Does it really matter

i wonder the same thing... i do think there are times that it matters. like if its a whire carept, i worry about it browing. also if there is pee stains i like to use a acid rinse... but i will also tell you, my local compertor in my town and my cousin who does this in the bigger city and both of them have been in business for over 20 years they rinse with clear water.... there doing something right they have been in buz for a pretty good while.... so i am like you does it matter and i know some on here will say it does.... i cleaned a commerical job this week and rised with just water.... I wish there was a 3rd party to to test.

i prefer clear water. carpets do not resoil as fast and spots tend not to come back.

IMHO and experience Nick is absolutely correct. I also am a big fan of plain water rinse for the exact same reasons. The only time I find it useful to use a rinsing agent is on very greasy commercial carpet.

I generally pretreat all carpets with secret sauce. Then extract with a lower ph rinsing agent or extraction fluid depending on how greasy it was.

The reason I do this is to stabilize the general red haze caused by high ph cleaners like my secret sauce in greasy carpets. But on regular pile/home/apartment carpet; clear water is king to me.

My observations have been this:

If the Professional applies ,via a prespray, a special agent that has the proper ingredients in it that breaksdown surface tension via "water-softners"..................................................and then follow it by a clean water rinse, then I think that common sense would suggest that this IS the best way of doing it without residuals left behind.

As most here know, we do have a certain product (ATTACK!) that is suggested to be used in the above mentioned application because, as Vinnie mentioned, IMHO I always thought that using a "rinsing agent" was just another way the BIG-BOYS could develop and market another product to our Industry.

The very best;
Ed Valentine
"Super-Charged" Systems

Properly diluted according to the label, most extraction or rinse agents get dilute in the range from 320 - 500:1. Very little extraction / rinse product. The idea in most cases is to reduce surface tension enough so that the rinse water reaches all the places your prespray did.

Plain water has enough surface tension to keep the droplets relatively large. A llittle rinse agents reduces surface tension allowing the rinse to penetrate nooks, crannies, crevices and abraded areas that plain water would not reach. The result is less residue than a clear water rinse.

On some jobs, it is also helpful to have some cleaning power in the extraction water. Consider these possible scenarios.

1. A highly soiled traffic lane. You want to clean with several strokes to really get the soil out. After the first pass or two with your wand, you have rinsed the prespray away. Nothing left to provide any cleaning power. If there is an emulsifier in your solution line, those extras strokes still have some cleaning power.

2. You use your HydroForce to prespray all the open ares but there are a few items of furniture present. When it is time to clean under the furnishings, you don't want to hook up your sprayer again. If you have a little emulsifier in your rinse water, that will be enough to handle the usually light soiling and dust under the sofa or whatever. No need to disconnect the wand and hook up the HydroForce for a second round of prespray under the sofa.

Sure, many sucessful cleaners have used a clear water rinse. But I think a rinse agent / emulsifier does a little better and can save some time. All this gain with only a very small amount of product.

Scott Warrington

Scott Warrington

very intresting scott.... mmm. but i cant help but wonder how much help..is it so little that you really cant tell...and i am always on the caution side of putting detergents in someone home.... but what you said sounds right, and i do trust you you are very knowladgable......

Scott, I think the carpet fibers are small. What may be a small anount of dtergent to you and me is alot on a carpet fiber. The fiber get loaded with detergent. the causes wicking and traffic lane grey. One has to remember how these chemicle companies make money. They have you use as much has possible,.

I like to use an emulsifier at 1/2 strength, you get a cleaning boost, softer water, and no major residue. It's a great combo.

We always use an emulsifier, but at half dilution as c_adkins mentioned.

I don't think anyone with a truckmount with decent heat needs the full dilution rate that the manufacturer calls for.

At half dilution the cost of the detergent is insignificant compared to the efficiency, and results from a quality emulsifier.