Carpet extractor?

Garry Dean

Garry Dean

Garry Dean Quality!
I am just curious.



Who here use a carpet extractor? Who use a spray bottle and a shop vac?



I have both, but I was just noticing yesterday that my extractor doesnt seem to be as powerful as my 5hp shop vac and all the extractor is is a vacuum with a sprayer.



I have a 4x6 enclosed trailer that I use for my business and I was thinking of just using the shop vac to reduce clutter.



My only issue with this is that I generally get asked what do I use to clean carpets and the client is usually thrilled to hear that I have a machine dedicated to carpet cleaning.



Your thoughts are appreciated.
 
I used to have a hot water carpet extractor but sold it and bought a steam cleaner, which does a better job (at least for me).
 
Out of the 1000's of interiors I've cleaned, I can count on 2 hands the ones that required an extractor to make right. I feel if you know what you're doing and have proper technique, you don't need an extractor for cleaning 99% of vehicle interiors.
 
David Fermani said:
Out of the 1000's of interiors I've cleaned, I can count on 2 hands the ones that required an extractor to make right. I feel if you know what you're doing and have proper technique, you don't need an extractor for cleaning 99% of vehicle interiors.
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So what is your usual process for cleaning spills or big stains?



Teach us of these techniques oh wise one, lol.
 
I myself don't have an extractor but I would like to get a steamer at some point for the most stubborn stains and use on engines and wheels.



As of right now I use 303 Spot Remover for stubborn stains, Megs APC, and my PC with brushes on it. Works great, then I flush the area with clean water and pick it up with my 5hp rigid shop vac.
 
Premium said:
My only issue with this is that I generally get asked what do I use to clean carpets and the client is usually thrilled to hear that I have a machine dedicated to carpet cleaning.



Your thoughts are appreciated.
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You bring up a very key point- perception. When you can tell people you have "an extractor" they will immediately assume you are a professional and 1.) be more likely to pay for the service, 2.) appreciate the service, and 3.) are probably less likely to doubt the results.



Even though I only have a Bissell LGCM I still like to be able to tell my clients that I have an extractor. This helps to get the initial job, and even if they have some form of doubt if they happen to see my machine (LGCM is clearly small and not the traditional style of an industrial cleaner) the end results always re-assure them that the service was what they expected (and maybe more).



I don't have room for a large Shop Vac in my mobile setup, so I have a smaller unit- therefor I can't count on the 4.5 HP to suction as well as the LGCM for deep stains.



Both have a place in my arsenal.
 
I have a feeling most customers don't know the difference between shampooing / extraction / steam cleaning an interior. They all use a combination of these terms to refer to cleaning their interior.
 
David Fermani said:
I have a feeling most customers don't know the difference between shampooing / extraction / steam cleaning an interior. They all use a combination of these terms to refer to cleaning their interior.
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I agree, to most customers "Can you shampoo my carpets" is all they really care about. If its clean when its done thats all that matters regardless of actual process.
 
Premium said:
I have both, but I was just noticing yesterday that my extractor doesnt seem to be as powerful as my 5hp shop vac and all the extractor is is a vacuum with a sprayer.
Click to expand...



My extractor works a lot better with a different nozzle (compared to the ones that came with it), gets a whole lot more moisture up and leaves things almost completely dry.



My extractor's also heated, which puts it in a whole 'nother league from my shopvac, and it has a pretty potent sprayer, much more powerful than something manual. The only way my shopvac ever compared was with the carpet cleaning attachment set-up that Sears used to sell, but once a critical part broke I retired it and got the extractor.



I find that some jobs go best with the extractor and others go best with the steamer. Wouldn't want to be without either of them, and I use David Fermani's blot-with-towel method quite a lot too.



But speaking as a non-pro, one of the biggest pluses about an extractor is the way it can suck up really awful messes nice and quick (e.g., pet-related accidents). I suppose by the time a vehicle gets brought to a pro it's way too late for a quick intervention.



David Fermani said:
I have a feeling most customers don't know the difference between shampooing / extraction / steam cleaning an interior. They all use a combination of these terms to refer to cleaning their interior.
Click to expand...





Heh heh, I can't help but think of the Hoover "Steam Vac"s (scare-quotes intentional) that don't really involve *steam* in any way :chuckle:
 
^^^^Yeah, I can remember several decades ago when people used to ask to get their engine compartments "steam cleaned". Sure, Mr. Customer, right away with that. (the only steam that occured was when the water was drying off the burning hot engine :laugh: )
 
I bought an Extractor just in the past month and love it, I am saving for a steamer as I've seen what that can do also. I spray most carpets with ZEP high traffic cleaner let it dwell, might lightly scrub, and then extract with HOT water. I was amazed at how much crap comes up from "clean" carpets. I use to "extract" carpets using the spray bottle and shop vac, but it took longer and less stellar results.



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Cheers,
 
Dave is correct in certian aspects. Having been detailing on what I consider a professional level for quite a few years now and owning my own "high volume" shop. I can attest to the fact that most of the time there is no real "need" to use an extractor to properly clean a interior. However it makes things alot simpler, a lot faster, and a lot more automated in volume. I know I preach it alot on here but the heat makes alot of difference as well. I for one am all about letting a machine take over the elbow grease scrubbing chores if possible. I would say if you're low volume have all the time in the world to do the detail there's not a lot of sense in spending the sheer cost of a high quality extractor. If you however are a high volume shop having the very best tools available saves very valuable time and wear and tear on ones body. Srubbing the dickens out of one carpet a day is one thing scrubbing the dickens out of 5 or more a day is entirely different.
 
Accumulator said:
My extractor works a lot better with a different nozzle (compared to the ones that came with it), gets a whole lot more moisture up and leaves things almost completely dry.



My extractor's also heated, which puts it in a whole 'nother league from my shopvac, and it has a pretty potent sprayer, much more powerful than something manual. The only way my shopvac ever compared was with the carpet cleaning attachment set-up that Sears used to sell, but once a critical part broke I retired it and got the extractor.



I find that some jobs go best with the extractor and others go best with the steamer. Wouldn't want to be without either of them, and I use David Fermani's blot-with-towel method quite a lot too.



But speaking as a non-pro, one of the biggest pluses about an extractor is the way it can suck up really awful messes nice and quick (e.g., pet-related accidents). I suppose by the time a vehicle gets brought to a pro it's way too late for a quick intervention.









Heh heh, I can't help but think of the Hoover "Steam Vac"s (scare-quotes intentional) that don't really involve *steam* in any way :chuckle:
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Accum, you have a $1000 plus extractor, one of the better units. I much prefer a top notch extractor to a shop vac but most detailers will not spend the money necessary to get a good one.
 
bufferbarry said:
david may i ask do you work for a high volume shop? or have you in the past?
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I owned a high volume shop in the Metro Detroit area for about 10 years & we did(do) ~30 cars/day for about 15 different new car dealers. We also did(do) alot of retail detailing too. Now a days I do marathon details in my spare time in Florida.





Jakerooni said:
I for one am all about letting a machine take over the elbow grease scrubbing chores if possible. I would say if you're low volume have all the time in the world to do the detail there's not a lot of sense in spending the sheer cost of a high quality extractor. If you however are a high volume shop having the very best tools available saves very valuable time and wear and tear on ones body. Srubbing the dickens out of one carpet a day is one thing scrubbing the dickens out of 5 or more a day is entirely different.
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Keep in mind, that alot of scrubbing isn't necessary if you properly pre-clean. This pre-treat process should be done wether you're manually cleaning or extracting. If your doing alot of scrubbing, that usually means it wasn't done correctly and 9 times out of 10 the carpets gets too clogged and won't come clean.
 
For you guys with steam cleaners and or carpet extractors, have you written about them in the reviews section of the forum? I know I've searched the review section and the forum itself several times. Looking for a definitive post on steam cleaner models and what the pro's use (a collection) but haven't really found it.



I would find the information very valuable and I think others would to. Model, average cost, things you liked, reliability etc. Really just to comment on what is out there and what stuff works well for the amount that you do.



I looked this up the other day, but about 90% of my customers are getting a stage 2 or above. Meaning that they are, at a minimum, getting the front and rear floor mats pre-cleaned, rinsed, vacuumed, and then scrubbed. Thank you David Fermani for your tips!! I'll be using those, especially since I believe it's all in the preparation really. So needless to say, doing all of this by hand is good to learn, but costing me valuable time. I appreciate the info that you guys have posted up here, especially David's tips.



Can some of you with whatever it is you use, post a link or description of the product (model name, number etc). Or better yet, write about it in the reviews section if you're able?



Regardless, awesome information here ! Thank you !:up
 
I personally use a Mytee Grand Prix HP100. Very nice extractor. Good heat Used it almost daily now for about 2 years. I did have to replace the pump once due to an employee not following directions and flooding out the compartment. The Mytee is coming down in price alot lately. Mine was almost $2000 new when I bought it now I think it's readily available for about $1200. There are newer technology extractors out there now that have my interest. I like the insant steam options on some of the newer extractors. Not that mine takes more than a few minutes but still.



But Dave has a very valid point.. No detailer should ever have to have a machine to effectively clean a carpet. Cleaning it by hand I would consider a fundamental and basic skill every detailer should know how to do. It's kind of like doing math. Scribbliing it down on paper makes you understand just how it works. Hitting the buttons on the calculator just make it eaiser.
 
4 things that help get rid of stains, chemical, heat, movement or work in, and finally alot of water. There are alot of extrators or steamers but you will usually get what you pay for.



I'm down with steamers, sadly most of the cars I do, look like someone overhauled an engine from the driver's seat. I use the porter cable 7424 w/ brush attachements (green preferably), a multipurpose cleaner, and finally the mytee 1003dx at about 100-120 psi nossle (anything over that makes a mess) about 5 galoons of clean water through the machine to flush out the cleaner. After leaving the heaters on for 15 minutes and after the pump is primed helps get the water to about 150 deg at the nossle after running for a bit (advertise 210 but not true). The heat of the water definatley helps disolve whatever the brush aggitated.
 
Accumulator said:
My extractor works a lot better with a different nozzle (compared to the ones that came with it), gets a whole lot more moisture up and leaves things almost completely dry.



My extractor's also heated, which puts it in a whole 'nother league from my shopvac, and it has a pretty potent sprayer, much more powerful than something manual. The only way my shopvac ever compared was with the carpet cleaning attachment set-up that Sears used to sell, but once a critical part broke I retired it and got the extractor.



I find that some jobs go best with the extractor and others go best with the steamer. Wouldn't want to be without either of them, and I use David Fermani's blot-with-towel method quite a lot too.



But speaking as a non-pro, one of the biggest pluses about an extractor is the way it can suck up really awful messes nice and quick (e.g., pet-related accidents). I suppose by the time a vehicle gets brought to a pro it's way too late for a quick intervention.









Heh heh, I can't help but think of the Hoover "Steam Vac"s (scare-quotes intentional) that don't really involve *steam* in any way :chuckle:
Click to expand...



I agree. I have run into some really nasty interiors. I use to do the vac, spray agitate,and vac too. But I find that my heated extractor does a better job than the afore mentioned!
 
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