Best extractor or steamer for a brick and mortar detail shop?

[krzyboi622]

Mike,

I own a full service hand car wash in California and have a pretty busy detail shop. Currently we are performing interior details using the soap bucket, scrub and sop vac method. The interior of vehicles are leaving way too wet and I need your professional opinion.

I have been looking into purchasing a powerful hot water extractor to help aid in a drier and cleaner automotive interior while cutting down labor costs.

I have a budget of 1 to 2k. What extractor do you suggest?

Also, which chemicals do you suggest that I can purchase in bulk and use to cut time down? I have been reading some good reviews on folex. What is your opinion on this product?

I appreciate any feedback from the master of detailing. Thank you in advance.

Your fan,

Brian Hwang

 

[RDZL1]

I have been using Mytee Lite II 8070 for a while now. I have no complaints. I watched some youtube videos to learn tricks & maintenance tips.
I would recommend getting Dry Upholstery Tool.

Here are some of other models from Mytee:Mytee Hot Water Extractors, carpet cleaning machines, carpet shampooers, carpet cleaner, carpet cleaning equipment, best carpet cleaning machine,

 

[MarkD51]

I don't know much about the Mytee Units, but would suspect that you would want something along these lines, or another commercial or semi-commercial type, and nothing like some cheapo Bissel, or Hoover wally world types. These cheaper wally world types are fine for a weekend warrior such as myself, but won't last. The flimsy Plastic Attachments would likely break within a week or so of heavy duty use day in and day out

The commercial units will commonly have very sturdy Stainless Steel Hardware and attachments, less in the way of cheaper plastics, and most will likely use a rotary type vacuum motor, perhaps such as Ametek-Lamb which can often be sourced from places like WW Grainger, and thus you can sometimes save yourself good money in the event of breakage outside of warrantee, and then not being solely at the mercy of the Extractor Manufacturer for big dollar replacement parts. The vaccum motor is the heart, and generally the most expensive part prone to failure over time.

The commercial units will have a vacuum with much better and powerful suction, thus leaving carpeting and upholstery in a much drier state as well

As for Folex, I gather Folex is more a "Spot Cleaner" used to address specific stains found, and not a concentrate that should be diluted to be then used in an extractor.

Many of the big Home Improvement Stores usually carry Gallons of such, that a specific brand you like can be handily bought if desired. Other options may be Janitorial Supply Businesses, etc who sell bulk containers in perhaps 5 gallon size or larger if required.

Hope some of my brain farts help.

 

[qzing]

I don't have a detail shop but I purchased the Mytee Hp60 for my cars carpet and upholstery and the house and a Vapor Chief 100 for mainly cleaning leather and grout and tile in the house. I love both of them and the mytee dry upholstery tool is a must have if you dont have time to wait for carpets to dry from what I hear. I dont have one yet, I just use a air mover right now while I am doing other things and they dry out pretty quick. I do wish I would have went with the VC 125 instead of the 100. I kind of wish I had the injection option.