Phil,
The problem lies in that:
1) Wicking is caused by 3 factors A) Overwetting, B) Slow drying, C) Too high pH.
2) Reduced airfllow (due to being glued to the floor and no padding). Reduced airflow causes slow drying and poor water recovery.
3) Olefiin retains less then 1% of it's weight in water (hydrophobic)- so it sheds or rejects water. As it sheds the water to the surface (during drying) it brings anything that is left in the base of the carpet to the top as well. (And trust me- there is ALWAYS some soil left in the carpet.)
4) Even a traditional scrub wand may "chatter" on CGD due to uneven sub flooring. This is why a Classic Rotovac is useless on CGD. One of the many reasons teflon glides are so desirable. This causes poor water recovery and technician fatigue and frustration.
5) Olefin is an oil magnet. How do you remove oil with HWE? High pH and lots of HOT water. The high pH, if not properly balanced generates wicking too, as well as overwetting to flush if not careful.
That is why encap or OP/padding has become very popular to clean CGD.
In a simple step it cleans and controls all these issues- with less expensive equipment the HWE.
So the trick to HWE extracting is this:
1) Balance pH to the acidic side. Maybe even apply a acid side spray such as Bridgepoint's Fab-Set.
2) Lots and lots of dry strokes (preferebaly with a glided wand).
3) Air movers, air movers, air movers and when in doubt- more air movers.
4) Post bonnet.
Alot of work when you can just Cimex and encap.
Make you own luck,
Del Scrivner
Owner/Operator
Cowboy's Carpet Care
