07-25-2013, 04:15 PM
Wicking may be caused by residue from soil that wasn't completely removed during the cleaning process. However before you convict yourself of being a less than adequate cleaner, it may be reasonable to keep in mind that removing 100% of the soil down at the backing of the carpet may be challenging or next to impossible at times. And that's why wicking is a very common problem. That is especially true when you're dealing with commercial glue down CGD carpets. A CGD carpet has limited airflow when performing HWE cleaning, and the tuft bundles are often crushed and compacted thereby trapping soil at the base of the fiber.
As carpet cleaners we're called upon to clean carpet fiber - the fuzzy stuff up top. But let's think abut what lies beneath the fuzzy stuff. What various kinds of crud and debris have seeped down to the base of the fiber? How much has penetrated the backing? What has gone through the backing and is now in the pad or on the sub flooring? If our carpet cleaning methods were able to totally address the backing and the sub floor then we would be cleaning a lot more than the fuzzy stuff.
Since we can't clean the sub floor (except in isolated areas with a Waterclaw), what lies down at the base of the carpet has the potential to cause a wicking problem. It's unavoidable at times. However there are some methods for reducing or eliminating the condition. Here are some techniques that can minimize the problem. Yet even on the best day, wicking may still occur sometimes.
1. Clean as thoroughly as possible.
2. Accelerate the drying. Use fans, crank up the HVAC system, and or increase air flow to the building.
3. Clean with encapsulation products, or at least finish off the carpet with an Encap product.
The high concentration of polymer in a good Encap product will help to get a wicking condition under control. And if your Encap product has a built in fluorochemical, that can also retard wicking.
Hope that explanation helps to shed some light on the wicking problem. Wicking is something I wrestled with for years in my commercial carpet cleaning business. Fortunately when I discovered encapsulation using good crystallizing chemistry I was able to get the problem completely under control.
Rick Gelinas
The Encapman
As carpet cleaners we're called upon to clean carpet fiber - the fuzzy stuff up top. But let's think abut what lies beneath the fuzzy stuff. What various kinds of crud and debris have seeped down to the base of the fiber? How much has penetrated the backing? What has gone through the backing and is now in the pad or on the sub flooring? If our carpet cleaning methods were able to totally address the backing and the sub floor then we would be cleaning a lot more than the fuzzy stuff.
Since we can't clean the sub floor (except in isolated areas with a Waterclaw), what lies down at the base of the carpet has the potential to cause a wicking problem. It's unavoidable at times. However there are some methods for reducing or eliminating the condition. Here are some techniques that can minimize the problem. Yet even on the best day, wicking may still occur sometimes.
1. Clean as thoroughly as possible.
2. Accelerate the drying. Use fans, crank up the HVAC system, and or increase air flow to the building.
3. Clean with encapsulation products, or at least finish off the carpet with an Encap product.
The high concentration of polymer in a good Encap product will help to get a wicking condition under control. And if your Encap product has a built in fluorochemical, that can also retard wicking.
Hope that explanation helps to shed some light on the wicking problem. Wicking is something I wrestled with for years in my commercial carpet cleaning business. Fortunately when I discovered encapsulation using good crystallizing chemistry I was able to get the problem completely under control.
Rick Gelinas
The Encapman