Time to clean your carpets? Let us help you decide how!
The carpets in a commercial facility represent a substantial monetary investment – an investment that requires periodic maintenance and deep cleaning, so it’s important to choose the right method. Both routine and deep cleaning are essential for keeping carpets looking their best. Routine vacuuming and spot cleaning are standard, but sometimes you need a more thorough clean. Find out the best way to remove the dirt, germs and spores that routine methods leave behind.
Extraction – when vacuuming just won’t do
For deeply embedded soils that vacuuming and or spot cleaning will not remove, a carpet extractor is the best option. A carpet extractor is a self-contained machine that is equipped with a brush and a vacuum. There are two ways to use it, but one is more effective than the other. In the first method, you fill the extractor with water only, (no additional chemicals). Then you add a defoaming solution to the return tank. This is to prevent excessive foam buildup that can damage hoses over time. Using a pump sprayer, apply a pre spray to the carpet and wait about 10 minutes. When the time is up, you go over it with the extractor. The brush will agitate the carpet and lift the pile, creating a mechanical cleaning action as well as water pressure, and the vacuum shoe will collect the dirty water and send it to the recovery tank. This process will clean and rinse the carpet.
In the second method, you would add an extraction chemical to the tank. This method is less effective as the cleaning solution only stays on the carpet for a second, which doesn’t always allow enough time for the soil to become dislodged from the carpet.
Why choose extraction?
Extraction offers the deepest level of clean. It uses a large amount of water, which enables it to flush a large quantity of soil from the carpet during cleaning. It’s also great for odour removal and is highly effective at removing smoke, as well as deeply rooted stains. Extractors also provide quick and effective cleaning, making them ideal for larger surfaces. They also come in a wide variety including compact, walk-behind, box and wand and stand-on. Some are available with single or dual brushes and they come in a variety of tank sizes and water pressure. Most can be fitted with optional hoses for cleaning upholstery or hard-to-reach spots and some carpet extractor models can offer both extraction and encapsulation cleaning using the same machine.
Encapsulation – trap and vacuum
Encapsulation is an ultra-low moisture cleaning method that uses polymers to encapsulate and crystallize dirt for immediate vacuuming. In this method, the carpet is sprayed with an encapsulation chemical solution that gets worked into the fibres using a machine brush or a bonnet. The chemical surrounds the debris particle and crystallizes it, preventing it from attracting other soils. As it dries, the chemical captures any remaining soil encountered during the cleaning process. Once the carpet dries completely, the encapsulated particles are removed during routine vacuuming.
Encapsulation has its advantages
Encapsulation offers a deeper clean than vacuuming alone and less disruption than hot water extraction. Carpets cleaned with this low-moisture method dry in approximately 20 minutes, so the room can be used sooner. The chemicals used in encapsulation are low-residue, which eliminates issues like sticky carpets, odors, and recurring carpet stains. Encapsulation can also be done with an extractor, provided you choose a model with multi-function capabilities. Moreover, encapsulation typically requires less user training.
For routine cleaning, encapsulation is the best option perfect for keeping a commercial carpet looking its best. But for heavily soiled carpets, periodic hot water extraction is the best way to ensure a thorough, deep cleaning that will keep your carpets looking great and extend their useful life. For a complete selection of Sani Marc’s carpet care solutions, browse our equipment catalogue or visit our web site.
