The encapsulation process is easy to use and can be substituted for a regular vacuum process in high-traffic areas on a monthly basis. To implement, follow these steps:
- Pile lift the carpet with any attached capture mechanisms to collect dry soils.
- Next, apply the cleaning solution to the entire area of the carpet you plan to clean. This can be accomplished with an electric or pump-up sprayer, or through an automatic dispensing sprayer that attaches to the cleaning/agitation apparatus.
- Remember: You must follow product manufacturers’ directions relating to the quantity of solution to apply to a specific number of square feet or square meters of carpet. You must also mix the detergent in accordance with product manufacturer directions.
- Only apply solution to an area ahead of the machine so the product does not dry before you are able to clean it with the two-brush machine. The solution will release the soils from the yarns and crystalize them (hold the soils) until they are vacuumed from the carpet.
- Next, run the two-brush machine over the treated carpet. Run the brushes back and forth in one row before moving on to the next row. Thoroughly distribute the solution throughout the carpet and agitate it into the carpet nap using a counter-rotating, cylindrical reel-type brush.
- Repeat this until the process is complete over all of the carpet. The average cleaning production rate for encapsulation is 3,500–5,000 square feet per hour.
- Finally, once the carpet dries (usually within 10–20 minutes), vacuum it to remove the crystalized soils. Additional vacuuming frequencies will continue to remove captured soils.
For more information on taking steps toward proper carpet maintenance, click here.
Posted On February 1, 2017
