ICS Cleaning Specialist articles from January 2003

ICS Cleaning Specialist archives from January 2003

Credit where credit is due: 'tis the season of resolutions, revolutions, contributions (and, after those family gatherings, institutions). (Editorial Comment).
January 1, 2003... Ringing in the New Year inevitably draws out good-natured declarations of behavioral changes, both personally and professionally. This year I resolve, dear reader, to give much-deserved accolades to the centerpieces of this publication, to...

Cleaning agents and carpet cleaners: it always amazes me how many of the "carpet maintenance" problems I am called out on are really just the result of poor work practices. (Carpet Cleaning Basics).
January 1, 2003... When I first arrive at the problem site I start with a walk-through and get a look at the problems that are being encountered. The problems usually are rapid re-soiling, wicking of soils during drying and "permanent stains" (a redundant phrase,...

Is a dollar saved really a dollar earned? "My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income". (To Your Success).
January 1, 2003... Errol Flynn (1909-1959) Life is full of trade-offs. A lone wolf carpet cleaner trades the eventual "big bucks" sale of a large business empire for the freedom from employee headaches. But if you go solo, you must make alternative financial...

2003 Truckmount Equipment & Accessories Guide.(Directory)
January 1, 2003... Welcome to the 2003 Truckmount Equipment & Accessories Guide, the carpet cleaning industry's premier truckmount specifications resource. This is where you will find the movers and shakers who make up the vital underpinnings of the...

Bridgepoint "Slams" through traffic lanes. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Bridgepoint introduces Traffic Slam, a traffic lane pre-spray. Originally formulated specifically for olefin, Traffic Slam has been found to work well encapsulating filter soil and taking out fire residues, the company says. Traffic Slam...

Magic Wand brings marble to video. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Magic Wand Co. introduces "Medium to Heavy Marble Restoration," a video presentation and demonstration that takes the viewer step by step through the entire process of marble refinishing. The video begins with the cleanup process, moves to...

PowerClean gives new definition to Freedom. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... PowerClean Industries introduces the Freedom-NT series of truckmounts. Freedom-XT units include 25 HP liquid-cooled Kohler engines, Car 3CP pumps, stainless-steel waste tanks, front-mounted maintenance and lube ports, among other features. ...

Chase brings out "Dust 'n More". (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Chase Products introduces Champion Sprayon Dust 'n More, a product designed to make dust mopping mote effective. Dust mops are sprayed with the 19-ounce aerosol. Once it is completely absorbed, the pre-treared mop acts like a magnet,...

HydraMaster makes a "Fast Break". (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... HydraMaster introduces Fast Break, a super-concentrated carper pre-spray composed of solvents, surfactants and builders the company says will make fast work of the toughest traffic lanes. Fast Break breaks down surface tension to allow...

Quick-Spot Crystal deals with protein-based stains. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... H2Orange2 Quick-Spot Crystal from EnvirOx is designed to eliminate protein-based stains and odors. Quick-Spot Crystal contains a brittle polymer that encapsulates any residue or remaining soil that is removed by vacuuming, and helps prevents...

Kaivac introduces new products, enhancements at ISSA/Interclean. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Kaivac Inc. introduced six new products and enhancements at ISSA/Interclcan-USA 2002 in Las Vegas. The newest system is KaiZen, from the company's flagship No-Touch Cleaning line. KaiZen has been engineered to accommodate multiple options,...

DSC Products presents Spin-Vac. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... DSC Products Inc. presents Spin-Vac, a low-moisture cleaning system designed to encapsulate soils in crystalline polymers. Spin-Vac is meant for use with roto-brush systems followed by vacuuming. According to DSC, Spin-Vac will not powder...

PCI Products unveils Mirage SVS gum remover. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... PCI Products Co. has unveiled the Mirage SVS gum remover. Using vapor-steam technology and a water-based cleaning solution, the unit removes gum from hard surfaces and carpet. The Mirage SVS can also be used to clean up food and beverage...

MMS Meter features grains-per-pound readouts. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... GE Protimeter North America has developed a specific humidity function for its premier MMS Moisture Measurement System that provides data on the moisture content in the air. Specific humidity is the weight of water contained in the air, often...

Calendar of industry events.(Calendar)
January 1, 2003... Conventions & Trade Shows JAN. 27-28: Academy of Textiles & Flooring Inspections Seminar, Las Vegas. Call (800) 551-9378. JAN. 28-31: Surfaces 2003 Exhibition and Trade Show, Las Vegas. Call (972) 536-6336. FEB. 27-MARCH...

Mytee introduces Bac-Vac back vacuum. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Mytee Products Inc. unveils the BacVac, a 6-quart back vacuum. Bac-Vac features 124 feet of water lift and a 15-foot, 1 1/2-inch vacuum hose designed for cleaning hard-to-reach areas. Bac-Vac is based on a light-weight, ergonomic design and...

Cello offers an array of carpet care products. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Cello offers an array of carper care products, including Carpet Sanitizing Cleaner, Acid Plus, Extracto, Carpet & Upholstery Protector, Hospitality Care & Upholstery Protector and Defoamer. Cello also offers a series of carper maintainers...

Fiber Refresh formulated to neutralize residue. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Steam Way's Fiber Refresh Acid Rinse Detergent has been formulated to neutralize pre-spray residue. This action is designed to leave a softer feel to carper, stabilize color and prevent browning and yellowing, according to Steam Way. Fiber...

Freezedry Specialties adds computer control to Ultra-Dry line. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Freezedry Specialties has made computer controls available on its Ultra-Dry line of freeze-dry machines. These machines are designed for use in the disaster recovery and water removal markets. The controller automates the machine's cycle...

Magic Wand conjures marble cleaning video. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Magic Wand Co. has produced "Learn Marble Cleaning & Light Restoration in 10 Minutes or Less," a video presentation and demonstration designed to assist and educate new entrants to the marble cleaning and restoration segment of the cleaning...

Rug Doctor Pro extractor now features Quick Dry. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Rug Doctor Pro now includes a Quick Dry feature designed to provide fast spill cleanup to extend carper life. The new solution and machine system is meant to dry carpets within an hour, according to the company. The extractor is available...

Hydro-Force releases latest Door Jam model. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Hydro-Force has released its latest Door Jam model, a pillow-like pad fitted to a customer's door. The product is designed to provide a barrier against weather, animals and insects while allowing cleaning hoses to pass unimpeded through the...

Bridgepoint's Maxim Protector line available. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Bridgepoint Systems offers its Maxim Protector line with an array of material to help cleaners sell protector to their clients. The Maxim line includes Maxim, Maxim HF and Maxim Fine Fabric. The line covers both carpet and upholstery....

Un-Duz-It formulation enhanced. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Un-Duz-It has been designed to correct pet odor problems and to remove organic-related staining. The product's formulation has been recently enhanced, according to Unsmoke. Un-Duz-It is formulated to utilize bioenzymatic actions as a...

Group publishes books for commercial, residential cleaners. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... The Knouen Group, through Entaecan Publications, has published "Commercial and Residential Cleaning Services: A Resource Guide to Developing and Maintaining Your Own Janitorial or Home Cleaning Business," by Walter Fenix. The book is...

Esteam emulsifier is residue-free. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Esteam Performance CBS is a powdered emulsifier designed to leave carpets, clean, bright, soft and residue-free, according to Esteam. Performance CBS incorporates solvents, wetting agents and brighteners to emulsify soils in both...

HydraMaster upholstery tool sports new look. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... HydraMaster Corp.'s DriMaster Upholstery Tool now sports a glossy black body and silver label. The new finish has been designed to be more resilient to the every day handling. The DriMaster features a "jerless" water delivery system and...

HOST Shaker Pak contains 2.5 pounds of cleaner. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... The portable, handheld Shaker Pak from HOST contains 2.5 pounds of cleaner for immediate carpet cleanup of spots and spills, including common per accidents and drink spills. The cleaner is designed to remove soil and grease from carper. The...

Kent/Euroclean introduces PerfectClean System. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Kent/Euroclean introduces a new line of high-performance cleaning materials known as the PerfectClean System, the centerpiece of which is a tiny fiber with sharp edges and pointed corners. Known as ultramicrofiber, the wedge-shaped,...

PMF catalog contains look at product offerings. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... PMF's catalog offers a look at the company's complete offering of upholstery tools, stair and crevice tools, wands, specialty tools, repair kits and other products, as well as price lists and accessories. The 58-page catalog includes full-color...

For Hydro-Force, "Less" is more. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Hydro-Force introduces Foam-Less, a liquid formula designed to help extend the life of truckmounts and portable extractors by cutting down on the amount of foam with which the machines must contend. Foam makes extractors work harder than...

BlindMaid lets you see the light. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... The BlindMaid from Hi-Lite Enterprises is a professional, all-in-one (cleaning, drying and repairing) portable mini-blind cleaning system. The system is designed for cleaning contractors, environmental services, maintenance departments and...

Bridgepoint, Partridge on the fast track. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Bridgepoint Systems and marketing expert Howard Partridge are collaborating to launch a new marketing and management program. The FAST TRACK Marketing & Management System will cover all aspects of building a successful cleaning business,...

3M introduces new tile and grout protector. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... The commercial care division of 3M introduces Scotchgard Tile & Grout Protector, a ready-to-sue, water-based protector for unglazed ceramic tile, quarry tile and masonry grout. The formula penetrates and bonds with porous tile and grout. ...

Royal unveils all-new commercial vacuum line. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co. introduces a new line of commercial vacuums the company says are designed to work "long and hard." The RY5000 soft-bag vacuum features Royal Aire filtration, a HEPA-type system the company says traps 100...

Namco unleashes a Texas Twister. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Namco Manufacturing introduces the Fast Dry, 25 HP Texas Twister truck-mounted carpet cleaner. The basic unit comprises 200 feet of high-pressure solution hoses, 200 feet of 2-inch vacuum hoses, a propane-fueled or heat-exchanger water heater,...

Esteam makes stains "Vanish". (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Esteam's Vanish is specifically formulated to remove coffee, fruit juice and red wine stains for carpet quickly and easily, the company says. Vanish can be applied with the company's new Spray-Pack system, which automatically mixes the amount...

PBR Industries makes odors go "POOF". (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... PBR Industries introduces POOF, a product that the company says "absorbs odors like an invisible sponge." PBR says POOF is all-natural, biodegradable, non-toxic and completely organic, as well as being safe for use near people and animals. ...

Windsor rolls out the red carpet. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Windsor introduces the Super Extraction System, a two-part system of Red Carpet Super Pre-Spray and Red Carpet Super-Conditioning Rinse. Super Pre-Spray meets specifications for use on stain-resistant carpeting, with concentrated cleaning...

BlueLine introduces ThermalWave 5M. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... BlueLine Equipment Co. introduces the ThermalWave 5M truckmount offering what the company describes as "long life and reliable performance." The ThermalWave 5M features the Zenith ZEEMS Fuel Injection System, a Nissan A-15 water-cooled, 49...

Leica announces fifth generation of DISTO. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Leica Geosystems introduces the fifth generation of DISTO handheld laser distance measuring tools for the North American market. The new generation is available in two models. The DISTO Lite5 is the entry-level product, designed with an...

Oxygon introduces new family of cleaners. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Oxygon Technologies Inc. introduces Oxyscrub, a family of hydrogen peroxide-based cleaners and stain removal products. Oxyscrub comes in two formulations, Fabric-Carpet Cleaner and Deodorizer and Hard Surface Cleaner and Deodorizer. Both are...

Business Growth Masters offer turnkey system. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Business Growth Masters is a turnkey and systemized sales, marketing and management system developed specifically for the carpet cleaning industry. The systems includes 30 training videos, 30 audio tapes, a step-by-step marketing plan and...

Aqua Mix "Solvs" stone seal problems. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Aqua Mix introduces Pro-Solv 10 and Pro-Solv 10 Stone Sealer. The low-odor, solvent-based sealers are described by the company as being "ideal for polished and unpolished stone, as well as porcelain, quarry, saltillo and grout." Pro-Solv...

Milban offers treatment to control mold, mildew. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Harvard Chemical Research introduces Milban 1-2-3, a new treatment for the control of mold and mildew, as well as for sanitizing carper against odor-causing bacteria. Milban 1-2-3 is EPA registered and is labeled specifically for the...

Jordan David provides a strong grip. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Jordan David introduces GRIP-X High Traction Footwear, designed to provide superior slip resistance in all winter conditions including ice, snow and slush. GRIP-X fits over work shoes and boots, and features 16 traction spikes designed to...

Side buckets add capacity to SmartMopBucket. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Unger adds to the carrying capacity of its standard SmartMopBucket with snap-on, dual SmartMop SideBuckets. The attachments are designed to allow for storing additional tools when a cart in unavailable. The SmartMop SideBuckets are part of...

2003 truckmount equipment accessories guide.(Directory)
January 1, 2003... PowerClean Industries 5617 W. 120th St. Alsip, IL 60803 Phone: (800) 378-0380 Fax: (708) 388-0381 E-mail: Pcikeith@inyc.com Internet: www.powercleanind.com Model: Patriot: XT-Series Accessories: Stainless...

White Magic announces new web site. (Industry News & Information).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... White Magic announces the introduction of its new web site, located at www.whitemagicinc.com. The goal of the new venture, according to the company, is to integrate the manufacturer, service technicians, distributors and customers to achieve...

Tuckerman appointed sales and applications technician. (Industry News & Information).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Giant Industries Inc. has appointed Tad Tuckerman as sales and applications technician. Tuckerman comes to Giant from the high-pressure jetting industry with knowledge of various applications and systems utilized by high-pressure water, the...

IICRC enhances certification programs. (Industry News & Information).(Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification has enhanced its examination programs for certification to adjust to its ongoing growth as a leading authority in inspection, cleaning and restoration. The IICRC Exams...

MitePro offers mattress-cleaning services. (Industry News & Information).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Buena Park, Calif.-based MitePro has adopted a mattress-cleaning approach that the company says has been used in Europe and in hospital settings for more than a decade, and applied it for use in the North American residential segment. The...

NADCA to launch new training programs at annual expo. (Industry News & Information).(National Air Duct Cleaners Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The National Air Duct Cleaners Association is launching three new intensive training programs in Indoor Environments 2003 at the Wyndham Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., March 4-8. The new training programs will include a...

Magic Wand, BRC to host business seminar. (Industry News & Information).
January 1, 2003... Magic Wand Co. and BRC Systems will host a one-day business infrastructure building seminar in Chicago, Feb. 7. The seminar will be taught by two multitruck operators. Topics to be covered include how to get off the truck, hiring your first...

Oxygon announces two new sales agencies. (Industry News & Information).(Oxygon Technologies; Dimeo-Gale Company Inc. and Premier Marketing Assoc. Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Oxygon Technologies announces the contracting of two new sales agencies. Dimeo-Gale Co. Inc. will be covering the Upstate New York market. The company has 20-plus years of experience in that market. Premier Marketing Assoc. Inc. will be...

Bridgepoint introduces new cleaning network. (Industry News & Information).(Bridgepoint Systems, Howard Partridge)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Bridgepoint Systems introduces the new Bridgepoint Cleaning Network for 2003. One of the main focuses of the new network is fast track education, a cornerstone of which is a new partnership with marketing expert Howard Partridge to create Fast...

Peter Paul's conversion is making it merry. (Industry News & Information).(Peter Paul Electronics Company Inc. converts to lean manufacturing technology)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Peter Paul Electronics Co., Inc. is converting its valve and solenoid production operations to Lean manufacturing technology to help meet increasing demand for custom orders and faster delivery. Using traditional manufacturing methods, it...

Tanner appointed special markets manager. (News).(Pacific Floor Care)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Allan Tanner has been named as special markets manager for Pacific Floor Care. He will be responsible for developing new business opportunities with building service contractors, national multi-location accounts and buying groups. Tanner...

Dri-Eaz welcomes two new instructors. (News).(Ken Larsen and Tim Lema join Dri-Eaz Products Inc. )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Dri-Eaz Products Inc. announces the addition of two new instructors to the company's educational team. Ken Larsen, CR, WLS, cofounder of CR Restorations Ltd., and Tim Lema, former district manager with Munrers Moisture Control, bring a...

Make choices for the future now. (Notes from the Trenches).
January 1, 2003... A funny thing happened to me on the road to middle age. It suddenly occurred to me that physically, I could not quite do the things I did 20 years ago. That's right. After 20 years of feeling invincible and being the best I could be, I...

Steam Way introduces Sidekick 6100. (Products: Tools & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Steam Way International introduces the Sidekick 6100 truckmount, a machine the company describes as "the perfect upgrade for professional cleaners who want to increase their cleaning effectiveness and productivity." The Sidekick 6100 is...