Hot water or not (carpet cleaning)

RonTL · 03-05-05, 11:20

I use woolite/water mix to clean my carpet and folox for spot remover. I always have everything mixed before I go and do someones vehicle during the summer. I would like to start using hot water instead of just cold water in my woolite mix. Could I just spray my cold water/woolite mix on the carpet and then spray hot water on the carpet? or would it be better to mix the hot water in with the woolite? Id hate to have to mix it with hot water every time I got to someones house.

I might start using APC+ instead of woolite.

THanks, Ronnie

Sullybob · 03-06-05, 08:21

I have had better results with hot water for a carpet cleaning solution. If cold water has been working fine for you then stay with it. You could also try a LGCM the hav a model with a built in heater.

Ed Hartman · 03-06-05, 08:43

To answer your question about adding hot water on top of your cold, what you need to remember is you do not want to over wet peoples carpet. A cardinal sin. So to answer it I would say in theory you can do it but need to make sure you don't "soak" the carpet. I think its irrelevent wether you use cold or hot water in mixing your solution. Hot water is used to its full potential when you extract. The big benefit of Hot Water is in the rinsing process, as hot water rinses dirt and grime twice as fast as cold water.

TOGWT · 03-06-05, 08:45

Heated water breaks down water-soluble soiling faster as it reduces overall chemical usage because it reduces the surface tension of the fibre. Heat acts as a catalyst promoting quicker reactions between chemicals and the soil thereby minimizing dwell time.

To remove stains the surface tension that bonds them must be released, then the stain encapsulated and held in suspension to be removed. When cleaning a stain, try detergent and water first. If this does not remove the stain, then try a stronger type cleaner (303'M Cleaner & Spot Remover) once fabric is clean apply a fabric protection (303TM High Tech Fabric Guard) Stainmaster Stain Removal Guide
Note- Use the hottest water available, it also helps to pre-spray the carpet with hot water and use a pre-cleaner

RonTL · 03-06-05, 09:51

Thanks for all your replies.

Sullybob, whats a LGCM? I couldn't find the list of all the acronym's used.

Ed hartman, I think ill try hot water/woolite and then cold water/woolite to see the differents in the results, and the speed of removal.
I've "soaked" a few friends carpets before, because I live in the mountains, and the cars have nothing but embedded dirt and mud. The only way I got the mud out, was to soak the carpets, scrub and extract, over and over and over again. My shop vac (5hp rigid) had about 3 to 4 inches at the bottom of it of pure thick mud. Cars here get so horrible.
Whats wrong with soaking, as long as i extract most of it out?
Anyone know a better way of doing this?

Thanks, Ronnie

Ed Hartman · 03-06-05, 10:03

Well, #1 some cars run wires and have computer parts underneath the carpet. #2 Do you want your client to have wet carpet for days after you clean it? Would you? #3 If by chance you miss some of that moisture, it will settle at the bottom and then bring that stain/dirt back to the surface. Called wicking. You know when you remove spots one day and they return the next? Thats usually from overwetting the carpet and not getting it dry fast enough. Again, I think you have to be careful how much water/detergent you use, thats all Im saying.

RonTL · 03-06-05, 11:35

Thanks for the reply, I understand now. Ill just have to use less water, and hopefully i can get the mud out.

Sullybob · 03-06-05, 04:53

Little Green Clean Machine, its a very small steam cleaner made by Bissel.

TheShinyMama · 03-06-05, 05:21

Quote:

Originally posted by Sullybob
Little Green Clean Machine, its a very small steam cleaner made by Bissel.

Got myself a LGCM, works wonders, but sometimes it has warm water and sometimes it doesn't......could be a defective product.