Best OTC Carpet Combo

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ChrisMessier

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Hey guys,
Up until recently, I couldn't find a good method of cleaning carpets, and felt that my service always lacked in this area...

I was using Scotch Gard for auto interiors (the cleaner) and I decided to give some other products a try.

At Wal-Mart, I picked up both Lifter-One and Tuff Stuff Carpet cleaners. Lifter-One worked well, however I used one bottle alone on a Ford Ranger supercab interior, and I don't recommend it to everyone...

The Tuff Stuff was my second option, and was the best by far... I applied the shampoo to the carpet evenly in a mist, and followed it by spraying Folex spot remover evenly over the carpet. I then used a stiffer bristled carpet brush to agitate, and then used my 5hp Rigid Shop-Vac to suck up the excess dirt and product. The carpet looked brand new, and I had to share my good results with all of you...View attachment 12984

View attachment 12983
 
I have never liked the foaming carpet cleaners that come in a can. They always leave way too much residue and take forever to extract out. Megs APC+ and Folex are now my go to combo for carpets. I also have a "custom" laundry soap that my wife makes that suds up a little if I need to lift excessive dirt out of floor mats, etc. Looks like you got great results with your combo!
 
Looks like your combo worked!

OPC or folex are the ones I use. Folex is available OTC.
 
I just started using tide laundry detergent today on a very bad interior with a lot of dog hair and it worked amazing I just mixed it 14:1 and sprayed it on and use my extractor to remove to remove it
 
When you use Tuff Stuff and/or Folex for this, using a Shop Vac or equivalent (ie not an extractor) to finish it off ... after the carpet dries completely ... if you were to dampen your hand and rub the carpet, would it feel soapy?

Thanks.

Carpets look great, Chris.
 
I have an extractor but even that requires chemicals, on occasion. The trick, no matter what you use is HOT WATER or STEAM. I picked up an inexpensive steam cleaner from McCullouch that works most of the time.

Even that somtimes may not be good enough for some stains. In that case, Wolfgang Spot Remover is very good at taking those out.

I also use a nice interior detail brush from Mothers which I use to scrub the carpet clean.

Works for me.

Amazon.com: McCulloch MC-1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner: Home & Kitchen
 
kmsdetailing said:
I have an extractor but even that requires chemicals, on occasion. The trick, no matter what you use is HOT WATER or STEAM. I picked up an inexpensive steam cleaner from McCullouch that works most of the time.

Even that somtimes may not be good enough for some stains. In that case, Wolfgang Spot Remover is very good at taking those out.

I also use a nice interior detail brush from Mothers which I use to scrub the carpet clean.

Works for me.

Amazon.com: McCulloch MC-1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner: Home & Kitchen
Click to expand...

I have two of those steamers that I got on sale and they work great! I agree, hot water or steam is the key for some of those tough, ground-in stains.
 
rdf said:
When you use Tuff Stuff and/or Folex for this, using a Shop Vac or equivalent (ie not an extractor) to finish it off ... after the carpet dries completely ... if you were to dampen your hand and rub the carpet, would it feel soapy?

Thanks.

Carpets look great, Chris.
Click to expand...

To be honest, I have no idea... I have considered using a fabric softener, as it can sometimes be left with a rough texture from air drying. As far as a soapy feel, it is possible being that I don't extract. I will let you know on the next detail I do (today)
 
ChrisMessier said:
To be honest, I have no idea... I have considered using a fabric softener, as it can sometimes be left with a rough texture from air drying. As far as a soapy feel, it is possible being that I don't extract. I will let you know on the next detail I do (today)
Click to expand...

Thanks, Chris. I appreciate it. I hope this one turns out well for you, too. I have a friend who really needs (vehicle) carpets cleaned, and I'd like to try your method, but she had a bad experience with soapy residue and I don't want to repeat that.

Re the rough texture: I wonder if one of those pet hair removal brushes, the ones that have lots of slightly soft, flexible, rubbery cylinders sticking down, instead of actual bristles ... wonder if that'd help break up the rough texture?
 
It could! I'm thinking it is relative to when bath towels are air-dried, and are left super rough to the touch. I may have to look into a rubber brush to solve this.
Also, it didn't feel soapy in the Fusion detail I performed earlier today. Granted, I took the advice here and added Simple Green 10:1 to the mix, which may have helped.
Let me know how it works for you though, the key is using stiff brushes.
 
Good comparison, with the air dried bath towels. I'm still searching for one of those brushes.
Thanks for checking on the soapy residue question.
 
Nicholas@Autowerx said:
I have never liked the foaming carpet cleaners that come in a can. They always leave way too much residue and take forever to extract out. Megs APC+ and Folex are now my go to combo for carpets. I also have a "custom" laundry soap that my wife makes that suds up a little if I need to lift excessive dirt out of floor mats, etc. Looks like you got great results with your combo!
Click to expand...

Ive heard you mention your wife's custom mixture.....care to share your secret?:hungry:
 
johnZ71 said:
Ive heard you mention your wife's custom mixture.....care to share your secret?:hungry:
Click to expand...

For sure. I will PM you the recipe later tonight. All I know is it is INSANELY cheap and easy to make once you buy the initial supplies. We are talking like $.15 per gallon...
 
Nicholas@Autowerx said:
For sure. I will PM you the recipe later tonight. All I know is it is INSANELY cheap and easy to make once you buy the initial supplies. We are talking like $.15 per gallon...
Click to expand...
That sounds awesome! I pay around .08/oz for Simple green alone.
:urtheman:
 
I use simple green with it direct from the bottle. Just spray in and scrub, then suck out with wet/dry vacumm, works great
 
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