What do you use for carpet shampoo???

Addicted2Bling

Addicted2Bling

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As I was shampooing a customers carpets today with my usual Poorboys APC I was thinking to myself, "I am doing all this work and I bet there's probably going to be a little bit of APC still in the carpet". I then proceded to run my hand along the carpet and sure enough some of that slimy residue was still on it. Now, I like the way Poorboys APC works on carpets, but what I don't like is the residue it leaves behind. I was thinking maybe I could hit it with poorboys first, then go back and use a dawn soap and water mixture. So now I'm asking, what is best to shampoo carpets with? What do you use to shampoo carpets???
 
Yeah, cleaning car carpets is not fun sometimes.
I really like Meguiars APC+ because it is low sudsing, cleans really great, and smells nice. A gallon is usually relatively inexpensive, and it should last a long time. It also cleans other things as well very effectively.

Meguiars used to market another product - Meguiars Quik Out Carpet Stain Remover, which was done in conjuction with Bissell, and it works great but foams a lot more than the APC+.

Are you extracting the soap, rinsed residue out with a Shop Vac or something?

You dont really want to use Dawn in there - it will foam forever unless completely removed.

I occasionally get Clients that had a previous "Detail" somewhere else, and as soon as I wet the carpets with my Extractor, huge amounts of foam come out of the carpet, because the last "detailer" didnt get all the soap out, so it stays there, collecting dirt and crud, until its rinsed and extracted out.

The secret to doing this effectively is to use as little water as possible that you can, to clean and rinse, and extract out, and the best low foaming, best cleaning soap you can find.

Good luck with this !

Dan F
 
I use Meguairs's APC+. As Dan posted above, it is inexpensive for a gallon and low foaming. For very soiled carpet mats I will vacuum it, spray it down with a hose, mist some APC+ on it diluted appropriately, scrub with brush, rinse, re-vacuum, then wipe with microfiber towel. This works very well and ensures little to no residue is left in the carpet fibers. Just be sure the carpet mats dry. :)
 
Here's one some folks missed, it's the Blackfire Interior Cleaner. It cleans leather, vinyl, velour, carpet, headliner fabric, wood, plastic, and metal.
Does not use butyl or butyl ether which can damage delicate materials in a vehicle.
 
Stokdgs said:
You dont really want to use Dawn in there - it will foam forever unless completely removed.

I occasionally get Clients that had a previous "Detail" somewhere else, and as soon as I wet the carpets with my Extractor, huge amounts of foam come out of the carpet, because the last "detailer" didnt get all the soap out, so it stays there, collecting dirt and crud, until its rinsed and extracted out.

The secret to doing this effectively is to use as little water as possible that you can, to clean and rinse, and extract out, and the best low foaming, best cleaning soap you can find.

Good luck with this !

Dan F
Click to expand...

When you say use as little water as you can, I'm guessing you mean to spray your APC directly on the carpet first then scrub, then use extractor? Normally I put my APC in a bucket and mix with water then put on carpet and scrub, but I guess that's not right...

rider9195 said:
I use Meguairs's APC+. As Dan posted above, it is inexpensive for a gallon and low foaming. For very soiled carpet mats I will vacuum it, spray it down with a hose, mist some APC+ on it diluted appropriately, scrub with brush, rinse, re-vacuum, then wipe with microfiber towel. This works very well and ensures little to no residue is left in the carpet fibers. Just be sure the carpet mats dry. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks man

zoomzoom mazda5 said:
Here's one some folks missed, it's the Blackfire Interior Cleaner. It cleans leather, vinyl, velour, carpet, headliner fabric, wood, plastic, and metal.
Does not use butyl or butyl ether which can damage delicate materials in a vehicle.
Click to expand...

zoomzoom, I'm sure that's a good product, but I need bang for buck, I don't have time to buy puny little bottles that cost $50 dollars a piece. I know you mean well but I need a good deal...
 
Not a problem at all, then these two I recommend for the Bang. Chemical Guys Fabric Clean or Meg's APC.
 
AddictedtoBling --

Yes, I premix in a 32oz spray bottle, Meguiars APC+ at 10:1 and spray the carpet, dont spray too much except maybe a little more on stains, let it sit for a minute, and brush it carefully.
Then my Mytee HP60 Extractor comes in and rinses and extracts out tons of dirt - no matter how clean the carpets are initially.
My Recovery tank will always be full of dark brown water, and undissolved dirt, sand, etc.. when I empty it.
Sometimes I will use a Steamer through a towel to really heat up the sprayed APC, scrub, extract, and they look like new. The smell of APC is neutral, no residual soap, Clients love it.

Your way works too, but the way I do it may be a little quicker, and I can target the worse areas with the spray and lightly hit the areas that are relatively clean already. The Extractor is the great equalizer though because it hits the entire area with hot water and removes all the loosened dirt, gunk, completely from the carpets.

For really dirty carpeted floor mats that have like a lot of grease, sand, etc., sometimes its faster to clean with soap, and rinse with a pressure washer, and then Extract all the water, and hang them up.

Another way to help pre-clean just the embedded dirt, would be to blow high pressure air on the carpets before anything to help loosen and remove alot of the dirt. Just be careful where you do this, and watch out you dont blow the dirt in your eyes. :)

Dan F
 
I use Megs APC+, CG Nonsense, or 1Z Blitz - depending on mood or circumstance. I treat spots with Folex or CG Lightning Fast.
 
I use APC+, I was also lucky to find some Megs carpet cleaner at big lots for like 2.00 a bottle and cleaned them out. It works pretty well and also leaves behind scotchguard.
 
I will usually try Folex first, if that doesn't cut it, I grab Chemical Guy's Fabric Clean, and lastly a blend of Meg's APC+ and Super Degreaser.
 
ADAMS CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANER. It's easily the best I've used. NO foam and cleans awesome!!
 
My current method is to liberally spray either an all purpose cleaner or Folex Carpet Cleaner on the area, scrub with a brush, then vacuum it off.

This is what I use to rinse and vacuum all the dirt and debris.

AutoCareProHeat.jpg


I use only clean hot water to rinse then vacuum. It's not a heave duty unit but it works and it's mine! :bigups
 
I myself use the DP extractor treatment.

Spray it on the carpets, let it dwell with maybe a quick brushing depending on condition, then clean it up with the extractor.

Always works a treat!
 
I have had excellent results with Follex and Meguiars APC and the Bissel Little Green Machine. Depending on the stain either of those two products will get the job done. Nylon Spotter works too for some really tough stains.
 
I use Ammonia and water 5 to 1 mixture. It cleans , doesent leave any resudue , once the ammonia oder is gone all other oders go with it , leaves fabric soft , you do not need a extractor or wet vac.You simply dunk a towel in the solution wring out and simply wipe the fabric or carpet , follow with a dry towel. Ive done some nasty interiors this way.
 
Folex and then p21s Total Auto Wash. Although I'm open to trying something new on carpets.
 
I appreciate the responses everyone. What I've gathered from everyones posts is to go with

Megs APC Plus first
then Chemical Guys Fabric clean
and then Folex...

I'm leaning towards meguires but I can't help but notice the sale chemical guys has on the fabric clean!
 
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