[Griffus]

Originally posted this as a follow on in an earlier thread but thought best to start a thread in order to get replies.

I carried out a small commercial job (Bonnet Clean) on Saturday.

The carpet was really filthy and had it not been for the fact it was tiles then HWE would have been the only consideration.

Method used: -
Very thorough pre-vac.
Light Prespray areas of about 10 square metres at a time. I used Fusion Clean.
Agitate with grey XR pad.
Light Prespay of Fusion Clean again
Spray Fusion Clean on to microfibre pad
Bonnet area then turn pad and cover same area with dry pad.
Turbo dry
Final quick going over with Vac

Had a major problem with the MF pads but this more down to the state of the carpet. They became filthy extremely quickly after using the above method. After just two pads (around 15 m2, I had to resort to soaking the dirty ones in a bucket full of solution and ringing them out. I was advised against this when using Fusion Clean but had no option. Fortunately, I just about managed to complete the job by keeping the other two dry and using dry both sides.

For those experienced padders out there would you recommend M/S's for use when the carpets are real bad? As I understand it the pads then easily drop the attached soil when soaked and can be re-used as many times as required. Or, is the only option to spend a small fortune on loads more pads?

[jasonl]

I would have taken a kettle ,and poured half a kettle of boiled water onto the pad immediately prior to putting it on the carpet.

[Griffus]

I would have taken a kettle ,and poured half a kettle of boiled water onto the pad immediately prior to putting it on the carpet.

Hi Jason, can you explain why?

[stuart_clark]

Ian  you would probably got a better result with hd microsplitter, and as of late if the carpets are real mingers then you can get an even better result boosting it with either energiser or energybrite! quite a few differant suppliers sell it but under differant names but its all the same realy

[stuart_clark]

I would just like to add to my previous reply and say we only generally clean low profile carpets with the bonnet system but hwe for anything else ! you might find if you are not extracting enough soil, you may need tpo hwe first and then maybe bonnet over to erradicate any wickback

[Griffus]

Hi Stuart

Many thanks for your replies.

I will take a look at the products you mention.

Customer called this morning to say they were 'over the moon' which is always great to hear. They have now booked this in as a quarterly clean, which is what we had hoped for.

The results were really good but I was amazed at just how quickly the pads clogged up. Got me thinking what if we were doing 500 square metres or more, I'd be bankrupted buying pads!!

This is the first time I have worked with tiles and have turned such work down in the past. I have never wanted to risk HWE with them, as much for water getting between / beneath as anything. Have had rotary's for a while which we use on hard floors so this was a real no-brainer, although this job just about paid for the initial purchase of pads and chem's.

I have to admit it was a pleasure to use this method and I quite enjoyed myself

[Neil Williams]

As I understand it the pads then easily drop the attached soil when soaked and can be re-used as many times as required. Or, is the only option to spend a small fortune on loads more pads?

I can only tell you what we do with the cotton pads from TCS, as I have no experience of the type you use.
It is possible to continually use a few pads. Use a pad, soak it in a bucket whilst using another one. Back to the first and wring out several times to release the dirt out, (yes this pad becomes stained but doesn't stop it's working properties) and keep going like that.
The reason for the kettle of boiling water is the heat element of the process. Hot pad going over the initial 6 sq/m will help release the dirt, turn it over and go over the same area again which will absorb the dirt.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Texatherm use a heated bucket, you can get a heater bucket, that's what I used to do the results on mingers are far more impressive as it really does cut through grease and dirt quickly and then go over with a dry pad, you don't need this practice on all of the carpet just on the heavy areas (unless it's like that all over)

Shaun

[clinton]

Shauns right the heater tank is a digital heater tank insulated..

[Paul Simpson]

I can only tell you what we do with the cotton pads from TCS

Who are TCS Neil.

Thanks Paul

[Neil Williams]

Who are TCS Neil.

Texatherm
www.texatherm.com

[Paul Simpson]

Cheers Neil

[Simon Gerrard]

Ian,
It's a shame you don't take some pictures as I would be really interested in seeing what you mean by 'really dirty.'
We did an office block last week. The floor we were clean was ok but another one was a real minger, picture attached. Bonnets wouldn't touch it. Heavy pre-spray & RX20 struggled on it, so we rotary scrubbed it then RX'd it - magic! Trouble is the client now wants us to do two more floors 300 sq yds each in the same state - bugger!

Simon

[garry22]

Cracking photo Simon,

I regularly use a scrubbing brush prior to bonneting, if that is what the job needs.

It's quite easy to get into a mindset where you think that because you are bonneting that you can ONLY use bonnets.

Dry Fusion do something called a restoration pad that is a cross between a pad and a brush. They are quite effective as they instantly absorb the loosened dirt.

Garry

[Dave Roberts]

You stole the words from my mouth Garry 

The RESTORE brush that comes with Dry Fusion is a very heavy duty restoration brush that fits onto the machine.  With the DF system, you would use the Restore chemical with it, but I have used the Restore brush with;-

- M-Power
- Solution HD
- Solu-Boost
- MultiSolv

......and got tremendous results, even on absolute mingers (that some will tell you 'need' HWE  ).

The Restore brush loosens a phenominal amount of soil (with the right chem), but of course it has no extraction action, so when using the brush I will take a LOT of pads with me.  I'll use standard DF pads (red, white, blue) to pick up the heavy soil, then microfibre to pick up further soil and to help dry the carpet.   (in combination with Fusion Clean, Catalyst, or Activator for DF).

In answer to your direct question Ian, I personally don't think there is an alternative to having plenty of pads............. I would never subscribe to using the same pad twice, on any job. I have around 35 pads in total, but bought 90% of them used (but in good condition).

I've been caught out with insufficient pads only ever once (cleaning a social club) .... never again!  not a nice place to be.     As Yoda once said;       If rotary cleaning is your path, pads you will need........

 

[garry22]

I also use different pads for different surfaces...

Use the more worn ones on polypropylens as this is very abrasive and can "age" a pad quickly. The older pads have slightly less grip so tend to glide over PP better.

We never put soiled pads back into the solution.

[Simon Gerrard]

Gary,

Arrived at by.
Before

During scrubbing

[Simon Gerrard]

Rx'ing.
Would have been interesting to see what would have happened had we padded it instead of RX.

[Griffus]

Thanks to everyone for their replies.

Simon, the carpet tiles mentioned were no where near as dirty as the carpet in your picture. For that I would have gone in with UP Renovate, loads of agitation and rinsed with F&F, repeating as nec.

For me the 'magic' is the agitation, this obviously follows through to bonneting. It never ceases to impress me how much visible improvement can be seen at this point, considering no dirt has been extracted as such.

I did take a few photos on my phone but they don't really show quite how bad it was. I have attached a couple of pic's from the reception area which was a bit lighter and thus in focus. It was as bad as this between and behind desks but this was as bad as it got.

David, more pads it is then. I have tried buying from DF but I was surprised to find that they will still not sell to people without a DF licence.

[Adam P]

wow great results in all pictures in this thread. must feel great when it comes up so clean as you know customer will be so impressed