ICS Cleaning Specialist articles from July 2007

ICS Cleaning Specialist archives from July 2007

What was it about Bob? For those who may not have heard, Robert "Bob" Wittkamp, well-known industry figure, ICS columnist and consummate cleaning professional, died June 13. He was 64 years old.(Editorial Comment)(Editorial)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Bob was born Sept. 2, 1942 in Muskegon, Mich., moving to Florida about 20 years later. During the past month his numerous accomplishments and achievements have been held high for all to see, for everyone to realize the true impact the smiling,...

pH measurement and meters: it has been a few years, but I can still remember when my parents gave me my "Junior Scientist" chemistry set. It included both red and blue litmus paper that would change color when dipped in various solutions. Neat! It was my introduction to the principles of pH balance, knowledge I'd be using for the rest of my life.(The Gadget Man)
July 1, 2007... With the passage of time came progress. By the time I attended my first carpet-cleaning class, you only needed a single roll of pH paper to perform the same tests that had required two kinds of litmus paper. I had a great time checking out the...

Turning a tragedy around: a tale of rapid response and cooperation.
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It was the phone call no one wants to receive. Robert Sheeley, associate vice president of facilities at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Conn., was awakened in the early hours of the morning...

The silent kiss of death every day small businesses are suffering a "silent kiss of death" because of one simple thing: the way their telephone is answered.(Marketing Strategies That Work)
July 1, 2007... The way you answer your telephone is incredibly important. At this critical point, your caller will make several immediate assumptions about you and your company. They will make assumptions about the value of your service, whether you know what...

What does the OSH act say?(Ieq Q & A)(Cover story)
July 1, 2007... Q: I have read that as a restorer we may need to consider the General Duty Clause, but I am not clear on how that applies to performing remediation services especially when most of our work is accomplished with subcontractors and while we are...

Self-limiting beliefs and carpet protectors: the biggest challenge in terms of selling more protector (and anything else, for that matter) is our own mistaken beliefs about what our customers think. Somehow, we cleaners have come to believe that we have some sort of special mind-reading powers.(Putting The Pieces Together)
July 1, 2007... It's worth pointing out that nothing can hold you back more than your own firmly held self-limiting beliefs. Remember, whether you think you can or you can't--you're right. That said, let's look at another one of the biggest reasons that...

Dri-Eaz shows who's the boss.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dri-Eaz Products' EB1400 portable environmental control unit offers maximum versatility. The first product from the company's EnviroBoss line was designed to "provide the ultimate control for balancing temperature,...

No tank? No problem.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... Namco's new "No Tank" 13 H.P., 3.6 blower carpet cleaner with a 16-tube stainless steel heat exchanger features a 2,000 PSI Hypro water pump, two balloon air tires and more. The truckmount can be installed with an auto pump-out dirty water...

Prochem expands green line of chemicals.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Prochem continues to expand its popular line of Axiom Clean Green cleaning products by offering a powdered form of the powerful detergent. The powder detergent is just as effective as the liquid counterpart and...

Bi-O-Kleen looks for the natural solution.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... Bi-O-Kleen unveils Soy Lube SL-100, a natural alternative to highly toxic, hazardous lubricants that contain dangerous petroleum distillates, harmful vapors, VOCs and acids. Conventional lubricants must be labeled with warnings because of...

Hydro-Shelf stacks up nicely.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hydro-Force has designed a new shelf to fit on top of its Hydro-Well fresh water reservoir. The Hydro-Shelf makes extra space in the van for up to six gallon-size chemical jugs. The durable steel construction...

Butler cleaner stops traffic.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Butler Corp.'s Maximum Traffic Lane Cleaner is "exclusively formulated for fiber penetration and soil suspension with an aggressive concentration of softeners, foam suppressors and surface tension soil breakers," the...

Conventions & trade shows.(Calendar of Industry Events)(Calendar)
July 1, 2007... SEPT. 12-14: Connections Convention and Trade Show Las Vegas. Call (888) 881-1001 OCT. 23-27: ISSA/Interclean 2007 Orlando, Fla. Call (800) 225-4772 OCT. 23-27 RIA Fall Conference Garden Grove, Calif. Call...

Injectidry pulls some serious "G"s.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Utilize 220V range and dryer outlets with Injectidry's "G" Series Temporary Power Boxes, U.L. listed and engineered using the latest in GFCI technology. New electrical adapters allow for easy connections to all...

HOS goes the all-in-one route.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The HOS Floor Machine from Hruby Orbital Systems is an all-in-one low-moisture carpet and hard-floor cleaning machine engineered to "liberate and absorb soil by utilizing oscillating-drive technology, which creates a...

Sun-Belt guide celebrates 25 years.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 25th Anniversary Edition of the Sun-Belt USA Direct Buyers Guide was published earlier this year, 152 pages of products, tools and equipment for professional carpet and upholstery cleaning; carpet dyeing and...

Dri-Eaz bracket makes for easy storage.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In response to customer requests, Dri-Eaz introduces the F362 Equipment Storage Bracket for hanging the latest models of Sahara TurboDryers in vans for better transporting. The brackets are black powder-coated...

Burnishers smooth out the gloss.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The P Series from Tornado is a line of high-speed floor machines with precision-balanced weight distribution and pressure that "provides greater efficiency, improved productivity and produces a smooth, high-gloss...

Nilodor pile brush now CRI-approved.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... The Certified Model "S" Pile Brush from Nilodor has recently been approved by the Carpet and Rug Institute for commercial-grade carpet. The Certified Model "S" is designed to help improve IAQ throughout a facility; enhance performance of...

MasterBlend goes back to the Well.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Water Well from MasterBlend has been improved for 2007 with an increase in wheel well clearance to 13 inches. The increased clearance will allow installation of the 100-gallon, rotationally molded tank over...

Tabac-Attack clears the air.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... The 3 Step Tabac-Attack System from Unsmoke "quickly and permanently removes tobacco-related odors from affected materials and surfaces," the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Residue and malodor from ongoing tobacco smoking...

Ready for the next Evolution.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Evolution from U.S. Products is "the first and only rotationally molded carpet wand on the market," the company said. The Evolution weighs 6.5 pounds, making it easier to work with and helping to reduce...

It's Easy being Green.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Steam Way introduces the Easy Green line of products formulated to comply with the EPA guidelines designed for the Environment (DfE) Program. The line was developed with Steam Way's pH-iber Guard technology "to...

Butler introduces Truckmount Detergent.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... Butler Corp.'s Maximum Truckmount Detergent is "an exclusive formulation of surfactants, alkaline builders, foam-controlling agents, corrosion inhibitors and deodorants for use as a primary rinse or 'flushing' agent for suspended soils...

PMF unveils new valve.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... PMF introduces its latest high-pressure cast stainless steel valve. The #V1245S is stainless steel with Teflon seals and a heavy-duty dipped trigger handle. The new valve is capable of high pressures, and is corrosion and wear-resistant,...

Bi-O-Kleen powder has a certain glow.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fiber Glow Powder from Bi-O-Kleen is "the ideal product for both hot-water extractors and pressure spray and rinse systems," the company said. Fiber Glow Powder contains non-toxic inhibitors to prevent mildew...

New technology makes cleaning quieter, cord-free.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Quiet Power Technology from Pro- Team is a sound-baffling innovation that company has applied to both a backpack and canister model. Both units allow the operators to shift from "Power Mode" to "Quiet Mode" with the...

Odor Hunter is on the prowl.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... Odor Hunter Instant Odor Eliminator from Sostram Corp. features "a unique mode of action that enables it to instantly bond with odor molecules to provide the fastest, most broad-spectrum odor control available," the company said. Not a...

Sun and soil protection in one.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... Solar Shield Protection from Sun & Soil LLC is "the first anti-soil fabric protector created to prevent stains and stop 'sun fading,'" the company said. Designed specifically to protect patio furniture, car interiors, boat interiors, etc.,...

Namco introduces new fogger.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Namco's new Micro-Fogger and Triple Acting Bacteria Enzyme "removes urine, both human and pet smells, smoke, food, and dead animal and body problems," the company said, and "will also eliminating the musty smell...

Extractor solution cleans carpets, kills odors.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ES 87, Enviro-Solutions' carpet extractor cleaning solution, has long been recognized for its performance. It has a blend of cleaning agents that break down and emulsify embedded soils, allowing them to be quickly...

Bridgepoint finds a balance.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... Bridgepoint introduces Green Balance Carpet Prespray, Carpet Extraction Rinse and Neutralizing Rinse. The CRI recently gave Green Balance Carpet Prespray and Extraction Rinse the Seal of Approval for carpet and rug cleaning systems, "proving...

Centrum Force unveils the Centri-Maxx.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Centri-Maxx from Centrum Force is the first "Dual Port" rug centrifuge of its kind. The unique design allows the operator to load and unload from either end, maximizing the use of the cylinder and operator time. ...

Kaivac goes after germs and bacteria.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kaivac, Inc. introduces the KaiVac 1720, a machine designed to remove harmful germs and bacteria from a host of surfaces. The 1720 has a pressure rating of 200 PSI, a 17-gallon tank and a HEPA-filtered exhaust to...

CAT Pumps adds to lineup.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CAT PUMPS has added several new 35 Frame Flushed Pump Models to its line. The new C-flushed pump models 3521C, 3531C and 3541C are available with a 316SS cast head offering strength and corrosion resistance. The...

New brochure from Dresser ROOTS.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new 16-page, four-color brochure, describing the company's entire line of blowers and compressors, is now available from Dresser ROOTS. "Dresser ROOTS Blowers and Compressors" gives an account of company...

Taking a shot with the Hitman.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... Hitman Advertising is devoted to teaching nothing but how to create targeted, profitable advertising. There are 29 tested and proven ads in the system as examples of each lesson taught. The system includes ad campaigns that target consumers...

Omegasonics unveils latest model.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Omegasonics introduces the Restoration Pro 3600XW. A hybrid between the Fire Pro 5200 and 3600 models, the XW system combines 36-inch tank length with a working width of 24 inches. The unit is portable for...

Franchise program for the stone industry.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... The Stone Shop International introduces what is believed to be the first-ever Stone Industry fabrication franchise business program. The Stone Shop provides appropriate equipment packages, fabricator training, sales and marketing, sales...

Karcher unveils full-size electric-powered hot water pressure washers.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Karcher has introduced a new line of full-sized, electric-powered, diesel-heated hot water pressure washers. The eight models of this new line deliver cleaning power of up to 3,000 PSI. All come with Karcher's...

Cleaning with the drop of a tablet.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Milliken & Co. has extended its product line to include Drop 'n Go, a concentrated pro-steam tab for carpet steam-cleaning machines. Formulated in a concentrated dry tablet, Drop 'n Go tablets can simply be...

OnFloor strikes at efficiency, maneuverability.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... The Striker Automatic Scrubber from OnFloor Technologies holds twice as much water as competitive models, the company said, reducing down time for filling and empting tanks. The unique 150-degree turning radius give the Striker more...

Onset introduces new tool for HOBO data loggers.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Onset Computer Corp. introduces the Alarm and Readout Tool, a plug-in software module for use with HOBO-ware Pro software. The Tool automatically notifies users via cell phone text messages or e-mail when...

NCL makes a lot of Sense.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Earth Sense Green Impact Speed Stripper from National Chemical Laboratories easily removes both green and traditional floor finishes while minimizing labor costs. Earth Sense ph Neutral All Purpose Cleaner is the...

Aiming for success in restoration.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... The MasterMind Alliance Group has been in the trenches of the insurance restoration industry for the last 20 years, working with hundreds of restoration companies and thousands of insurance professionals. A part of jobs as small as $800...

Go after grime with The Greasinator.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Permanent marker on desktops. Forklift tire marks on cement. Motor oil on painted drywall. All can be removed without harming the surface with The Greasinator Industrial Degreenser, according to EnvirOx. Its...

Waterproofing and "sun fade" protector.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ray & Rain Repellant from Sun & Soil LLC is the first fabric waterproofing spray that stops "sun fading" on awnings, boat covers, tents, etc. Ray & Rain Repellant is invisible when dry, and meets California's new...

Taping is now EZ-ier.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... EZ-ier Tape from EZ-ier Products is the newest double-faced tape for the remediation, construction, painting, and flooring industries, with one side being a high-tack cloth tape and the other being a lower-tack masking tape. By combining...

Spray goes after microbiological growth.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BioClean Spray is Cortec's newest addition to their bio-based line of products. BioClean Spray is a blend of coconut oil phospholipids, "green" corrosion inhibitors, and surfactants designed to disperse and inhibit...

Tennant approach quite Noble(s).(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tennant Co. furthers its commitment to the Nobles brand with the introduction of the Nobles Speed Scrub 17- or 20-inch Walk-Behind Automatic Scrubber with optional FaST technology. The Speed Scrub is a rugged,...

Motsenbocker goes after food and beverage stains.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... Motsenbocker's Lift Off #1 Food, Beverage & Protein Stain Remover is specifically formulated to remove the most common types of stains, such as pet stains, coffee, tea, Kool-Aid, grass, blood or any other water-or protein-based stains. ...

Catching Lightning in a bottle.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lightning Seed LLC, a co-op advertising company, has developed a low-cost, high-tech co-op advertising program on the Internet using yellowpages.com for small restoration businesses nationwide. Intended to "help...

Malish introduces new carpet cleaning brush.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Malish Corp. introduces the new SpinSafe carpet cleaning brush with a stainless steel glide plate for drag reduction and increased productivity. The SpinSafe features a smooth stainless steel plate that can...

Charger battery burnisher from NSS.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... The next-generation Charger 2717 DB battery burnisher from NSS Enterprises, Inc. offers the productivity and shine of a 27-inch propane, the company said. The machine is simple to use, with no operator adjustment required, and features 70 to 80...

Continental takes a ride on the Twister.(Products Tools & Equipment)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Continental recently introduced the Twister System, a stone and concrete floor system "that can replace all other cleaning methods for stone, terrazzo, and polished concrete floors, and eliminates the use of floor...

"Good" worry--how it can help you.(To Your Success)
July 1, 2007... "Only the paranoid survive."--Andrew Grove Nobody ever said being in business on your own would be easy. Nobody was right. During my 20 years down in the trenches I veered from agonizing fear to fretting worry to wild exhilaration,...

Shopping center floor care.(Commercial Floor Care)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] It's generally accepted that people spend as much--if not more--time looking down as they do looking up. This is especially true when walking into an office building or a large facility such as an airport or...

Ceramic tile and grout maintenance.(Commercial Floor Care)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ceramic tile floor coverings, like all flooring, have four different maintenance periods: initial, daily/routine, periodic and restorative. More often than not, floor maintenance concerns are transferred from one...

Rejuvenating restroom floors: how to eliminate odor and bacteria from a restroom floor and keep it from returning.(Commercial Floor Care)
July 1, 2007... Restrooms are an important part of any facility, yet they can pose a challenge to floor care professionals. Because they are frequented by large amounts of foot traffic on a daily basis, there is a greater chance for public restrooms to develop...

The Butler Stationary Electric System: Butler Corporation.(Product & Literature Guide)
July 1, 2007... The Butler Stationary Electric System was developed to be a permanently installed central cleaning and extraction system for use in new or existing buildings. Carpet and rug cleaning plants or shops, auto detailing companies, hotels, motels and...

Multi-surface machine: Rotovac.(Product & Literature Guide)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rotovac's Rotovac 360 cleaning machine, which works with any portable or truckmount extractor, has two heads that clean carpet and tile. The Carpet head has 3 spray jets and 3 smooth-glide vacuum slots, while the...

The new vortex website offers more technical information: Vortex Cleaning Systems.(Product & Literature Guide)(Website overview)
July 1, 2007... Vortex, a BLUEline Equipment Co., unveiled a new, attractive web site that offers significant amounts of technical information about the Vortex power take off unit. The site includes the Vortex Ad Agency, with downloadable marketing tools, as...

Colorado Governor signs consumer freedom of choice bill.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... A bill that was actively supported by the Restoration Industry Association was signed by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter in May. Rep. Dorothy Butcher (D) sponsored the consumer rights bill--HB 1104, the Insurance Consumer Freedom of Choice Bill,...

White Magic earns CRI Gold Seal of Approval.(Industry News & Information)
July 1, 2007... White Magic Inc. has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Carpet and Rug Institute for its deep cleaning extractor To qualify for the Seal of Approval, deep cleaning extractors must undergo a stringent testing process at an independent...

Terry Bowden leads lineup at 2007 Restorative Drying Symposium.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Professionals in the field of restorative drying will gather at this year's Dri-Eaz Symposium Sept. 11-12 in Las Vegas, just prior to the Connections Convention and Trade Show. This year's program covers everything from marketing for...

K-tech Kleening Systems wins special award.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Nine businesses were honored in the fourth annual Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award banquet held May 17 in Madison. K-tech Kleening Systems, Inc. was awarded one of six special awards titled "The Good Neighbor" Award. The award was...

CIRI releases symposium wrap-up.(Industry News & Information)(Conference news)
July 1, 2007... The Cleaning Industries Research Institute released a summary wrap-up report of its symposium held at the University of Nevada April 30-May 2. The symposium's primary goal was to identify science-based solutions that can be applied to the...

It's about relationships: on my way to the airport the other morning I saw a sign in front of a church that read "It's About Relationships." It struck me that no matter who you are or what business you're in, developing and maintaining successful relationships is extremely important in every aspect of your life.(INSTITUTE of INSPECTION CLEANING and RESTORATION CERTIFICATION President's Corner)
July 1, 2007... Effective networking is all about building relationships. Most successful business people understand that networking and relationship building are essential to grow and maintain their businesses. Personal relationships are no different. It's...