Is the encapsulation carpet cleaning method all it’s cracked up to be?
Do you know people who love this carpet cleaning method and sing its praises?
In this guide, you’ll learn how to encap carpets clean, know when it’s best to use this method and what the limitations are.
What would clean and dry carpets within 20-30 minutes mean for your facility?
1. What is carpet encapsulation cleaning?
Encapsulation carpet cleaning is a dry or low moisture method for interim scheduled maintenance of commercial and domestic carpets.
How does carpet encapsulation work?
Some traditional carpet cleaning chemicals and methods leave a sticky or greasy residue on the carpet which means carpets take longer to dry and they re-soil faster because they attract dirt therefore increasing maintenance time and costs. These traditional chemicals work through surfactant molecules that attach themselves to the dirt and oil particles. This process suspends the soils so that they can be easily rinsed away and is often referred to as emulsification. The problem comes when all of these chemicals are not completely rinsed away and remain as a residue in the fibres.
Carpet encapsulation cleaning chemicals are designed with ingredients that do not leave any sticky or harmful residues. Most encapsulation formulations still contain detergents, surfactants and solvents but there are 2 unique differences between traditional carpet cleaning products and high quality carpet encapsulation chemistry. Here they are...
a. Encapsulating (Crystallising) Polymers (in all encap chemicals)
The encap chemical is applied and agitated into the dirty fibres. As it dries, the crystalline polymer surrounds and encapsulates any remaining detergent molecules and soils into a non-sticky, brittle crystal. These encapsulated crystals are tiny, almost powder like and are easily removed with subsequent vacuuming. The crystallising process as an encap chemical dries is often referred to as the 'brittle dry down' action of the particular chemical.
b. Fluorochemical Protection (not in all encap chemicals)
Fluorochemical Protection is an additional ingredient to the Encapsulating Polymers and is not automatically found in all encap products. Basically, it is a built-in fibre protector which improves soil resistance. It coats the clean fibres, assists with repairing existent carpet protection and helps prevent soils and stains from sticking. This means encapsulated soils will vacuum away more easily, fibres will stay cleaner for longer and regular cleaning of the carpet becomes easier and quicker. Carpets cleaned with an encap product that contains an effective fluorochemical protector tend to stay cleaner for much longer than those without.
Fluorochemical protectors in encapsulation chemicals are not a replacement for a good carpet protection treatment and shouldn’t be confused with it.
The quality of encapsulation chemistry can vary greatly from product to product so choose carefully in order to enjoy the full benefits of this type of chemical technology.
The encapsulation cleaning process requires the use of a suitable scrubbing machine with rotary, planetary, orbital or cylindrical brushes to apply and scrub the encap solution into the carpet. On many machines, pad holders are also available so pads or bonnets can also be used for certain applications.
Like all low moisture carpet cleaning methods, with encapsulation, eventually deep cleaning with hot water extraction will be required to remove trapped and embedded soil from the base of the carpet. Encapsulation is a fantastic maintenance carpet cleaning system that works well on low to medium soiled carpets to extend the time between hot water extraction cleans.
2. What are the benefits of the carpet encapsulation cleaning method?
• Clean and dry carpets immediately: Drying time is approximately 20-30 minutes
• Fast and highly productive cleaning method which saves time and labour costs.
• Simple, safe and easy to use system
• Carpets stay cleaner for longer
• Easy to train staff if required
• Low start up investment and ongoing costs: Attractive savings and profit margins
• Reduces water and detergent use
• No residue and no rinsing required
• Low per metre chemical cost
• Eliminates discolouration from wicking, browning and rising stains
• Carpets get cleaner after encapsulation by regular vacuuming: Encapsulated soils vacuum out of the carpet easily
• Super Quiet
• Improves indoor air quality
• Safe on nearly all fibres.
• Extends the life of the carpet fibre
• Lengthen the time between cleaning and reduces the frequency hot water extraction cleaning is needed.
• Fluorochemical fibre protector improves soil resistance
• Improves worker health and safety
• Biodegradable and meets environmental standards
• Low VOC’s, Non-Toxic and Non-Caustic
3. When is carpet encapsulation the ideal cleaning method?
Encapsulation cleaning is suitable for commercial and residential carpet care where areas need to be cleaned and back in use immediately with minimal downtime. It is especially popular on low pile synthetic commercial carpets found in schools, offices, retail outlets, conference centres, medical centres, nursing homes, hospitals, hotels, resorts and apartments.
The carpet encapsulation method is ideal for...
• Low to medium soiled carpets.
• Commercial carpets and applications.
• Part of a complete carpet cleaning program which includes periodic hot water extraction.
• Areas that require very fast drying ie. hotel back to back stay cleans.
Note:
Please ensure that the agitation method you choose for your encapsulation process is suitable for the fibre being cleaned especially in the case of wool and natural fibres. Always test first in an inconspicuous area to be sure the agitation method is effective and causes no damage to the fibre.
4. What are the limitations of carpet encapsulation cleaning?
Encapsulation is not a deep cleaning system but is a fantastic maintenance cleaning system at facilities where carpets are cleaned regularly. Carpet encapsulation has it's limitations so keep the following points in mind...
a. Encapsulation carpet cleaning is not the best process for heavily soiled or greasy carpets where deep cleaning is required.
However, once a carpet has been deep cleaned, encapsulation can be a great option for regular maintenance cleaning to lengthen the time between extraction cleans while keeping standards high.
b. Encapsulation carpet cleaning should not be viewed as a stand alone system.
It is a highly effective interim cleaning method that can offer significant benefits within a complete carpet maintenance program.
c. In a facility that does not get their carpets cleaned often enough or where severe soiling is present, the extraction method with heat would be the preferred method.
This deals more effectively with deep in-ground soils, spills and traffic lanes.
d. In general, facilities where encapsulation is less suitable, would include: restaurants, cinemas, pubs, casinos and clubs.
However, in any facility where an effective carpet cleaning program is in place carpet encapsulation offers many benefits and advantages when used within its limitations.
e. Encapsulation is not an extraction method, so dealing with floods and spills is not possible.
An extraction machine is required for this kind of work.
f. Cleaning stairs and upholstery can take longer and be physically more demanding in some instances when using the encapsulation cleaning method.
This is why extraction is often preferred for heavily soiled stairs and upholstery.
g. Encapsulation is best suited to commercial carpets and applications.
Cleaning success can be a little hit and miss in other areas like residential homes.
For low to medium soiled carpets, the encap method ticks all the boxes… fast to do, quick dry, safe, economical and impressive soil removal.
5. Carpet care program with encapsulation
Many people ask, “Which is better… encap or hot water extraction?” There is not a simple answer. They both have their pros and cons which is why they work brilliantly together in a complete carpet care program.
For example, in a hotel room carpets need to be cleaned and dry very quickly for the next guests. Encap is ideal for this interim clean. It’s fast to do, dries quick and the carpets look great afterwards. Hot water extraction can then be used for a yearly or half yearly deep clean during a quieter time. Extraction is also necessary when flooding or significant spills have occurred.
Check out the carpet care program below for a guide...
Light traffic (Eg. Private office, Residential home)
Vacuum: 2+ times per week
Spot Removal: as required
Interim Encap Cleaning: 1 time per year or as needed
Hot Water Extraction: 1 time per year
Medium traffic (Eg. Hotel room, Conference rooms, Retail shop, Restaurant, School classrooms)
Vacuum: 1 time per day
Spot Removal: as required
Interim Encap Cleaning: 2 times per year or as needed
Hot Water Extraction: 2 times per year
Heavy traffic (Eg. Elevators, Entrances, Foyers, Casinos, Waiting rooms, Hallways)
Vacuum: 1-2 times per day
Spot Removal: as required
Interim Encap Cleaning: 6-8 times per year or as needed
Hot Water Extraction: 4 times per year
Extreme traffic (Eg. Building entrances, ie. Airports, Shopping centres, Hospitals, Casinos, Cinemas)
Vacuum: 2+ times per day
Spot Removal: as required
Interim Encap Cleaning: 6-12 times per year or as needed
Hot Water Extraction: 6+ times per year
6. What you need
a. Equipment
• Encapsulation scrubbing machine (with tank)
• Upright or backpack vacuum cleaner with beater brush
b. Cleaning chemicals
• Aussie Encappa or Dry Force
• Express carpet stain removal kit
c. Tools and accessories
• Brush and/or floor pads.
• Pre-spray unit (for upholstery, stairs and heavily soiled fibres)
d. Safety signs
e. Gloves, personal protective equipment and suitable footwear.
7. Choosing the right equipment for carpet encapsulation?
Some machines used with particular pads, brushes and bonnets can cause damage to carpets over a period of time so choosing the right combination is very important.
a. Carpet Encapsulation Machine
An encapsulation machine needs to do 2 primary functions... it needs to be able to apply solution evenly to the carpet and scrub the carpet effectively. Everything else is bells, whistles and extra features that are not necessarily essential but can be helpful.
Keep in mind, all of these machines scrub and can do a great encap job but the forgotten characteristics of this kind of equipment is the weight, portability, ease of transport, durability and serviceability. Many of these machines can be awkward to handle for one person and many machines have long lead times for parts and accessories not to mention limited servicing options.
Here's the 4 most popular types of equipment for encapsulation...
Single Disc Rotary Slow Speed Scrubbing Machine
• Used with a brush, pad or bonnet
• 200rpm or below disc speed is recommended.
• Fitted with solution tank
We highly recommend this type of machine to those looking to encap clean for the first time. The machine is low cost and very low risk for you as it can all also be used for many other applications including hard floor buffing, scrubbing, stripping and sanding too.
These machines are not super heavy or difficult to transport like some of the more specialised encap cleaning machines. And there is a huge second hand market for this type of machine should you ever decide to sell your machine. That's just a few of the reasons why there is not a lot of downside in moving forward on this type of machine if you want to start doing carpet encapsulation.
Counter Rotating Planetary Scrubbing Machine (Eg. Cimex)
• Used with a brush or pad
• Fitted with solution tank
This is a heavy style of machine however when it's set up it's easy to use. It is a good machine for people with high spending budgets and large facilities to clean.
Orbital Scrubbing Machine
• Used with a brush, pad or bonnet
• Fitted with solution tank
The orbital action of the single pad or brush is best described as a scrubbing or agitating action that spins around while at the same time moving back and forth.
Cylindrical Brush Scrubbing Machine (Eg. Wizzard, Multiwash, Duplex, Rotowash)
• Used with a brush only
• Fitted with solution tank
The spinning cylindrical brushes on this type of scrubbing machine gives excellent results and brilliant versatility for hard floor cleaning too.
b. Agitation Accessories
Most of the commercial carpets you will clean will be all man made heavy duty commercial grade which can normally withstand long term use of brushes, pads or bonnets. These accessories are inexpensive just like the whole system. Every scenario and operator is different but it's recommended to get all three and see for yourself which works best in what areas. This is completely subjective and many people use a combination of all three.
Brush
Soft brushes are recommended for encapsulation cleaning on carpets. Depending on the machine you choose will determine the choices you can make in relation to brush type. Commercial carpets are heavy duty and can in almost all instances comfortably withstand continuous scrubbing with soft brushes.
Floor Pad
Provided a pad holder can be used with your machine there are many floor pads to choose from. Most popular are the softer, lighter colour pads but quality and agitation type will vary from product to product. These pads are also referred to as fibre pads and are basically large, round, soft scourer style pads.
Bonnet
While bonnets are great, brushes and pads are most popular for encapsulation cleaning. The idea of encap cleaning is to apply, agitate and leave the chemical to dry before vacuuming. Bonnets are designed to absorb chemicals and dirt which is why they are not the recommended agitation option.
Encapsulation is categorised as a dry or low moisture system but drying times can be further improved by using a bonnet as a final step before opening an area for traffic to re-enter. Bonnets may also be suitable as a gentler option on a more delicate or natural fibre where encapsulation is suitable but you might be concerned about the damage a brush or pad might do to the fibre over the long term.
How long do the brushes, pads and bonnets last?
No exact data is available for how long brushes, pads and bonnets last when used for encapsulation cleaning because of the many variables involved which include...
• type of carpet
• quality of accessory
• how the accessory is cared for
• how accessories are stored
• edges of the room and joins to hard floor areas can cause wear on accessories.
Be assured, encapsulation accessories last a long time and make up a very minor on-going cost which is why this method of cleaning is so much more economical than other methods. In the case of pads and bonnets, wear usually happens not so much at the point of contact with the carpet but where the edge of the pad or bonnet hits sharp, abrasive or other surfaces which cause damage while it's spinning. The biggest factor is how you and those you work with look after their accessories.
c. Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is by far the most important and cost effective way to clean and maintain carpets. Vacuuming reduces the soil buildup on the carpet piles, extends the life of carpets and reduces the frequency of regular and restoration carpet cleaning services required.
Vacuuming is always the first step in any professional carpet cleaning service. Testing has shown that an effective upright vacuum cleaner can remove 80%-90% of dry soil from a carpet. When you pre-vacuum, your carpet cleaning service will be easier and achieve better results.
The 3 types of vacuum cleaners most commonly used for pre-vacuuming by professional carpet cleaners include...
• Upright Vacuum Cleaner with HEPA filtration and Beater Brush
• Backpack or Pull Along Vacuum with Electric Powerhead
• Backpack or Pull Along Vacuum with Turbohead
Some of the factors to consider when you choose a vacuum cleaner might be...
• Suction (not wattage... don't be fooled by the marketing hype around wattage)
• Weight (is it easy to lift up stairs?)
• Filtration (go for HEPA class)
• Spare parts availability and cost
• Noise levels
• Electric cable set up (it's the most common cause of repairs for commercial vacuums)
• Manoeuvrability (ease of use)
• Strength of the body
• Bag capacity
d. Pre Spray Unit
When you use the encapsulation method for removing heavier soiling, pre-spraying your chemical solution is recommended. Using a pump up sprayer or battery operated sprayer is most popular. For larger areas many people prefer to use a back pack pump up sprayer.
e. Carpet Encapsulation Cleaning Chemical
Product Example: Aussie Encappa
A powerful encapsulating cleaning detergent, professionally formulated to provide tough grease cutting action in combination with true soil and detergent encapsulation and embrittlement. Suitable for all carpet types.
• pH: 8.0 ready-to-use
• Dilution Rate: 32:1 (Recommended)
• Includes Fluorochemical Fibre Protector
Example of chemical coverage and economy (Aussie Encappa)
Coverage, economy and effectiveness will vary from encap product to product due to concentration and technology. Here's an example using Australia's leading encapsulation carpet cleaning product Aussie Encappa.
When mixed at the recommended ratio of 32:1 (that’s 250ml in 8Lt of water), each litre of ready to use solution will clean between 5-15 square metres depending on the carpet type and pile density. That means a 5Lt bottle of concentrate will cover about 825-2475 square metres. Aussies Encappa when correctly applied and quoted will earn you between $1500-$4000 per 5Lt bottle. Not bad business in anyone’s books.
Examples of other chemicals that contain encapsulation technology.
Houdini - Carpet Stain Remover & Cleaner
Houdini is a stain remover works fast… it’s tough on stains and gentle on carpet. With the added benefit of anti-soiling encapsulation technology, Houdini encapsulates the dirt, drying it to a brittle crystal meaning it does not need to be rinsed and does not cause re-soiling.
• pH: 7.5 ready-to-use
• Dilution Rate: RTU (Ready to use)
• Includes Fluorochemical Fibre Protector
Fabulous Fabric Cleaner - Delicate Fibre Prespray Concentrate
Fabulous specially designed for the safe cleaning of delicate area rugs and upholstery, cottons and silk. It has genuine encapsulation and embrittlement capability which enables dry cleaning of delicate fabrics and also leaves fabrics virtually chemical free after subsequent vacuuming.
• pH: 6.0 ready-to-use
• Dilution Rate: 16:1 (Recommended)
• Includes Fluorochemical Fibre Protector
Dry Force - Dry carpet cleaning encapsulation detergent and fabric protector
Dry Force is a specially formulated encapsulating solution for bonnet cleaning. Provides outstanding grease cutting action in combination with anti-resoiling chemistry. Suitable for use on all carpet types.
• pH: 8.0 ready-to-use
• Dilution Rate: 16:1 (Recommended)
• Includes Fluorochemical Fibre Protector
Plush - Neutralising rinse, softener and cleaner
Plush is an advanced encapsulating acid rinse specially designed for effective neutralisation of alkaline pre-spray residues and for powerful emulsification of residual soiling. Ideal for use when cleaning all fibres especially wool and delicate fibres.
• pH: 2.5 ready-to-use
• Dilution Rate: 100:1 to 300:1 (Recommended)
• Includes Fluorochemical Fibre Protector
8. How to encap carpets
1-Step Encapsulation Carpet Cleaning (For Normal Soiling)
a. Inspect... the area to be cleaned.
b. Test… on a small inconspicuous area first to ensure the suitability of this product on the surface.
c. Pre-vacuum… Slowly and thoroughly dry vacuum the carpet with an upright HEPA filter vacuum cleaner or a vacuum fitted with a powerhead to remove loose soil. Give extra attention to vacuuming the high traffic areas. Vacuum cleaners with turboheads are also suitable. (Dry soiling makes up 85% of the soil in the carpet)
d. Mix… your encapsulation chemical. For example mix 250ml of Aussie Encappa with 8Lt of clean water (i.e. 32:1).
e. Agitate… Use a slow speed scrubber with a carpet (soft nylon) carpet brush or Natural Blend Light pad to scrub and agitate the area to be cleaned. Clean 20 square metres at a time in both directions... Firstly... Do a wet pass north to south applying the encap solution...then... Secondly... Complete a dry pass east to west only applying solution if required.
f. Dry… Before the area is opened to traffic allow to dry for 30-60 minutes. Restrict foot traffic until totally dry. Ventilate the area to facilitate fast drying times.
g. Maintain… Leave for 1 day before vacuuming. Ensure the carpet is completely dry before vacuuming. The encapsulated dirt and soil will be removed with subsequent vacuuming as part of the regular cleaning program. ‘Encapped’ carpet gets cleaner and cleaner, and then stays cleaner for longer.
2-Step Encapsulation Carpet Cleaning (For Heavy Soiling)
For heavily soiled areas, pre-spray a product like Aussie Encappa (mix at 200mls in 5Lt of water) prior to the agitation step in your normal procedure. Pre-Spraying the chemical first gives it extra time to work before you agitate and will give you superior results.
Other Types of Encapsulation Carpet Cleaning
a. Encap & Extract
You can also choose to use encapsulation in conjunction with a portable or truck mounted extraction carpet cleaning machine. If you would like to use this technique for a more thorough deep clean follow the 1-Step instructions, then after your agitation step is complete use your wand and machine to flush clean the carpet with clean water. You can also use as encapsulation rinse with your extraction machine for the ultimate result.
b. Extract & Encap
Alternatively, you could extract with the Express or Pre-Spray method as you normally would and then finish with the encapsulation process in order to reduce browning or wicking issues.
c. Stain Removal and Spotting
A great application for a high quality encapsulation chemical like Aussie Encappa (mix 100ml into 500ml of water) is to use it as a spotter for stain removal. There are also some amazing ready to use encapsulating spotters like Houdini available too. Always pre-test on a small inconspicuous area first to ensure the suitability of any product on the surface to be spotted.
d. Encap Rinse
With this option, you would use the pre-spray extraction method as you normally would but add an encapsulating neutralising rinse like Plush to your clean water solution tank.
Why is it best to always dry vacuum before the encap method?
Testing has shown that an effective upright vacuum cleaner can remove 80%-90% of dry soil from a carpet. When you pre-vacuum, your carpet cleaning service will be easier and achieve better results.
Important
• Do not use any product before reading and understanding the Safety Data Sheet and Training Information Guide.
• Always wear personal protection equipment (refer to SDS.)
• Always pre-test chemicals in an inconspicuous area to ensure suitability for the surface to be cleaned.
• Do not mix an encapsulation cleaning chemical with any other chemicals.
Is the encap carpet cleaning method better than hot water extraction?
No, it’s different. They both have advantages and disadvantages to consider. The truth is they work well together in a carpet cleaning program.
9. Frequently asked questions about carpet encapsulation cleaning
a. “Should I use hot water to dilute encapsulation chemicals?”
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions. In most cases diluting with warm to hot water is fine provided your machine can also handle the heat. The vast majority of encapsulation chemicals in the field are diluted with room temperature water however heat will improve the effectiveness a lot of the time.
b. “My carpets seem really wet after encapsulation… What have I done wrong?”
Over-wetting can have several causes, here are a few of them...
• Your machine is leaking or releasing too much solution. Perhaps get your machine serviced and checked.
• Your carpets are heavily soiled so you are tending to add too much solution instead of scrubbing for longer and completing a final dry pass.
• The encap chemical has been mixed at the incorrect dilution rate. Check the instructions and your measurements.
• Poor ventilation. Good airflow is required for an area to dry.
• High humidity and poor drying conditions. A final buff with a microfibre bonnet is recommended in these instances. Leaving the air conditioner on or using drying equipment such as air movers and dehumidifiers will help in extreme conditions.
c. “How do I work out how much encapsulation cleaning chemical concentrate to use?”
All encapsulation chemicals will come with a recommended dilution rate. It might say 1:32 or 32:1... what this means is 1 part encapsulation cleaning chemical to 32 parts water. But how do you work out what amount of chemical to add to your tank or bottle? Here's an easy formula that should help.
First work out how much ready to use solution you need... if you plan on filling the tank or bottle find it's capacity.
Here's an example...
- Dilution rate: 1 part encap chemical to 32 parts water
- Amount or ready to use solution required: 10 litres
Let's work it out...
1. Add the dilution rate numbers together... in this case, it's 1 + 32 = 33
2. Divide the amount of solution required by the dilution rate total… in this case, it's 10Lt divided by 33 = 0.303Lt or 303ml (that's how much encapsulation cleaning chemical concentrate you need to add to the water)
Remember that whenever you mix chemical always add the water first and the chemical second in order to help prevent chemical concentrate splashes.
d. “How can I use the encapsulation cleaning method on upholstery and stairs?”
Your standard encapsulation machines are designed for floor use, so you will often find them to be too big, heavy and just not practical for encapsulation cleaning upholstery and stairs.
Upholstery
If you choose to use the encapsulation method for upholstery you will need to agitate by hand which can be hard work. Alternatively, you can use an electric or battery hand tool that is suitable around moisture and has a variable speed so you can ensure it does spin too fast and damage fibres.
You will need to pre-spray the fibre and add moisture as required during the cleaning process. The preferred and recommended method for cleaning most upholstery is hot water extraction which can be done with an encapsulating delicate fibre pre-spray like Fabulous Fabric Cleaner. However, encapsulation offers a great option to spot clean or clean small areas of upholstery with a low moisture, fast drying cleaning method.
Stairs
Most encapsulation cleaning machines will be too wide to effectively clean stairs. So you have 3 options if you want to use the encap method. You can clean by hand, use a hand tool or use a small scrubber (preferably with an orbital action) that has a width of 20-30cm. A small lightweight scrubbing machine is much faster and easier. Even if the small scrubber has a tank it will have limited capacity so pre-spraying first is recommended.
e. “I encap carpet clean and hot water extract our facility's carpets often, what else can I do to help improve standards and reduce costs.”
In this situation there are 3 things worth focusing on....
Reduce the amount of soil entering the building.
The best way to do this is with a floor matting program. Ensure all your entrances are covered and the mats are large enough so that each foot of those entering the building touch the mat 4 or 5 times.
Regular removal of dry soil.
Ensure hard floors are cleaned often by dust mop, vacuum, scrubber and/or mop. And increase the frequency of the regular vacuuming of your carpet. Using high quality commercial vacuum cleaners with a HEPA filter and brushing head will also improve results, reduce labour costs and make your encapsulation carpet cleaning more effective.
Remove spots, spills and stains as they occur.
When you remove spots, spills and stains as they occur not only will the daily standard of your carpets be higher, your encap and extraction cleaning will take less time and achieve better results.
f. “How do I know the encapsulation cleaning product I use has good brittle dry down and doesn't leave a chemical residue or waxy film behind?”
Get a petrie or similar dish and pour a little of the encap concentrate in. Wait a day or two for it to completely dry (this will vary based on how much product you put in and how concentrated it is). Then scratch it with your finger... does it break away in flakes or dry crystals? If it does it's got good brittle dry down... If you scratch it and a waxy film comes away then it has poor brittle dry down and encapsulating properties.
g. “Can I apply a carpet protector after doing an encap clean?”
No. Fibre protection should only be completed after the carpet has been cleaned with the hot water extraction method. The reason for this is adhesion... The hot water extraction process used with a low pH rinse prepares the fibres for optimum bonding of the protector.
h. “Sometimes the encapsulation method works well for me yet other times it doesn't seem to work... what's going on?”
This kind of problem usually has to do with the type of carpet and the amount of soil that is in the carpet you are cleaning.
Encapsulation is an interim maintenance cleaning method and is not designed to replace the requirement carpets have for periodic hot water extraction cleaning (restoration). It is also designed primarily for commercial carpets and applications so your success might be limited or a little hit and miss in other areas ie. residential carpets.
If you have never cleaned a particular carpet before or you are starting a complete carpet cleaning program it is always best to begin with a hot water extraction clean and use encapsulation for subsequent interim cleans.
i. “How fast can you clean areas with the 1-Step encapsulation method?”
In normal conditions, the average speed of cleaning with the encapsulation method would be approximately 180-280 square metres per hour.
Congratulations... You've finished this training!
Now you've heard the theory, are you confident encapsulation really works? Is it for you?
Time for the rubber to meet the road and try some encapsulation cleaning for yourself. Remember that to successfully do carpet encapsulation you must believe that it works and that the benefits are real. If you don't, you won't be motivated to fully use encapsulation for all its benefits. Before you convince anyone else, you must be completely convinced yourself.
Perhaps you're new to carpet encapsulation or you've tried it in the past and experienced bad results due to poor encapsulation chemicals, an ineffective machine or maybe you had unrealistic expectations. So before you get too far down the track, do some small carpet areas and build your confidence. Perhaps do half the carpet in an area with encapsulation and see the difference to the uncleaned area. Seeing is believing!
As your confidence and experience grows, your results will dramatically improve.
If you have any comments, questions or suggestions about this training or ideas on how we can improve please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.
Happy encapping!
XO
Related articles:
- How To Do Fabric Protection For Upholstery And Carpets
- How To Quickly Calculate Cleaning Chemical Dilution Rates And Ratios
- How To Clean Carpet And Upholstery With The Express Method
- Carpet Drying And Clean Up With The Express Method
- XO2's Top Tips for Removing Carpet Stains