Encapstore offers a number of products for low moisture cleaners. For those that are new to VLM, or may only VLM on occasion, the offerings may seem overwhelming and confusing. With that in mind, this article should help give a better understanding as to what we offer, what you might want to have available at any given time and most importantly – when to use it.
We’ll break this down into two categories – Encaps and Boosters. In the case of encaps we’ll be using our most popular sellers in this list. In some cases products may be interchangeable, but all have specific roles.
(Note: You’ll notice that each cleaner has a projected ROI. The rate used to determine potential returns would be considered by many to be on the low end. We agree. This was done to show possible returns using marginal cleaning rates. Adjust the formula to match your average pricing and subsequent increase in ROI).
ENCAPS
The encap is your core cleaner. Whether it be a film former or crystallizing product, it will serve as the primary cleaning agent. We often hear of cleaners mixing encaps such as Awesome Encap and Grease Hawg or Angry Lemon and Simple Encap. Some believe that adding a higher pH product to your ‘go to’ cleaner will help boost performance or that it might be something as simple as ‘more is better’. The reality is that all you’re really doing is wasting product and money. Try to use one core product at proper dilution that best suits a particular job and add (if needed) an appropriate boosting agent. Also remember that with VLM you’ll often find that less is more. The dilution chart on each bottle and jar serves as a guideline for usage based on condition. While how much to use is ultimately your decision, the charts should be considered.
Awesome Encap:
Our most popular product is Awesome Encap. This is a versatile encap that should serve as your ‘go to’ for a majority of your work. Awesome Encap is ideal for both commercial and residential and can also be used on upholstery. With a pH @ 9, it is safe for stain-resistant carpet, but contains enough cleaning power to take on some of the most extreme of challenges. This is a crystallizing cleaner that contains an excess polymer. This excess polymer helps carpet stay cleaner longer by encapsulating soil and residue. Very biodegradable, Awesome Encap contains no butyl, ammonium, alcohol, d-limonene, etc. Awesome Encap is available scented (orange is very popular) and unscented (great for assisted living facilities and general group settings) and works amazingly well with very low dilutions.
pH: @ 9
Cost: $41.10 per gallon / Discounted on case purchases
Avg. Cleanable Area: 10k - 12k sq ft per gallon (gravity feed & spray system avg. @ 400 sq ft per gal)
Estimated Gross Product Earnings: $1,980.00 + (based on an avg. of 11k sq ft cleaned at .18 per)
Dilution: 2 oz - 8 oz per gallon, typical dilution at 4 oz.
Application: Commercial or Residential
Wool Safe: NO
TIP: If you're only going to carry one product, make it Awesome Encap. The product is economical using a low dilution and is very biodegradable. Perfect for commercial and residential use.
Angry Lemon:
Angry Lemon ranks as our second highest selling product. What makes ‘AL’ unique is its high pH and concentrated dilution. Weighing in at 12 pH, this has become the ‘go to’ product for all things extreme. Angry Lemon also boasts a great dilution of 3 oz per gallon on average. While the price tag might seem high, the sheer volume of area cleaned and results make this a truly value driven encap cleaner. Low moisture cleaners have used AL and their preferred VLM tools to tackle some of the toughest environments including greasy restaurants, trashed apartments and more. Angry Lemon is also a great crystallizing encap. No sticky residue, no wicking. You don’t need to rinse. Simply scrub ‘n go or pad extract. AL also contains a pleasant lemon scent. You can also use this on tile.
Ph: @ 12
Cost: $56.65 per gallon / Discounted on case purchases
Avg. Cleanable Area: 15k - 17k sq ft per gallon (gravity feed & spray system avg. @ 400 sq ft per gal)
Estimated Gross Product Earnings: $2,800.00 + (based on avg. of 16k sq ft cleaned at .18 per)
Dilution: 3 oz - 5 oz per gallon, typical dilution at 3 oz.
Application: Commercial or Residential (though not recommended for warrantied or stain resistant carpet)
Wool Safe: NO
TIP: One gallon should clean on average 15k sq ft or more. In other words, a little goes a long way. This will most likely not be your go to product, but it's something you'll want available for the big challenges. Always have a gallon on hand.
Green Dragon:
This has become a wildly popular cleaner and for a number of reasons. First, Green Dragon is a dual method product, meaning it performs optimally with both VLM and HWE (in fact, the biggest buyers of GD are predominately HWE). Green Dragon is also a powder which is very attractive in cold weather climates, not to mention the economy of powdered cleaners. This is a ‘green’ product, contains no butyl, ammonium, alcohol, etc. Green Dragon, however, can do an amazing job of taking on urine stains and other organics without additional boosting. Another unique feature is that it does not contain a polymer. Instead, GD relies on anti-redepositing and bonding agents. In short, soil is repelled from the fiber and as the carpet dries, so does the product. During this dry down the crystallized product is vacuumed away. Green Dragon is available in fresh scent as well as lemon. You can also use Green Dragon on tile & grout along with many other surfaces with great success.
Ph: @ 8.5
Cost: $31.95 per jar/$130.95 bucket/Discounted on case purchases
Avg. Cleanable Area: 10k - 12k sq ft per gallon (gravity feed & spray system avg. @ 400 sq ft per gal)
Estimated Gross Product Earnings: $1,980.00 + (based on an avg. of 11k sq ft cleaned at .18 per)
Dilution: 1.5 oz - 3 oz (dry scoop) per gallon, typical dilution at 2 oz.
Application: Commercial or Residential
Wool Safe: YES (test prior to use)
TIP: Great product for dual method cleaners and VLM only cleaners that are primarily residential. Cleans extremely well and leaves the carpet soft.
Simple Encap:
Simple Encap is neutral pH product that both cleans well and smells great. Despite its economy price, Simple Encap is a crystallizing product (though it has less polymer than our other encaps). The price makes it popular with volume commercial cleaners servicing accounts with frequency reducing the need for long term appearance. Ok for carpet, including wool, and upholstery.
Ph: @ 7
Cost: $27.95 per gallon / Discounted on case purchases
Avg. Cleanable Area: 6k - 8k sq ft per gallon (gravity feed & spray system avg. @ 400 sq ft per gal)
Estimated Gross Product Earnings: $1,260.00 + (based on an avg. of 7k sq ft cleaned at .18 per)
Dilution: 6 oz - 8 oz per gallon, typical dilution at 6 oz.
Application: Commercial or Residential
Wool Safe: YES
TIP: Great product you're a janitorial or commercial cleaner servicing accounts regularly (1 - 2 times monthly). Good residential product if you're a price conscious residential cleaner. Ok for upholstery and rugs.
Safe ‘n Soft:
This specialty low pH encap is an ideal candidate for that one last spot you have open on your chemical shelf. Safe ‘n Soft is a fantastic product for upholstery and natural fibers such as wool and cotton. As the name implies, it leaves fabrics very soft. Take on sofas, chairs and rugs with confidence when using Safe ‘n Soft.
pH: 5.5 - 6
Cost: $43.00 per gallon / Discounted on case purchases
Avg. Cleanable Area: 6k - 8k sq ft per gallon (gravity feed & spray system avg. @ 400 sq ft per gal)
Estimated Gross Product Earnings: $1,260.00 + (based on an avg. of 7k sq ft cleaned at .18 per)
Dilution: 6 oz - 8 oz per gallon, typical dilution at 6 oz.
Application: Residential
Wool Safe: YES
TIP: Have this product on board if you're cleaning upholstery and rugs.
Encapacide:
We face pet odor challenges on many jobs and in some cases a majority of them. Many of the products we offer, such as Awesome Encap, can be boosted with peroxide (Detonator) and take on a good number of pet challenges. However, in some cases simple solutions like this may not be enough. Situations may require additional treatments such as subsurface extraction. Others may need stronger topical odor eliminating properties. Encapacide was developed to meet the needs of VLM’ers seeking a stronger odor fighting product. However, Encapacide isn’t just an odor treatment product – it cleans too. This encap is outstanding for those seeking a one step solution. Clean and tackle odor all in one step.
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
Cost: $77.00 per gallon / Discounted on case purchases
Avg. Cleanable Area: 4k - 6k sq ft per gallon (gravity feed & spray system avg. @ 400 sq ft per gal)
Estimated Gross Product Earnings: $900.00 + (based on an avg. of 7k sq ft cleaned at .18 per)*
Dilution: 6 oz - 10 oz per gallon, typical dilution at 8 oz.
Application: Residential
Wool Safe: NO
TIP: Encapacide is a premium priced product. However, the estimated earnings above isn't accurate as most may opt to charge additional for pet/odor treatment. Due to the cost, we suggest you charge accordingly. You can also use this with your subsurface tool.
BOOSTERS/SPOTTERS
Boosters assist enhance your core cleaner. These can be added directly to your encap to enhance cleaning power and/or spot/stain treatment. Keep in mind that you don’t always need to boost your encap – in fact very, very rarely. We recommend Go-Oxy as a booster for your organic stains such as urine.
We offer additional spotters including Red Vanish, Hel-Gel and more. Take a look on the website in the ‘Spotter’ section.
Go-Oxy!:
Go-Oxy! is a peroxide product that can be added to any of our encaps or used as a stand alone spotter. It helps tackle stains, odor and gives a color ‘pop’ to dull carpet. Use on organic stains such as topical urine, coffee, (real) juice, sticky residue, blood, etc. Dilute at 5 oz per gallon for some stains and up to 10 oz for more extreme conditions.
pH: 4.0 - 4.5
Cost: $24.75 per gallon
Dilution: 5 oz - 10 oz per gallon, typical dilution at 5 oz.
Application: Commercial or Residential
Wool Safe: NO
TIP: Keep out of sunlight. Keep at proper/cool temperature. Typical dilution is 5 oz. Mix 50/50 with Awesome Encap to create a very powerful crystallizing stain spotter.
Magic Bullet:
Magic Bullet is your ‘go to’ for mystery spots, rust, filtration lines, makeup and more. Put this up against anything non-organic and see how well it performs. Outstanding product that will serve you well.
pH: 9.0 - 9.5
Cost: $48.00 per gallon / Also available in quarts and pints
Dilution: 1 oz - 3 oz per gallon as booster, 1 part MB to 2 parts water as a spotter, RTU as a super spotter
Application: Commercial or Residential
Wool Safe: NO
TIP: Outstanding for mystery spots. Great for filtration lines.
