How to shampoo carpets and use shop vac to extract

[sunsetstroker]

I know this might seem like a silly question but Ive searched and dont get how to extract with a shop vac. I have a five hp rigid, I sprayed down some carpets the other day with carpet shampoo, scrubed and tried sucking up the access with the shop vac. It didnt work. I removed the paper filter and emptied out the bucket but after using the vac for a few minutes, there was nothing in the reservoir and the carpets were still soaked. What am I doing wrong here?



Thanks guys

[Candor]

There isn`t enough suction in those machines. If i recall correctly shop vacs have around a 20-50 inch lift, most carpet extractors have near 100+ inches

[sunsetstroker]

There isn`t enough suction in those machines. If i recall correctly shop vacs have around a 20-50 inch lift, most carpet extractors have near 100+ inches

Ive read of people using shop vacs to extract, just not sure how its done.

[imported_Jakerooni]

what kind of nozzle end are you using? Can make a huge difference

[alloutdetailing]

Well the first thing your doing wrong which is what I did when starting out is soaking the carpet. You just really need a light mist and just soak the areas where it`s really needed. I hate carpet cleaning with a DAHM passion! Especially floor mats.





I have a 19gal shop vac. Can`t remember how many HP it is but it use to work great to extract. Remember the smaller the nozzle/tip the more suction you will get.





Also there are some carpets that just will not come back to life. Sometimes it`s better to leave it alone and educate the customer that it is to far gone. I use an extractor now and that sometimes makes a bigger mess then when I started. I still do the whole shop vac extraction on some jobs tho. Hope this helps.

[sunsetstroker]

I dont soak the carpet. I sprayed it with cleaner, scrubbed and tried to extract. Maybe it was the attachment. What kind of attachment do you guys use?

[Candor]

Smaller the better, do you have a 2" hose? Try and adapter to 1 1/4" and then a small flat nozzle?

[sunsetstroker]

Smaller the better, do you have a 2" hose? Try and adapter to 1 1/4" and then a small flat nozzle?

Didnt you just reply above that they dont have enough suction? :nixweiss



Its a 1 7/8 inch hose. I have the car detail kit that comes with the smaller hose and many attachments as well.

[salty]

Vacuum.



Spray the carpet with a pre-treat chemical, and/or treat stains, scrub and let it dwell.



Find a way to put down clean water or rinse solution. Whether it is an extractor, garden hose, bucket and brush. The object is to suck out the pre-treat chemical with the stains and leave the fabric clean of chemical and stains.



With Shop Vacs, use the smallest opening tool you can find, usually a crevice tool. When you hear the vac working on suction, you have a decent extraction.



Most Shop-Vacs have around 89 inches of water lift.

[SoCalB6]

I use a 5hp vac with excellent results. Use a good cleaner & brush along with the smallest end you can. Remeber to completely rinse the cleaner out, otherwise you`ll have stiff carpet that will resoil mega fast.

[Soarer5]

I got this yesterday, Shop-Vac at Lowe`s: 1-1/4" Claw Utility Nozzle. I`m hoping it will get the job done with the 14gal/4.5hp vac.

[Accumulator]

..With Shop Vacs, use the smallest opening tool you can find, usually a crevice tool. When you hear the vac working on suction, you have a decent extraction..

Yep :xyxthumbs Most extractors come with nozzles that have *MUCH* too large an opening. Even some pro models have nozzles that don`t work effectively.



I *really* like the small "upholstery nozzles" that Bissel sells. They *can* pop apart if you`re rough with them, but they go back together OK.



I use one of those with *every* extractor I have, even my Century/Ninja. Just gotta cobble together some sort of adaptor to fit whatever machine/hose you`re using.

[WaxManRonnie]

Your best bet is to use the angled end crevice tool for the wet dry vac.

Shop-Vac at Lowe`s: 2-1/2" Crevice Tool

I have a tall canister wet dry vac hanging on the wall

(6 or 7 HP. Don`t remember). I spray the parts

I want to clean, scrub them with a brush, and extract with that extension tool.

I have a 15 foot hose attached and I haven`t had any issues. I spray down

the carpeted mats, scrub them, and hose them down with water. After that

I extract with the vac. Again, no issues. Dry in an hour.

[sunsetstroker]

Your best bet is to use the angled end crevice tool for the wet dry vac.

Shop-Vac at Lowe`s: 2-1/2" Crevice Tool

I have a tall canister wet dry vac hanging on the wall

(6 or 7 HP. Don`t remember). I spray the parts

I want to clean, scrub them with a brush, and extract with that extension tool.

I have a 15 foot hose attached and I haven`t had any issues. I spray down

the carpeted mats, scrub them, and hose them down with water. After that

I extract with the vac. Again, no issues. Dry in an hour.

Great reply. Thanks man :clap:

[drifts500]

What about upholstery seats and inside? Do I need to spray water a lot after scrubing and use shop vac to extract???