For those of you using a rotary, how would you go about cleaning a 6' x 100' hall of CGD polypropylene?

Here a e few suggestions. Olefin carpet is a breeze with Releasit!

1. Pre-Vacuum
2. Scrub with Releasit Encap-Clean.
3. Make a "wet" pass followed by a couple of "dry" scrubbing passes.
4. Use a FiberPlus or FiberPlus Max pad on your machine.
5. Using a shampoo tank on your machine is recommended too.







Rick Gelinas
rick@excellent-supply.com

So, would one be best served pushing the machine, pulling it, swinging it side to side, moving it in small circles...?

You would be hard pressed on a "Normal" rotary to do anything but some kind of side to side, figure 8 or something like that. It would be extremely difficult to push it straight down a hall if not close to impossible.
Also if your going to be cusing a rotary for a bit of cleaning get a guard AND USE IT!! As the Rotary flings solution furthur than you might think creating problems when it gets on base boards or furniture.

I use a 175/320 on CGD with a Fiber Plus Pads from Rick. I do not like tanks on Rotaries nor do I like skirts of any kind on it either. I do lots of halls in Day Care Ctrs. and I have my helper pre-spray in front of me and cleaning many thousands of square feet in this manner, I have yet to see any splatter on the baseboards. I have been using this method for over two years. I use the side to side method and useally run at the 320 rpm speed. Hey, it works for us.

Hiya Brian - here's how I use my rotary (175):
I have a tank. I use a side to side motion of about 5 feet, going backwards. I go from right to left reasonably slowly, then on the return (left to right) I move the machine a little faster with the tank feed open, then from right to left again over the top of the solution I just laid down (just enough to get a slight foam). Sometimes if the carpet is pretty soiled I'll then go up and down in long rows over the top of the side to side runs, by simply pushing the machine fowards and pulling backwards. If the machine doesn't go straight fowards in a line easily, I'd say there's a problem with the balance on it.

I use tan fibre pads usually. They bite when new but settle in to a good finish suitable for resi as well (I pre scrub almost all my resi before HWE with the rotary).

If I get solution on baseboards or adjacent hard floors I simply wipe it off. It's not a problem.

Hope that helps?

I use a 320 speed rotary with a shampoo tank.
I push it front and back to release the cleaning solution then go side to side with it with out a problem. ave 70 retail stores a month and several condo complexes halls etc. No problems, I thought of using a shirt but then I would loose the edging.

I use beige 20 inch pads.



wish I could make up my mind on another rotary or the new OP Rick has

David, I'm sure you would maintain your edge whether you were wearing a shirt or not LOL

Oh no with out my shirt I am super cool cleaner man with it I get a bit hot and tired

I originally tried encapping with a rotary and tank, however found that the rotary with a tank is very unbalanced and was difficult to use on carpet. It seemed to work better for me when I would pre-spray an area and then go over it to scrub after.

The Cimex just works a lot better in my opinion and is worth the investment.

I'm just wondering?

whats the benefit i going with a rotary over a Op or Cimex. If Cimexing or Op'ing clearly gets better results, why would one settle for rotary usage instead?

I started with my rotary and then got a cimex. I haven't pulled out my rotary since cause the cimex andmy Op gets so much better results.

Thanks
Your Servant Alex

Cultivate the "OCCD" you had at first for the industry!

Alex every tool has its place.

Every person has their tool preference.Have your tried a 320 speed rotary?
I have tried a Cimex once and for me my rotary was just as quick with comparable results. Now this is me and I was not able to use the Cimex for me then a hour or so, however I am thinking about renting one for a day so my helpers can try one out. if they like it better I'll buy one. If I could rent or try out a new HOS machine I would do that also.

A rotary is an older mode of scrubbing. Rotary machines have ben around since the beginning of floor care. Some of the cheaper ones can be purchased for $1,000 or even less.

By comparison a Cimex is a newer alternative. The Cimex came on the scene in 1933. It was originally built for the British Navy so they could have a SAFE machine for working on the tight quarters of the ships and boats. The planetary design was originally intended for safety, but what they also got was SUPERIOR scrubbing performance.



A rotary machine takes time for a new tech to learn how to balance. With a rotary you lift up to steer right, and you dip down to steer left. This can create a 3 Stooges episode until someone learns how to control the machine. On the other hand, a new tech can turn on a Cimex and begin working immediately. If they can walk in a straight line, they can run a Cimex.

There's a also a difference in the fatigue factor. If you are cleaning a large job (a few thousand feet) with a rotary, eventually your upper back, your shoulders, your sternocleido-mastoid (muscle that runs from the shoulder to the base of the neck), and even your arms will eventually get sore. And if you run a rotary for YEARS like I have done, you may even develop some permanent damage to your hip from pivoting with the machine on your hip. With a Cimex there is absolutely no torque against your body.

And then there's the cleaning difference... With a rotary you have 1 driver turning at 175 rpm's. If it's a high speed rotary it may be turning as fast as 350 rpm's. The Cimex has 3 drivers spinning at 400 rpm's. In case you're not good at math --- that's more! Plus the pads are spinning in one direction while the drive deck is revolving in the opposite direction. So there is no comparison in cleaning performance...



A rotary machine is a decent option for smaller jobs. It's a simple low-cost alternative. But most SERIOUS commercial cleaners will opt for a Cimex. The advantages of a planetary machine are obvious. Added to that, you have a 6.6 gallon tank. It is simply a monster when it comes to commercial carpet cleaning.

There are alternatives to a Cimex (rotary, cylindrical, OP). But no other machine can match the performance of a Cimex for a heavy load of commercial cleaning. The Cimex can scrub commercial carpet extremely efficiently. It can scrub and strip floors quicker and easier than than a rotary. It can clean tile and grout with the appropriate brushes. It can even be configured to grind and hone marble. You get what you pay for.









Rick Gelinas
rick@excellent-supply.com

Man, that Cimex machine sure sounds awesome. I think I'm going to buy one.

Wait a second, I already own one!

Man Rick, you have you way of making me want even what I already have!

Thomas that isn't a problem.

There's no rule that says you can't have more than one Cimex.

In fact it would be really great if you ordered a dozen





Rick Gelinas
rick@excellent-supply.com