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Industry experts agree that heat
substantially increases the cleaning
effectiveness of carpet extractors. A
general rule of thumb is that each
18º doubles cleaning efficiency.
Although different experts will use
different figures and may debate each
other on the actual number, there is no
debate that additional heat makes a huge
difference in cleaning performance.
Below are a few industry articles that
confirm the importance of heat to the
cleaning process.
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Do
hotter chemicals clean
better?
This carpet
cleaner's tip is brought to you by Jeff
Cross, senior editor of CM/Cleanfax
magazine
It's been debated many times:
Does each additional 18 degrees Fahrenheit
above 118 degrees (F) double cleaning
ability?
Many cleaners state with strong opinion
that hotter chemicals clean better.
Cleaning solutions are more active when
hot. That's the key.
Each 18 degree increase in temperature
above 118 may not double cleaning ability
, but it does increase chemical activity
in solution.
When cleaning virtually any surface
&endash; from carpets to dishes to
automobiles and more &endash; adding heat
to the cleaning solution makes the
cleaning agent more active. What that does
to soils... your experience tells you the
answer to that.
It's important to use the appropriate
amount of heat when cleaning carpets and
furniture &emdash; but only to the point
the weaves, fibres and dyes permit.
There are normally three phases in
cleaning to consider when increasing the
temperature of your cleaning solution:
- Preconditioning: Using a
hotter preconditioning agent means the
chemical gets to work faster and does a
larger part of the cleaning job even
before you begin cleaning.
- Rinsing: Adding heat to your
rinsing solution increases soil
removal, and helps the rinse agent do
its share of the cleaning
Spot removal: Spots are soils;
adding heat to your spotting solutions
makes them work faster and better. Follow
manufacturer directions or contact the
formulator if in doubt. Many spot and
stain removers work best with added heat,
typically with a steamer or clothes
iron.
Other benefits to using heat include
increased productivity and faster
drying.
How hot can I go?
You must consider not only the
colorfastness of the fabric, but also how
delicate it is. Some fibres and weaves
weaken with heat, and a combination of
heat and agitation may cause damage.
Velvet weaves and flocked materials are
prime examples.
Many natural fibres need to be cleaned
with a lower temperature.
Cut pile fabrics are more sensitive to
higher temperatures. If the simple
movement of your cleaning tool leaves jet
marks, heated water can increase the marks
and be difficult to remove.
Jeff Cross
Senior Editor
CM/Cleanfax
magazine
Hot
Extraction Methods
Hot water extraction is likely the method
required by your carpet manufacturer to
preserve your carpet warranty. Research
indicates hot water extraction cleaning is
best for carpets. It leaves the least
amount of residue and therefore will
provide the lowest amount of
re-soiling.
In 1972 an independent research team made
a survey and found that the Hot Water,
"Steam Extraction Method" was superior to
all other methods for cleaning carpeting.
In 1988, DuPont required that their
Stainmaster Carpets must be steam/water
extraction cleaned or the warranty is
voided.
Currently there are three basic methods of
cleaning carpets: Rotary Shampooing, Dry
Cleaning, and Hot Water "Steam"
Extraction. Each of the first two methods
have what appear to be two advantages:
shorter drying time and less cost. The
major disadvantage is that these two
methods only surface clean. While we offer
all three types of cleaning, we usually
recommend "Steam" Extraction. This method
cleans to the base of the fibre rather
than scrubbing dirt deeper into the
carpet.
Therefore, for your carpets to be truly
clean, the first two methods will require
almost monthly (costly) cleanings-compared
to annual, biannual, or in some cases
triannual Truck-Mounted Hot Water "Stearn"
Extraction cleaning.
There are standards established for carpet
care and restoration by the Institute
of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration
Certification (IICRC).
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Truth about
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