CM/Spotlight: carpet care case studies U.S. Products A Guide To Purchasing A Portable Hot Water Extractor Knowing what to look for can increase your chances of cleaning success. T Today’s portable hot water carpet clean-ing extractors are lighter and more pow-erful and offer many more features than machines produced just a few years ago. Some systems have been totally redesigned so that they can easily be used “solo,” by just one operator, such as the Solus from U.S. Products. The cleaning results on these extractors have improved significantly. In addition, they can access areas a truckmount often cannot and cost one-third the price; they are a viable alternative for the carpet cleaning professional or an excellent addi-tion to the van when you can’t use the truckmount. Hot water extractors inject heated cleaning solution directly into the carpet using a wand. The solution “suspends” the dirt and soil embedded in the carpet fibers and then, using a powerful vacu-um, extracts the solution. Some do this better than others, so it’s a good idea to choose an extractor that is tested and certified by the Carpet & Rug Institutes’ (CRI) Seal of Approval program. Many U.S. Products extractors have been certified and earned the top Gold certification from CRI, a level of proven performance that no other portable extrac-tor manufacturer has been able to achieve. Because heat is so important to clean-ing, the temperature of the cleaning solu-tion is critical. For every 18-degree increase in water temperature over 118 degrees Fahrenheit, the effectiveness of the cleaning solution doubles. When purchasing a hot water extrac-tor, look for a machine that can provide on-demand heat like the signature inline heaters onboard all U.S. Products extrac-tors, which give the operator up to 212-degree Fahrenheit heat at the wand tip. Other things to consider when pur-chasing a portable hot-water extractor include the following: Regulated heat: Look for machines that have adjustable heat settings at the wand tip like the Solus 500, King Cobra 500 and King Cobra 1200 PRO. You want higher temper-atures for carpets and lower tem-peratures for delicate fabrics and upholstery. The heat should be con-sistent to improve the efficiency of the cleaning solution. Solid-state circuitry: Many U.S. Products extractors have solid-state circuitry and can detect temperature changes in the cleaning solution to within one degree so you get con-sistent heat. Because heat is so vital in cleaning, this helps improve results and increase productivity. Adjustable pump: An adjustable pump — 0 to 500 pounds of pressure per square inch (PSI) — improves the machine’s flexibility by providing higher pressure and suction to pene-trate carpet fibers for restorative cleaning, but lower pressure to clean delicate upholstery and fabrics. Low-moisture System: Less water — combined with higher heat — means faster drying, less chance of shrinkage and less wicking from the carpet pad. U.S. Products machines are low-moisture extractors, using less that one gallon per minute (GPM) of water. Hose-management System: At least one carpet cleaning manufac-turer makes a machine with a 25-foot “live” hose reel that can be eas-ily removed as needed. Because organization is key to productivity, a hose-management system can defi-nitely improve efficiency. Dual surface: Machines like the King Cobra 1200 PRO give you most bang for your buck by giving you the ability to clean and restore carpet and hard surfaces like tile and grout with only one machine. If you need to clean carpet and hard surfaces or would like to add another service to your price sheet, a dual-surface machine is the way to go. CM Circle Product Information no. 153 This content was provided by U.S. Products as part of a paid advertisement. For more information, please contact U.S. Products directly at 1-800-257-7982 or www.usproducts.com. 28 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • August 2010
CMM – Archives Aug 2010: 28
