ICS Cleaning Specialist articles from March 2008

ICS Cleaning Specialist archives from March 2008

Just creeping along: so for all the classes and articles and seminars and conferences addressing technician appearance, hygiene, decorum, body language, etc., etc., there exists that little-discussed but monumentally important underpinning of the cleaner-client interaction: the creep factor.(Conference news)(Editorial)
March 1, 2008... The term is not mine; it was put into the cleaning-protocol lexicon by a woman enrolled in a workshop I recently had the pleasure of attending. She brought it into the light during an exercise in which attendees were separated into groups and...

Developing franchise players: "an employee is responsible for adding value to the life of a company and a company is responsible for adding value to the life of an employee. This is the great unspoken contract that exists between all employees and employers.".(To Your Success)
March 1, 2008... In business, just like in sports, most of us want to build a dynasty, an organization that will keep on winning and do so without our constant presence as the owner. When you have achieved this state of business critical mass your company will...

Choosing the most effective drying technique.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Drying science has advanced to the point where nearly any material item in a structure can be dried. There are many tools and techniques to achieve drying goals, and a true professional will have all of these tools...

Who cleans the cleaning equipment? The other night I was in a facility and happened to notice the floor-maintenance technicians preparing for the night's work. I knew they were floor-maintenance technicians because of the equipment they were pulling out of the storage area.(Hard Floor Maintenance Opportunities)
March 1, 2008... This in itself is not unusual; I am often in buildings and see technicians preparing for work. What really caught my eye was how presentable the technicians and their equipment were. I thought it was new equipment at first, but upon further...

Dri-Eaz brings new mobility to environmental control.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Trailer-Mounted Turnkey System. It's a self-powered, mounted on a trailer and "equipped with everything needed to take the power of the EB6000 to the next restoration job." With 60,000 BTUs and a water removal...

ProTeam aims to hit green cleaning mark.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... ProTeam introduces the Super CoachVac HEPA. Its 10-quart high-efficiency HEPA Level filtration system "makes it ideal for ridding larger areas of airborne contaminants such as mold, yeast, and bacteria,," the company said. The unit comes with a...

U.S. Products unveils new wand technology.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] U.S. Products introduces the next generation of Evolution wand available for truck-mount extractors. With the Evolution TM, U.S. Products has removed much of the air turbulence experienced with conventional...

Butler introduces Maximum Liquid Enzyme.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Maximum Liquid Enzyme from Butler is "a maximum performance formulation in an easy to use liquid that instantly dilutes with water. Recommended for use on all types of carpet including colorfast, non-stain-resistant,...

Delmhorst puts it all on display.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... Delmhorst's HT-3000 is a thermo-hygrometer that provides temperature, RH, dew point and GPP (grains per pound) readings. The HT-3000 features Selectable Screen Displays; Relative Humidity Range of 0-100% with up to [+ or -] 3% accuracy; a GPP...

White Magic promotes the Commander.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] White Magic announces that the Commander and the Commander HO have been up-graded with liquid-cooled engines. The Commander now is enhanced with a Kohler Aegis 24 Hp Engine, while the Commander HO sports a Kohler...

Heavy-duty deodorizer additives from Bridgepoint.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Designed for use on carpet, upholstery, laundry and general space deodorizing, Bridgepoint's heavy-duty deodorizing additives "don't just cover the odor, they work on the source to destroy odor causing agents," the...

Fluke imagers stand up to winter conditions.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... Fluke Corporation announces the high-performance Fluke Ti25 and Fluke Ti10 Thermal Imagers. Built to withstand harsh work environments, the Fluke Ti25 and Ti10 are designed as "a complete, effective and easy-to-use thermal imaging solution...

Conventions & trade shows.(Calendar of Industry Events)(Calendar)
March 1, 2008... MARCH 7-10 NADCA 19th Annual Meeting & Exposition San Diego, CA. Call (202) 737-2926 MARCH 12-15 RIA 63rd Annual "Solutions" Convention and Exhibition Grapevine, TX. Call (800) 272-7012 MAY 15-17 Connections...

Byotrol launches new line of cleaning products.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Byotrol Inc., is launching a range of professional cleaning products developed "to reduce the use of harmful and corrosive chemicals, as well as saving cost by reducing the frequency of cleaning required without...

ProTeam unveils two new HEPA backpack vacuums.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ProTeam has added two new models featuring HEPA Level Filtration to their commercial product line, the 10-quart Super CoachVac HEPA and the more compact 6-quart Super QuarterVac HEPA. The Super CoachVac HEPA's...

Pacific Floor Care triumphs again.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pacific Floor Care's Triumph 235 Spotter Extractor is the perfect complement to larger carpet extractors. The Triumph 235 is designed to "easily and conveniently clean small spots and spills, before them become...

A new portal opens for Bridgepoint Systems.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... Bridgepoint Systems announces the deployment of a new online, automated marketing portal. The BRIDGEPOINTDirect.com Web site, powered by Interlink Supply, is "a fusion of traditional proven marketing strategies and programs with the automation...

Take stress out of the equation.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The EZ-Pull ergonomic belt, which straps around the users waist and comes with U.S. Product's Agitator 16 and Agitator 18 self-contained carpet extractors, "has been proven to reduce worker stress and help improve...

SCRT Michigan welcomes Shaw's Carey Mitchell.(SCRT Report)
March 1, 2008... The guest speaker for the March meeting of the Michigan Chapter of the Society of Cleaning and Restoration Technicians will be Shaw Industries Technical Director and SCRT Board of Directors member Carey Mitchell. Shaw is a full-service flooring...

Jon-Don brings citrus to the Matrix.(Products Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... Jon-Don's Matrix Citrus Force "doubles, even triples the ordinary pre-spray's soil-dissolving ability," the company said. Citrus Force can also be used as a spotter on oil-based stains, according to Jon-Don. Concentrated for economical...

Forget man-to-man; Bridgepoint plays Zone.(Products Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... Stain Zone from Bridgepoint Systems "removes almost all impossible stains such as mustard, furniture and wood stains, shoe polish, urine stains, vomit, pigments, coffee, tea and other organic dyes and materials," the company said. Stain...

Tornado carpet extractors with Perfect Heat technology.(Products Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... Tornado introduces the Marathon Carpetrinser 2-400 upright carpet extractor with Perfect Heat technology. Using the heat generated by the vacuum motors along with an automatic heating system, the cleaning solution is heated to 212 degrees. ...

Bluebook shows its true value.(Products Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... Bluebook announces the release of the 2008 Bluebook Cost Guide, available in both print and digital versions. The 2008 Cost Guide contains thousands of new price updates and trade specific articles in addition to its comprehensive, easy to...

Hydro-Force takes aim with new sprayer.(Products Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... The Hydro-Force Solvent Sprayer is "designed for the application of solvent-based and other harsh chemicals, including those used as protectors, deodorizers, dry cleaning, and upholstery pre-sprays, the company said." The sprayer can...

Now that's a bucket!(Products Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... The KaiBucket Ergo-Mopping system takes bucket design and engineering to an entirely new level. Developed by Kaivac, the KaiBucket has an 8- to 12-gallon working capacity, perfect for 12- to 32-inch mops. The KaiBucket has four-inch...

Advance unveils CRI-certified walk-behind extractor.(Products Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... The AquaPLUS walk-behind carpet extractor from Advance is the first and only machine to have been certified by CRI (Carpet and Rug Institute) for soil removal, dry times and carpet appearance retention in both low-moisture and deep-cleaning...

Magic Wand shows an appetite for grease.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Grease Eater from Magic Wand is "a masterful pre-spray formulated to attack stains and even odors," the company said. Grease Eater features traffic lane cleaners for dirt; citrus for oil-based stains; oxygen for...

Butler puts a little spice back in cleaning.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... Butler's Maximum Spicy Fresh Deodorizer is "an effective concentration to expel most odors caused by the prolonged exposure to moisture, urine, mildew, vomit, decaying foods and common household odors in carpet and upholstery," the company...

Advance unveils CRI-certified walk-behind extractor.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... The AquaPLUS walk-behind carpet extractor from Advance is the first and only machine to have been certified by CRI (Carpet and Rug Institute) for soil removal, dry times and carpet appearance retention in both low-moisture and deep-cleaning...

Cleanco truckmount diesel installations now approved for Savana.(Products Tools & Equipment)
March 1, 2008... Cleanco Compact Direct-Drive Truckmounts have been approved for installation in the new 2008 GMC Savana vans with Duramax diesel engines, the company said. For a complete list of vans approved for Cleanco Compact Truckmount installations,...

The ICS 2008 disaster restoration & remediation market study.(Cover story)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ICS Disaster Restoration & Remediation Market Study is an examination of the opinions and preferences of restoration and remediation professionals concerning their business. The driving purpose behind the...

This is a sticky situation: a couple of new products that almost universally strike the cord of "Why didn't I think of that?" have come to the market.(The Gadget Man)
March 1, 2008... Carpet cleaners are raving about a new furniture protector pad that sticks to legs or the underside of furniture. Restorers are estactic about the efficiency of a new dual tape system for setting up containment. As carpet cleaners, we have...

To be or not to be ... a disaster restoration service: disaster restoration service is probably the easiest diversification into which a professional contractor or cleaner can transition.(Rx for Restoration)
March 1, 2008... It's also caused more company owners to go broke than any other diversification I know of; in other words, if not handled correctly, it's the easiest to get out of--literally overnight! Of all the diversifications available in our industry,...

Planting enough seed for a bumper crop: over the past two months, I have shared that networking is much more than just going to networking groups to get business, that it is a process of building powerful relationships that can be mutually beneficial to all parties involved.(Marketing Strategies That Work)
March 1, 2008... I also shared a great technique to build what we call "psychological rapport" that allows you to connect better to others, therefore building a bridge to starting a positive relationship (to read the last two articles, see the January and...

Getting the "Green" light with protective coatings.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Another job well done! You've saved a building from a disastrous situation; the water damage has been resolved, the mold is gone, and you've passed your indoor air quality tests with flying colors. You really stepped...

Wind-driven rain and category 3.(IEQ Q&A)
March 1, 2008... Q: I've noticed that the current version of the S500 now includes wind-driven rain as part of Category 3. does that mean that wind-driven rain is always considered contaminated? A: Your observation that the current edition of the "IICRC...

Magic Wand Co.(Product & Literature Guide)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Magic Wand Company introduces a masterful pre-spray formulated to attack stains and even odors. Contains: * Traffic Lane Cleaners for dirt * Citrus for oil based stains * Oxygen for organic stains...

Multi-surface machine: Rotovac corporation.(Product & Literature Guide)
March 1, 2008... [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...

Institute announces concrete accreditation program.(Industry: News & Information)(Concrete Polishing and Processing Technical Institute)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... "The industry's first unbiased accreditation program" was recently announced by the Concrete Polishing and Processing Technical Institute. According to the institute, until now there have been no clear industry standards, best practices,...

Bernazzani named director of mitigation services for ITEL labs.(Industry News & Information)(Dan Bernazzani)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Dan Bernazzani has been named director of mitigation services for ITEL Laboratories. ITEL Laboratories assists insurance carriers and mitigation vendors in claims settlement. Bernazzani will provide strategic direction and leadership for the...

ProTeam announces promotion, new hire.(Industry News & Information)(ProTeam promoting Jacalyn High to marketing manager)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ProTeam recently announced the promotion of Jacalyn High to marketing manager. She will oversee the coordination of all marketing efforts and advertising opportunities for the company. High began her professional...

Prochem celebrates 40 years, announces dealer awards for 2007.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Prochem, celebrating its 40th anniversary, hosted another successful dealer meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The meeting was concluded with the annual Dealer Awards Ceremony. Service Technician of the Year:...