How to Choose a Carpet Encapsulation Machine
Our encap lineup covers two cleaning actions: four Orbot floor machines and three Austrian-made TM counter-rotating brush machines. Five decisions get you to the right one.
Orbital pad or counter-rotating brush. An orbital machine moves its pad in small, fast circles, working encap solution through the carpet while the pad picks up loosened soil. A counter-rotating brush machine drives two brushes toward each other, reaching the base of the pile to pull out hair and grit and stand matted traffic lanes back up. If you can, use both: brushes first, then a pad to collect what they broke free. Deciding between our corded 17 inch orbitals? Read Orbot Vibe vs SprayBorg.
Match the machine to your carpet. Encap suits glue-down, low-pile loop and carpet tile, which is what most commercial buildings have. If your carpet is plush and high-pile, extraction serves it better. On newer carpet, check your mill's maintenance guide first, since some warranties name the cleaning methods they accept. The Orbot Vibe and SprayBorg are CRI approved.
Plan encap around extraction, not instead of it. In an office, you run encap between deep cleans to keep entrances and traffic lanes presentable, and people are back on the carpet quickly because so little water goes down. It will not remove urine, odor or heavy buildup. Pair it with periodic hot water extraction using one of our carpet extractors, and keep a carpet spotter nearby for spills between visits.
Decide how the solution goes down. Every Orbot carries its own tank and pump. With the TM machines, you pre-spray the carpet and the brushes work the solution in. Either way, your chemistry matters as much as the machine: vacuum thoroughly first, use a solution made for encapsulation, and swap Orbot pads as they load up.
Pick cord or battery by who carries the machine. If you work alone or climb stairs, the battery Slim is light enough for one person to carry and keeps cleaning while plugged in, and the LiFe brings the same hybrid power to a 17 inch deck. The corded Vibe and SprayBorg are heavier and take optional weight kits when you need more pad pressure.
Send us your square footage, the carpet you have and how often it gets cleaned, and we will match you to one of these machines. Your machine is backed by our 30-day return policy, and you can reach us through the contact page or at (855) 601-5678.
Here is how our low moisture carpet cleaning machines compare.
| Model | Cleaning action | Cleaning path | Power | Solution tank | Weight | Price |
|---|
| TM3 | Counter-rotating brush | 10 in | Corded, 110 V | Pre-spray | 35 lb | From $2,195 |
| Orbot Slim | Orbital pad | 11 in | Battery, hybrid | 0.75 gal | 28 lb (34 with tank and battery) | From $4,589 |
| TM4 | Counter-rotating brush | 15 in | Corded, 110 V | Pre-spray | 53 lb | From $2,746 |
| Orbot Vibe | Orbital pad | 17 in | Corded | 4 gal | 95 lb | From $5,449 |
| Orbot SprayBorg | Orbital pad | 17 in | Corded | 3 gal | 107 lb | From $6,089 |
| Orbot LiFe | Orbital pad | 17 in | Battery, hybrid | 3 gal | 131 lb | From $12,887 |
| TM5 | Counter-rotating brush | 20 in | Corded, 110 V | Pre-spray | 58 lb | From $2,846 |
Encap is the wrong buy if your carpet needs restoring rather than maintaining, or if most of your work is stairs and upholstery, where a portable carpet extractor does better. If you want a counter-rotating brush machine for more than encap, see our full range of CRB machines.
Frequently Asked Questions About Encap Machines
What are the downsides of encapsulation carpet cleaning?
It maintains carpet rather than restoring it. Encap traps soil in dry crystals that come out when you vacuum, so it depends on thorough vacuuming. It will not remove urine or deep buildup, and some clients doubt it at first because they see no dirty water.
What is the best encap machine for commercial carpet?
The one that fits your carpet and your crew. For carpet tile and mixed flooring, an orbital such as the Orbot Vibe cleans carpet and scrubs hard floors with one machine. For matted traffic lanes, a counter-rotating brush lifts the pile better. If you clean large open areas, the 17 and 20 inch models cover them fastest.
Can I use a 175 RPM floor buffer for encap?
Yes. Plenty of cleaners start encap with a standard rotary machine and a bonnet, and our floor buffers can do that job. The trade-off is control: a rotary pulls sideways, while an orbital has no side pull. If you already own a buffer, it is a sensible way to try encap before buying a dedicated machine.
How fast does carpet dry after encap cleaning?
Far faster than after extraction. Encap puts down a light spray instead of soaking the fibers, so little water is left to evaporate. Humid air, poor ventilation and heavy application still slow it down. Follow the dilution on your encap chemical, and run an air mover when an area must be back in use quickly.
Can an encap machine clean hard floors?
The Orbots can. With the right pad or brush, the same orbital machine scrubs VCT, cleans laminate and hardwood, and works stone, tile and grout. The TM machines are listed here for carpet encap. If you want a counter-rotating brush machine mainly for hard floors, tell us the surface and we will suggest a model.
