Vacuuming

Tests have shown that 70 -80 % of the soil in carpet is dry, insoluble, soil. Not only will it not dissolve, but hot water extraction cleaning wands do not do well at picking it up. A hot water extraction wand is designed to suck up water. When “prespray” is applied to the carpet, its job is to dissolve the soluble material and make a suspension, of the dissolved soil particles in the prespray. A suspension is best described as what happens when sugar disappears in water. It’s not gone, its being “suspended” by the water. Much of the soluble material that dissolves into the liquid “suspension” of prespray is extracted up into the cleaning wand. A  large part of the insoluble sand and hair etc. is left behind in the carpet.
 

The best way to remove this dry, insoluble, material is with a vacuum cleaner. It makes little sense to fill up the sprayer with cleaning solution, spray the carpet, agitate it in, rinse and extract with a $15,000 or more truckmounted machine, to have a large % of dry soil left in the carpet. (I know you can hear the sand going up the wand but, you’re leaving a lot more in the carpet) 

A simple, relatively inexpensive vacuum, does a better job at dry soil removal than that expensive truckmount with a wand! It’s a no brainer……….vacuum thoroughly, before doing your cleaning process, no matter which process it is.

ALSO, a certain amount of the soil that will be turned into mud, can be vacuumed up. Dry soil is easier to remove than mud.

If the vacuum cleaner has a bag, change the bag when it’s half to two-thirds full. Vacuums work on airflow. As the bag gets fuller there can be less air flow. Bagless vacuums have been shown to give more consistent suction.

Some carpet mills frown upon brushes on the vacuum. Many Carpet and Rug Institute approved vacuums, have no brush. However, for a brushless vacuum to be effective you need adequate air flow or “suction”

Much of commercial building maintenance is dry soil containment. A good pile lifter on a short cut pile or low loop commercial carpet can literally pull soil from underneath the carpet, right through it. Pile lifting a commercial carpet can remove so much dry soil, it looks as good as other wet cleaning methods. You’re using a machine that will last 50 years – brushes every 5 years :)  and the customers’ electricity. Do a little spotting of drips and spills and you have provided one visit of carpet maintenance that cost very little.

Another application of vacuuming is on upholstery. The dust that’s on the hard furniture, is also on the couch! Regular vacuuming can help keep the upholstery from getting this dust ground in by sitters and developing that gray look.

Encourage your customers to vacuum. It will make your work look better, as well as making their carpets and upholstery last longer.

         MAKE MONEY!

        Dennis Klager

           IICRC Instructor