Help which one Cimex, Trio, Host, Rotowash?

[Nickms]

Hi, I run a single operator cleaning business. For a while now I have been cleaning metre sq carpet tiles for a company who specialise in event hire. Until recently I have either been vacuuming the tiles or when they become too soiled I pressure wash them. Often grass seed and straw gets walked in and the only way to get this out is to use the pressure washer. They have recently purchased another 2k tiles and are expanding rapidly. Pressure cleaning them takes far to long to both clean and dry and is too labour intensive and straight vacuuming is not good enough. I started looking at Host machines, but they seem slow and the chemical is exorbitant, I have come across the cimex, but two things concern me the drying time and will I be able to vac out any grass/straw? The whittaker trio seems to be a good option. I should add that I will need to import into Australia and use a stepdown transformer, also if I am going to purchase a machine I may as well get one that will do residential as I have a large client base to build upon.

I should add that the tiles will be laid out 400 sq metres at time and not stuck down. I have run a host machine over one and it did not pick up the edges.

Your advice is greatly appreciated

[Lounge Lizards]

Nick, the Cimex is a great machine which I have built my commercial carpet cleaning business around in Cairns, FNQ.

It comes in 240 volt for us down underers.

If you want to know more, give me a call on 0409 774 253

Shorty.

PS: I'm not a salesperson, just a simple carpet cleaner.

[Nickms]

Cheers Shorty if its ok with you can I call you sometime tomorrow.

[encapman]

I started looking at Host machines, but they seem slow and the chemical is exorbitant

Yes. The Host powder is really expensive! The powder also cleans marginally. And it tends to load up in the carpet fiber, which is difficult to remove. I'm not a fan.

Yet your faced with a challenging situation.

Dry times with a Cimex are normally less than 2 hours. But you would still need a good vacuum or pile lifter for the straw.

If it were me, I would go with the X-Vac pile lifter along with a Cimex.

You can get a Cimex in 240 volts, so you wouldn't need a transformer. And I believe you can get a pile lifter in Oz as well. Check with Gary Bethel at Powerclean Australia.
www.powerclean.com.au

[Lounge Lizards]

No problem Nick, anytime after 06:00 & before 23:00

[Derek]

i can't recommend the Trio anymore. the handle & trigger design are bad. i am now back to using my Cimex on CGD and OP for resi carpet.

[lee@deepclean.us.com]

Hi Derek, Can you share your feelings a bit more on the Trio?

Lee

[Derek]

hi Lee i'd rather not discuss another manu's product here too much. i hope you understand.

i've posted my experience with it on other forums.

[lee@deepclean.us.com]

Thanks Derek. I'll search around

[Nickms]

So I will be able to vacuum the tiles 2 hours after I have applied the encap? I assume the CImex would lift any straw/grass etc out of the carpet fibres rather push them further in thereby making vacuuming easier. Also how would the cimex go in a residential setting, as I said I have a large residential customer base that I could tap into immediately.

Thanks for you advice so far, its greatly appreciated.

[encapman]

No need to post-vacuum when performing encap cleaning. Everyone leaves the post-vacuuming for their customer to do. The carpet will look great immediately after the carpet gets scrubbed with Releasit. Then during the normal routine of post-vacuuming the soil gets extracted.

The Cimex is not going to lift straw/grass from the carpet. That's why I recommended a Pile Lifter. A Pile Lifter will rock your world for lifting the pile and quickly pulling stuff that's stuck to the fiber. The Cimex / Pile Lifter approach would be wonderful for what you're describing. But the 19" Cimex is not perfect for residential work - it's a little bit large for that.

Another option, since you also want to do residential, would be to get a good CRB machine. We sell the BrushEncap. The BrushEncap machine has Renovator trays that capture dry soil very well. And the 15" model crosses over nicely between commercial and residential.

But like I said, check with Gary Bethel at Powerclean to see what's available in your part of the world. I imagine that Powerclean has access to good CRB machines too. Gary will take excellent care of you! Plus they sell the BEST encap juice on the planet.

[saabtrash]

i can't recommend the Trio anymore. the handle & trigger design are bad. i am now back to using my Cimex on CGD and OP for resi carpet.

That's too bad Derek. I'm absolutely loving mine but I'm careful on how I pull the spray trigger because of your experience.

[Nickms]

Ok So the story so far. Thanks everyone for your input, Firstly let me thank Shorty for the hour or so he spent on the phone with me explaining the ins and outs of what I am trying to achieve and Encapman for the advice and link to Gary at Powerclean, as you stated he is really helpful (turns out Shorty and Gary know each other quite well)

So Gary is suggesting the Orbot over the Cimax as he sees the orbot Sprayborg as being far more versatile for me than the Cimex, however Shorty you have both machines and are quite adamant that the Cimex for both Commercial and Resi is the way to go and Encapman you are saying Cimex as well. I have definitely decided against any form of CRB, so the choice is between the Sprayborg and Cimex?

BTW anyone whining about US prices should compare them to Australia, prices are at least double the US here.

Also I just tried to upload some photos of todays job but they did not upload correctly any thoughts?

[Lounge Lizards]

No problem Nick, happy to help if I can.

Email the pics to me & I'll post them for you Nick.

[encapman]

If you're considering residential and commercial, and your choices are between the Cimex and the Orbot - I would recommend the Orbot too. The Cimex trumps when it comes to serious commercial work. But if it's a mixed bag, the Orbot is more versatile.