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Why wouldn’t you use the dirt napper on almost all jobs except those that are very lightly soiled. Using the dirt napper just cleans better all the time from what I see. I may think twice about it if I am cleaning a carpet that I have applied protector to 6 months ago and I seem to remember in training that the dirt napper can prematurely take off the protector?
the dirt napper puts more strain on the buffer. I agree that it does a great job, but it also can wear fibers down quicker than the pads will. try using the BBC’s. I’ve found they do a really good job.
Once I started using the dirt napper brush, it seemed I couldn’t do without it. The carpets just seemed to come cleaner. I haven’t used the BBC pads in a very long time. When I first started I used them but they just didn’t seem to work any better than the other pads. They also left some of the brown strands behind. Maybe I will try them again but would like to hear more opinions before I buy more.
I have been wondering about this myself. I had used the dirtnapper on a few jobs then went back to the regualr pad and found it to be far less effective. I will probably be using the dirtnapper a lot more often. The only problem I have had is in some houses there isn’t enough power to get it started, even when I really wet down the spot I start it on.
true the BBC can leave a few brown strands behind. Have you guys tried boosting up you mixes? I’ve found that can help quite a bit without causing excessive wear to the tips of the fibers.
Ammon,
When you refer to boosting the mix, do you mean adding Quick Boost and/or Citrus Booster? Or do you mean strenthening the 101 concentration? All of the above? Or something else?Please share how you boost the mix for good results.
By the way, this is a good thread. Thanks for everyone’s input!
Thanks,
Mike
In regards to the dirt napper, I feel my dirt nappers are far too soft for the jobs where it is truely needed. The firm berbers, commercial carpet, ect. The recent available nappers are less effective than a new BBC. By the way, BBC stands for Brush/Bonnet Combo. I have mentioned to Corp office that we need a stiffer brush. They seem to have become softer. Just today, I spent 3 hrs on a 90 min. job because my nappers suck. If you can’t aggitate the fibers, you can’t clean them! Let’s go Corp., I’m beyond ready for a (real) dirt-napper.
I usually run 2 oz. of citrus boost in my normal mix( 1.5 cup 101, .5 cup deo.). For dirtier jobs I’ll pre treat with fast acting enzyme or add 4-6 oz. of citrus boost. Everyone need to think back to the four components of cleaning. Chemical, Time, Agitation, Heat. Obviously, heat is the weak link with our cleaning process. Try using hot water in your jugs at the beginning of the day. Also consider not rushing your jobs and think “Dwell Time”. Letting the products dwell (not dry out) will shorten your agitation time. Trying to over agitate the fibers will only damage them. An even balace of the four components will clean far better than excessive agitation.
I mostly use the BBC with really good success. However, I tried the dirt napper on a job today mainly to hit the filtration line along the base boards. It did a great job on the carpet and really did well on the filtration line (which had been there for the past several steam cleanings). I’m not so sure I am ready to completely switch from the BBCs, but I will start experimenting more with the napper (especially on dirtier jobs). This job was on a basic nylon carpet.
Dan 8)
I was a firm believe in using the DN on every single job and I did so for a while, but now I use the woven turf exclusively. Reason: Yes the DN does a great job however it causes the pad to be further away from the absolute bottom part of the fiber. You just don’t get down deep enough; at least that has been my experience. I like the WT because it is the most absorbent pad we have plus it gets pretty deep. I also have been using a combination of the WT and green strip lately.
p.s. yes the WT does slow the job down a little but I feel that I can get carpets cleaner with it and that is more important to me.
@Ammon Child wrote:
Try using hot water in your jugs at the beginning of the day
Wouldn’t it cool as soon as it was sprayed because it’s a mist?
I’ve wondered the same. I would assume that if the water were hot to begin then it should be warmer than if it were cooler water. That is why I spray a little closer than usual but a little faster.
I agree with Ammon on using FAE, QB, CB, extra 101 in combonations or all of the above. I am also a firm believer in the advantages of dwell time. I also agree w/ Ron that WT is more absorbent as I always follow the DN w/ a WT. BUT, we have all cleaned the tight-low pure white berber in the den where a plastic carpet mat was setting under the chair by the desk. You can use all of the fore mentioned tricks and still fail to make it look good. You can then pull out your extractor and, in one easy swipe, make it look great. Now picture an entire room, no furniture, but you can see where every piece used to set. Too much to extract. This is were a stiffer DN is a must. If you keep ample moisture on the carpet, you won’t damage it, providing the DN is not too stiff and the carpet is good quality. I’m simply saying that there is a place in our business for a stiffer DN. Maybe only 5%, or less, of our work. Unfortunatly, that 5% seems to always be the customers that I really want to “wow”.
@bsutton wrote:
Just today, I spent 3 hrs on a 90 min. job
You should be taking a pass on those kinds of jobs anyway. You can’t make money doing them. Ever.
Dennis, This was a nice house in a nice nieghborhood, nice people as I’ve personally known them for 25years. The carpet was not that dirty. It was a great quality carpet that is 10 years old. No visable wear other than being somewhat flatened down, just hard to clean. I watched the loops as I dirt napped it and was unable to see any movement of the fibers at all. Yesterday, I cleaned for a young single guy, carpet extremely dirty. I almost turned it down but decided to go for it. This was also a berber but the loops were taller and softer. Turned out perfect. It would have been my most impressive B4&after shot yet. We have an outstanding system with outstanding products and equipment. The only weakness I can find is in the dirt napper. I’m not about to turn away from a customer that has lived in my best area for over 40 years, knows everyone, and heard great things about me. Enough said, I would like to thank everyone for your input.
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