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I’m a new operator in Florida that’s fresh out of training. I have a question or questions regarding the Dirt Napper. I’ve read a lot of the posts about it and see that a lot of operators like to use it on every job regardless of the carpet type. My question is how much should I saturate the carpet before I clean it using the Dirt Napper? I have sprayed my carpet down with the FAE solution and then with my cleaning solution and I still get a lot of pilling of the carpet fibers. I have a pretty standard Nylon/blend carpet and can not seem to stop all of the ‘carpet balls’ from popping up. I love the results I get after I re-vacuum the area, but do not feel comfortable using the Napper in a customer’s home as they might freak out when they see all of that fuzz. Am I being too conservative on the solution application or is there another trick that I’m missing? Thank you for any feedback.
Dan Kemp
i don’t have as much experiance as some of the other huys since we just started in March, but I use the dirt napper all the time. For me it depends on the carpet some carpet balls up and some don’t. Also don’t worry about your customer freakin out because of the carpet balls. If they do ask just let them know they are loose dead fibers and nto tearing up their carpet. Just make sure you vacuum them up before you leave. Hope this helps a little. Good luck.
That definitely helps out. Thanks for the response. At least I’m not alone in the ‘carpet balls’ department. Being that you are a little newer than some of the others actually gives me even more confidence in the Napper. If you’re able to use it confidently and with great results then it must not be the intimidating tool that I’ve perceived it to be. Thanks and I look forward to picking your brain a lot more in the very near future! I know, you can hardly wait huh? 😉
Dan Kemp
lol hey thats what we are all here for. But make sure that you are not stingy on the solution. Make sure it is wet and don’t leave the napper in the same spot to long or you will wind up burning the carpet. As long as it’s wet you should have no problems.
Kempster,
Welcome to Heaven’s Best!I encourage you to practice with varying combinations of pads and drive plates. It sounds like you are already at it. There are differing opinions on use of the dirt napper. I was reluctant for a while and finally got mine out while cleaning some berber. The difference was amazing. However, you don’t need it all the time. You will eventually find which combos you like in different situations.
Some things to watch for:
1. The dirt napper will get crudded up and need cleaning everyday when you use it very much. Some people use the stiff comb. I like to stop by a spray wash and power spray wash mine at the end of the day. If you don’t keep it clean, it will start leaving little pieces of fuzz that you have to pick up or post-vacuum.
2. You already saw the fuzzies. Berber has a greater likelihood of doing that. I keep my vacuum handy when I plan to use the dirt napper. If I take it back out to the van after vacuuming, I can almost count on needing it for the fuzzies.
3. Splattering – the dirt napper can splatter sideways some. It seems to be worse on berber. It also gets progressively worse through a long job as the bristles get soaked. You may need to keep a small towel handy and quickly run along the baseboards and any furniture you get near. I particularly don’t like it when this happens and the customer is watching. If you find yourself using the napper a lot, you may want to get an extra one so that you can switch to a clean/dry one during a busy day.
4. Friction – already mentioned above. I just want to add that you have to watch for this even without the dirt napper. You always need enough moisture to avoid heating/scorching the carpet.
Good luck!
Mike
I used the dirt napper a lot when I first started, now I rarely do. Part of the reason is what you described with the fuzzies, I don’t want the customer thinking I am tearing apart their carpet. If I need something more aggressive I will use the BBC. If I am on a job where the customer isn’t there then I will use the dirt napper if need be. I personally think it’s a bit overrated, and the right combo of products/dwell time will do just as good with other pads.
I really appreciate all of the feedback. Luckily for me I’m still just practicing with the Napper in my home and feeling fairly confident. Just need to get in as many reps as possible I guess. I’ve seen my fellow operator, Jim Wilson, use it like it was second nature to him and am attempting to get half as confident in it as he is. I guess I’ll just keep experimenting with all of the different plates and pads ’til I find my groove. Thanks for all of the advice as I’m sure I’ll never run out of questions! If you don’t believe me just ask John and Cody about just how much of a pest I can be 😉
Dan Kemp
keep in mind that with the dn you will not be getting as deep into the pile that you would without it. plus the rpms are lowered because of the friction created.
I didn’t think about that Ron. Point taken. As simple as carpet cleaning should be I’ve somehow managed to over complicate the process. I’m going to conquer this Napper trepidation if it’s the last thing that I do!
Dan Kemp
Dan, I believe I spoke to you on the phone before you bought your franchise. It’s good to see you on the board so soon.
It’s good talking with you Neil. I don’t know why somebody wouldn’t check out the board and ask some questions. I know that if they have even half the questions that I do they could surely benefit from reading most of the posts and asking their specific questions. Thanks again for all of the great advice.
Dan Kemp
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