What's in your carpet cleaning arsenal?

Dan

Dan

Well-known member
All stains being different, what's in your arsenal to tackle the toughest stains?



Me:

-Megs APC+

-Folex (great on mud stains)

-Megs Degreaser

-Spot Shot Aerosol

-Aquanet Hair Spray (for ink)

-WD-40 (awesome on tough grease stains and tar)

-Peroxide (for when it won't come out, makes it fade, but proper application is key)
 
For general cleaning, 303 upholstery cleaner and Folex. For had to remove stains I have a dedicated spotting kit, which removes food and drink stains (kool-aid, fruit punch...). It also has cleaners for rust, ink, nail polish, tar, gum, grease, coffee, urine, tea, vomit...





Thankfully I don't take on many interiors and haven't needed to use most of the specialty cleaners. ;)
 
David Fermani said:
Dude, you need a carpet shampoo.
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I probably need to try some newer ones out, but I'm really happy with APC+ for most carpets. Its the killer stains I have issues with.
 
Commercial carpet pretreats will do most if not all of the above and is made to rinse clean, best with rinse agent, but clean water works. Dilution ratios of some 30-40 to 1.



They do not remove every stain, but the ones they don't would be classified as specialty stains. Large amount of tar oil, you should have a carpet solvent.



As Rasky said their are spotting kits for the rest, but in everyday detailing they are rarely used. Except maybe the rust remover.
 
Dan said:
I probably need to try some newer ones out, but I'm really happy with APC+ for most carpets. Its the killer stains I have issues with.
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Yes, you'll still need a good pre-treatment, but incorporating a dedicated carpet shampoo really makes a difference *for me*. You're basically applying a thick layer of wet foam all over the carpet and as your scrub it into the fibers it lifts the soiling up to the surface and easily vacuumes away and dries rather quickly. Many people use APC mixed with water in a bucket to "shampoo", but it doesn't nearly have the same effect due to the foam action.
 
David Fermani said:
Yes, you'll still need a good pre-treatment, but incorporating a dedicated carpet shampoo really makes a difference *for me*. You're basically applying a thick layer of wet foam all over the carpet and as your scrub it into the fibers it lifts the soiling up to the surface and easily vacuumes away and dries rather quickly. Many people use APC mixed with water in a bucket to "shampoo", but it doesn't nearly have the same effect due to the foam action.
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What's your chemicals and process?
 
What with the vehicles, the house, the pets, and the way I seldom throw stuff away, I kinda overkill this. But I have most of my needs well covered. Let's see...this if from memory so I might be forgetting something:



Extractors:

-Century Ninja 4000

-Bissell Big Green Machine

-Bissell Pro-Heat upright

-Ancient Bissell from the early '80s

-Hoover SteamVac Jr.



Chemicals:

-TOL/Hi-Temp Carpet Shampoo Concentrate

-ChemSpec Pre-spotter

-TOL/Hi-Temp Protein Stain Remover

-[?some brand?] Tannin Stain Remover

-3M's Three-product System (organic/inorganic/odor)

-Misc. gallons of concentrate from Outright/Hoover/Bissell

-Wax Remover (that's for the house)

-Nature's Miracle (old/good version and yeah, when it runs out I need to buy the other stuff)



Misc.:

-Lots of brushes (including brass-bristle ones, be careful with those!)

-Pethair "sponge"

-Brushes for Cyclo



Gotta pick up some more Red Stain Remover, though I hardly ever need it. And yeah....I *still* need to buy some Rinse Agent! Just never get around to it, but I need to stop by the extractor service place one of these days anyhow (need a part for the Century's household wand) and I'll pick it up then.
 
Justin Murphy said:
What's your chemicals and process?
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The key is determining the source behind the stain/soiling before introducing any kind of water-based cleaner. 1st treat the oil based stains/soiling with a solvent-based all purpose solvent. If you do this after the carpet is wet, the solvent with not penetrate through the wetness and into the stain. Then apply an APC styled cleaner and allow to dwell, and then aggitate. Then, apply thick solution of shampoo foam to 1 section of the carpet(I like to stick my air hose or powerwasher into the bucket to suds things up), scrub and then slowly vacuum carpet. Then towel dry with cotton towel. Repeat for each section of the interior including seats.



Products of choice:



Solvents:

AM Multi-Purpose Solvent: Car care auto detailing solvents & removers by Auto Magic

AI Safety Solvent: http://www.valugard.net/cms/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=e4oS4nRAbCY=&tabid=70&mid=397



APC's:

OPC: Optimum Power Clean

HD TOTAL: Automotive Degreaser & Soil Remover - HD TOTAL 1 Gallon | 3D Products



Shampoos:

3D Shampoo: Professional Upholstery & Carpet Shampoo – High Foam Carpet Shampoo for Tough Spots | 3D Products

AM E-Z Clean: Professional car care cleaners by Auto Magic



Specialty Stain Removers:

Carpet & Upholstery Stains
 
David Fermani- Hey, you jogged my memory! Yeah, Optimum Power Clean is good, and about the only APC I use on carpets these days.



I have the HD Total and their green APC, but I've never tried either of them. Sorta :confused: about when to use one or the other :nixweiss
 
David, would you say HD Total, on carpets, is as good as HD carpet shampoo? I've never tried either but need to pick up some carpet shampoo. I do understand HD total can be used for many things but just wondering if its as good on carpets as I've read that HD shampoo is.



Thanks.

Derek
 
LangMan37 said:
David, would you say HD Total, on carpets, is as good as HD carpet shampoo? I've never tried either but need to pick up some carpet shampoo. I do understand HD total can be used for many things but just wondering if its as good on carpets as I've read that HD shampoo is.



Thanks.

Derek
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Nope. I mean HD Total is as good as Optimum Power Clean on spot cleaning. You still need a dedicated shampoo in many cases in conjunction with pre-cleaning.



And I usually cut the RTU Total 50/50 with water for interior cleaning.
 
AGAIN, while there are many ways to a clean carpet, there are better products too.



APC's are not generally made to be rinse free. In the floor mat thread I said I use full strength APC or water based engine cleaner. Because it can be totally rinsed out.



Extraction is totally different. You will be leaving some chemical in the carpet, so should it be a dirt attracting chemical or neutral.
 
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