What is HOST?
HOST, a soft, natural product consisting of millions of
absorbent sponges. These "sponges" are moistened with
a unique blend of water, detergents and a small amount
of safe to use solvent. The SPONGES Cleaner contains
and controls all the necessary liquids to dissolve both
water soluble and solvent soil.
The HOST SPONGES do a double-duty job. First, they
carry the liquid cleaning agents to the fibers in a
controlled way. Second, they loosen, absorb and hold the
soil in control for extraction by vacuuming. With our
HOST Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning System, we are in
total control of the cleaning chemicals and soil at all times.
How does it work?
The HOST Machine brushes the moist extractorSPONGES
(SPONGES) up, down, over and around the carpet fibers
so they contact all surfaces of the soiled fibers, breaking
the oil bond and wiping the soil away. This action is
similar to a moist sponge used to wipe up spills in the
kitchen or soil from a wall. Carpet pile is a vertical surface
much like a wall. When liquid is applied, gravity pulls any
excess moisture down into the carpet toward the backing.
When we use the HOST extractorSPONGES, we don't lose
control of the moisture and soil. In addition to absorbing
the soil, the HOST SPONGES hold that soil until it is
removed by vacuuming. Carpets do not re-soil as quickly
as when cleaned with wet methods, because these is no
sticky residue to grab and hold fresh soil. Because the
HOST System does not contribute to re-soiling, regular,
frequent vacuuming helps to keep the carpet cleaner
longer.
Will your method "deep clean"?
The unique design makes our HOST Machines ideal for
deep cleaning carpets. Carpet is manufactured in straight
rows of upright carpet yarns. This is similar to millions of
individual, vertical surfaces. The brushes of the HOST
Machine turn toward each other in a vertical direction, the
same direction as the carpet yarns. This makes it
possible for the brushes to get into the carpet pile and
work the HOST extractorSPONGES in, around and
through the carpet yarns, deep cleaning the carpet.
A side benefit is effective pile lifting and restoration. So if
the carpet is dirty right to the backing, our HOST Machine
can work the HOST extractorSPONGES deep into the
carpet. The SPONGES Cleaner then dissolves and
absorbs the soil and is removed during the vacuuming
procedure. Our HOST extractorVAC improves on the
ability to deep clean because of its superior vacuuming
ability. In heavily soiled areas, we power vacuum the
area before applying the HOST SPONGES and this helps
us achieve better results.
Is your method only a carpet maintenance product?
No. Our method can be used for total carpet care which
includes regular carpet maintenance, as well as carpet
cleaning and restoration cleaning. While it is true that the
most efficient way to use our method is as a maintenance
tool; its unique qualities make it possible for us to clean
very dirty carpet in a controlled manner. Often the carpet
has been "uglied out" due to improper or careless wet
cleaning techniques. Our system is an ideal way to
restore these carpets and prepare them for regular,
ongoing carpet maintenance.
In order to effectively maintain a carpet, it is necessary to
use a system of cleaning that removes the soil from the
carpet before it can build up and spread. This is why in a
maintenance program it is important to concentrate your
cleaning and vacuuming efforts in the areas where
people walk. Our method dissolves, absorbs and then
extracts the soil from the carpeting. Since we use a
controlled amount of moisture, it is easy to blend into the
surrounding clean carpet during maintenance cleaning.
So when the cleaning procedure is complete, the entire
carpet, wall-to-wall, looks clean because it is clean.
Why will your method take out a spot so it will not
come back?
First, it is important to understand why some spots
reappear. When liquid is used in an uncontrolled manner
to remove spots from the carpet, it can dissolve the spot
and cause it to run to the base of the carpet. This is
because of the vertical nature of carpeting. Gravity will
take the dissolved soil and spots, and pull them toward
the bottom of the carpeting. During the evaporation
process, the dissolved spot is drawn up the sides of the
carpet yarn and eventually reappears on the surface.
The HOST extractorSPONGES cleans in a controlled
manner. It contains just the right amount of moisture to
dissolve the soil or spot but not enough to cause it to run
down the sides of the carpet yarn. As soon as the soil is
dissolved, it is absorbed by the HOST
extractorSPONGES. Since none of the dissolved spot has
the opportunity to run to the base of the carpet, there isn't
anything there to wick back to the surface. That's why
when you clean a spot with the our method, it will not
come back.
Is HOST harmful or is it safe?
The HOST cleaning products are totally safe to use. We
have MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) sheets available
on each product. HOST extractorSPONGES is not an eye
irritant, not a primary skin irritant. It is also nontoxic by
oral ingestion or by inhalation. However, some people
with respiratory problem should avoid using HOST in
unventilated or confined areas. By and large, for the
general population, it is a safe product to use.
Is your method effective for restoration cleaning?
Yes. Our HOST System is an ideal system for restoration
cleaning. When a carpet is heavily soiled, it may require
many applications of HOST with a great deal of brushing
to truly restore the appearance of the carpet. With other
methods of cleaning, multiple applications could over-wet
the carpet and cause damage but with our method there
is never any chance of this occurring. Our method was
developed for restorative cleaning. The unique blend of
cleaning agents in HOST will help you achieve superior
results on really dirty carpet.
Why should I contract with your method instead of a
wet method?
There are two different principles at work in each method.
A wet method must first liquefy and dissolve the soil in
and on the carpet in order to begin to retrieve it. As the
liquid flows onto the carpet and the liquefaction of the soil
occurs, it essentially loses control and the soil and
cleaning solution flow throughout the entire carpet.
Based on the statistics that manufacturers of extractors
use, only 60-85% of the liquid used, can be retrieved.
Consequently if 10 gallons of liquid is used in a room, 3-4
gallons of liquid will be left in the carpet. When we look in
the tank and see dirty water, we must remember the 3-4
gallons left behind in the carpet contain the same dirty
residues. In other words, what is left behind has the same
soil and cleaning chemicals as what is in the tank. As the
carpet dries out, some of the soil and spots may wick to
the surface of the carpet and require re-cleaning.
HOST works on a different principle. It is millions of small
sponges, dampened with the right amount of water,
detergents and a safe-to-use solvent. This allows us to
keep control of the liquids at all times during the cleaning
process so there is no chance of wickback. HOST is just
like a sponge you use in your kitchen to wipe up spills on
a table or counter. When you pass the sponge across the
surface, it lays out a film of cleaning agents which
dissolves the soil and then the sponge absorbs the
dissolved soil. Everything that is dissolved is absorbed
and trapped in the HOST SPONGES so it can be removed
by vacuuming. This is a controlled way of removing soil
which meets the objective stated above. This is a very
efficient way to remove soil from the carpet.
Do I need to wet extract my carpet every 6 months or
every year? Why?
It is not necessary to wet extract the carpet once it has
been cleaned with our HOST System. As has been stated,
HOST is a very efficient way to remove soil, and used
properly, it will help to keep a carpet clean year-round.
There is no need to use any other method to supplement
the cleaning process. HOST is capable of deep cleaning
and restoring a carpet as well or better than any other
method on the market, therefore, it is not necessary to
use other methods when you are using the HOST
System. I have heard that solvent based dry cleaning
products cause re-soiling and are not effective on some
types of soil.
There is a great deal of confusion in the industry as to the
nature of the various dry cleaning products available for
carpet cleaning. The original dry cleaning products were
solvent-based products. They were a clay powder
(diatomaceous earth) mixed with a dry-cleaning solvent
which was scattered on the carpet, brushed in with a
hand brush or broom and then vacuumed. These
products were oily and could potentially cause some
re-soiling.
Today all of the dry cleaning products manufactured are
water based, not solvent based. The HOST Dry Extraction
Carpet Cleaning products are water based also. The main
ingredients in HOST is water, detergents and a
safe-to-use solvent. The solvent we use is volatile and
evaporates very quickly; it does not contribute to
re-soiling. This combination of cleaning ingredients helps
to dissolve all types of soil, whether it be water based or
oil based. And since such a small amount of moisture is
used, there is very little left behind on the carpet fiber to
promote re-soiling. When we clean your carpet with our
HOST System, it will stay cleaner longer than with any
other method you may have tried.
If the product is so good, why haven't I heard of it
before?
Our supplier is a small company with an international
business. The HOST System is sold in approximately 57
countries around the world. You may not have heard of
HOST. HOST is recommended or approved by over 100
carpet and fiber manufacturers worldwide. We are a small
company in a large marketplace; it takes time and effort
to educate people about our system. We plan to continue
our efforts as our company grows. Let us show you why
we feel the HOST system an excellent system that can
solve many of your carpet care problems.
Is your method only good for low pile carpets?
While our method performs quite well on low pile carpets,
it can be used on all types of carpet. Sometimes on deep
pile carpets it may be necessary to apply more HOST
SPONGES and do more brushing to achieve better
results. Our method is ideal for all types of carpeting and
is also excellent for Oriental, Chinese, Persian and Sisal
floor coverings.
Will HOST wear out my carpet?
No, HOST products will not wear out your carpet. If HOST
wore out carpets, we certainly would not have the carpet
mill recommendations we have. Over 100 carpet
manufacturers and fiber producers recommend or
approve of HOST. Our method has cleaned hundreds of
thousands of carpets over the years and have never worn
out a carpet. Actually, we have case studies that show
our HOST System prolongs the useful life of the carpet
because the appearance level is maintained at such a
high level. HOST is a safe product for carpet. It is made of
a soft, natural organic sponge like material which cannot
cut or scratch carpet fibers.
How often should I clean my carpet?
The answer to this question will depend on the type of
carpet, the color and where it is installed. If the carpet is
installed in a residence, the need for cleaning will be
different than if it is installed in a commercial setting. In
most cases the carpet will only require cleaning twice a
year when it is installed in a residence. Of course, there
are exceptions to this depending on the number of
people in your home, pets and the style of the carpet.
For commercial locations, we can offer a Computer Aided
Maintenance Plan for Carpet (CAMP). This program is
designed to show you exactly where and when to clean
your carpet in order to maintain a high appearance level
year round. With CAMP we determine which areas
require cleaning and on what frequency based on foot
traffic. It is usage that determines frequency of cleaning.
We identify the key areas: track- off, funnel, main traffic,
and spot prone that must be cleaned in order to keep the
entire carpeted area clean. The CAMP plan is a
management tool that delivers clean carpet year-round at
reasonable cost.
Why do carpet mills and fiber producers recommend
your method?
They recommend our method because they have found it
performs well and is safe for all types of carpet. Their
experience has been that our method delivers clean
carpet. They find their customer is happy with the long
term appearance of the carpeting and is more inclined to
purchase carpet in the future. The carpet manufacturer
and fiber producers are interested in selling more carpet,
and they can do this if the customer is happy with their
decision to purchase carpet. Our method makes that
possible because it delivers long-term, high appearance
at reasonable cost.


host® is a registered trademark of Racine Industries, Inc.