First off I have to say the Cimex and Releasit combo amazes me every time I use it for commercial work. I have cleaned car dealerships, daycares and lots of government jobs and the Cimex never fails. I also bought a brand new truckmount 3 years ago and only have 200 hours on it. I do very little residential and thats all I use the TM for. When it comes to commercial, the Cimex and Releasit combo is king!

I'm starting to think I have wasted 50k for the new TM and van . Its actually a P.I.T.A. to use a TM. Hose management, tangles, breakdowns, gas, dumping, filling, etc,etc, etc. and its just plain hard to clean carpet that way.

I have read many post about op and residential and have viewed many different machines and havent been impressed by the looks of any of them. Then I read the post and info on the new HOS Orbot and SprayBorg system and I have to say I am very Impressed. That is by far the best op system I have ever seen. Its like the brother to the Cimex. It looks perfect!

My only problem with the low moisture systems is when I have to explain it to the customers. Some ,not all, but some want to know where the dirt goes and how this process works. I try to tell them what I have learned here but sometimes I get "that look" and its gets frusterating trying to make them believe that this is just as good or I think even better than a TM or portable. It doesnt happen much on commercial but I am sure it will come up more often than not on residential when the customers are there watching you like a hawk.

I am seriously thinking about selling my TM and buying a High Pressure Portable for T&G and the new HOS Orbot op system. I just want to be able to confidently convince customers that this is just as good or even better process.

By the way I want to give a "shout out" to Rick G. and his crew. These people go above and beyond when it comes to customer service. I wish everyone did business like them. Thanks again rick!

Steve

Tell them that you grind it right into the carpet pad.


Just show the people the pad and they will see dirt. Tell them that your solution puts tiny white crystals in the carpet that they won't see ,that keeps the carpet cleaner longer and to vacuum at least 2-3 times a week. If they have any Common Sense, they will say OK! A good portable is always handy for the urine jobs and carpets that are so matted down and filthy. Did an encap residential last week but also used HWE cause this carpet had pet odors in it plus the rug needed help. At least 6 years of junk was sucked out. Did two residential encaps this morning and of course they came out perfect.

You can use the TM for T&G as well as carpeting.

I do not know what brand of TM you have but chances are you may not get any where what you paid for it.

Do you use that van to haul your equipment around in? or do you use two vans?

I used to have a TM, but when it finally died I made the decision to stick with all portable equipment. Sometimes I do miss the TM but not usually.For HWE we use Steamin Demons and a modified Cross American for T&G and for those who feel they need to see those hoses to have a quality job.

Do your self a favor and sell clean not method. IF by chance a client asks you a question about your method just let them know you guarantee your work 100% if they are not happy with the end results you know you will do what it takes to make it rite you just need to let them know that

David

ALL tools and cleaning methods are good. And truth be told, there's no way we can match the flushing action of HWE using any other method. HWE is unmatched in its ability to remove the highest quantity of soil in one shot.

While the excellent flushing action of HWE may sound like the bomb at first glance, we also recognize that there are some limitations. With commercial glue down carpet there's the higher likelihood of wicking. Wicking and recurring spill stains are a BIG issue with commercial carpeting! And there may be an issue with drying times and possibly leaving doors open. There may also be negative factors to the bottom line, such as equipment overhead and lower profits because of slower production times.

Before we draw conclusions, we really need to take a closer look at what we're cleaning. We're cleaning carpet. Carpet is made from short strands of fiber that are tufted together. And keep in mind that the majority of carpet fiber is synthetic.

Then there's the old factoid that the larger percentage of soil in the carpet (79%) is dry soil, leaving us to deal with the smaller percentage of sticky soil (21%). In the end, we're being called upon to remove a proportionately small amount of soil, from a short piece of fiber, that's fairly soil-resistant to begin with. And that's not all that hard to do!

Now here's the million dollar question; in view of what we just considered, how much water do we actually need to get the job done (in most situations)? Cleaners all around the world have demonstrated that they've enjoyed great success cleaning carpets using low moisture methods. It's been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that low moisture cleaning methods can effectively clean the lion's share of the carpet that's out there. Like all things in life, everything has its place.

Of course, there will still come a time when some extraction/flushing may be required. So it's the course of wisdom to have extraction equipment at your disposal for whenever that need may present itself. But keep in mind that you are the professional and it's up to you to select the best method. It's up to YOU to select the most appropriate tools for each environment.

Experience has shown that low moisture methods such as encapsulation, bonnet/OP cleaning, and even powder cleaning can viably serve a considerable portion of a successful business model. And as the cost of owning and operating a truck-mount continues to escalate, the alternatives will naturally continue to look more attractive. Low moisture methods offer us a practical alternative.

So is encap cleaning the best? Is OP/bonnet cleaning the best? Is powder cleaning the best? Is HWE the best? The answer is NO. There is no singular "best" method for every situation. There are simply different tools. And a professional cleaner should know when to use a specific tool to achieve the desired results. While there are many advantages to low moisture methods, intermittently plugging HWE into the cleaning cycle is also advisable in providing a well rounded carpet care program.

My advice is to convey the thoughts expressed above to your client. Let them know that you have ALL methods at your disposal (because you do). Let them know about your training and your years of experience. Let them know about your companies guarantee and your fine customer service processes. And then let them know that ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS COME TOGETHER to provide them with an exceptional service experience. Assure them that you will evaluate their carpet and select whatever method(s) are required to provide them with a great looking carpet that they'll be most happy with! And if you're using Releasit detergents you can add that their carpet will also stay clean longer than it would have with traditional cleaning products.

As was stated in the post above - we're selling "Clean Carpet" rather than the method. We're selling them on the results, not the mechanics of how we got the job done. As Greyhound used to advertise... "Leave The Driving To Us"


On a side note, since we're talking about tools and methods, I want to mention that we work hard to research and provide the best commercial carpet cleaning equipment and chemicals that are available. That is our sincere goal.








Rick Gelinas
rick@excellent-supply.com

P.S. We haven't even started talking about the environmental aspect yet. For more info on that topic, take a look at the information on the EnviroPact website... http://www.EnviroPact.com






Rick Gelinas
rick@excellent-supply.com

After reading the post by Rick G. I feel much more confident about explaing the process. Now I just need to memorize it LOL. Once again you have gone above and beyond Rick! (see above).

Its never an issue if the carpets will get and look clean and 100%. I mean when the jobs finished the proof is right before our eyes...Nuff said!. Its just that sometimes they want to know every little detail and I find myself stumbling and not making sense sometimes and I want to be armed with this info when it comes up before a job.

I have to admit that I had "reservations" about low moisture cleaning when I bought my TM. When I wasnt getting the results I wanted on Commercial carpets and the PITA factor that came with using the TM I bought the cimex and have been using it and Ricks juice ever since and havent looked back. Its just amazing how it all works.

After thinking about it today and reading, I think I will keep the TM for the occasional flushing, T&G, pet, and flood jobs etc. But I will be selling a bunch of "like new" equipment that I bought, geared towards the TM and HWE that just sits in my garage. (stay tuned). I need to make a chunk of change so I can buy that new HOS op system and maybe even a adjustable high pressure portable for back up. I cant stop drooling!

Steve