Anyone use a Fiber or Tuway type of pad, OP and DS for residential?

I am asking if there is a way to know if one should use a 'cotton" bonnet/pad for the extraction abilities and Punch over DS and Fiber or tuway?

I'm using Tuway's at the moment and feel they do a fine job. Steve Smith (of VacAway) has his crews using Tuways all the time, I think. He tells me they do fine. Clark with Orbitec has a new pad coming out soon that is a three way blend, includes cotton, that I want to try.

You have answered my question. I would like to dig in a little deeper, do you find using these pads takes a little longer to get results (minus TB) that a cotton or G-Pad would deliver?

Further, I find it curious how one carpet can look "dirty" all over yet produce pads that are not as dirty as one would have assumed (G-Pad or cotton).
So the extraction action of absorbent pads was not a real issue.

I likely could have produced great results using just a tuway or fiber pad.

I chose Punch and cotton but might should have used DS and Tu-ways.

I suppose i am really asking for a crystal ball huh?

Phil-
I like the glaiator pads and punch over DS for OP,ing I'll use the cotton pads for more aggressive action where tip bloom is not a problem such as berber or heavily trashed carpet, in fact I did my saxony carpet with glad pads and punch this morning at 6:00 am they also tend to last longer than cotton

Phil,

I can't comment on the Punch/DS as we don't use that with OP and padding; but, we have been testing (over 2 months) the Tuway (Rick sells as Encap pads), Gladiator Pads, Cotton Pads and Microfiber pads.

Like Marty said, Steve Smith has tested the cotton/tuways pads and his crews use the Tuways all the time.

I like the Tuways pad for OPing, it cleans well, and I have not run into a situation that required a glider. I don't like using gliders. Either they use way to much area on the pad or, in the case of the holy gliders, can slip out and become a DFO (dangerous flying object).

The Gladiator pads do a great job cleaning, are easier to squeeze the water out of by hand, don't always need a glider and clean very well. You still have to be concerned about tip bloom on Frieze or cheap cut pile carpet. They are suppose to last thru more uses (a good thing since they cost so much).

On the MicroFiber pad, I will only use it on commercial carpet that isn't very dirty. Visually, the Tuway pads seem to remove more soil; and remember the client sees what you see. They are expensive as compared to the other pads, although you can use a mop bucket and re-use the pads on the same job. Also, no real worries about TB or gliders needed.

As far as Cotton goes, visually, they remove the most soil. They are great for a dog and pony show. But in the wrong hands, TB is a concern and gliders are NEEDED.

Also on TB concerns, on Frieze (that still has its twist), we use a High speed 300-350 rpm buffer and never and OP. Just be careful and never let a high speed buffer stay in one place.

I am looking forward to the new pads Clark is getting from Vietnam soon. They are a combination of Cotton, Polyester and Microfiber. I intend to give these a good run in commercial and residential.

In the end, you want a pad that cleans well, is easy to handle and is cost effective. You must consider the following as far the the effective cost goes.

1. The cost to buy the pad
2. The number of uses the pad has until its toast.
3. The cost per washing. We use a front loading Whirlpood Duet washer just for our cleaning pads and towels. You can only wash so many pads in a load. The number of pads does vary with each of these pad types (different thicknesses).
4. How many sq.ft. it cleans on each use as compared to other pads.

***On the Fiber pad, I would not recommend its use on most residential cut pile. Unlike commercial cleaning, it just give a bad impression to your client.

Thanks for all the great posts to this subject. In the past I used a small pad from Zephyr Mfg. in Sedalia, MO called a Soil Sorb "bonnet". It was/is a thin/low profile COTTON bonnet. It wasn't/isn't a "terry" weave, but like a "cut pile" of cotton yarn. It didn't have any loops like Wilen King Cotton thick profile bonnets. Just short cut cotton yarn. Has been a long time since I used one, was only a 13" size, but don't remember any drag problems with it. They still make them, and am curious how they would perform with regard to TB, drag, etc. as they seemed to have less drag than terry type pads. The ones I had weren't any thicker than Thin One encap pads, but would hand wring, etc. Anyone else use or have experience with these? Also, with regard to the use of DS vs. Punch I thought the formulation of each product seemed to favor different methodology? I thought the Punch was engineered for greater detergency for "extraction" via pad or HWE. Then DS was more of an encap cleaner with extraction via post vacuuming, where the use of an absorbent pad or HWE wasn't necessary and somewhat served to impugn the full crystallization thing? Hence the use of fiber pads and the synthetic pads in the first place so to not absorb and pick up so much the the encap juice? Am I confused? Also thanks for info on the Soil Sorb bonnets should anybody have experience or knowledge on them. Best Wishes!