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TOPICS:

The difference between spots and stains | Spot removal | Stain removal

Soil and soil composition | Dry Soil Removal

Operating Taski Ergodisc 200 or 300 Machines

Operating Low Moisture LOMAC Machines

Operating Truck Mounted Extraction Machines for commercial jobs

Operating Truck Mounted Extraction Machines for residential and apartments

Operating Walk Behind Falcon 2800 model (Nobles, Castex) Extractor Machines

Water extraction with portable units

The difference between spots and stains

One of the first things you need to know is the difference between a spot and a stain. A spot can be removed using the appropriate chemical in the normal cleaning process and stain may look like spot but a stain has actually changed the color of the fiber. Spots and stains are easier to remove when you know what their made of. Some spots can even be turned into stains if the wrong chemical or removal technique is used. You need to get as much information about the spot as you can. Here are some steps that can help identify what a spot is made of. First ask the person reporting the spot if they know what it is. If they don’t know what made the spot then try to identify the spot by the way it looks, the way it smells, its texture or the general location maybe a good indication of what it is. An example of this would be a spot next to the copy machine (maybe toner) or a spot in front of the coffee station (could be coffee).

There are 3 classes of spots:

1 Petroleum Based – Some examples are Tar, Asphalt, Greases, Oils, Paints, and most Adhesives. Use Volatile and Non Volatile Dry Solvents to help suspend the spot. ( penetrating spotter )

2 Protein Base – Some examples are Blood, Urine, Vomit, and some Food products. Use a bacterial enzyme to digest protein and help suspend the spot. Enzymes are heat sensitive and are inactive in colder temperatures and can be deactivated at higher temperatures, the usual working temperature is between 100 to 140 degree Fahrenheit. Protein spotters tend to be higher on the pH scale so the carpet should be tested for colorfastness before using. Never use enzymes on wool carpets.

3 Water Based – These are the most common spots and will be removed up in the normal cleaning process. Use a neutral detergent spotter to help suspend the spot. (carpet spotter).

Spot Removal

Start the spot removal process from the outside edge of the spot working inward, never work form the center out, this will only spread the material and make the spot larger

1 Remove solids. Remove any solid material that may be trapped in the carpet strands. Make sure to look closely all the way to the backing of the carpet.

2 Apply appropriate spotting agent. Use a white cotton towel and apply the treated towel to the carpet surface. Never apply spotting agent, particularly solvents, directly to the carpet.

3 Tamp product into carpet don’t scrub this could abrade the yarn.

4 Rotate towel and check for transfer of foreign material. After each tamping use a white towel to soak up the spotting agent that contains the colored material. Push very hard on the towel but do not rub or pound on it this could cause the stain to spread. Repeat process with a different part of the white towel until no more color transfers up into the towel.

5 Rinse thoroughly to insure that all residue is removed. If possible when finished with all the recommended steps use a small spot extractor to rinse the area completely or use a wet white cotton towel and blot the area remove as much water from the carpet as possible, If the carpet is left too wet some wicking could occur or it may not dry before it’s walked on.

Reappearing spots:

Caused by soils suspended below surface, wicking to the top or micro-organisms feeding on a food source.

Usually have vague, indefinite borders as opposed to clearly defined edges found on “new” spots.

If you believe the spots are new, but the customer thinks their the same ones coming back, take photos of the spots with background land marks in the picture to identify the exact location, shape and size of the spot BEFORE you clean then. In the future if the spots “come back” you have documentation of the original spots to confirm whether or not the spots are new ones or spots that have wicked.

Stain Removal

Stains are caused by dyes that change the color of the fiber. Some products that fall into this category are Inks, Furniture Stains, Plant Material, ( mustard, wood, etc. ) and some beverages (Tea, Coffee, Fruit Punch, and Wines).

Stain Removal

After following the spot removal process there may still be a noticeable spot in the carpet. You now know you are working with a stain. Under this circumstances one of the following chemicals Reducers or Oxidizers will need to be used to remove the stain. This procedure could damage the carpet and therefore may only be preformed by a technician experienced in this procedure. Explain to the customer that you could damage the carpet or change the color of the carpet by trying this process, Get the customers permission first before starting this process.

This process should be tested in a inconspicuous area first before using it on the stained area. Also when using Reducers or Oxidizers start with a deluded solution and work up to full strength.

Reducers work best in a solution on the acid side of the pH scale. Use an Acid Spotter to pre-wet the spot first. This chemical must be extracted out of the carpet when the stain is finished reducing.

Heat will accelerate the process. There are two types of reducing agents Sodium Bisulfite ( milder ) and Sodium Hydrosulfite (stronger color loss can easily occur)

Oxidizers are sprayed onto the spot as the last step in the cleaning process, and will self neutralize when they dry.

Heat transfer Systems ( both reducers and oxidizers )you will need several WHITE ALL COTTON towel and an iron. The chemical is applied to the stain with a white all cotton towel, then a second damp or dry towel is placed over the stain. The iron is placed on the towel (approx 15 seconds ) for the transfer to take place. The towel is moved around to a clean spot for the stain to transfer again. Make sure to use a clean section of the towel every-time you repeat this process. This process is repeated until no more noticeable transferring of dye to the towel. Again as a reminder tell the customer about potential damage that could occur to the carpet when performing this process and get permission first before starting this process.

Soil Composition

There are 2 components of soil, dry particulates and bind agents.

Dry particulates are the largest components in soil. Silica is the largest quantity by weight and is responsible for the most damage to the fibers. Silica are tiny particles with hard, razor-sharp edges that can cut into carpet fibers or even cut completely through them.

Binding agents are what hold dry soil to the carpet fiber, without the binding agents dry particulates in soil would be removed just by vacuuming.

The component in soil that does the most damage to carpet is the soil you can’t see. The silica beneath the surface of the carpet through foot traffic will abrade and cut the fibers and will eventually flatten carpet tufts. Once silica falls below the surface of the carpet and comes in contact with binding agents vacuuming alone will not remove these damaging particles. Using a cleaning method that uses a machine with counter rotating cylinder brushes to dig down deep into the carpet pile will be necessary. Rotary floor machines using bonnets will trap the silica in the pad and act like sandpaper.

Bonnets should not be used to clean carpet, but can be used after the cleaning process to help dry the carpet and reduce wicking. Rotary floor machines using a brush can be used to agitate chemicals into carpet without trapping the silica particles, but may untwist some cut pile carpet.

	% Weight	Water soluable	solvent soluable	insoluable
Dry Soils
Silica and Silicates	30-40	no	no	yes
Oxides, Carbonates and Phosphates	6-24	no	no	yes
Animal and Cellulose fibers	20-24	no	no	yes
Free Carbon	0- 3	no	no	yes

Binding Agents
Resins and gum	6-10	no	yes	no
Grease and Fats	3 - 8	no	yes	no
Moisture	3	n/a	n/a	n/a

Dry Soil Removal

Nap preparation ( if applicable )

This step should precede dry vacuuming. This can be achieved with a carpet rake, grooming brush, Cylinder brush machine or Pile lifter. What you are attempting to do is to “open” up the compacted fibers allowing the airflow of the vacuum to remove the soil. Generally speaking, the foot traffic, chemical residues, oils, grease and soil have matted the carpet down. Another benefit of pile lifting is that “opening” the fibers allows better Carpet Pre-spray and Extraction Cleaner penetration.

Vacuuming

Many studies have shown that about 80% of all soil is removed through vacuuming. Before starting any cleaning procedure, the carpet must be thoroughly vacuumed. This step is not a race! You must take adequate time to remove as much of the particulate soil as possible. In case of excess soiling repeat the process in a perpendicular direction for further removal. Part of the vacuuming process should incorporate the use of the edging tool attachment and used on all of the wall edges, office dividers, around all furniture, under desks, and behind doors.

Particles that are less than 7 microns in size are respirable, the smaller the particles the more dangerous they are because they penetrate deeper into the lungs. Vacuum bag technology now can remove particles that are sub-micron in size. The objective is to remove as many particles as possible; not to redistribute them back into the air, which then ends up back on the furniture and floor. Follow proper vacuum techniques.

Check the bag and replace if it is greater than 50% full.
Check for any debris that may cause loss of suction and that the brush is in good condition.
Adjust the height of the brush to match the carpet type.
Each pass is straight forward and straight back with each pass overlapping 2 to 3 inches. In cases of excess soiling repeat this pattern in a perpendicular direction.
Start the room on the cord side and work away from it.
Keep your body upright don’t hunch over. When vacuuming in small areas step forward pivoting at the waist, don’t walk the vacuum back and forth, or arm - push the vacuum cleaner this will only fatigue your arms and legs. In open areas walk straight-forward and straight back as long as the cord will allow, overlap each pass 2 to 3 inches.

Operating Taski Ergodisc 200 or 300 Machines

1. Follow proper vacuum techniques.

2. Following proper stain removal techniques.

3. Place wet floor signs at all transition points.

4. Liquid Grab concentrate mix at 12 oz per gal. Add the water first into the Taski tank then add the chemical, if you add the chemical first the solution will foam up and overflow the tank before you can add the appropriate amount of water. When you first start using a dry brush, you must turn the foam generator to 4 (approximately 1 minute), allow a large amount of foam to go onto the Brush before engaging the brush. Remember that a dry brush will “grab” the carpet and cause the Taski to jump to one side and could easily damage walls or office panels. Olefin carpet can melt in seconds. For this reason, it is best to start the machine in an area where accidents could not occur. Once you have thoroughly dampened the brush, the machine will be much easier to operate and the foam control should be set between 2 and 2.5. The procedure for cleaning the carpet is to use a small circular motion covering about 20”-24”. You must overlap the machine to create an even application of the foam. This overlap area must include both left - right areas and up - down areas. The goal is to apply the chemical in a consistent and even application. You should be able to clean about 1200-1500 square feet per hour.

If grooming is necessary using a Whittaker Machine is quite effective for this process or use a carpet rake. This final step removes swirl marks, raises the pile and provides an excellent appearance.

Operating Low Moisture LOMAC Machines

1. Follow proper vacuum techniques if necessary.

2. Place wet floor signs at all transition points

3. Following proper stain removal techniques

4. Pre-spray with Liquid Grab concentrate mix at 12 oz per gal. Pre-spray heavy enough so the carpet doesn’t dry out before it can be agitated in, spray the solution as evenly as possible. Give the chemical enough dwell time approximately 15 minutes to start emulsifying the soil.

5. Use the LOMAC machine to agitate traffic lanes, blue brushes for cut pile BCF fiber, green brushes for loops and gray or white brushes on wool carpets and Staple fibers.

The LOMAC, because of the counter rotating brushes provides excellent agitation and pile restoration. This procedure should be done in a W pattern creating the “saw tooth” appearance. The goal is to provide a visually appealing carpet, you will not get this if you run the Whittaker straight forward in a lawn mower pattern and the carpet will not be as clean because the carpet fiber is not being cleaned from all sides. Clean off the debris from the bar between the brushes when the debris starts to fall onto the carpet. When using the LOMAC, remember that it can “eat” extension cords, mouse cords and computer wiring instantly. Remember to be very careful when working under desks or any area where these cords could be.

Operating Truck Mounted Extraction Machines for commercial jobs

1. Put truck in park, remove the keys, set emergency brake, lock doors, and set out safety cones by truck

2. Audit the areas being cleaned and Identify the type of fiber being cleaned

3. Place wet floor signs at all transition points and put corner guards in place

4. Follow proper vacuuming procedures if necessary

5. Remove vacuum hose and solution line from reel and place caution hose signs by hoses

6. Turn the unit on, vacuum should read 12 with no load and up to 15 with air flow restriction, the water pressure should be approximately 300 P.S.I. when extracting

7. Follow proper stain and spot removing techniques using the water claw on all softball size spots or larger.

8. When using the truck mount unit to per-spray turn the water pressure down to 75 psi or use a pump-up sprayer ( use hottest water available ) Wool carpets keep water temperatures below 140 F. Select pre-spray based on carpet and fiber type. All dilution ratios are for the Hydro-Force sprayer: For carpet made of Nylon use Grab traffic lane cleaner ( mix 50% chemical to 50% water ) For oily and greasy carpets Spray penetrating spotter over area. For 100% Olefin, use Olefin pre-conditioner ( 2.5 quarts ) add 4 cap full boost-all per sprayer. If using a pump up sprayer. Grab Traffic lane cleaner 8oz per gal, Olefin Pre-spray is 8 oz per gal, Boost-all 1 cap full per gal and Penetrating spotter full strength. use the hottest water available. Wool carpet use Avenge ( 50/50 to full strength ) Wool carpets keep water temperatures below 140 F. and never use enzymes on wool carpet.

9. Wait 15 minutes before agitating. Use the LOMAC machine to agitate traffic lanes, blue brushes for cut pile, green brushes for loops and gray or white brushes on wool carpets.

10. Fresh water tank meter Grab extraction concentrate @ 2 oz per gal (1 quart to 5 gal) in meter tank. Use defoamer if necessary by adding it through the vacuum hose

11. Move all easily movable items when cleaning (do not lift anything over 70 lb.) and tap or block all necessary items.

12. Follow proper shut-down procedures for the truck mount unit

13. Use proper grooming and drying techniques (if necessary)

Operating Truck Mounted Extraction Machines for residential and apartments

1. Try to park on the street not in the customers drive way

2. Put truck in park, remove the keys, set emergency brake, lock doors 3 Introduce yourself and your helper to the customer

4. Audit the areas being cleaned ( follow process for cleaning residential homes )

5. Turn the unit on, vacuum should read 12 with no load and up to 15 with air flow restriction, the water pressure should be approximately 300 P.S.I. when extracting

6. Identify the fiber type of carpet being cleaned

7. Follow proper vacuuming procedures

8. Put corner guards in place

9. Remove vacuum hose and solution line from reel

10. Follow proper stain and spot removing techniques using the water claw on all softball size spots or larger

11. When using the truck mount unit to per-spray turn the water pressure down to 75 psi or use a pump-up sprayer ( use hottest water available ) Wool carpets keep water temperatures below 140 F. Select pre-spray based on carpet and fiber type. All dilution ratios are for the Hydro-Force sprayer: For carpet made of Nylon use Grab traffic lane cleaner ( mix 50% chemical to 50% water ) For oily and greasy carpets add 8oz Citrus Solv. For 100% Olefin, use Olefin pre-conditioner ( 2.5 quarts ) add 4 cap full boost-all per sprayer. If using a pump up sprayer. Grab Traffic lane cleaner 8oz per gal, Olefin Pre-spray is 8 oz per gal, Boost-all 1 cap full per gal and Citrus Solv is 2 oz per gal. use the hottest water available. Wool carpet use Avenge ( 50/50 to full strength ) Wool carpets keep water temperatures below 140 F.

12. Wait 5 to 10 minutes before agitating. Use a LOMAC machine to agitate traffic lanes using gray brushes for cut pile carpets and blue brushes for berber carpets and apartments. Use gray or white brushes on wool carpets.

13. Fresh water tank meter Grab extraction concentrate @ 2 oz per gal( 1 quart to 5 gal ) in meter tank. Use defoamer if necessary by adding it through the vacuum hose

14. Follow proper shut-down procedures for the truck mount unit.

15. Use proper grooming procedures ( if necessary )

Operating Walk Behind Falcon 2800 model (Nobles, Castex) Extractor Machines

1. Audit the areas being cleaned and Identify the type or fiber being cleaned.

2. Vacuum carpet following proper vacuuming procedures.

3. Place wet floor signs at all transition points.

4. Spot clean carpet following proper spot cleaning techniques.

5. Make sure the walk behind unit is working properly. Check the Vacuum, vacuum shoot, sprayer tips, water pressure, solution filter and brush

6. Pre-spray the carpet with Grab traffic lane cleaner. Use 8oz per gallon spray heavy enough so the cleaner won’t dry out before the carpet can be extracted. Remember to give the pre-spray approximately 15 minutes dwell time to improve chemical efficiency. Depending on how soiled or crushed and matted the carpet is you may need to pre-scrub the carpet first with a LOMAC machine. Add Grab extraction concentrate cleaner 2oz per gallon to fresh water tank. Add defoamer if necessary to the recovery tank.

7. Plug extractor into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter ( G.F.C.I. ) unit that is plugged into the wall outlet. If using an extension cord use the appropriate gauge cord and plugged it into the G.F.C.I. unit that’s plugged into the wall.

8. Turn on the master power. Flip the vacuum and spray switches on. Set the speed of the unit and lower the vacuum head down. The right handle engages the unit to move forward. NOTE: The unit will not move backward when the vacuum head is in the down position. With the unit moving forward the amp meter line should be about 1/8 inch from the right side of the green zone (not the white zone) or ( red zone ) of the meter, if not adjust the height of the lower unit up or down with the adjustment knob accordingly. Adjust the speed of the extractor to compensate for how soiled the carpet is.

9. DO NOT get close to walls or furniture. This extractor will put a hole right through a wall or dent furniture, use a wand to cut in these areas. Turn off the spray switch about a foot before you stop the forward movement so the vacuum can pick up the remaining water. Overlap passes about ½ the cleaning width of the unit. Start the job on the cord side and work away from it

10. Follow proper grooming procedures ( if necessary ).

11. Follow proper carpet drying techniques.

Water extraction with portable units

1. Audit the areas being cleaned and Identify the type or fiber being cleaned

2. Follow proper vacuum procedures

3. Place wet floor signs at all transition points

4. Plug G.F.C.I. unit into the wall outlet and the extractor into the G.F.C.I.

5. Follow proper stain and spot removing techniques using the water claw on all softball size spots or larger.

6. Per-spray with hottest water available wool carpets keep water temperatures below 140 F. Select pre-spray based on carpet and fiber type. All dilution ratios are for the Hydro-Force sprayer: For carpet made of Nylon use Grab traffic lane cleaner ( mix 50% chemical to 50% water ) For oily and greasy carpets use penetrating spotter. For 100% Olefin, use Olefin pre-conditioner ( 2.5 quarts ) add 4 cap full boost-all per sprayer. If using a pump up sprayer. Grab Traffic lane cleaner 8oz per gal, Olefin Pre-spray is 8 oz per gal, Boost-all 1 cap full per gal and Citrus Solv is 2 oz per gal. use the hottest water available. Wool carpet use Avenge (50/50 to full strength) Wool carpets keep water temperatures below 140 F. and never use enzymes on wool carpet.

7. Wait 15 minutes before agitating

8. Use a LOMAC machine and agitate traffic lanes. For commercial carpets use blue brushes on cut pile and green brushes for loop carpet and for residential carpets use gray brushes on cut pile and blue for loop carpets. Use gray brushes on wool carpets.

9. Fresh water tank meter Grab extraction concentrate @ 2 oz per gal( 1 quart to 5 gal ) in meter tank. Use defoamer if necessary by adding it through the vacuum hose.

10. Follow proper grooming procedures ( if necessary )

11. Follow proper drying technique

12. Remove Wick-Back by using our Low Moisture Cleaning method. Be sure the carpet is COMPLETELY DRY before starting this process