Oreck Orbiter And Attachments Cleaning Carpet

One of the dirtiest carpets we've cleaned in a while. Using the Oreck Orbiter, Oreck Carpet Brush, and Oreck Carpet Bonnet (links below), we restore the look of the carpet as much as possible. You can clean worn areas, but the carpet damage caused from neglect will still affect the look of the job.
The Oreck Carpet Bonnet we have used on all of the carpet jobs we've done finally wore out on this job (over 70 apartments cleaned with one bonnet!).
Keep in mind that this method of carpet cleaning is one of the gentlest methods of cleaning, as it uses less water and gently scrubs the fibers clean and absorbs the residue...carpets dry in less than one hour typically.
We put a lot of time and effort into showing these machines in use, and we appreciate your viewing and giving us likes, and asking questions. Also subscribing will get you our latest video's as soon as we produce them. We thank you for your support!
If you are interested in finding out more about the products used in this video, the following links will help you get more information including user reviews, manufacturer info, and the current best prices. By using our link, you will get a great price, and be getting a machine that will last for years of dependable service. Thanks!
Oreck Orbiter 550 MC Machine w/ Pad Driver (This is an Amazon affiliate link)
amzn.to/1whbvUn
Oreck Commercial 437.053 Carpet Bonnet Orbiter Pad, 12" Diameter, For 550MC Orbiter Floor Machine (Amazon affiliate link)
amzn.to/1Ebvh67
Oreck Commercial 237.049 Nylon Carpet Shampoo Orbiter Brush, 12" Diameter, 0.012" Bristle Diameter, For 550MC Orbiter Floor Machine, Black (Amazon affiliate link)
amzn.to/1yOQtMn
Other sellers also sell the Oreck on Amazon, but they are marking it up and often are back ordered. The best source is to buy products sold and shipped by Amazon, not other companies selling on Amazon. You may experience considerable delays and other problems from some of the other vendors, so be advised...

[@timothyfosberg6408]

Very informative video, you guys are great ! Thank You

[@brookevalentineuniversity]

I watch this video every day 5x a day. Its so satisfying. You guys voice puts me to sleep along with either vacuum or extraction sounds

[@jerrysaylor790]

great video, thanks for posting this.

[@bennyandwendy1978]

I am starting my own floor care business amd your video has helped me a lot, thank you ;)

[@hangedman821]

Benny I'm thinking about starting my carpet cleaning business. How is your business going?

[@weeum3216]

Hi! 18 year old here with no prior experience in the carpet cleaning industry. Your videos have inspired me a lot to get started and to set up a career for myself! I've been binge-watching your videos trying to learn the process. After watching a few videos, are these generally the proper steps to cleaning carpets? 1. Pre-Vaccum: To get as much dirt and debris out of carpet first. 2. Pre-spray room 3. This is the step where I get a bit confused. In some videos, you use the brush orbiter attachment first and some you go straight to the bonnet? why is that? 4. Bonnet Cleaning 5. Rake the carpets 6. Done! Do these steps work for pet urine stains and like other stains such as coffee, wine, etc as well, if not how would I treat those and do you have a video showing that possibly? Thank you so much! It means a lot to me!

[@JoeWheeler]

The steps are right. The brush attachment is optional for when you wish to scrub in the prespray so it can sit in the carpet and break down the stains a little more before you extract it with the bonnet. For organic stains (the ones you mentioned) you can use some hydrogen peroxide and spray it directly on the areas and allow it to sit for a while, then clean it in the usual manner. I use a product called "20 Volume Developer" from Sally's Beauty Supply which is 6% peroxide versus the drug store peroxide which is 3% peroxide. On organic stains it will usually bubble up and begin to break down the components of the stain for easy removal. I show this in some videos, but I can't remember a specific one. If you are on Facebook, I would encourage you to join my Facebook group where we have lots of friendly members who are at all levels of cleaning and can offer lots of help and advice that you would find useful. Here's a link just click and ask to join and you'll be let in as soon as one of the moderators sees your request. facebook.com/groups/2160717584018068/?ref=group_header

[@JuanMartinez-pd2ct]

Very good job

[@danjerry9548]

What type of bonnet is that a hundred percent cotton?and if that's the same type of bond and q use on hardwood floors and I know Liam floors thanks for all your help hope you can read my text message my phone is not typing

[@JoeWheeler]

It is actually a blend of materials but I think it has some cotton in it. It can be used on floors as well as carpets.

[@gregs6821]

Joe, - Great videos my friend. At the risk of bothering you again - You mentioned that you use Fabuloso Cleaner on lighter residential applications. Is it their All Purpose Lavender Cleaner etc? I assume that you use the same amount too water as you do Simple Green. Thanks again.

[@JoeWheeler]

I use their green stuff that smells like fruit, but they have other scents too so you can use whichever you like. I use one to two cups per gallon of water depending on conditions.

[@KevinsNorthernExposure]

You have cellophane wrapped on the handle...looks like to protect the on/off switch. Why?

[@JoeWheeler]

That was done because people tend to sweat when they work in summer in closed in apartments where the AC doesn't always work and sweat can drip into the switch. Also if you use wet bonnets (which we did at the time once in a while) you can have wet hands from handling those (and your hands can get sweaty too) so the wrap over the switch was a safeguard. We don't do that anymore because we never had problems and the switch seems to be sealed well enough that you don't need to worry about it but it doesn't hurt to do it if you wanted to. Just try and keep your hands clean and dry around the switch. And learn where the OFF position is by looking at it so you don't ever accidently plug it in with the switch ON because you can make the mistake of hitting it by accident and getting a big surprise if you don't pay close attention!!!

[@TGSHomeandGarden]

I guess I'm weird, but I enjoy the spray process as well. Great video!

[@JoeWheeler]

bebegurl31291 Imagine the smell! Tide mixed with water makes a nice atmosphere to work in. Smells like the detergent aisle in the store, or a laundromat. Thanks for being brave enough to admit this...

[@arthurtreyenterprises843]

I just purchased one question what cleaner you prespray with

[@JoeWheeler]

I recommend this for a prespray/spotter (just use the label directions for carpet cleaning for mix ratios) Use the link and hit the button "See All Buying Options" to get the price... Betco, BET3360400EA, Green Earth Peroxide Cleaner PAID LINK amzn.to/3vEyTiP We have used a few different presprays in the past and this has been the best overall performer. It is "Climate Pledge Friendly" and also "Eco-Logo Certified" and "Green Seal Approved" which are current safety ratings for use in sensitive areas with health concerns so you can use this almost everywhere that requires the highest level products (check up on what these ratings mean for you and your customers). I don't believe all things considered you can find a better product if you do careful research but one thing is that as with all peroxide-based products they aren't recommended for wool so keep that one limit in mind. I hope this is useful to you!

[@billymontgomery6144]

I'm not trying to be rude or cause trouble. I'm glad you posted this video, because i have been thinking about getting one of these Oreck machines to agitate the carpet after the prespray, but if you don't do a clean water rinse after using the bonnet, aren't you leaving the soapy spray on the carpet? Kind of like washing your hair, and not rinsing out the soap... The Oreck looks great, as a first step....but...

[@JoeWheeler]

If it was just ordinary soap like you wash dishes with it would be a problem BUT you have to use products that won't want to stay in the carpet when you clean. So you can just scrub your prespray with the Oreck and do a typical extraction and that is a great method. VLM (very-low-moisture) cleaning is based on using a method where you do a "pad-extraction" (bonnet, pad etc) where you don't over-saturate the carpet with the prespray but only use enough to break down the chemical bond of stains to the fibers and "suspend" these substances in your chemical. So you than absorb the prespray and the substances into the bonnet which is in motion (scrubbing to remove the stubborn stains that haven't fully released from the fiber) which "strips" these and "wipes away" all of it in the motion of the bonnet. There is a bit of heat generated which aids the absorption and the material used to make the bonnets is super absorbent so you can hold a lot of soil and the liquid from the prespray as well. Soif I can use two-gallons of prespray on an entire house (for example) and can absorb most of that and pull the stains out with it, then the residual moisture is insignificant. And since evaporation is occuring anyway the carpets are dry in a short time when compared to HWE cleaning but the key is to use detergents that won't leave any residue, or the type of residue that aids resoiling (like encap products which are a residue but not one that aids resoiling). So products at or near the neutral pH (7.0) are less prone to causing resoiling (but higher pH may not either depending on the other qualities of the chemical) so if good products are used it can all work fine. HWE can cause other problems like wicking, browning, etc that VLM methods avoid because of the much faster dry times, and ALL methods will leave residue of the cleaning chemical, and substances that were not removed during cleaning anyway (since no method can achieve 100% soil removal). So no matter how you do it carpet cleaning is an improvement effort, not a perfect cleaning. Using an Oreck as the only device or in concert with another method can be done with great results, but there are choices you have to make to get the best possible outcome.

[@Ekoukson]

What do you spray on the carpet before scrubbing it, it is water or something else?

[@JoeWheeler]

We use water AND we add a general purpose cleaner product to it. You can use Simple Green (8.5 to 9.5 pH, use 4 oz per gallon of water) or Fabuloso (7.0 pH, use 4 oz per gallon of water) or other general purpose cleaners, but google the product and see what the pH is and avoid ones over 9.5 if you can. You won't need a rinsing agent for most of these, though some may be "soapier" than others and if you feel a slickness or stickiness to the carpet after use, go back over with vinegar and water (50/50) to neutralize it so you won't get resoiling issues. I hope this helps!

[@MrThumpsupordown]

Good job fellas. I'm not one of these people who talk down about encapsulation. Some people are all about one method over another when the truth is both encap and extraction are great methods that both have thier place. On some carpets encap works heaps better than extraction. Just wanted to tell you that I got my carpet brush for the Oreck the other day. It works great and am getting the hang of the thing now ;) Cheers guys.

[@JoeWheeler]

Jackie Wilson Fan Thanks for the kind words! Yes, there is a time and a place for all of the methods of carpet cleaning, and I am glad you see through all the hype. When someone has invested a lot of their money into equipment, or sells some specific type of equipment, they tend to want to emphasize that all other methods are worthless. Sadly, many people are unable to see through this marketing garbage and fall for these schemes.One thing about the Oreck Orbiter is that it is the least expensive OP (Oscillating Pad) machine available, and it is used by a huge number of professional services due to it's light weight and power that they can use in areas where they don't want to string out hoses and mess around with heavier, more awkward equipment. The fact that it can often function as your ONLY piece of equipment means it is an excellent first purchase when building a carpet cleaning arsenal. I certainly love using mine, and I'm glad to see you are enjoying yours. Again, thanks for the feedback and the testimony on this often looked over machine. If you get the chance, take some photos, or some video using your machine and I'll be happy to share them for others to see. Thanks Jackie Wilson Fan!

[@JoeWheeler]

Newest video cleaning an apartment for a tenant moving out. Three+ years and never been cleaned. Will they get their deposit back? Watch the cleanup here...

[@ginnylucovich2042]

Joe Wheeler what spray are you using on carpets when using the orbiter?

[@JoeWheeler]

I recommend using Simple Green general purpose cleaner. Use one to two cups per gallon of water in a garden sprayer (or same ratio in a handheld spray bottle). On lightly stained carpet, one cup is sufficient.

[@swimpool55]

What is the pre spray? Where can I buy it ? Thank you

[@JoeWheeler]

I now use Betco Green Earth Peroxide-Based Cleaner and recommend that...just follow the mixing directions on the Product Label for Carpet Cleaning. Use this PAID LINK and hit the button labeled "See All Buying Options" for current pricing. Peroxide is safe on all carpet types EXCEPT WOOL so that is the only restriction.

[@daatobler976]

Do you use a carpet extractor after this?

[@JoeWheeler]

Not on that one as far as I remember. We did on some but not on most and we almost never use an extractor these days because it is unnecessary and makes carpets take longer to dry.

[@lesilesmyers3375]

Thanks guys one of the betting videos I've seen, This one helped me out a lot to have a big copy job today and it is time for me to change my bonnet

[@KimberlyOurlian]

thankyou!! I just bought one and love it, btw is the carpet real wet after your finished? I want to do mine and I have 3 dogs, it will be hard to keep them off the carpet if it has to dry for very long

[@JoeWheeler]

Not generally unless you overdo it with the prespray...you don't need all that much. Just spray smaller areas and work it through before moving to the next area instead of trying to get an entire room wet enough to not dry before you can clean it. Moderation is the key!

[@bobrice329]

What bonnet is used on steps

[@JoeWheeler]

I use the same one as for the rest of the carpets.

[@tijerinal1]

Amazing could not believe your magic, that was one stinky carpet. Good job 👍 Just a suggestion for you when cleaning up the bonnet, I found at China town a plastic washing board, that have fallen in love with. I wash my microfiber clothes with ZOTE bar soap and comes OUT of dirt and also wash out the pad for board mop, you will be surprised with a few ups and downs how much dirt it will get rid of, rather than just rinsing. Hope it helps

[@JoeWheeler]

Thanks for the tip!

[@stevend8867]

Great video for someone like myself who doesn’t know where to begin cleaning their carpets with an orbital machine! I highly recommend that others read the comments and replies, it’s obvious that you have a lot of experience and spend a lot of time giving very specific, detailed responses, which I appreciate! I would hire you without hesitation. Lol Now I’m off to clean some carpets and try your technique! Thanks!

[@JoeWheeler]

You are so welcome!

[@cesarsimon7211]

hi great job what product spray do you use to pre stain and clean the carpets.

[@JoeWheeler]

I use Fabuloso on most carpets and Simple Green on really bad ones. Use one to two cups per gallon water in a sprayer. Fabuloso has a 7.0pH so it is neutral and doesn't leave a residue, so it is good for most carpet jobs. Simple Green has 9.5pH so it helps with dark stains and with grease, though you need to be careful to fully absorb it so as not to leave a residue. You can use vinegar as an afterspray to help lower the pH, if wanted. I use over the counter household cleaners with my equipment to show what the equipment can do w/o expensive and hard to find specialty products the average consumer wouldn't be able to find. If you want to use those specialty products you may get better results (maybe not though as some are just hype and won't outperform the ones I show in use). Hope that helps!

[@JuanGonzalez-rp3vk]

Do use just the bonnet and the oreck? Or do use another Carpet machine? If your just using the bonnet and the oreck that is pretty neat? What solution do you use and where can I buy it?

[@JoeWheeler]

I generally just use the Oreck and a bonnet, but you can use an extractor as a followup. But it will leave the carpets wetter than bonneting only. I use either Simple Green General Purpose, and Fabuloso General Purpose (not carpet cleaning specific formulations, but ordinary versions sold everywhere. I use Simple Green for dirty or greasy carpets (it has a pH of 9.5) and Fabuloso for less dirty carpets (pH of 7.0 or neutral pH). The Fabuloso is what I use most on residential jobs because it leaves no residue, and carpets don't resoil. On commercial and rental properties I tend to go with the Simple Green because it gets out grease and traffic stains more easily. You can do everything with Fabuloso except the very greasiest carpets (like restaurant carpets).

[@caseyslate8493]

What do you use for your prespray?

[@JoeWheeler]

Back then we were using either Fabuloso (7.0 pH mixed at 2 cups per gallon) or Simple Green (8.5 pH at the same ratio but doesn't leave a residue unless you have ver soft water in which case mix chemicals at lower dilution ratios).

[@AKFloorcare]

did you use an encapsulant?

[@JoeWheeler]

I don't like them residential carpets so I keep one for the occasional commercial one...and still usually not. "Bonnet cleaning" is what I do and "encapping" or "padcapping" is a different procedure that is popular but not my personal mode. I remove most of my product with the dirt and walk away, while encapping is designed to leave product behind that will later be removed by vacuuming. In residential situations and many commercial ones vacuuming isn't a frequent thing so you have a powdery substance left on the carpets (dried encap solution) OR the carpets have a stiffer feel so it can get call backs from customers. Only where frequent vacuuming is done would I consider encapping.

[@AKFloorcare]

@@JoeWheeler thank u!

[@raydolinger1980]

Great job fellas... Im wondering how you advertise your services ?? Is it best to knock on doors / talk to people ... or just signs and business cards ?? Let me know how you guys go about it, if ya have a second... Thanks :)

[@JoeWheeler]

We mostly work from referrals and word-of-mouth. We also use local Facebook groups to run specials etc to get some work too. Marketing yourself is hard at first but as you gain customers it gets easier. You should join our Facebook group to see what other tactics people are using facebook.com/groups/2160717584018068/?ref=bookmarks

[@chocolateninja2574]

So let me get this right you pre-spray and then scrubbed with a brush and then go over it with the bonnet and after that you use the hot extractor?

[@JoeWheeler]

We didn't use any extractor on this one I don't think (it's been a few years ago now???) But you could do it that way if you wanted to. Also you can use the Oreck and a bonnet AFTER the extractor (post-bonneting) to help dry the carpets and remove any residual moisture/dirt.

[@5226darrell]

I just purchased an Oreck orbiter to be utilized in a cleaning business that I am soon going to be opening. I am going to put it to the test refinishing some tarkett flooring and wondering what cleaning solutions that you recommend for such a job? Darrell

[@JoeWheeler]

I don't do those types of floors, but what I would recommend is that you visit a flooring store, or maybe a Home Depot or Lowe's and see what products they recommend for cleaning these floors. If you know the manufacturer of the floor you can check their website to see how they recommend cleaning them as well. Generally though for most floors I would use a neutral pH cleaner like Fabuloso mixed fairly light so it's mostly water (maybe half to one cup per gallon) and MIST the floors and either use a white or red floor pad or the carpet bonnet and follow up with a micro-fiber pad on a Swiffer type tool to remove any streaks and even out the final appearance. On most wood flooring you want to keep moisture levels low and mist them only adding a little more if needed. Hope this helps!

[@dougbailey1521]

The buffer does a good job. But why aren't you using your rug doctor?

[@JoeWheeler]

It's just more practical to use the Oreck. In the average home, finding an outlet that will handle a Rug Doctor is not so simple because most of them are overloaded or hard to access and between that and the filling and emptying process the Oreck is just far superior.

[@jcrg15]

I've used a Kirby with carpet cleaning attachment and I've got the same results. I'm not saying it's better...I'd like to have this oreck thing too

[@JoeWheeler]

Lot's of people use the Kirby system and it is highly regarded. I don't have it available to me, but it has to be easy to do quickly for me to use it, and so it may be, but if it is a slower method it may be perfect for around the home if less so for doing jobs. I'm glad you enjoy using it, as so many do, and if it does a good job that is what matters. Thanks Julio!

[@jcrg15]

Joe Wheeler Yes, I just started in the business and I'm reviewing other tools and this one you are showing is good, I'm gonna get it. I've used Kirby but will use it more for rugs or small carpets...good job and wish you prosperity in your business

[@derrickbaskerville6715]

im about to buy an used oreck off ebay....do recommend using the carpet brush, bonnets, a solution for agitation and a solution for extraction for the 2 step process?

[@JoeWheeler]

I recommend using the bonnets (which agitate, clean, and extract in ONE step) and one solution for a prespray with no followup solutions. You may wish to prevacuum, and rake when finished but these are optional. Many multi-step processes are simply aimed at getting you to buy more products to do the same basic job as the one-step process (one step with the Oreck, not prevac, postvac, and grooming) which makes THEM money and costs you more and adds time and complexity to your job which eats into your profit margin. It can be very simple and still get great results.

[@derrickbaskerville6715]

@@JoeWheeler ok...which solutions do you recommend to complete the process

[@JoeWheeler]

I use low to neutral pH products and ammonia (high pH) or peroxide (low pH) as spotters. Both ammonia and peroxide will break down and not affect the pH of the carpet once they dissapate so they are ideal and most "professional" spotters and presprays rely on them in some form so you can easily just skip the expense and use these two instead. I use "general purpose cleaners" for carpet cleaning and avoid high pH products completely as they will require rinsing and still can leave a residue. One really good one I'm currently using is "Betco Green Earth Peroxide Based Cleaner" which is a neutral pH and you just follow the "carpet cleaning and spotting" instructions on the product label. Inexpensive and effective but don't use on wool! Here's a PAID LINK amzn.to/3h6JXzr The peroxide I use is here at this PAID LINK amzn.to/2TgOLsL But you can find it at any Sally's Beauty Supply. The Ammonia is Great Value Clear Ammonia sold at Walmart. For wool carpets I use Simple Green which has a 9.5 pH so mix it at about 4 oz per gallon water or less.

[@stephaniecannella9208]

do yall prefer to do carpets with the oreck or the dupray neat steamer? i have the dupray neat steamer, and own a residential cleaning business and am thinking about adding carpet cleaning

[@JoeWheeler]

We use the Oreck mostly just because it is faster to get started and use and if you go to several jobs a day you aren't waiting on a Steam Cleaner to heat up/cool down several times a day. That being said, for around the house we use the NEAT to keep our carpets fresh, and it gets used for lots of other cleaning jobs in addition to carpet/floors so it is more versatile as a cleaning tool overall. But the Oreck is more productive for carpet cleaning. You may consider starting to add carpet cleaning with the Dupray and then getting an Oreck as that work picks up and you need to be faster and get more done. For a lot of people the Dupray is all they really need because they don't do enough carpet to warrant specialized equipment they have to carry that they don't use all that much..and a Steam Cleaner is more useful for more tasks. So it depends on how much you focus on carpets/rugs and floors. Since I own both I like that option and if you can afford to go that route that is the best of both worlds. With the Dupray you won't need much for chemicals where with the Oreck you have to use chemicals for every job so that is morer stuff to cary around to. And the Oreck needs bonnets and pads and possibly brushes too so it gets more expensive and you need morer dedicated space to carry said items with you, at least on days you have carpet to clean. For pure carpet cleaning/floors I only really use the Oreck because it is faster BUT I don't clean anything else and you probably do so that can tip the scales towards the Dupray for you...at least t start out. I hope this helps!

[@stephaniecannella9208]

@@JoeWheeler thank you that helps ALOT!!

[@bobsandman4821]

How much did u charged for scrubbing per room?

[@JoeWheeler]

In this area competitors are charging about $20 per room on average but we try to double that or more by only working for referrals and existing customers...being selective and not deperate to win every job. So if you can build up a good base you can charge more, but starting out you have to earn your dues...which everyone has to do so at first it may not pay you all that well but it will improve as you gain experience and a reputation 9this is all on you to make it or not).

[@jmckorn125]

Great video. Im hoping to start my own business here soon and I have some questions. Anyway you can private message me? Thanks.

[@JoeWheeler]

You should join our Facebook group facebook.com/groups/2160717584018068/?ref=group_header and from that you can message me (Home Improvement Services) and I can try to help you. Also, I have friends in this group who are also business owner that will help you with questions as well. By networking with a group and getting multiple ideas and suggestions you can learn so much and avoid a lot of mistakes and pitfalls. Just use the link and ask to join (answer the entry questions) and either ask in a post, or message me and I'll try to answer as quickly as I can (busy and all). Starting your own business can be a great experience, and there are people who can definitely help you get started so ask away!

[@athomson999]

Thank you for the video. I tried this today. Do you have any tips for getting the pad off of the pad holder. It sticks like glue and is really hard to rip off. Any help would be appreciated.

[@JoeWheeler]

The pads and bonnets are hard to remove when they are new. Over time a bonnet will stick less after it has frayed on the surface enough. And the driver pins will wear some and that will help some too. But they will always do this to a point. Just tear them loose and don't worry about hurting the components, they can handle it. On the plus side, nothing slips during use so you have full pressure applied to the floor and carpet when working, so that firm grip makes using the pads and bonnets more effective.

[@athomson999]

Thank you for answering and so quickly. Very nice of you.

[@JoeWheeler]

You are very welcome sir. Anything to help!

[@denverado5594]

Why can’t you wash the bonnet in a dishwasher?

[@JoeWheeler]

I'm not sure that the agitation from a dishwasher would work effectively on a bonnet because it is designed for smooth surface cleaning instead of soft things like bonnets. It might work, but a clothes washer would be better...but who knows? You could try it and see how it works.

[@RabanABurr]

I can't believe the condition of the carpet in these apartments. I vacuum everyday to maintain my home to a high standard. It is what has to be done, and not to do so says a lot about some of the tenants in your videos. My carpets are as clean as the day I installed them, simply by ensuring a good solid vacuuming routine. I love your videos and I hope the apartment managers appreciate your efforts when considering the type of destructive tenants their apartments seem to attract. You've managed to save many carpets that fell victim to utter scum tenants, and you've done it with A1 efficiency. Well done! 😁 I am a great fan of my Dyson DC40's. One upstairs one down. Always guaranteeing a spotless home.

[@Kubulek17]

I don't understand people who live like this, my parents have been life long renters but have always treated the house like their own. Who wants to live in a dirty house

[@JoeWheeler]

More people then you would think but there are a few, a precious few who want to live nice and have a clean home. People who rent don't care about things like most would if they own them, but there are plenty of people who own who live worse than renters too so it goes both ways.

[@bobsandman4821]

Do you follow with moisture extraction?

[@JoeWheeler]

Almost never but we have tried it. Generally you do not need to use multiple methods to get the results the customers expect so adding a mthod that will leave the carpets wetter is not the best way to go. No method removes 100% so if you follow the most expensive truckmount with a white cotton towel (just rub the carpet in a traffic area) you'll find dirt on the towel. So adding steps just gets the carpets more soaked and over-worked which can damage them and lead to wicking from the subfloor as the carpets dry. Water extraction has issues that bonnet cleaning avoids due to the very-low moisture used to clean and fast dry times...

[@derekhambek4621]

Do you guys use liquid 90 for prespray or a neutral pH cleaner?

[@JoeWheeler]

No we've never used that. We use Fabuloso which is a neutral pH and PadCap Pro which is 7.5- 8pH and is an encap solution so any of it that remains will encapsulate soils that come into contact with it and can be vacuumed out when people run their vacuum cleaner, so it's actually a carpet-protectant of sorts and is beneficial.

[@mikerittanhouse8900]

I use the same method and machine it's a great product! I do it professionally in Livingston tx.good tips I have been doing bonnet only and using clean freak traffic lane cleaner.sometimes with mixed results.my question is would a good push broom/carpet rake work as well as that in your opinion.thanks for video

[@JoeWheeler]

If you mean using it for agitation, I'd use the Oreck carpet brush and let the Orbiter do the work. For final grooming a carpet rake will get much easier results than a broom, but if that's all you have it can work. Hope that helps, thanks Mike!

[@scottmanis3577]

Great video. Very informative. What is your prespray solution? Do you mix it yourself?

[@JoeWheeler]

Currently I use Simple Green (not the carpet cleaning formula, just the ordinary general purpose variety) at one to two cups per gallon of water in a sprayer. On some dingier carpets I also add a cup or two of 20 Volume Developer (6% Hydrogen Peroxide) to help lighten and brighten the carpets as they dry. Using either the Oreck Carpet Bonnet, or the black Oreck Carpet Brush, you can easily and gently scrub and clean carpets. It works easily and won't harm most carpets at all. You can find the Simple Green, 20 Volume Developer (40 Volume is great for hard floor cleaning but too strong for carpet), and the correct bonnet and brushes at my Amazon Influencer storefront www.amazon.com/shop/joerwheelervideo (DISCLAIMER Products available at this link, if purchased, will result in financial consideration being paid to Joe Wheeler, and Amazon affiliate, though at no additional cost to you).

[@truthfinder4973]

not bad at first I was like use a full size buffer butt to me it did a good job

[@JuanMartinez-zp7fk]

Great job

[@SandmanGME]

Which attachment would you recommend for agitation before extraction. I’d like to prespray, agitate, then extract.

[@JoeWheeler]

Use the black carpet brush for the Oreck Orbiter because it won't absorb your prespray and will help evenly coat the carpet fibers with the prespray.

[@SandmanGME]

Also, does this machine have to be used with dry carpet cleaner? I keep seeing a lot of stuff about that

[@JoeWheeler]

No, you can use it like I show with a light prespray and using bonnets to extract. When using that method the carpets dry quickly and you have less resoiling and problems from slow dry times. The powder works fine but is more expensive to use, so if you do a lot of carpets it isn't cost effective, but is fine for around the house.

[@SandmanGME]

So can you use this for agitation before extraction?

[@JoeWheeler]

Yes you can! That makes a dual method cleaning and that is a great way to do it if you don't mind spending the time.

[@jr.9117]

How good is this for stairs? Heavy? Too big? Or just right?

[@JoeWheeler]

It's fine for stairs, a lot of people use it for that. I don't use mine for stairs because you can't clean the risers with it but only the treads so I use a random orbit car polisher instead. The big problem most people seem to have when doing stairs with the Oreck is bonnet slippage but this is if you aren't using the Oreck bonnets OR have a worn out pad driver (or one that has been modified with Velcro) so if you use Ironman bonnets, (or other non-Oreck brand bonnets/pads) you may have problems with hanging onto your bonnets. In case you don't know what a random orbit car polisher is, I show one in this video (and you can get them anywhere for under $100 and they are good for stairs and upholstery cleaning) kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXu5e6apoduXatE

[@jr.9117]

@@JoeWheeler thanks for the info! I have a big commercial job coming up so need to look for something that won't kill my back!

[@Oracles001]

Amazing video thanks 🙏🏼

[@ffhann]

Think I need one of these. Thanks

[@timgoos9389]

Does this come with a warranty?

[@JoeWheeler]

One year warranty when purchased from an authorized dealer (Amazon is one but some third-party sellers on Amazon aren't) So check before buying one.

[@timgoos9389]

@@JoeWheeler i clicked your link

[@JoeWheeler]

The link I share is for one that is from Amazon and has the warranty.

[@Jcrpdx]

Thank you for an informative video. Have you ever used Capture or Host powder? What is your opinion on those products?

[@JoeWheeler]

I haven't used either of them, but they are legitimate options for those who wish to afford them. Much like Sebo with their Duo machine and the accompanying cleaning compound, and even Orecks own system, they all work basically the same i that you apply a light spray to help them stick, and sprinkle on the compound, and use the machines to scrub the compound in and help ensure contact with all the carpet fibers. Then vacuum up everything, with any remaining compound helping to trap more dirt and make it removable through repeated vacuuming. I think they are a fine method, but more expensive than what I do for instance. If they were the same price, I might use them, but they still involve more steps than I currently use. If you have the means and especially have access to the equipment to help with the process, I think they are great ways to clean without needing excess water and will help eliminate a lot of issues wetter methods can cause.

[@Jcrpdx]

@@JoeWheeler Thanks for the quick reply. They recommend a pre-clean spray before using the powder to clean the fibers.

[@patrickbrown33]

I can confirm that Capture is exactly the same as the Oreck product. They come from the same manufacturer. This is why most Oreck stores now carry it under the capture name.

[@lindabaumunk6916]

Thanks for the video! Can I use this on hardwood too?

[@JoeWheeler]

Yes. Follow floor manufacturers cleaning instructions on laminate wood floors, but within guidelines, yes you can.

[@kenhedrick7761]

Hi! I have one of these machines and have never used it. I have pets and am going to try it. I didnt catch what was in your pre spray? Can you tell us? Thank you! The carpet looks amazing!

[@JoeWheeler]

Ken, we generally use Simple Green (standard not the Carpet Cleaning formula they also make), mixed at one cup per gallon of water. Use a sprayer to pre-apply the mix to the carpet using a light amount (you can spray down a little more as needed), and get your bonnet wet, and wring it fairly damp and it will be just right. If you feel the bonnet is getting too dry or isn't absorbing, flip it over or wash it out and re-wring it and continue. Hope that helps!

[@biotechblahlfkxj3338]

Is it must or a good idea to wet vacuum a rug after you clean and scrub it with the Oreck Scrubber?

[@JoeWheeler]

You can use a carpet extractor if you choose but most of the time it isn't necessary. One key benefit to low moisture methods like the Oreck Orbiter is that the carpets don't get wet enough to bring up old smells or dirt that is below the carpet in the pad. If a place has ever had a pet mess, and you put a little too much water down, it can re-activate the smell and make a problem that was once forgotten a new issue. Also damp carpets can "wick" as they dry, pulling up dirt from the pad to the surface, and the carpet will have to be cleaned again to remove this. And "browning" can occur (which is a common problem with truck mounts and wand portables) where water that wasn't vacuumed up leaves mineral deposits as it dries and an unsightly brown tinge is left as a result. Bonnet cleaning is the preferred method to remove stains from "wicking" and "browning" when these have occurred from other methods leaving too much moisture, so many choose to just use a low moisture method, like show in this video, and leave it at that.

[@RCraceDNA]

Joe, with the amount of pre-sray you are laying down...are you finding any wicking happening for the carpets you are able to get back and observe a day or two later? I assume not enough moisture being laid down thus no wicking but want to ask. I am looking at getting the oribiter...just trying to make sure I do my research :o) Thx again for answering my questions over the last week or two!

[@JoeWheeler]

+RCraceDNA The carpets are usually dry in a couple of hours at the most, and once dry wicking is no longer an issue. If residue is left, rapid resoiling can occur, but we haven't had any problems so far. Often now we extract with the Rug Doctor (using only hot tap water, no additional chems) so the carpets can be slightly damper than with the bonnet only, but again so far no issues. We live in Central Texas, which is very hot, but low humidity, and the winters are moderate and dry, so these conditions help a lot too. In humid air the dry times can be far longer, and wicking can be a real concern, so it pays to work smaller areas and do more suction only passes to remove the water before it can soak the backing of the carpet. Glad for the questions, though it may take me some time to answer them if I am busy. Hope that helps!

[@RCraceDNA]

thanks again!

[@joydavies4022]

Where do I find the spray and attachments? What kind of spray do you use?

[@JoeWheeler]

You can find the Oreck Orbiter, and Oreck Carpet Bonnet, along with some of the many attachments on my Amazon Influencer storefront www.amazon.com/shop/joerwheelervideo (DISCLAIMER Products available at this link, if purchased, will result in financial consideration being paid to Joe Wheeler, and Amazon affiliate, though at no additional cost to you). The spray I generally use is Simple Green, which is also available from that store, or you can find it locally. Use one or two cups per gallon of water in a garden sprayer to apply to the carpets.

[@greenecocarpetupholsterycl735]

hi joe how do you charge your carpet cleaning? by room or by square foot?

[@JoeWheeler]

I charge apartments on a flat rate, based on numbers of rooms. The base price includes a thorough pre-vac, pre-spray and general cleaning, either bonnet or extraction, or both depending on the condition of the carpet. Stains that don't come out and require additional treatment are extra, as well as removing furniture dents etc. I don't have a set rate for other customers, but have a $75 minimum charge that covers a basic cleaning, though pre-vac and spot treatment are extra, depending on the conditions. I don't charge by the square foot, but by soil load and stains, and a per room chrge doesn't really work for me either, so I use the above as a general rule.

[@mr.cleanone3900]

What spray do you use. I have an O’reck but afraid to use it on carpets

[@JoeWheeler]

Currently I use Simple Green (not the carpet cleaning formula, just the ordinary general purpose variety) at one to two cups per gallon of water in a sprayer. On some dingier carpets I also add a cup or two of 20 Volume Developer (6% Hydrogen Peroxide) to help lighten and brighten the carpets as they dry. Using either the Oreck Carpet Bonnet, or the black Oreck Carpet Brush, you can easily and gently scrub and clean carpets. It works easily and won't harm most carpets at all. You can find the Simple Green, 20 Volume Developer (40 Volume is great for hard floor cleaning but too strong for carpet), and the correct bonnet and brushes at my Amazon Influencer storefront www.amazon.com/shop/joerwheelervideo (DISCLAIMER Products available at this link, if purchased, will result in financial consideration being paid to Joe Wheeler, and Amazon affiliate, though at no additional cost to you).

[@andrewmartin5844]

It's Like Using A Weed-Wacker/Weed-Eater For The Way The Machinerey, Mechanical-Device Spins. Cool Video

[@jennachriscolburn3068]

Thanks for the video. What is the pre-spray that you use on the carpets?

[@JoeWheeler]

I'm not sure what I used back when this was made. Currently, I just use Fabuloso at 8-16oz per gallon. I like it because it doesn't leave any residue after cleaning.

[@songhandler]

Shout oxyclean stain remover, soak 20 minutes, takes out dark mechanic auto grease.

[@erynlasgalen1949]

Thank you for this video. I own an Oreck orbiter which I have used for hard flooring for years to great effect, but I was unclear on the procedures for using the carpet brush and bonnet. Now I know. Orecks are great!

[@pheenix42]

Which model are you using, the ORB550MC?

[@JoeWheeler]

Yes that's the one. This is the commercial model. They're are two other models, one black and the other white. They have the ten year warranty and are not for commercial work (warranty violation). You have to get those models yearly checkups through an authorized Oreck dealer. They are sometimes sold online, but they have to be purchased from an authorized source, or the warranty is voided. The commercial model (550MC) has one year warranty, a 50ft cord (verses 30ft max on other two), and can be bought from various sources. Though horsepower numbers are listed on all of the models as anywhere from 1/4hp to 3/4hp, the commercial and black standard model are the same, probable 1/2hp, while the white model is 1/4hp. The dealer only models are usually quite a bit more money to purchase.

[@pheenix42]

Thank you. Saw the white model on eBay, and was wondering about the differences.

[@ricosgift]

what brush u using on carpet

[@JoeWheeler]

Probably the Oreck Carpet Brush (the black one, not the white one). I have a couple of brushes that fit the Oreck, and you can find them on Amazon, but we rarely use anything but the bonnet ourselves.

[@edwardfernandez7516]

can one use either the brush or the bonnet to raise the nap of the carpet in places where is really layed down,?

[@JoeWheeler]

Yes but the brush won't harm dry carpet where the bonnet can burn it if it gets too warm. Dampen the bonnet OR the carpet if using the bonnet. The brush can be used dry anytime you want.

[@dudo_the_dude9948]

Nice work, but still I would sue you for rinsing that extremely dirty cloth in my sink! Yuck, yuck, yuck! XP

[@AimeeJoshJensen]

How many uses do you get out of the carpet bonnet?

[@JoeWheeler]

I get over 50 jobs from one bonnet generally. Keep them cleaned out after each job and don't bleach them or run them through the dryer. I generally rinse them completely at the end of the day, fill them with dish washing soap making sure to thoroughly get the bonnet full of suds. Then completely rinse all the soap, wring out by hand and hang dry in front of fans (takes a couple of days till they are fully dry). I tend to use one bonnet for everything, not several in use at one time. I don't have a washing machine, so I have to hand wash them, so I don't want to clean several each day. If you want to clean them with a washer, then you can use a few at the same time, but machine cleaning may shorten their life span. So if you have two or three you can plan on several months of service if you keep them clean. When they wear out they are handy for other cleaning chores as they absorb a lot of water and are fairly easy to clean so don't throw the old ones out! Hope that answers your question.

[@lancehinesbutts5484]

Hi, What do you clean your bonnets with?

[@JoeWheeler]

I just wash them in a washing machine or the sink with regular laundry products (maybe some Oxy-Clean with a hot water soak too) and hang dry them. I use several types of bonnets and clean them all the same. They never look truly white again but that doesn't really matter except for a nice thumbnail image LOL.