Today I took the R38 (15 inch) Cimex to test four different chemicals on some heavily soiled nylon stair landings. I presprayed with my battery Multi-sprayer and used the stiff nylon brushes (3805). I did not run the chemicals through the shower feed.

Took pictures before and after of each of the four landings to compare results. All of the products did a good job. As I thought about the results, I began to wonder if I had used just a traffic lane cleaner if I would have achieved the same visual results. Do encapsulation chemicals produce different initial visual effects than a standard pre-spray chemical?

I used an encapsulation chemical on a soiled cut pile nylon scrap area rug with the Cimex. I scrubbed half the rug and it now appears clean while I left the other half soiled to compare the results. It seems to work just fine on cut pile.

I have pictures of all these tests, but I don't now how to post them. Rick, if you'd like to see them, please give me some instructions on how to post. I don't know that the pictures do justice to the actual results, but I'm willing to share my first attempts at encapsulation.

I presprayed with my battery Multi-sprayer
This system works much better when the detergent is run through the solution tank and down through the pads.

and used the stiff nylon brushes (3805).
Although I’ve only sold the 19” model, the 3805 brushes that you have are comparable to the 4805 brushes. The stiff 4805 brushes produce average-to-good results on commercial carpet. However all of us here are using pads on commercial carpet and that’s what we recommend. The pads clean deeper, faster, and more evenly while using less detergent.

I did not run the chemicals through the shower feed. Again I’d suggest... This system works much better when the detergent is run through the solution tank and down through the pads.

I began to wonder if I had used just a traffic lane cleaner if I would have achieved the same visual results. Do encapsulation chemicals produce different initial visual effects than a standard pre-spray chemical?
No! A standard pre-spray product may possibly produce an okay visual appearance. However a good encapsulator is designed to be used for ENCAPSULATION, while the pre-spray is designed to be rinsed out of the carpet.

I used an encapsulation chemical on a soiled cut pile nylon scrap area rug with the Cimex. I scrubbed half the rug and it now appears clean while I left the other half soiled to compare the results.
I don't know which encap products you were testing but there are significant differences in some of the products that are dubbed encapsulators. The only three products that I am comfortable recommending are Steamway’s M&B, Crystal Dry, and Spin Vac.

It seems to work just fine on cut pile.
Yes encapsulation works well on loop and cut pile.

In addition, there are several more important issues regarding encapsulation that would be good to consider, like product usage, how much solution to dispense into the carpet, scrubbing techniques, etc. Doing some reading on previous posts on this board can also provide you with a ton of good information and help you learn how to accomplish good quality encapsulation cleaning. And all of the pros here are also generally very happy to give good advice. Pleased to help you any way we can!


Rick Gelinas