It sure has been entertaining on the other boards lately. Wow, some of these guys can really get themselves fired up over the subject of encapsulation. I guess that some of the guys are concerned that this system is a threat to their trusty old cleaning methods. Personally, I think that there is plenty of room in this industry for ALL methods. And according to several in the industry - encapsulation has a secure future in our industry. Evidence of this can be seen from the fact that so many companies are now scrambling to come out with their version of an encapsulator. So I guess the opponents will just have to get over it :O)

Regarding all the rhetoric on the other boards; I’ve attempted to explain the encap process from every angle – suitability to the commercial application, mill and industry recognition, practicality from a cleaning standpoint, profitability in the competitive commercial sector, level of appearance, ability to correct common commercial problems, etc. Yet a few of the good ole boys are so strongly entrenched in their way of thinking that they can't see the forest for the trees. Oh well it's their loss!

I certainly can agree with the slogan that the Whittaker Company uses... Our only Competition is a "Closed Mind" I couldn't have said it any better!




Rick Gelinas

All I know is it works for me, my customers love it, and it is paying the bills. It is like a microwave oven, once you use it you wonder how you got by without it.

This seems to be everyones question. Here is my theory. When you pre vac you remove 80% of the dirt. The soil that is left is probably only a tablespoon, if that. I think people are expecting to see a bunch of dirt in their vacuum cleaner bags. I believe the carpet is clean. Where else would the girt go?

I think it just disappears, like that sock in the dryer.

Really, I think George got it. The visible soil in commercial carpets is so minimal the Cimex scares it away, or something like that.

I wish I did understand this system better.

I just know I like the RESULTS. And so do my CLIENTS.

steve

It's not worth pulling any hair out to justify it,...


All the Chem companies are making thier version of these encap. chems, they would'nt be making them if cleaners were'nt buying them, and cleaners would'nt be buying them if they did'nt produce satisfactory results.

Just go with it and make the easy money.

Mine is not to reason why,...

mine is to make people happy, and deposit thier check LOL!

my 2¢

All we need is a oscillating Cimex machine, that will really mess up some of the nay sayers.

First of all, let me say that I am NOT anti-encapsulation. I am glad to see you guys adhere to Whittaker's motto about "open minds". I have from the beginning.

I don't own a Cimex, but who is to say that I won't, someday in the future? Rick has graciously allowed me to operate his Cimex in Dalton GA and I was impressed with it. What a versatile, super-scrubbing machine it is! It is also the undisputed champ in cleaning "production time". And, in a market where much of your steady commercial work comes to you via National Service Contractors (who only pay you 5 cents or less a square foot), production time can make the difference between your company succeeding or failing.

So, I understand why many of you may be wondering, "What's all the fuss about? The Cimex and encapsulation work great for me and my clients and keeps my family fed as well. So, what's the problem?"

Actually..... there is no real problem (as far as I'm concerned, anyway). Encapsulation has already proven itself for many years now. So, encapsulation's validity as a cleaning method is not in question. When I ask, "Where does the brittle film end up?" I would just like to know more about the encapsulation "cleaning cycle" in relation to the "soil load" with regard to the "soil removal phase" of the process.

We should never be afraid to ask questions. Furthermore, asking honest questions about a cleaning process shouldn't be viewed as an attack on that process, either.

So, where does the encapsulated soil load go? The actual answer may be a matter of varying "percentages". For example:

#1) Depending on several enviromental factors as well as how efficient a particular upright vacuum cleaner may be, a large, medium, or small percentage of this encapsulated soil load may very well break off the fiber and end up in the vacuum cleaner's bag or bin, upon subsequent vacuumings.

#2) Depending on several enviromental factors, a large, medium, or small percentage of this encapsulated soil load may very well settle to the base of the fiber and possibly even into and parcially through the backing.

.....Or maybe none of the above. I just want to know so I can have a better understanding of how this cleaning system truly works. Again, encapsulation has proven itself, so asking questions like what, when, and why are a good thing.

..."Well, I tell you there's no problems, only solutions..." (John Lennon)

Mark,

I haven't personally done post-vacuuming debris testing. I think that Whittaker has conducted some kind of post-vacuuming testing because one of the head guys at Whittaker told me about measured quantities of dry soil recovered with their system. Also Mark Kling at DSC told me that he's got some post-vacuuming testing going on right now.

Here's what would be involved to conduct a fairly simple post-vacuuming test.
1. Pre-vacuum the carpet.
2. Clean with a good encap product.
3. Post-vacuum with a fresh vacuum bag.
4. Inspect the debris in the bag under a microscope. The crystals will be evident in the debris.

The chemical companies that manufacture these products tell us that the encapsulated soil gets vacuumed out. I haven't personally conducted tests to prove or disprove their statement. Maybe they're all a bunch of liars. :O) Their honesty however is a question of their ethics not mine. I am using their product as directed – and quite honestly the results are fantastic. So whether or not the particulate matter gets vacuumed out as the manufacturer says that it will – my customers and I are seeing great results. And that's what the customer has hired my company to produce.

You could ask Danny Strickland your question. He called me yesterday to tell me about a filthy rental job that he did with Spin Vac two days ago. He pre-vacuumed the carpet and he cleaned it with his Host machine. He asked the owner if he could come back the next day (yesterday) to vacuum. The owner agreed. Danny said that he wiped out the interior of his vac housing and installed a fresh bag. He then post-vacuumed the carpet. Danny said that he recovered a considerable amount of soil. He cut open the vacuum bag and looked at it with a pocket microscope and he could clearly see the dirt laden crystal formations.

Or you could ask Whittaker. Give Paul a call and ask him how much soil is typically recovered via post-vacuuming. Your question about where the dirt goes has a valid answer.




Rick Gelinas