet.

Just a comment....Even though the CRB isn't my go-to agitation tool, I'm not sorry I have it. Still love it in certain situations. Can't be beat in those situations. As we always say, another great tool in the carpet cleaners tool box.
 

SamIam

Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2012
Messages
11,288
Location
California
Name
sam miller
Ya I like the pet hair removal and that when you flush it's so much easier. The crb doesn't pull very spot out. A little spotter or Fels and boom it's just fat and easier than pulling out a 110 lbs 175. The fiber pads are awesome.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Old Coastie
Joined
Dec 20, 2015
Messages
68
Location
Alpine Utah
Name
Jefftry Tobian
I always carry a buffer on my truck but I rarely pull it out , I also have a carpet brush, but if I use my RX20 first and then go over it with my wand , most of the time it does the trick. I would like to get a CRB for the cat hair. Cat hair is a big problem for me . I prevacuum first , then clean , Then after with my brush cat hair keeps comming up. What do you do about the car hair????
carpet cleaning company in Utah1.jpg
 

Zee

Supportive Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2007
Messages
6,162
Location
SoCal jungle
Name
.
I always carry a buffer on my truck but I rarely pull it out , I also have a carpet brush, but if I use my RX20 first and then go over it with my wand , most of the time it does the trick. I would like to get a CRB for the cat hair. Cat hair is a big problem for me . I prevacuum first , then clean , Then after with my brush cat hair keeps comming up. What do you do about the car hair????View attachment 14625



I think you should vacuum better... slower...
 

Jim Nazarian

Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
741
Location
So. Cal
Name
Jim Nazarian
Small areas like in front of a sofa or entry I will just use the 360i without the vac hose connected, fortunately I don't get too many jobs where I need to bring in the 175.
 

Desk Jockey

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2006
Messages
64,833
Location
A planet far far away
Name
Rico Suave
We used them for decades put quit when we became concerned that we just might be doing more harm that good with them.

The older units don't provide adequate filtration to capture the micron size of the particles being disturbed.

If you ran a particle meter in the room prior and then after, you'd see an extreme particle plume from the activity.

Not a huge concern until you have clients with allergies or compromised respiratory systems.
 

rick imby

Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2009
Messages
2,210
Location
Montana
Name
Rick
We used them for decades put quit when we became concerned that we just might be doing more harm that good with them.

The older units don't provide adequate filtration to capture the micron size of the particles being disturbed.

If you ran a particle meter in the room prior and then after, you'd see an extreme particle plume from the activity.

Not a huge concern until you have clients with allergies or compromised respiratory systems.


I have never figured out why you guys use a stinking vacuum cleaner with 3 cfm and zero lift. You can use the same vac hose you use to clean with. Use a wand that goes to a central vacuum. Adjust the suction just like you do with an upholstery tool.
Dirt downer and real suction...
 

Desk Jockey

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2006
Messages
64,833
Location
A planet far far away
Name
Rico Suave
If they designed a tool that could take the CFM that would be awesome. :biggrin:

Unfortunately those turbine powered tools reach the critical threshold with a TM. :errf:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Reactions: KevinL

Russ T.

Supportive Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2008
Messages
3,556
Location
Slater, IA
Name
Russ Terhaar
Seems like they could build one that tops out at a particular brush head speed.

I'd think you would still want a head with some girth to it, to sink down into the carpet.

I agree on the dust downer. I think I'm clogging up my blower protection filters (Cleanco) up just by vacuuming edges with my 2" vac hose.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Desk Jockey

GeneMiller

Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
3,547
Location
Boca Raton
Name
gene miller
We used them for decades put quit when we became concerned that we just might be doing more harm that good with them.

The older units don't provide adequate filtration to capture the micron size of the particles being disturbed.

If you ran a particle meter in the room prior and then after, you'd see an extreme particle plume from the activity.

Not a huge concern until you have clients with allergies or compromised respiratory systems.

hook the truck mount straight to it.
 

rick imby

Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2009
Messages
2,210
Location
Montana
Name
Rick
A lot of them are electric powered. You can easily downgrade the power of your tm.. It is done elegantly with upholstery tools.

The Desk Jock living and thinking inside the box...
 

jawhit

Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2015
Messages
80
Location
NY
Name
Joe
@Mark Saiger Which brushes do you use with commercial? I 15 inch CRB, but just use the white brushes for everything.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom