We have to do a demonstration today with both the Conqueror and the Cimex on a potential job at our local Courthouse.In one area the staff has left alot of what my husband thinks is detergent in the carpet.It is whitish looking and powders off if you rub your fingenail against it.Will this be able to be encapsulated?Any tips on procedure.Also has anyone used the Cimex with the grout and tile brushes.Is this an effective way to clean grout and tile?The floor looks like marble but was described as being quartz(?).It has very thin grout lines.Thanks in advance for your answers.

Michelle Murphy

Good morning Michelle
Sounds like the janitorial staff may have loaded up the carpet with lots of goodies. I am sure Rick can chime in and say if that stuff has the capability of being encapped, but it sounds to me like you need a good flushing the first time.
You may still be able to do the demo though. You will just have to try a spot and see what happens and 'play it by ear' if you will allow me. But then again, you may find out that if might just vacuum right up and set you up for some good encap results.
You may explain to them that the first time you may need to HWE it, and then get it set up on some type of maintenance plan with encapsulation after that, explaining the benefits of each.
We cant be held responsible for what is in the carpets prior to our getting there. Thus this situation. It is pretty typical anymore from what I am experiencing wtih 'in house' cleaning staffs. They are just uneducated in proper cleaning techniques, atleast in floor maintenance. To an extent, anyone can clean urinals and wipe walls and mirrors. Obviously some look better than others though.
Good luck.
Keep us posted on how it goes.

Steve

Steve Dobson
ProFloor
Custom Cleaning Services

PS I forgot to answer the tile part.
No, I havent personally used the Cimex on tile and grout with the brushes, but i have a nice TM and turbo tool for that so I havent had to try the Cimex. I am sure it will agitate the hell out of it though. You will still need good dwell time, hot hot water and some way to pick up the solution,, via a squeegee pickerupper'. LOL Then some good rinse passes and you should be fine. The cimex is an agitating tank, but it doesnt extract.
I have used it to agitate carpets when HWE'ing and also to strip VCT with the appropriate pads. Worked great. I am sure you will be fine.
Good luck Michelle.

Steve

Steve Dobson
ProFloor
Custom Cleaning Services

i would pre-vac like crazy....should pull up any "whitish looking powder", then Encap as usual.

good fortune with it --- Derek.

You will need to vacuum thoroughly before you start. Also ask the janitorial people if they use carpet fresh. The white powdery stuff sounds like carpet fresh to me and we always have a problem with it wicking back when we use our truckmount. I have not had a problem with it wicking back with the Cimex and Releasit. Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum is the key.

Ditto to what Kevin said. This sounds like a job for a Certified Pile Lifter before the Cimex and Releasit.

Michelle -

My two cents worth - Why try a new system (new to the customer at least and their carpet is new to you) on what is likely a damaged section? It may not be 'fixable' using ANY system. So if it fails there, the customer may well believe their eyes and assume the Cimex and Releasit ALWAYS FAIL. (I saw it myself! Michelle PROVED that the Cimex doesn't work!)

Why not first try a more normal area of wear and soiling that's more typical?

If the results are good, then they will have some basis for confidence.

If the area with the white stuff is loaded with detergent, it may take several deep cleanings over several different days to look better. Not a good candidate for an 'instant demo', in my opinion. And it may never look better.

Most importantly, make sure they understand that visible residue is not normal. It is damaged, and you can't guarantee good results on damaged carpet. Downplay and undersell what you can do to damaged goods and make sure you don't turn THEIR damaged carpet into YOUR damaged carpet (and ego and professional reputation to boot)

If you have to do serious flushing, consider a rotary jet tool or a Steamin Demon high flow system. They have excellent extraction capabilities that would be appropriate before begining a Cimex maintenance program.

Then again, when they understand the situation, go ahead and do a section just to see what the Cimex can do and report back to us! Now you have us curious!

good points Clay!

especially about doing a demo on an area that MAY be beyond repair....that would make my abilites / system look bad.

thanx --- Derek.

The part of the carpet that I was asking about was just one area of the demo.The client got to see how the Cimex works on several different types of carpet.He was very impressed with the Cimex overall along with some other equipment that my husband demo'd.The one thing that my husband didnt get to show him or ourselves was how the Cimex would fare on grout and tile.We dont have the brushes for that yet.Unfortunately they decided to do the bad carpet last so my husband was not sure how it ended up looking after it dried.We will check on that tomorrow morning.Thanks for all of your input.

Michelle Murphy