FAE

I see these posts are a few years old now… but thought I’d throw my 2 cents in… I avoided using FAE for the first year or so. Tried it just a few weeks ago, and was amazed at the results! It cut traffic areas like butter. It adds to the time of each job when I use it, but not enough to outweigh the amazing benefits.

I would be interested to know if anyone uses a heating element on board the van to avoid using customer’s hot water. Don’t mind using customer’s water (if available), but would prefer to provide my own.

I’ve never used a microwave on the job site. I did pick up an old aluminum coffee pot at a yard sale. I have used it in empty apartments where they have turned off the water heater to save $. I just heated water while vacuuming. After vacuuming it was ready to go!
Note: FHE would make a mean batch of coffee! Clean you right out! Check MSDS for proper dosage! Wah hoo!

To me FAE is an urban legend. I used it occasionally on heavely soiled carpets with dark traffic areas and wasn’t that impressed. Then after the Vegas seminar it was being treated like it was some kind of miracle product. So I tried using it more and took all the suggestions that were given. Still wasn’t a miracle product for me.

I used it on a paticularly greesy, light colored carpet and though it lightened it up, it was still dark and you could see a definite traffic area. This was with a regular customer and I had tried the FAE each time with the same results. Then I did some experimenting on a job that was difficult and the customer was very very obsessed with her carpet. It had to not only look clean. It had to “feel” clean. It took a few tries and also I discovered by detectvie work what was causing the carpet to “feel” different. I used the FAE and it didn’t work. After several other experiments, my last try was Citrus Boost. I used a high consentrate of the product as a pre-spray, then cleaned using 101 and 12 oz of Citrus Boost. It worked! Customer was impressed and very happy.

The next time I went to do the light colred carpet with the dark traffic ways, I mixed in 12 oz of Citrus Boost. I wet the carpet down more than usual in those areas and went over it several extra times. I almost fell over when I was done. I couldn’t even see the traffic areas. The carpet literally looked new. The customer was stunned as well. Since then I have been using 12 oz of Citrus Boost instead of FAE and the result have been amazing! It is easier and faster. FAE is okay but I think the FAE is way over blown. Just my opinion.

I’ve found that too much citrus booster will leave a residue on Olefin carpets that will cause resoiling faster. I will add a couple oz if traffic areas are dark.