ICS Cleaning Specialist articles from May 2005

ICS Cleaning Specialist archives from May 2005

Democracy in action.(Publisher's Column)(domestic policy of Florida)(Illustration)(Column)
May 1, 2005... In response to some legislation currently being considered by the state of Florida, I decided to put pen to paper and outline what I believe are some serious flaws in its scope and power. This letter was sent to every member of the Florida...

How a slow learner quit pretending to clean air ducts and made a fortune.(Safety King Inc.)(personal narrative)
May 1, 2005... My name is Michael S. Palazzolo, and this is a true story. It was in 1967 that a friend's mother offered me a job running an air-duct cleaning truck for the family's heating company. That sounded all right by me, so I went out the next day...

Women!(To Your Success)(customer relations management of clearning services industry)
May 1, 2005... "A woman never sees what we do for her. She only sees what we don't do." --Georges Courteline (1903) I like women. Always have. I like talking with them, spending time with them and, maybe most importantly, I enjoy working for...

Carpet cleaning and indoor environmental quality.(Carpet Cleaning Basics)
May 1, 2005... One of the major challenges to the growing acceptance of carpet as the floor covering of choice in the commercial market has been the idea that carpet cannot be kept clean. This falsehood is slowly being overcome, due in large part to...

Leather 101.(production process)
May 1, 2005... Last month we looked the underlying simplicity of leather, in that there are only three types; however, there are many mysteries surrounding each of them. Where does leather come from? How is it made? What's the difference between the types of...

My friend Ray.(management of contractors)
May 1, 2005... Ray had quit his job as a factory foreman a year or so before in order to go into business for himself. Landscaping was his real calling, but in our part of the country that's seasonal work spanning four or five months. Ray figured he'd fill in...

Odors can indicate incomplete drying.(carpet cleaning)
May 1, 2005... There are several ways to know if a drying job is complete. A water-loss project manager will ensure that all affected materials in the structure are back to dry standard with the use of moisture meters and documentation. All affected structure...

Concentrated pretreatment from Butler.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Butler Corp.'s Maximum Traffic Lane Cleaner is a concentrated pretreatment formulated to produce maximum cleaner performance in heavily soiled areas and traffic lanes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Maximum is formulated for fiber penetration...

Phoenix reaches for high-temp performance.(Products)
May 1, 2005... The Phoenix 200 HT from ThermaStor is the first LGR dehumidifier designed for high-temperature applications, the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In addition to its high-temperature improvements, the 200 HT provides improved...

Injectidry alliance offers power distribution.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Injectidry Systems announces an alliance with a major construction electrical product manufacturer to offer power distribution systems to the restoration industry. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Products include temporary power distribution...

Biltwel names a new Boss.(Products)
May 1, 2005... The Biltwel Boss Series II utilizes a top-mount dirt box and compressor-forward design to provide the maximum storage in every compartment, the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The bodies are manufactured out of satin-coat...

Prochem to the Rescue.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Prochem's Rescue line welcomes a new addition in Urine Rescue. Developed for urine spots, Urine Rescue neutralizes the odor-causing bacteria while removing the discoloration from the carpet, the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

FLIR cameras up the image ante.(Products)
May 1, 2005... FLIR Systems introduces two new infrared cameras designed for monitoring and diagnosing the condition of building envelopes and their systems and components that deliver "unusually crisp and detailed images." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

U.S. Products packs in the performance.(Products)
May 1, 2005... U.S. Products introduces four new air movers "packed with performance, power, versatility and durability." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The stackable, two-speed Santana EX and the Ace TurboDryer both have rated airflow of 2,000 CFM. The...

Oxy-Force takes on all comers.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Oxy-Force from Nilodor is an all-purpose deodorizing cleaner formulated to "eliminate odors, carpet spots, and clean and deodorize with the power of hydrogen peroxide and citrus oils," the company said. According to Nilodor, Oxy-Force...

Pumptec unveils new line for cleaning tile and grout.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Pumptec introduces a new tile-and-grout-cleaning line, complete with a 1,200-psi portable pressure pump that attaches to any portable extractor that allows cleaners to tackle tile-and-grout cleaning without having to purchase a new machine. ...

Scot Labs introduces FoamDry with StainResist.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Scot Laboratories' TUFF FoamDry with StainResist Encapsulating Brush & Bonnet Cleaner blends detergents, emulsifiers and advanced polymers to remove dirt, eliminate soil-attracting residues and minimize wicking. The encapsulated soils and...

Vaportek sends ECOZ an S.O.S.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Vaportek has added a Smoke Odor Solution (S.O.S.) formula to its ECOZ line of water-soluble odor-neutralizer concentrates, specifically formulated to help eliminate all types of smoke odors on floors, walls and even smoke-damaged textiles. ...

Masterclean unveils the TwistMaster.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Masterclean Products announces the availability of the TwistMaster 2-inch Hose Connector. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One half of the TwistMaster is secured to each end of a 2-inch vacuum hose. The two parts then come together to bind and...

Calendar of industry events.(Calendar)
May 1, 2005... Conventions & Trade Shows MAY 12 - 13: DRC 2005 CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW Niagara Falls, ON. Call (905) 564-8218 MAY 18-21: DRI-EAZ RESTORATIVE DRYING SYMPOSIUM Orlando. Call (800) 932-3030 SEPT. 23 - 25: ...

BLUEline introduces sub-mount freshwater tank.(Products)
May 1, 2005... BLUEline Equipment Co. introduces an 85-gallon sub-mount freshwater tank designed to fit under its Champ and Blue Wave truckmounts. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The roto-molded tank is equipped with a 5.3 GPM variable-speed demand pump,...

P&G pro line helps housekeepers thrive.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Procter & Gamble Professional's daily cleaners for the lodging industry are designed to help hotel housekeepers achieve better cleaning results in guest rooms and common areas. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Daily Cleaners Program is built...

Aridex goes for the deep clean.(Products)
May 1, 2005... HOST/Racine Ind. introduces the Aridex Dry Upholstery Cleaning System, designed for all types of fabric including velvet, jacquard, weaves, tapestry, leather and more. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The Aridex Dry Upholstery Cleaning System...

Enviro-Solutions brings peak performance.(Products)
May 1, 2005... ES-81 from Enviro-Solutions is a floor finish made from a multipurpose blend of polymers with excellent durability, gloss, and heel-mark resistance, the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Designed for multiple coats, ES 81 is UL...

American-Lincoln gives cleaners an Encor[e.sup.2].(Products)
May 1, 2005... The Encor[e.sup.2] walk-behind scrubber from American-Lincoln is designed to tackle cleaning jobs in applications such as manufacturing plants, automobile dealerships, beverage distributors and warehouses. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The...

Oxy-Force combats spots and stains.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Oxy-Force R.T.U. from Nilodor is powered by stabilized hydrogen peroxide to "safely remove spots and stains, leaving no chemical residue behind," the company said. Nilodor says to spray the problem area with Oxy-Force R.T.U. and, "within...

Meyer unveils the Crosswind.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Meyer introduces the Crosswind, an electric-powered HEPA vacuum that, "combines modular design, aluminum construction and state-of-the-art motor technology to make one of the most powerful vacuums on the market today," the company said. ...

Betco goes after stubborn carpet stains.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Betco introduces FiberPRO Spot Bet Gel. The gel formula prevents over-wetting of the carpet backing, and penetrates the carpet fibers at the source of the stain, virtually eliminating wicking-back, the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Extech brings ExStik II to market.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Extech Instruments announces the availability of its waterproof ExStik II pH/Conductivity Stick Meter, Model EC500, what it describes as, "the world's first 'stick-style' meter to combine the rugged flat surface pH electrode with a highly...

Handset offers off-network capabilities.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Nextel Communications Inc., and Motorola, Inc., announce the launch of the Motorola i325 IS handset, a ruggedized phone that provides off-network communication capabilities. The Motorola i325 IS offers Direct Talk, which allows users who...

Carpet cleaner with odor-eliminator built in.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Enviro-Solutions introduces the ES 87, a carpet-extraction cleaner with a built-in odor eliminator. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ES 87 features a unique blend of cleaning agents designed to break down embedded soils and emulsifies them....

ServiceMagic gets your match exact.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Exact Match from ServiceMagic provides member service professionals with broad Internet distribution of a company-specific Web page created and hosted for them by ServiceMagic, the company said. Consumers using the Internet to find...

MegaVac streamlines industrial cleanup.(Products)
May 1, 2005... The strong suction and Four-level Filtration of the MegaVac Backpack Vacuum from ProTeam picks up a range of dirt and debris, rather than just spreading it around. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The MegaVac is designed to clean hard and...

Betco offers natural stone maintenance solution.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Betco now offers a comprehensive floor care program for maintaining natural stone floors. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Betstone Penetrating Sealer maintains the natural appearance of the floor while providing stain protection. Betstone WB...

Truvox introduces multi-function Pump.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Truvox International introduces the Multiwash MW440 Pump, a machine that can wash, mop, scrub and dry both hard and soft surfaces in a single pass. "The Multiwash 440 Pump offers wall-to-wall cleaning in one machine... making the entire...

EnvirOx breaks out the Greasinator.(Products)
May 1, 2005... The Greasinator Industrial Degreenser from EnvirOx is a solvent-free, neutral-pH formula made with all-renewable resource ingredients. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When diluted with water, the Green Seal-compliant Greasinator G1 Light Duty...

Peroxide Concentrate is Essential.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Peroxide Concentrate (#519) is Essential Industries' new detergent concentrate that utilizes hydrogen peroxide, combined with a heavy-duty soil-removing surfactant blend, to deep clean just about any surface, the company said. Peroxide...

Expel goes to work on Heavy-Duty Odors.(Products)
May 1, 2005... Expel Heavy-Duty Odor Eliminator is designed to "destroy odors on contact without the use of masking agents, enzymes or harsh polluting chemicals," according to UMC Distributing Inc. Expel uses "destructive elimination" to go to the source...

Injection sprayers: the straight scoop.(The Gadget Man)
May 1, 2005... Of all the available accessories for the professional carpet cleaner, and particularly the truckmount user, the injection or inline sprayer is certainly one of the most popular. With several models available from different manufacturers,...

Air filtration devices.(IEQ Q&A)(indoor environmental quality control)
May 1, 2005... Q: Is there any value in setting up an air scrubber in a Category 1 (clean source) water loss? A: I am in favor of using air filtration devices on water losses. But, let me begin by making sure we are using the same terminology. Air...

Stone floor cleaning challenges.(Hard Floor Maintenance Opportunities)
May 1, 2005... Stone floors are not manufactured in an industrial plant like other floor coverings; they are natural. The combinations of raw minerals, pressure and/or extreme temperatures create some of the most magnificent floors in the world. There...

Combating the CFH.(Notes from the Trenches)(customer from hell)
May 1, 2005... The professional cleaner reads a number of articles and tutorials on the various ways to tackle spots, stains, and other pitfalls indigenous to our industry. But there is one problem you rarely hear about or get advice on how to handle....

Air scrubbers and airborne impurities.
May 1, 2005... The use of "air scrubbers" is relatively common in the mold and remediation industries today. However, although these machines have been around, in one form or another, for about 30 years, advances in air-scrubbing technology continue at a...

Does your company accept plastic?
May 1, 2005... For your small business, plastic--credit cards, that is--may be the key to future growth. Today's consumer expects to be able to pay for home repair items and services with plastic. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If your business doesn't...

Accept your customers' payments on the spot.(Cridit Card Transactions)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... More and more service businesses are accepting credit cards; most business owners, however, are not educated as to why they pay the rates and fees they do, and what can be done to lower those fees. For example, did you know that the rate you...

Particulates in restoration situations: hazards and solutions.(Rx for Restoration)
May 1, 2005... I recently received a call on a subject that is of increasing concern in the fire-restoration work place. A restoration contractor was concerned about removing particle contaminants on fire losses to prevent their progressive release into...

Steam Way holds distributors meeting, names new president.(Industry)
May 1, 2005... Steam Way International held its annual distributors meeting in Denver on April 2. Distributors from across the country descended on the Mile High City, where the highlight of the day came when Jack Daley, owner of Daley Internationals and...

Snow honored by OPBEA.(Industry)(Ken Snow)(Oak Park Business & Education Alliance )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Ken Snow, president of Oak Park, Mich.-based Hagopian Cleaning Services, was recently honored by the Oak Park Business & Education Alliance for his 10-plus years of service to the OPBEA. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Through Hagopian, Snow...

MilliCare earns CRI Seal of Approval.(Industry)(Carpet and Rug Institute)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... MilliCare has received the Carpet and Rug Institute's Seal of Approval. The company's pre-mist NXT, used with its dry polymer carpet cleaner, has been recognized by the CRI as "a highly effective method for spot cleaning," the company said. ...

ASCR elects new president, seeks new executive director.(Industry)(Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... William J. Lakin of Stafford, England has been elected president of the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration, becoming the first international to head the organization in its 60-year history. A member of ASCR since 1978, Lakin...

Tolke joins Inside Edge.(News)(Jeff Tolke appointed at Inside Edge Commercial Interior Services )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Jeff Tolke has joined Inside Edge Commercial Interior Services as vice president of sales and business development, the company said. "We're excited to add someone with such extensive sales management and marketing experience," Inside Edge...

IMACC appoints new VP.(News)(Independent Mitigation And Cleaning/Conservation )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Independent Mitigation And Cleaning/Conservation network has appointed Bill Schroeder as vice president of business development. Schroeder will also serve as vice president of national markets for the IMACC. "Bill's service-oriented...

Goodrich makes the grade.(News)(Goodrich Cleaning and Restoration Supplies )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Prochem has appointed Goodrich Cleaning & Restoration Supplies in Youngstown, Ohio as its newest distributor. Goodrich is a full-line distributor that will install and service the complete Prochem line of truckmounts, parts and accessories,...

CIRI establishes launch committee.(News)(Cleaning Industry Research Institute)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A launch committee has been established to finalize the vision, goals and bylaws of the Cleaning Industry Research Institute. Jim Harris, Sr., president of Concepts IV, and Frank Wiley, president of Magnitude Marketing, were elected...

Housekeeping Channel adds pro-microbial scientist to board.(News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Housekeeping Channel has added Dr. Domenic Paone, senior group leader, research and development for Salem, Va.-based Novozymes Biologicals, to its advisory board. Dr. Paone had developed and commercialized formulated biochemical...

Access Group, Sales Plus merge.(News)(mergers and acquisitions)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Access Group Southern California in Azusa, Calif., and Sales Plus Inc., of Irvine announce the merger of their companies. The combined team from both companies includes 12 outside sales reps, six inside service staff, and three...

Geurkink wins "Summerfest's Cleaner of the Year" award.(News)
May 1, 2005... Gerald "Grumpy" Geurkink will be "Summerfest's Cleaner of the Year" when the annual event is held this year in Portland, Ore., Sept. 15-18. "It is fitting that Dad was selected for this stellar award, because he was a real pioneer and...

Interlink adds to online offerings.(News)(CarePoint Analytics Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Interlink Supply announces the availability of "additional state-of-the-art equipment from top-tier manufacturers" on InterlinkSupply.com. Companies like Extech, Phoenix and Fiberlock have added their products to the Interlink Supply line,...

Spartan contributing to Green Seal.(News)(Spartan Chemical Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Spartan Chemical Co. announces that the company is contributing to Green Seal's funding to develop a Green Cleaning Services standard. The standard, once created, will provide direction for building service contractors to implement a green...

Vehicle of the Month.(May)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Name: Sean Thomas Company Name: Roto-Static Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Specialists Address: 43993 Talbot Line City: St. Thomas State: Ontario, Canada ZIP: N5P 3S7 Phone: (519) 675-8400 ID 80 Vehicle...

The ICS Product & Literature Guide.(Product & Literature Guide)
May 1, 2005... The ICS Product & Literature Guide is a special section devoted to profiling new products and literature for the cleaning and restoration industry. It is intended to give readers a brief opportunity to find out what is emerging in the...