[Seymour Sunshine]

First of all, I ought to set the context. I've been working overseas for a few years and I'm wanting to come back to UK into semi-retirement. I want to do a bit of carpet cleaning that will keep me out of trouble and not be too physically demanding. LM is certainly the way to go for me.

I've done a few encap jobs on synthetic short-pile carpets with a rotowash. It worked fine as I spent sufficient time on the prep.

(i) thorough vacuuming
(ii) prespray and agitate with rotowash
(iii) rinse with clean water with rotowash.

Yes, it was a little time consuming, but that's not the major issue for me in my particular context. I'm not looking to rush from job to job maximising my productivity and income.

The customers I would be looking at are churches (many of which are carpeted), primary schools, smaller shops/offices etc and maybe a few domestics with suitable carpets and no stairs to clean. I know it's a limited customer base, but it's enough for me for now.

Anyway ... these are the machines I've been looking at.

Lavor Sprinter



http://www.wakefieldfloorcare.co.uk/lavor-sprinter-p-46.html

Karcher Floor Scrubber Drier/Polisher BR30/4



http://www.bigdug.co.uk/building-site-management-c553/karcher-cleaning-machines-c743/karcher-floor-cleaning-machines-c784/karcher-floor-scrubber-drierpolisher-br304-pp4677?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=karcher-floor-scrubber-drierpolisher-br304-machine&utm_campaign=product+listing+ads

Softer carpet brushes are available for both machines.

The attraction of these machines is that they are simple, self-contained and reasonably substantial. I imagine that with good preparation, they should do a pretty good job.

(They also have the ability to clean hard floors.)

What do you, the much-more-expert-than-me guys think, given my context and target customers?

[*Hector*]

I don't know about the Lavor... But the Karcher machine is way too fast for carpets IMO

[gwrightson]

"I've done a few encap jobs on synthetic short-pile carpets with a rotowash. It worked fine as I spent sufficient time on the prep.

(i) thorough vacuuming
(ii) prespray and agitate with rotowash
(iii) rinse with clean water with rotowash."

I dont see what your method is here !

the whole point of encap is to leave in the carpet to chrystalise, why would you rinse with clean water ?

Geoff

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I think you'll leave the carpet too wet, personally I would use a rotary and encapsulate.away then finish advertise or you could use micro splitters and hwe after it's not just a tried and trusted method but easier.

Shaun

[Mike Halliday]

There is no chance those 2 machines will clean carpets to an acceptable level.

Base your business around either of them toys and you will fail. You are making your buying choice based on the weight of a machine rather than its ability to clean effectively.

[Simon Gerrard]

If you're going to do it then at the very least get the proper equipment.

Simon

[Seymour Sunshine]

I think you'll leave the carpet too wet, personally I would use a rotary and encapsulate.away then finish advertise or you could use micro splitters and hwe after it's not just a tried and trusted method but easier.

Shaun

Hi Sean,

Yes, a rotary would be a good way to go and I've looked at some of those machines. Thanks for that.

But "leave the carpet too wet" depends on how much moisture you apply. The machine uses a brush to fling the water out of the pile (like a rotowash or multiwash) and then a vacuum to remove the water instead of a drum and stripper. Very little difference except (i) single brush instead of CRB and (ii) in the method of extraction of dirty solution.

[Mike Halliday]

I think you'll leave the carpet too wet, personally I would use a rotary and encapsulate.away then finish advertise or you could use micro splitters and hwe after it's not just a tried and trusted method but easier.

Shaun

Hi Sean,

Yes, a rotary would be a good way to go and I've looked at some of those machines. Thanks for that.

But "leave the carpet too wet" depends on how much moisture you apply. The machine uses a brush to fling the water out of the pile (like a rotowash or multiwash) and then a vacuum to remove the water instead of a drum and stripper. Very little difference except (i) single brush instead of CRB and (ii) in the method of extraction of dirty solution.

Your last  paragraph  shows why you should'nt even start a business until you have the very basic understanding of cleaning,

'a brush flings the water out of the pile' .....just typing that sentence shows your lack of knowledge

[Jamie Pearson]

The karcher machine works really well when used as a replacement for mopping of hard floors in a daily maintenance programme,

It is also useful for in-house maintenance of flotex. Anything else it will struggle.

It's also a lot of money for what it is. You could get 2 decent used rotary machines for the price,

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Mick has said it in his last post (very Yorkshireman like) you can't flick water out of fibres that absorb water, we always say this but 'have you considered going on a carpet cleaning course'? You may find that it makes you crave more knowledge or it may put you off cleaning so saving you money on selling your machinery 2nd hand where its a buyers market there's been loads that have done that.

Alltec do some great courses as do cleansmart and there are many others choose the one that you fancy which isn't always the closest to you.

Shaun