[edward coller]

when cleaning upholstery i pre vac , apply Alltecs upholstery cleaner and aggitate with a hand mitt before extracting hot with T/M same over last 13 years with lots of repeats and happy customers.
But...im getting knackered and fed up too. Do any of you pros just extract, or more appropriatly  use mechanical tool for the agitation and for the saving of arms and elbows.
 I want to keep the use of mine for a few years more. any suggestions appreciated, apart from employing a technician or retiring, which i would love to do but Nationwide building society say I still owe them a shed load of money!
Thanks in anticipation
Simon

[Steve Chapman]

A cordless drill with brush attachment is useful and quick and does save on the aching arms......

[Derek Corbrick]

I use a dewalt geared drill depending on the fabric, also great on stairs

[dutchman]

Skip the pre vac. I did years ago and its made no difference unless its velvet or draylon. Only pre spray bad areas, arms, cushions and front of sofa if its dirty. Pre spray and brush for a 10 cushion sofa and 2 chairs should take about 20 - 30 mins.

[liviu pastravanu]

What upholstery tool are you using? 

Buy yourself an angled drill, it will make life a lot easier.


Regrads
Liviu

[Simon Gerrard]

Forget the drill and for the most part forget agitation other than the arms and awkward bits and instead find a prespray that doesn't need agitation, you don't have to look far.

Simon

[sean oregan]

Simon
The upholstery jobs I have had recently need a match put to them, without agitation I might aswell not bother attempting to clean.
Unless you know of a miracle prespray??

[Simon Gerrard]

Sean,
These are some chairs we cleaned on a ship recently. 10 year old fabric never been cleaned before, presprayed with Shockwave Tampico brush used on arms (where needed) and extract. Bingo..
I've got a Minitex and can't remember the last time I used it on upholstery. The truth is if you're having to use mechanical agitation on fabric then you're probably using the wrong prespray and when you're using the right prespray agitation makes no difference at all.


Simon

[JandS]

Shockwave.....doesn't require agitation....I'll remember that.....lot quicker.

[Simon Gerrard]

This was t mechanical scrubbed either. Fabric Restorer brushed in with a Tampico brush or hand mitt.
Also helps if you are using a tool like the sapphire where you can use higher flow rate (in trigger mode) without over wetting  as the moisture is extracted instantaneously.
But most of all it's about apply the right prespray, do that and there is little need for heavy agitation, which can damage the fabric, the proof of that is that scrubbing it makes no difference.
Also worth remembering that sometimes soils like hair oil, grease, blacktop comes off in layers and trying to do it in one with heavy agitation can be destructive.

Simon

[sean oregan]

Simon
The suite I did last week made them look brand new used shockwave  after dusting it off good brush in made it look a lot better but not great.
Used fabric restorer on a suite last Sunday that was really bad probably at least as bad as your picture of red chair with slight brush in and hey presto 5* review.

[dutchman]

It depends what you are brushing it on with. A Tampico brush I find is too rough. You are better with a horsehair brush. I have never damaged a sofa by over brushing you are far more likely to split the fabric by using the tool in the wrong direction or with too much suction. By brushing it in you dont need to use the tool as much and I have both the Kleenrite tool and Sapphire.

[Simon Gerrard]

My point was about using drill brushes and the like, not Tampico, horse hair, hand mitts etc. For the most part the right prespray for the soil conditions  will get you the soil release required without any form of agitation.

Simon

[edward coller]

Thanks to all who replied,food for thought. both Shockwave and fabric restores were mentioned can someone let me know who supplies these products please, thanks again!

[Simon Gerrard]

Shockwave
http://www.worldofclean.co.uk/shockwave.html

Fabric  Restorer
http://www.restormate.co.uk/epages/15094.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=42129&ViewAction=FacetedSearchProducts&SearchString=Fabric+restoerer

[edward coller]

thank you simon

[*Hector*]

Simon is a very helpful man...... 











for a miserable old fart!! 

[Simon Gerrard]

Afternoon, Hector

[*Hector*]

Hello Simon