Chems | Pads | Bonnets | Residential

[Carpet_Cleaning_Palm_Harbor_FL]

Newbie to residential Encap/LM

I normally operate HWE, but want to add LM for residential where my HWE equipment is not practical.

I bought a 13 inch, 175 floor machine with solution tank and nylon carpet brush. It has an 11 inch pad driver.

So really I need advice on what pads work best in residential. Cotton, cotton blend, Microfiber? 15 inch bonnet be OK?

I plan my process to be:
Pre-vac
Pre-spray
Agitate with carpet brush when necessary.
Bonnet
Post-vac

What pre-spray works best?
Cotton bonnets for soil removal or Microfiber?
White or Burgundy pad good enough for agitation or use carpet brush?

I know that a 13 inch machine is light, but that is part of the point. I can carry it up two flights of stairs if I have to.

Will an extra pass with bonnet compensate for the lightweight?

Thanks, really appreciate any help!

[encapman]

For chems... Encap-HydrOx is very popular for residential. Another good option for bonneting is Encap-Punch.

[lee@deepclean.us.com]

Punch works great for grease and dirt. Hydrox for pet stain and coffee type stains. I use a Tuway pad for solution application and then a MicroBeast or long string microfiber for a second step cleaning with a 175. Small 175 is great in residential and your process looks good! Only thing I would add is using a pile brush instead of a normal vac. For VLM cleaning it really helps improve results!

[Carpet_Cleaning_Palm_Harbor_FL]

So I did my first residential VLM only job today, moderately soiled.

Everything went really well, clean carpets and very happy customer!

Pre-vac
Pre-spray
Agitate with green stripe pad
Worked my way into room with striped microfiber
Worked my way out with microfiber
Post vac

Cons: None
Pros: Job on second floor, only 2 trips with all equipment. Fuel savings: Truck, Truckmount, Diesel burner (took my car to save on fuel). 25% percent of physical effort to complete job. An extra bonus that I did not anticipate - not being drenched in sweat. Got called out for a flood this evening and driving back, covered in sweat did I realize I worked earlier behind closed doors in AC!

Evens: Took about the same time as with a TM

Thanks for your help. I'm sure I will have many more questions. At this point, "I don't know what I don't know".