Home Forums Heavens Best Forum Pads & Buffers getting pads ‘clean’!!!

  • This topic has 13 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 18 years ago by tx45.
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  • #143423
    ammonchildOR
    Participant

    How can I get the pads ‘clean’. I have to stack my cleaner pads on top when I go in a home and put the ‘less white’ ones on bottom.
    Who wants to see someone come in with dirty ‘looking’ pads to clean their carpet. It doesn’t seem to matter if I keep them damp before washing them or not. I wash them at the end of each days work and hang them in my garage to dry.
    I don’t understand why the great products we use to clean, doesn’t help them come clean or cleaner after washing them.
    HELP!
    sara

    #147838
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I use Tide with Bleach, I add Clorox and wash in warm or hot water in a front load machine. I have tried other detergents or cold water and have not had good luck with either. Most top load machines will not give you good results. There is one out by Maytag that Brian Sutton has had good luck with. Maybe he’ll chime in too. Hey B, are you out there?

    #147839
    hbottumwa
    Participant

    Ditto w/ Bryan. Except I use color fast bleach. The pads and towels last allot longer. I also reserve the used (off white-gray) pads still in good shape, for non-residential work.

    #147840
    ammonchildOR
    Participant

    Thanks for the info. I will give it a try.

    #147841
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I’m here Buddy!
    Unfortunately, the machine I use is no longer in production (Maytag-Neptune TL). I use hot wash/cold rinse, reg. Tide and add bleach to every load, not only for whitening reasons but also for sanitation. I like my pads to stay as white as Bryans’ tennis shoes!

    #147842
    ammonchildOR
    Participant

    I have been using detergent and color safe bleach. Have not been happy with the outcome.
    Thanks for the info. I’ll give them a try.
    Thanks again…sara (:

    #147843
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I use a laundromat (big front loaders) and have an old quick boost container filled 1/3rd with cheap Sam’s bulk laundry detergent and 2/3rd with Tide with Bleach (color safe). Help offset costs a little and still get good results. Always use hot water. Just be aware that no matter what you use, pads will eventually become dingy. I try to have 2 piles of pads in my van. 1 of newer/clean pads that get used mostly in cleaner homes, and 1 of dingier pads that get used mostly in dirtier homes. Like Gordon, I have the really old pile of pads in the garage that are reserved for the worst of the worst (see commercial). If you take a brand new pad into a extremely dirty business/home, there is a chance it will never look anything near brand new again. Soaking really dirty pads also helps. Remember dwell time is a factor just like carpet.

    #147844
    ammonchildOR
    Participant

    Thanks Dave
    I also use a quick boost jar to keep Sam’s laundry detergent and one for color save bleach and one for ‘quarters’. Ha!
    I use the laundry mat as well. I do the same with my pads. Use the better ones in the nicer/cleaner homes and use the others for dirtier carpet and commercial jobs. Same with the towels.
    Do you work alone? I use to, but found it much quicker to have someone work with me. We make a great team. I am considering hiring someone, but not sure about pay/commission.

    #147845
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I spoke a few days ago with a guy who works with commercial laundries doing laundry for hospitals. The best detergent they have found is Tide, a little more expensive but works the best. I add a max of 1/3 cup of bleach to the wash in my Neptune front loader. Cleans up the pads and disinfects the machine at the same time.

    #147846
    HB2003
    Participant

    I have been using Arm&Hammer detergent lately. It is less expensive, but I have been getting just as good results from it…

    #147847
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I use a good ol’ Apple scent Gain and some bleach washed in warm water. I have a front load Kenmore washer that I’ve had for about year and half. Anyone else have their washers hooked into a surge protector? I would suggest it if you don’t already, I just sunk $500 back into this washer in circuit boards and other parts due to a power surge that fried these parts. The local appliance repairmen suggested this becuase of all the computer parts in the newer washers.

    #147848
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I use the Maytag Neptune as well with Tide and a little bleach, but the biggest difference is the warm water>>> Give it a shot works for me.

    (front loader is the way to go)

    #147849
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Another big factor in getting the pads clean is the age of the pad. As the pads wear out they become more difficult to keep looking clean white instead of a dirty dingy white.

    A set of 24 pads will clean about $40,000.00 worth of business. After that it is time to be replacing pads. Our new equipment package includes more pads which will let you do almost $80,000.00 before your pads need replacing.

    We find that when an operator orders in one case of pads they tend to use the new pads more often. One case of 6 pads will only clean about $10,000.00 before needing replaced. We encourage all of our operators to replace your old pads with new ones on a regular basis. An old pad does not look good nor does it clean as well. Your time becomes very valuabe and using old pads take more time to clean a carpet. The time you save by using newer pads will quickly justify the cost of a new set of pads.

    #147850
    tx45
    Participant

    I agree with Cody. I try to order new pads one or two times a year. New pads not only look better, but they clean alot more effectivly and efficiently. As for washing them I use a commercial laundry and use hot water with a 3-5 oz. detergent and 2-3 oz. of bleach.

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