To be honest, I don't class microsplitters as being truly green. They are probably eco-friendlier than many products available, but I gather that they are not truly bio-degradeable. I haven't heard this officially from any manufacturer, just from various things I've picked up talking to those who know better than me.
If I believe the manufacturers, then M Power is fully bio-degradeable and so is, I gather, Nemesis. But there's no independent accreditation that I'm aware of, neither are Woolsafe Approved (important to me) and fall short on polypropylene (I've used M Power, but not Nemesis).
Host sponges and Chemspec's Ecogent both have independent green certification and Woolsafe Approval. Ecogent works really well as both pre-spray and rinse agent and also for bonneting, but is too high foaming for my needs. I'm not aware of a green de-foamer yet.
Chemspec's DFC 210 has green certification. So does their DFC 105 which is also Woolsafe Approved. Like Daryl and John, I've been using DFC 105. Both can be used for rinse/extraction and bonneting also.
The recommended is 20:1 pre-spray and 124:1 rinse. I get superb results with this on wool and synthetics.
I've used it @ 30:1 pre-spray too, similar results.
I am presently using it at 30:1 for most run of the mill work with a cold freshwater rinse. Superb results. I do need though, good agitation (Envirodri) and about 10-20 minutes dwell. The dwell time, like when using detergents, can be planned into your procedures so that you don't have any down time.
By varying DFC 105 solution blends as above, I recently cleaned Bromsgrove Rugby Club's body axminster carpets. Those who came to last years NCCA Upholstery Cleaning Workshop will be familiar with the premises. The bar area was cleaned @ 20:1 and 124:1 rinse and the function room was 20:1 and a freshwater rinse. The results were of the highest standard, the bar was dry by lunch time without blowers and the function room was well on the way to being dry when I finished. The weather was rain, rain and more rain so drying conditions weren't great. Prespray was hot, rinse cold. Scorpion mounted in my van.
DFC 105 is, for me, the ideal low foaming, multi-fibre, multi system, Woolsafe Approved, Green Certified cleaning solution that rinses well with lower carbon foorprint cold water. But I haven't been impressed yet with results on upholstery and, not being pH neutral in use, would be wary on pH sensitive dyes. I'm still experimenting though.
I don't clean leather so can't comment.
Safe and happy Green Cleaning
Ken
