Flotex - bonnet or HWE

[Phillip Mold]

I have a large area to do late this week and wondered what other people think works best, I've tried both and not been completely satisfied with either. Ideas, comments welcome.

 

[Tony Nash]

Until more recently, I'd only done the odd small kitchen flotex job, but not too long ago, I did an area of around 300 sq metres, so not too big. I can't comment on bonnet cleaning flotex, but the extraction worked a treat.

I would say to make sure your wand's jets were on the greater flow rate side of things though.

I expect somebody eslse has used both methods and will give you their opinion. But, I reckon that to get away with bonnet cleaing flotex, you'd have to have a fairly clean floor. And, even then, you wouldn't know if it was clean until things get under way.....all them fibres!

 

[Nick Robertson-Vousden]

Hi Phil

Flood extract, its the only worth while way of cleaing the stuff and the only way recommended byt the manufacturer, if you bonnet it then be prepared to have sore arms,

You can flood it scrub an extract it which can actually be a bit quicker

Best regards

Nick

 

[Billy Russell]

This is a flotex i did in a school hall a few years ago, they'd had a fire in the one section of the school and everything went through the hall including the firemen and there hoses, this is halfway through, I presprayed with U.R., aggitated with a multiwash, extracted with fibre and fabric rinse and then bonnetted! I did not flood, i'm not saying that flooding isn't the way to go ( thats before you start Mr Neal), I'm just explaining the way i've achieved results! forgot to say i gave a really good pre vac!!!!

 

[Steve Porter]

Flotex is very easy to clean & you don't need to bring our a problem solver or heavy dose chemicals.
As usual a damn good vac is paramount
Pre-spray with whatever floats your boat & agitate mechanically
Personally I like to increase the flow to around 450psi & wand slowly so that you create a wash behind the wand, this gives you an indication of how much soil is present.
You should be able to get the Flotex dry within about 30 mins on a dry day.
Glide or open wand? Glides make it easier although you can get the same result without, just means your technique needs to be good.

 

[Jim Neal]

I can understand Billy's thinking, and why he wouldn't want to flood it every time... what with having such a small blower and everything

But for me, flood & scrub every time! Even if flotex "looks" clean it will still be harbouring a lot of soiling.

I would most definitely not try to clean flotex with a bonnet! As JB says, two cans of spinach needed. But more realistically the problems you'd face would be more along the lines of either causing friction damage to the carpet or burning out the motor on your rotary.

 

[Derek Bolton]

I agree with Jim....the risk of friction burns has to be taken into consideration plus there is wear and tear on the arms to consider.
I used to clean a three story office block year on year with the flood and extract method....worked every time

The carpets were in the offices of a food factory where the grease was like black butter ...my old Dixon D1 (still have it Big Brother) really came into its own

 

[Billy Russell]

Flotex is very easy to clean & you don't need to bring our a problem solver or heavy dose chemicals.
As usual a damn good vac is paramount
Pre-spray with whatever floats your boat & agitate mechanically
Personally I like to increase the flow to around 450psi & wand slowly so that you create a wash behind the wand, this gives you an indication of how much soil is present.
You should be able to get the Flotex dry within about 30 mins on a dry day.
Glide or open wand? Glides make it easier although you can get the same result without, just means your technique needs to be good.

Agree, with steve,! The only reason i used your was the nature of the soiling, otherwise i would of used something a bit lighter! by the way this was done with my 100psi steempro, like i ssaid this was a few years ago, and i'm only going on my experiences! i have used the flood method!

 

[Phillip Mold]

Thanks for the replies, HWE it is, will go for Solutions HD Microsplitter

 

[Steve Porter]

Hi Billy
Sorry mate, wasn't having a pop at your chosen chems, just saying that you can prety much use most things at hand btw, will your blower grow & become "chief big blower" or are you stuck with the yellow man's nice term of endearment?
Philip
If it looks orrible youcould always add a little Solu-boost to the mix.

 

[Billy Russell]

God damn you Jim ' I can't handle my drink' Neal, your getting everyone started on this small blower!!! Steve, Didn't think you we're taking a pop, i was just explaining myself a bit better as to why i used that choice of chem, And while i'm at it, Its not the size that counts, It's the way you use it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jason w lawal]

Well I DISAGREE strongly , flooding is not the only method that works if you use a high speed buffer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PogEcryIrgM3

 

[John Bolton]

Jason,

I too sometimes pad-clean Flotex without problems but find than the moisture level needs to be kept higher than on most other carpets.It is however not something that I generally recommend as the potential for damage already mentioned is real.

 

[Steve Porter]

Is that Flotex in the vid or carpet tiles?

 

[jason w lawal]

Its flotex , or something similar

 

[Jim Neal]

your getting everyone started on this small blower!!!

Haha there's no escape now!!

 

[Nick Robertson-Vousden]

Flotex is flotex, I didn't say your couldn't bonnet, only that the BEST method is to flood clean, it is also the recommended method of the manufacturer, Bonar Floors, there are many ways to clean low profile carpet and carpet tiles. I stand by my response. I have cleaned flotex, using low moisture methods with good results, however it is not possible to fully clean flotex with a bonnet,it would only be a surface clean unlike "carpet" the structure of the floor covering ( its not a carpet as its not woven) is such, that it is like a sponge and it needs to be flushed clear and clean. Obviously there are ocassions where bonnet cleaning is used due to time constraints etc.

Best regards

Nick

 

[Trevor Ives]

Bucket, chuck it, scrub it, extract. Job done

 

[Derek West]

I can understand Billy's thinking, and why he wouldn't want to flood it every time... what with having such a small blower and everything

But for me, flood & scrub every time! Even if flotex "looks" clean it will still be harbouring a lot of soiling.

I would most definitely not try to clean flotex with a bonnet! As JB says, two cans of spinach needed. But more realistically the problems you'd face would be more along the lines of either causing friction damage to the carpet or burning out the motor on your rotary.

only just read this thread, love it.

 

[Phillip Mold]

Bucket, chuck it, scrub it, extract. Job done

I HWE'd it, bud flooded it from the wand. could have planted spuds in what I took out.