Q: Does an air conditioner ventilate the room as well as an open window in regards to wet carpet? I had a customer insist that the air conditioner is a dehumidifier and will aid in drying the carpet better than an open window. What do you think, and how can I get better drying?

— John, Orlando, FL

A: Your customer is right… and sometimes wrong.

An air conditioner does indeed act as a dehumidifier. But if the weather is favorable (low humidity), then perhaps the open window would be a good idea. It all depends on the conditions the day of the job.

You don't mention if you are cleaning or doing a water damage job, but we'll assume you mean regular carpet cleaning.

Every cleaning technician's goal should be to do the best job possible, and besides removing soil, should get the carpet as dry as possible in the least amount of time. Clients expect good service and to use their carpet within hours of cleaning — not days as some of the horror stories go.

One of the most important cleaning steps you can use to quickly get the carpet dry is by using more dry strokes. This physically removes moisture and soil. Don't neglect this. Go over the carpet until you are convinced you have removed as much moisture and soil as possible.

Besides multiple dry strokes and physically removing as much moisture as possible during cleaning, using an air mover as you work your way through a job will ensure that faster drying occurs. Simply leave an air mover in the room you have just cleaned. Clean the next room. Go back to collect the air mover and you will find that the carpet is mostly dry — at least to the touch.

Each job is different, just like each day and each customer is different. Using the air conditioner, opening the windows, running ceiling and other on-location fans… these are all steps you can take to dry the carpet faster.

Just do what is best for each situation.

Q: Over the last several months, I have had one job after another with a lot of traffic pattern soiling. I can't seem to get them to clean up. And when they do, it seems I get a call in the next few days from the customer saying they look bad after they dry. What can I do?

— Bob, Denver, CO

A: What you are facing is a common tale of woe in the industry.

Traffic lane areas are tough, obviously. It's where most of the soil accumulates, especially near entryways, and it is ground in, tough to remove.

The first thing to analyze is your preconditioner. Match your chemistry to the soil. While most preconditioners are adequate for most jobs, there are times when you might utilize a higher pH cleaner, one with more solvents or perhaps an enzyme-based cleaner.

Are you working the cleaning solution into the carpet pile? This is a very important step. Many cleaners apply preconditioner and then get to work — extracting after a few minutes but neglecting to agitate or work the cleaning solution into the pile. Use a carpet rake, brush or even an electrical brush system. You will be amazed with the results.

Besides preparing the carpet for cleaning, as mentioned, consider the use of encapsulation chemistry to use with your typical hot water extraction process. The encapsulating properties often help remove more soil and limits wicking. An encapsulating ingredient may be in the prespray, in the rinse or in the form of an anti-wicking post spray. These are very effective at improving the appearance of traffic lanes.

As a cleaning booster, you can also utilize oxygen bleach. This often helps with the final appearance of the freshly cleaned carpet. But remember that the powdered variety has a fairly high pH, and should be used with caution.

Don't forget that getting the carpet dry as fast as possible also reduces the possibility of wicking and soils returning after cleaning.

Even if you get that dreaded telephone call, most likely the soil that has wicked back is only on the tips of the carpet, easy to remove, whether with your hot water extraction equipment or running over the pile quickly with an absorbent pad machine.

Approach each job as unique. Plan your cleaning process, and utilize the basic principles of cleaning: Time, agitation, cleaning chemical and temperature.

You will enjoy better cleaning.

Have a question for us? Ask at Cleanfax.com/experts or jcross@ntpmedia.com.