Bonnet cleaning after encap??

[Jamie]

A question from an Encap Newbie.

I have heard people discussing on various forums now about using bonnet cleaning after Encap & observing a lot of soil transfer from the still damp carpet onto the bonnets and because of that choosing to use a post-bonnet cleaning system to improve the look & remove soils.

My observation and therefore question is this: The true Encap process does not kick in until the carpet has dried and the polymer encased dirt becomes a crystal. At which point it is vacuumed away after 24 hours (more often than not with routine vacuuming) long after the carpet is dry. That's how the soiling is removed from the carpet in the Encap process (Gee I hope I got that bit right cause my next point may make me look like a boofhead if I'm not)

Why then do I read about guys who are surprised by the soil transfer after a post-bonneting (if that's a word?) what they have just encapped when the carpet is still damp. I would have thought this to be a certainty until the carpet is dry and the dirt is crystalized. In fact aren't you also removing valuable Encap solution that you have just agitated into the carpet in the hope that it will crystalize.

So finally my question: Is post-bonneting after Encap just a waste of time & Solution & does it actually impede the Encap process by removing solution in it's wet state or does it really help.

As mentioned above this is just an observation and I have minimal Encap time under my belt so be kind if I'm incorrect.

Cheers
Jamie

[Pete]

That is an Excellent Q but I am going to let the King of Encap give you the answer because he will be able to Encapsulat the answer in a lot fewer words. He will also Supply you with Excellent service.

Pete Peterson

[jtmellon]

That is an Excellent Q but I am going to let the King of Encap give you the answer because he will be able to Encapsulat the answer in a lot fewer words. He will also Supply you with Excellent service.

Pete Peterson

Pete, Thanks for that introduction...Oh wait you were talking about Rick...

From personal exp, I will only do this on a resi carpet. So I am pad capping and not really encapping, this does help on resi carpets as you are going one step above and taking out soil on a pad and still leaving the bennys of an encap in the carpet to dry.

Now on a comm carpet for the most part it is a full encap job, how ever there are times when using a pad will remove soil and give the carpet a much better look for the customer and for the most part you are leaving enough of the encap juice in the carpet to protect it for some time.

[Blue Ridge Floor Care]

I too have experienced the same thing with the soil transfer to a damp cloth after cleaning. Looking forward to Rick's response as well.

[encapman]

Great question.

With a true crystallizing encap detergent - like Releasit, the solution crystallizes and is extracted from the carpet during the post-vacuuming process.

If you were to run over the damp carpet with a bonnet, yes in fact you'll be pulling off some of the solution in the bonnets. However ALL of the fluid in the carpet is a favorable residue. All of it is an encapsulate. So although you're removing some of the solution in the bonnet, there's still plenty of the solution that's been worked through the fiber.

In the case of bonnet cleaning, or OP cleaning (with a true crystallizing encapsulator) you're actually cleaning with TWO methods of cleaning. You're cleaning with absorption through the bonnets, and also with encapsulation. And in certain cases, where you're dealing with heavily soiled carpets, it can be helpful to add some bonnet cleaning to pull off a little additional soil.

If you choose to combine encap & bonnet - there's no problem. Keep in mind that all of the Releasit detergent in the carpet is a true encapsulant. And any liquid left behind after the bonnet passes over the carpet will dry down to a brittle crystalline residue that can thereby be extracted via normal routine vacuuming.

Hope that answers your question.

[Jamie]

Cheers for the replies guys & Thanks for the answer Rick, yes that definitely answers my question.

P.S: I received my first shipment of Punch & DS this week. First job after was a car upholstery job with soft drink stains & more. I pre-sprayed the punch and added a bit to my solution tank as well and
"Hey Presto" first pass with the upholstery tool and no more stain. It worked an absolute charm and the customer was very happy indeed.

Now I can't wait to do my first Encap job using the Punch/ DS combo.

Cheers

Jamie

[NJP]

It looks like Rick answered your question!