Industrial oils behave differently from organic soils. They are hydrophobic, they bind aggressively to carpet, and they require a strong, surfactant-rich alkaline prespray followed by a high-efficiency extraction rinse that can break, release, and fully flush the oil load.
Industrial oils bond strongly to polypropylene and older nylon fibres. Polypropylene is oleophilic, meaning it attracts and holds oily soils. Older nylon, without modern stain-blockers, absorbs oils more readily and shows dark, stubborn tracking. These conditions require a prespray with strong surfactant and solvent action, followed by a high-flow, low-residue extraction rinse.
Prespray
Dilute 1:32 (30mL/1Lt)
A high-performance prespray that breaks the bond between industrial oils and the fibre surface. It uses a blend of surfactants, soil-release agents, and solvents that penetrate oily films and suspend loosened soils. Its free-rinsing profile is valuable for fibres prone to oil wicking, such as polypropylene.
Performance Gold excels on polypropylene and older nylon because it disrupts the oil film that these fibres naturally attract. The surfactant blend prevents oils from reattaching before the extraction phase.
Extract/Rinse Agent
Preferred for Truck Mount Machines
Dilute 1:1000 (5ml/5Lt)
Powdered rinse agent is ideal for truck mounts. It breaks down oily residues, maintains cleaning strength at high temperatures, and leaves no sticky material that can trigger rapid resoil. Both Extracta Pro & Emulsifier Plus drive oils out of the pile, prevent residue formation, and ensure a complete flush. This is essential for polypropylene, which otherwise tends to hold oily material close to the fibre base.
Extract/Rinse Agent
Preferred for Portable Carpet Cleaning Machines
Dilute 1:600 (8ml/5Lt)
Liquid rinse agent ideal for portable machines. It reduces water tension, neutralises hard-water ions, and keeps suspended oils mobile so they can be fully extracted. Both Extracta Pro & Emulsifier Plus drive oils out of the pile, prevent residue formation, and ensure a complete flush. This is essential for polypropylene, which otherwise tends to hold oily material close to the fibre base.
Important Note
Cleaning Polypropylene (Olefin) Carpets
Polypropylene (Olefin) is a highly resilient fibre; however, it does hold oils, which the Performance Gold effectively removes. As it is a smooth, round fibre, polypropylene carpets can look dull, even after cleaning. Due to this type of fibre, the addition of Perox as a booster significantly improves the appearance of the clean fibre.
The Process
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Pre-Vacuum
Vacuum thoroughly to remove dry particulate soil. This prevents slurry formation and allows detergents to reach oily deposits more efficiently.
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Prespray
Apply Performance Gold at 1:32 across all oil-affected zones. Agitate thoroughly, as polypropylene and older nylon need mechanical action to break the oil layer. Allow 5–10 minutes dwell time for full penetration.
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Rinse and Extract
Rinse using hot water extraction with Extracta Pro or Emulsifier Plus. Use slow wand passes in heavy lanes to lift oils that have settled deep in the pile. Older nylon often holds oils lower in the fibre, so full flushing is important.
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Dry and Groom
Assist drying with airflow and ventilation. Groom the carpet to realign pile and produce consistent appearance. Fast drying reduces the chance of wick-back, which is common in older nylon exposed to industrial oils.
Further Notes
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Boosting the Prespray
When dealing with severe industrial oil loading, add Colloidal Boost to the prespray at 10 to 20 ml per ready-to-use litre. This increases wetting and soil dispersion without increasing alkalinity beyond fibre-safe levels.
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Double Prespray on Polypropylene
Polypropylene often benefits from a light secondary pass of Performance Gold through lanes where oil concentration is high. Keep dwell time consistent and prevent drying.
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Spotting
If individual oily spots remain after extraction, treat with a solvent-based spotter or detergent spotter appropriate for petroleum residues. Consult the Actichem Spotting Guide for product selection.
Where To Buy
Performance Gold
High-performance prespray detergent for bursting through heavy soils and grease.
High-performance prespray detergent for bursting through heavy soils and grease.
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