Encapsulation Cleaning
Northwest Janitorial offers encapsulation cleaning for commercial and low pile residential carpets. While most traditional encapsulation applications are for cleaning low pile, commercial carpet, encapsulation technology is now a carpet cleaning method used on residential carpets because of the benefits of faster drying times and more soil being removed with vacuuming after cleaning.
The carpet cleaning world has evolved, and preferred methods of carpet cleaning are changing before our eyes. With increasing desire for speed and minimal down time, some professional carpet cleaners have shifted their focus from energy-intensive methods of cleaning to low moisture encapsulation. Once considered little more than a novelty, encapsulation chemistry continues to build momentum in the carpet cleaning world. While hot water extraction is the most popular method of cleaning, it does have its limitations.
Extraction will certainly remove a majority of soil and most of the detergent used in the process, yet problematic soils and, at times, soil-attracting residues can remain.
The efficiency of the removal of detergent is affected by a number of factors, including:
- the type of detergent used
- the type of carpet being cleaned
- the effectiveness of the equipment
- performance of the cleaning technician
This can all add up to an undesirable amount of detergent remaining after each cleaning, and, of course, this residue can build up over repeated cleanings. To fully appreciate the benefits of encapsulation, one needs to understand exactly how carpet cleaning chemistry works.
What’s in the jug?
Carpet cleaning chemicals contain surface active agents, or surfactants, designed to attract and suspend dirt by separating it from carpet fibers. The surfactants sink deep into the fibers to surround the soil, allowing it to be easily removed by water. These surfactants may be sticky by nature, and can lead to re-soiling. Encapsulation is a way of effectively reducing and even eliminating re-soiling. While traditional surfactants can leave behind sticky residues that can attract more soil, the polymers used in encapsulating products dry into a hard crystalline powder that is easily removed with vacuuming.
Encapsulation utilizes specialized surfactants, which form oriented groups known as micelles surrounding the soil. Surfactants have two ends, one that is attracted to water and the other that is attracted to oils. This produces effective cleaning of both water-soluble and oil-based soils.
The encapsulation process will allow the polymers in the product to surround and harden the remaining soil and detergent, making them easily vacuumed.
Carpet drying
Cleaning with hot water extraction can mean an extended period of drying, compared with low moisture cleaning. The low-moisture process of encapsulation can, with proper technique, result in dry carpet in as little as one hour. High traffic facilities such as schools, hospitals, and airports can benefit from this type of cleaning.
Higher chemical costs?
A common criticism of encapsulation for years has been the high chemical costs. But while encapsulating chemicals may cost more than traditional chemicals upfront, the final results often warrant the price.
Encapsulation provides efficiencies in three areas:
- Time
- Chemical usage
- Square feet per hour
Encapsulation means less “down time” because of fast drying. Encapsulation cuts down chemical usage, as one gallon of an encapsulation product, properly diluted, can cover up to 300 to 500 square feet of carpet. Encapsulation is efficient, cleaning as much as 2,000 to 3,000 square feet of carpet per hour. Plus, encapsulation can save money in fuel costs, which is a concern to cleaners today.
