ICS Cleaning Specialist articles from February 2006

ICS Cleaning Specialist archives from February 2006

A little help from our friends: ICS has a tremendous group of columnists and contributors whose articles are filled with the insight and experience you crave, that's a given. However, in recent months we've found our archive of images running a bit low. So we decided to dust off the old Sunart Vidi and restock the shelves.(Editorial Comment)
February 1, 2006... It's a real treat anytime you find yourself in the company of first-class professionals, even more so when those same professionals are willing to spend time away from the job to help you achieve your goals. Noel Saenz of ProLine Carpet...

Your insurance agent--a valuable friend: when you are running a cleaning or restoration business and trying to make sure all your bases are covered, there is great value in working with a good insurance agent.(Building a Profitable Business)
February 1, 2006... In the modern business climate, only a fool would dare operate a service business without the proper insurance in place. The challenge, however, is that this business of insurance is very complex, and has the tendency to be very confusing. It...

The greening of carpet cleaning.
February 1, 2006... Without question, carpet is a preferred and widely used floor covering. There are almost 200 billion square feet of carpet currently installed in more than 100 million buildings in the U.S. In 2004, 21 billion square feet of carpet was...

Chlorine dioxide and mold remediation.(IEQ Q&A)(Interview)
February 1, 2006... Q: I recently read that chlorine dioxide was used to remediate mold in a building. Why is it that this process is not mentioned the S520 Mold Remediation Standard? A: Chlorine dioxide is a biocide that can be used as a gas or as a liquid....

Proper floor polish application: understanding how to apply floor polishes (seals, finishes and seal/finishes) is essential for the contemporary floor maintenance technician.(Hard Floor Maintenance Opportunities)
February 1, 2006... Although many floor-covering categories require polish, it is the vinyl composite tile (VCT) classification in the resilient flooring category that the technician will be most exposed to. From the time this floor is installed until it is...

What's that smell? One of the most common requests a carpet cleaner gets is to deodorize the carpet or furniture that is being cleaned.(Carpet Cleaning Basics)
February 1, 2006... Quite often, this is an easy request to fill, since cleaning is the first step in odor control or deodorization. A basic rule of odor control is that the source of the odor must be removed or contained. The process of hot-water extracting...

Instruments for detecting urine: before talking about the tools and methods used for urine detection, let's review a few other important aspects of urine contamination in our customers' homes.(The Gadget Man)
February 1, 2006... If you think of urine as your enemy, you might consider a change in your thinking. The removal of urine and its odors create a multi-million dollar industry every year. With proper understanding of your little yellow friend, you, the...

HydraMaster introduces latest CDS technology.(Products)
February 1, 2006... HydraMaster's latest CDS technology "is better than ever for 2006," the company said. The company's Overdrive technology is joined by a new ISC van-integrated speed control system that acts like a "CDS cruise control" that keeps the engine at...

Magic Wand introduces new deodorizer.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Magic Wand Co. introduces Fresh 'n Clean deodorizer, "the only powdered deodorizer ever made," according to Magic Wand. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A concentrate that has to be mixed with water, Fresh 'n Clean has a fragrance the company...

FLIR launches the B2.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The ThermaCAM B2 infrared camera from FLIR "offers a non-invasive means of monitoring and diagnosing the conditions of a building--providing immediate high-resolution thermal imagery, revealing potential structural and moisture issues, energy...

Harvard Chemical flushes out urine.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Flush Out Urine Decontamination Pretreatment from Harvard Chemical Research has been introduced to the company's line of products for the treatment of pet stains and odors. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Flush Out helps prevent the release of...

Bridgepoint gets a Jump Start.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The Jump Start Upholstery Cleaning module from Bridgepoint "provides all the technical training you'll need to fill you customers' upholstery cleaning needs," the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The module outlines the proper...

Theochem takes on mold and mildew.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Moldstat from Theochem Laboratories is a concentrated EPA-registered biocide the company says, "effectively eliminates a broad spectrum of bacteria including mold and mildew." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Moldstat can be used on both porous...

Calendar of industry events.(Calendar)
February 1, 2006... Conventions & Trade Shows FEB. 1-3: SURFACES 2006 Las Vegas. Call (972) 536-6336 MARCH 5-9: NADCA CONVENTION Dallas. Call (202) 737-2926 MARCH 14-17: ASCR SOLUTIONS CONVENTION Savannah, Ga. Call (800)...

Scot Labs gets Moptastic.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Scot's TUFF Moptastic Plus! Floor Finish from Scot Laboratories is designed to clean, shine and protect floors in one step. Regular use will extend the service life of the floor finish and leave a "pleasing" appearance, the company said. ...

NSS takes the cord out of the vacuuming equation.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The battery-powered Colt 800 PB Wet/Dry Vacuum from NSS Enterprises "is ideal for wet entryways, food and liquid spills in occupied areas, and any location where an electrical outlet is unavailable," the company said. [ILLUSTRATION...

Spot remover from Enviro-Solutions.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Certified "green" by the Environmental Choice Program, ES88 spot and stain remover from Enviro-Solutions is a concentrated stain remover and pre-spray that penetrates and dissolves carpet stains and spots. The user sprays ES88 directly on the...

Floodwaters have a new King.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The Flood King from U.S. Products is a new, innovative water-extraction machine that does not roll on four wheels, but instead stands up, enhancing maneuverability, the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The waist-high handle and...

Kleenrite rolls out the X-VAC.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The X-VAC Pile Lifter from Kleenrite "provides X-treme soil removal of dry particles imbedded in carpet fibers that most vacuums cannot touch, and also delivers X-treme pile-lifting capabilities unmatched by standard commercial vacuums," the...

White Magic takes control.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The Advanced 3-Speed Electronic Throttle Control from White Magic, Inc. provides the user with consistent RPM from the blower, according to the company. The throttle compensates when a vacuum load is put on it. Direct-drive systems can be...

Power distribution centers put stock in safety.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Injectidry's Power Distribution Centers are UL-listed and can run as separate units or be daisy chained. They are designed to act as the feeder for smaller spider-type boxes or wired for powering large equipment. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Not single, not double, but Triple Action.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Esteam introduces Triple Action, an odor neutralizer the company says will eliminate odor problems by chemically neutralizing them. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Triple Action "effectively removes odors including urine, skunk, vomit and many...

Butler takes multi-surface approach.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The Butler Corp.'s Maximum Multi-Surface Cleaner is "exclusively formulated to dissolve hard-to-remove soils, dirt, grime, oil, soot, grease, etc. on contact," the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to Butler, Maximum...

Dry-Air unleashes Force 9.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The Force 9 air mover, fabricated by Dry-Air and exclusively distributed by Jon-Don, is "perhaps the single most requested piece of equipment we sell," Jon-Don Marketing Manager Jacki Fry said. The Force 9 design "dramatically reduced the...

Bridgepoint goes soap free.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Bridgepoint Systems introduces Prolon, what the company describes as "a soap-free solution to cleaning carpet and upholstery. A liquid as concentrated as a powder." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pre-dissolved to save time and prevent...

Harvard takes urine to school.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Harvard Chemical Research introduces Yellow Out Urine Stain Remove to its line of products for the treatment of pet stains and odor. The user sprays the product directly onto the stain to remove stubborn residual color, the company said. Yellow...

Mobile-Dry: what a concept.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Concepts & Designs introduces Mobile-Dry desiccant dehumidification systems for a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The system is comprised of large-capacity desiccant dehumidifiers to...

Prochem scales truckmount peaks.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The Everest truckmount from Prochem is "the culmination of over 26 years of truckmount experience," the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The basis for the Everest is a patented heat-exchange system. The system captures heat from...

Sunbelt Rentals publishes new catalog.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Sunbelt Rentals' 2005/2006 Full Line catalog is 256 full-color pages of one of the broadest ranges of rental equipment available. The catalog includes carpet extractors, floor buffers, scrubbers, stair tool, strippers and more. ...

Sensible Life goes Atomic.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Sensible Life Products has launched its Botanical Atomic Fire & Soot Cleaner & Degreaser, a high-performance cleaner and degreaser formulated to seek and remove particulate at the atomic level with minimal agitation. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Tornado introduces color-coding system for brushes.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Tornado Industries introduces a new system to help standardize the brush colors used for cylindrical floor machines that matches the widely accepted color-coding scheme used by traditional pad manufacturers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The...

Butler offers hot-water extraction detergent.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Butler's Maximum Truckmount Detergent is a concentrated hot-water extraction detergent for use in truck-mounts and portable extraction machines, an "exclusive formulation of surfactants, alkaline builders, foam controlling agents, corrosion...

The Rocket Sprayer takes off.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The Rocket Sprayer from Taraco Enterprises is a 12-volt, 5-gallon, battery-operated sprayer. The sprayer works as both a backpack and cart sprayer, and features a tank with molded receptacles for pump-pressure adjustment and battery-recharging...

Sure Seal aims for wet-look shine.(Products)
February 1, 2006... Sure Seal Hi-Gloss Stone Enhancer is designed to create a long-lasting "wet-look" shine while protecting marble, granite, slate, saltillo tile, limestone, travertine, quarry tile and more from stains. Hi-Gloss Stone Enhancer "is ideal for...

Tornado whips up new brush scrubber.(Products)
February 1, 2006... The BR 750 cylindrical brush scrubber from Tornado Industries features a 37-inch squeegee and enhanced vacuum systems for quick, thorough dirty-water pickup, and 21-gallon solution and recovery tanks for "efficient operation and enhanced worker...

BRC adds marketing system to product lineup.(Products)
February 1, 2006... BRC Systems Solutions has added The BRC Marketing System to it line of cleaning and restoration-related business-building products and services. Founded by two cleaners and restorers, BRC provides products and services to industry...

P&G takes the All-Around approach.(Products)
February 1, 2006... P&G Pro Line All-Around Floor Finish "helps increase productivity by providing outstanding shine that lasts without frequent recoating or refinishing," the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] All-Around has been enhanced with an...

Equipment buy-and-sell forum launched.(Products)
February 1, 2006... LGRTrader.com is "an online destination where buyers and sellers of returned, off-lease, used, demo, off-rental, and refurbished carpet cleaning and disaster restoration equipment can meet to buy and sell," the company said. The classified...

MasterBlend adds to marketing tools.(Products)
February 1, 2006... MasterBlend is offering "Indoor Allergies," the May 2005 special produced by CNN, for sale on CD-ROM. CNN's Anderson Cooper "illuminates the world of [dust mites] that proliferate in 99 percent of American homes," the company said. ...

Rising above the mediocre--part I.(cleaning services)
February 1, 2006... "It is a wretched taste to be gratified with mediocrity when the excellent lies before us." --Isaac D'Israeli Carpet cleaning is potentially a great industry. Low entry costs, high net profits, the freedom to set your own schedule and,...

2006 carpet-cleaning chemical market study.
February 1, 2006... Welcome to ICS Cleaning Specialist magazine's fourth commissioned market study designed to measure the opinions and preferences of floor care and restoration professionals as they pertain to the use of carpet-cleaning chemicals and equipment....

Leave the sampling to the professionals.
February 1, 2006... If you are following the IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation, then your remediation project will fall into one of two categories. The first would be that the entire building is contaminated and you need an...

Touching on odors: while a comprehensive article on odor remediation would take up much more space than I'm allotted, I'd like to touch on some of the basics regarding the essential and potentially lucrative add-on service of odor control. Call it "odor control 101.".(Notes from the Trenches)
February 1, 2006... I use the terms 'potentially' and 'add-on service.' The term 'potentially' is inserted in the aforementioned sentence because, sadly, many carpet-cleaning companies do not charge a penny for basic deodorization. It's included with their...

Green Seal welcomes new standard sponsors.(Industry)
February 1, 2006... Green Seal announces six new sponsors of the Green Seal Environmental Standard for Cleaning Services. The new sponsors are Kaivac, Wausau Paper/Bay West, Advanced Vapor Technologies, the BSCAI, Racine Industries and Ecolab. "We are...

ASCR announces keynote speaker.(Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... The Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration announces that customer service expert Chip Bell will be the keynote speaker for the 61st Annual Convention and Exhibition in Savannah, Ga., March 14-17. "Keeping our members on...

LMCCA elects new board of directors.(appointments)(Low Moisture Carpet Cleaners Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... The Low Moisture Carpet Cleaners Association has elected its board of directors for 2006. The board consists of Mark Warner, president; Mark Cermak, vice president, marketing; Derek Smith, international vice president; John Holibaugh, vice...

NADCA hosts 17th annual meeting.(conferences)(National Air Duct Cleaners Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... The National Air Duct Cleaners Association will host its 2006 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Dallas, March 5-8, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas Hotel. The program "is packed with sessions that emphasize marketing tools, energy management, and...

Sam Robin, former Pacific Floor Care owner, dies.(obituary)(Obituary)
February 1, 2006... Sam Robin, Pacific Floor Care consultant and former owner, died Dec. 3, 2005 at his home after a brief illness. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Robin started his career as a sanitary supply distributor before acquiring Pacific Floor Machine...

Interlink Supply expands its reach.(Industry)
February 1, 2006... The group of Interlink Supply stores owned by Bridgepoint Systems has expanded to 12 with the news of its two latest acquisitions. Largo, Fla.-based Innovative Cleaning Systems Owner Ron Saunders is retiring and has sold his store to the...

Bio-technology feasts on concrete stains.(Industry)
February 1, 2006... Novozymes Biologicals has developed a strain of a bacterium that can degrade or eat polyaromatic petroleum hydrocarbons, a strain that various manufacturers are incorporating in concrete-cleaning products. The patent-pending surfactant...

Vehicle of the month.(Sodeman's Maintenance Service)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Name: Jeff Sodeman Company Name: Sodeman's Maintenance Service Address: 12188 Central #357 City: Chino State: California ZIP: 91710 Phone: (909) 465-0060 Vehicle Make/Model/Year: 1990 E350XLT L.A. County...