How to Clean Carpets ( Hot Water Extraction )

Items Required 
- Vacuum
- Hydro Sprayer or Pump-up Sprayer
- Hot Water Extractor
- Extraction Cleaner or Pre Spray
- Spotter
- Carpet Rake
- Blower

Procedure
- Thoroughly vacuum area to be cleaned.
- Fill hydro sprayer or pump up sprayed with diluted extraction cleaner.
- Fill extractor with hot water.
- Thoroughly and evenly pre spray carpet with extraction cleaner. Do not pre spray more then 250 sq/ft.
- Using carpet rake agitate or brush carpet allowing chemical to work.
- Using extractor, rinse carpet with hot water following an even pattern starting at the furthest point and working back.
- If stains appear or do not come out apply a small amount of spotter and re-extract after 5 mins.
- Rake carpet to give an even and finished look to the carpet.
- Place blower on a 45 degree angle to help circulate air movement and dry carpets.

Tips
- Never put chemical in the water tank of the extractor. This is a common mistake and many people over saturate carpets with chemical causing carpets to resoil rapidly.
- Pre vacuuming the carpet will remove 85% of soil particulates making the extraction process easier and leaving a cleaner finished product.
- Many refer to this process as steam cleaning. It is important to note however that the water usually doesn't get hot enough to truly steam. Hence why we say Hot Water Extraction.

Phil-T
"Nothings to filthy for Phil-T"

How to Bonnet Clean Carpets

Items required:
- Swing Buffer
- Bonnet Pads
- Vacuum
- Bonnet Cleaner or Encapsulating Formula
- Peroxide Spotter
- Bucket
- Brush / Tamper
- Terry Cloths

Procedure:
- Thoroughly vacuum all carpets. Vacuuming will remove 85% of particulates from carpet. 
- Walk area with Spotter, brush and terry cloths to remove any spots in carpet.
- Fill bucket with warm water and bonnet cleaning formula following the dilution directions.
- Soak pad in bucket with cleaner and remove when thoroughly wet.
- Place pad under swing buffer.
- Scrub and area of about 100 sq/ft then turn pad around.
- After scrubbing another 100 sq/ft either resoak pad in cleaner or change for a fresh pad.
- Allow to dry several hours
- Revacuum carpets.

Tips:
- Though this procedure is used frequently it is important to note that most carpet manufacturers will not warranty carpets that have been bonnet cleaned.
- This procedure is not one that I personally recommend either. That being said for those who want to perform it then it should be performed correctly.
- Changing pads frequently will do a better job.
- Always, always vacuum first. 

How to Vacuum a Carpet

Seems primitive enough but needs to be discussed. Unfortunately many feel that this needs only be done once a week.

Items Required:
- Vacuum
- Carpet spotter chemical

Procedure:
- Check vacuum for full bag and that suction as well as brushes are working. Check cord for cuts, tears, or exposed wire.
- Daily either vacuum or traffic lane vacuum entire area. If using an upright vac, work with the brushes ( or really against the brush) so that dirt is lifted up and can be sucked.
- If using a canister place vacuum in center of room as best as possible and vacuum into the area where the vacuum is located. This will avoid constantly lifting and moving the vacuum, do this as you work out of the room.
- Spray any spots with a spot cleaner preferably a spray and walk away. This will help keep carpets in top shape until you clean them.
- Upon completion check bags, cords and brushes. Clean down vacuum and roll up wires and put away neatly.

Vacuuming is a crucial part of your facilities maintenance. You would not skip sweeping or cleaning the bathrooms for 1 day and your carpets require the same care. Some say - carpets are unhealthy but the truth is not that carpets are unhealthy the way many maintain carpets are what's unhealthy. Vacuum daily and your occupants will be happier. Your carpets will last longer. And your budget will be happier too.

How To Maintain Carpets

Like hard floors carpets require regular maintenance. The following is how this can be done.

Daily Maintenance:
Carpets need to be vacuumed daily. How often do you sweep a floor? How often do you wash your floor? Carpets require the same regular cleaning. Just because you can't see the dirt doesn't mean it's not there.

You have 2 choices for a vacuum.
1) Canister (includes backpack vacs). A canister vac uses suction to remove dirt from the carpet. Usually the vacuum in a canister will be much stronger than the vacuum on an upright. The lift on a good canister vac will be strong enough to remove the required particulates from the carpet. A canister is also versatile as it may be used on hard surfaces such as wood and tile. Maintenance is very minimal and power heads are available for those who feel it is required.

2) Uprights. These have been around for a long time and the basic principal is that you beat the carpet to lift the dust and then suck it. Vacuum motors on uprights are usually weak. Upright also require much more maintenance.

Weekly Maintenance:
Spot Cleaning. Using either a hydrogen peroxide spotter or other specialty spotter look for spots on carpeted areas. Spray the spotter on a clean white terry towel and dab spots out of carpet. Alternatively you may be able to use a spray and walk away product. Spray the spots and let them dry clean.

Semi Yearly Maintenance:
Low Moisture Cleaning. It is a good idea to at least once a year maintain your carpets with a low moisture cleaning. As you may deep scrub your floors several times a year, this process is the deep scrub for carpets. One common procedure is Encapsulation. Encapsulation uses a process where after vacuuming the carpet a product is applied with the help of a brush on either an extractor or buffer that will dry to a crystal around the remain dirt in the carpet. Once dry, vacuum the carpet and your carpets are cleaned.

Yearly:
Deep Extraction. This method is required yearly in most cases. Just like you strip and wax floors once a year your carpets required the same attention. Using hot water and pre-spray this gives your carpets the lift they need.

Tips:
- Canister vacs or backpack vacs are the tool of choice for carpet care.
- As with hard floor consider having 15' of matting at all entrances.
- In some cases you may substitute a full vacuum with a spot vacuum 2 days a week.

Phil-T
"Nothings too filthy for Phil-T"

How to Maintain Floor Cleaning Equipment

AutoScrubber Maintenance
Daily
- Drain dirty water
- Lift vac tank lid
- Rinse tank
- Run vacuum for 30-60 seconds
- Clean off squeegee
- Check water levels in batteries (not required for Gel or AGM Batteries)
- Check hoses
- Check pad
 - Wipe down Scrubber

Weekly
- Clean all filters
- Empty clean water tank and rinse
- Clean battery terminals

Floor Buffer Maintenance
- Check power cord
- Remove pad driver or block
- Remove pad and rinse of
- Clean machine