Thread: Encapsulation 101

Hi there,
Ok I've never attempted encapsulation but am starting to get requests for dry cleaning (it's winter here). Considering I know little about it, what is the method start-to-end? I can get products such as ReleaseIt and I have a rotarty scrubber, but not in a position to splash out on any fancy machines right now.

I apologise if there is a topic on this already but I couldn't find it.

Also:
- What are it's limitations in terms of soiling and stains?
- Is it an option for residential? If not what would you suggest instead?

Thanks a lot.

You need to get a pad driver. this is a atachment where a cotton loopie or striped loopie to abstract the soil, you can also get fiber plus pads from excellant supply or a red pad . This process works real fast . works best if you have a helper to pre spray 1-2 feet in front of you and then use your swing machine w/ a pad . when your all done vacuum or have maintence or store owner vacuum next day or you come back. If its really dirty use a cotton loopie to abstract more soil. Excellant supply has a encap forum over there.

Residential not so much unless its berber or very short pile . Padderland is a encap forum for residential but most extract HWE residential . Trial and error my friend.

Dave what juice are you using at what diloution

Fast - Fast - Fast!

Encapping commercial glued down carpet is very fast. Some machines, such as the Mach12 from Von Schrader will clean about 10,000 sq. feet per hour!

Speed = Profit!

It's also great for some residential berber carpets that you prefer not to HWE due to wicking.

A rotary is a great machine and will get the job done just fine! I would suggest investing in a solution tank and a pad driver if you don't already have one. Just pick up the Releasit Encap clean DS, Fiber plus Pads and follow these instructions!

I attached a PDF with first time use instructions.

Excellent. Thank you!

IICRC instructors seem adamant that encapsulation can only be done so many times before HWE. How many times would you think that could be done. My instructor sad it should be no more then three times.

Dave,
since you use snthetic loop pads, how dirty do they get before you switch them, How many do you need to do an area. I know the soil level dictates.
I'm primarily HWE, but have been padding where appropriate and neccessary, for years. I've found when using pads, I find myself not getting anywhere the area of use out of a pad before I feel I need to switch. Then I have loads of dirty pads to clean.
I've got a small swing machine. I use fibeplus from Rick G, as well as the type you like.
I like it, I just find that I get nowhere the production rate that everyone else does.

Originally Posted by rougew

IICRC instructors seem adamant that encapsulation can only be done so many times before HWE. How many times would you think that could be done. My instructor sad it should be no more then three times.

this is an old way of thinking now, new standards have been changed and should be out now
low moisture cleaning is now stated as a restorative way of cleaning

hwe after 3 encaps may be necessary, depending on what equipment/product you are using and the time between your last cleaning
if just a cimex or crb you may have to, because remember your not actually removing any soil

if pad capping hwe isnt needed ( unless you just want to lol )

read this thread, it gets into that discussion a bit near the bottom
http://www.truckmountforums.com/vlm-...ft-of-cgd.html

Originally Posted by Rick J

Dave,
since you use snthetic loop pads, how dirty do they get before you switch them, How many do you need to do an area. I know the soil level dictates.
I'm primarily HWE, but have been padding where appropriate and neccessary, for years. I've found when using pads, I find myself not getting anywhere the area of use out of a pad before I feel I need to switch. Then I have loads of dirty pads to clean.
I've got a small swing machine. I use fibeplus from Rick G, as well as the type you like.
I like it, I just find that I get nowhere the production rate that everyone else does.

Hey Rick you might want to look into microfiber bonnets
honestly if you have a mop bucket with you only one pad is needed per store ( of course take a few more )

they very easily wash out immediately !


imo they dont clean as deep as say a cotton or glad BUT you wont go through near the pads
then if you have a few smaller area's you really want to clean deep you have your cottons/glads
and microfibers always look great, never look like used rags

i personally don't recommend those loopy synthetic pads, they just dont compare for cleaning power to the above mentioned
since you already buy from Rick G he also sells microfiber

Here are some pics of a job i did yesterday, used a blue micofiber pad and Scot's Tuff FoamDry 2X Encapsulating Brush & Bonnet Clean.
sorry about pics, took pic with blackberry. We did 7 floors took about 10-15 min. A floor. Made $450.00

The IICRC recommends that you HWE once per year. It is up to you as a professional to determine how many times you can use Encapsulation to clean. If you have a great cycle of vacuuming and you have a quality Encapsulation product that crystallizes well enough to remove the dirt in the vacuuming process, then you can encap many times between HWE intervals and just play it by ear! Do a dry down test on your chemicals and make sure they are drying to a non sticky crystal that easily breaks away from the dish. If they don't break away from the dish then they won't break away from the carpet fiber!

Didn't you see the pics above what more do you need to know. like Dave said above buy one of those bonnents. I used a blue micofiber, seems to have done a nice job.