ICS Cleaning Specialist articles from May 2007

ICS Cleaning Specialist archives from May 2007

Don't overlook the message to the masses: regular readers of ICS and visitors to the ICS Bulletin Board are by now quite familiar with the Carpet and Rug Institute's Seal of Approval Program and the controversy surrounding it.(Editorial Comment)(Editorial)
May 1, 2007... A March ICS feature written by CRI President Werner Braun titled "The CRI SOA Program" has drawn a number of Letters to the Editor. You can find some of those letters on page 8; others will soon be appearing online at www.icsmag.com. In...

Re: the CRI SOA program (March 2007).(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear ICS, I would like to respond to the article you published by Mr. Werner Braun regarding the CRI SOA program. He made several points, but I would like to respond to one in particular that he references as the...

"This place smells terrible!".(To Your Success)
May 1, 2007... "Nothing revives the past so completely as a smell that was once associated with it." --Vladimir Nabokov Technology is great. I'm sure you are aware of some of the fantastic advances made in the whole odor-control area. But don't let...

Carpet cleaning and IAQ: it started, as it so often does, with a phone call, Mrs. Piffleton calling to schedule the annual spring-cleaning of the carpets. She informed me, almost smugly, that there would be no need to clean the upstairs bedrooms and hall.(Carpet Cleaning Basics)
May 1, 2007... Those previously carpeted areas were now covered by bright new laminate flooring at the behest of her son's allergist, who is convinced that carpets are a prime contributor to the asthma and allergy woes of said son. That seems to be a popular...

How newsletter marketing can stop the bleeding--Part 1: the biggest marketing mistake of all is not marketing to your existing clients. Not staying in front of those who have already spent money with you, paid your price and who are the most likely to refer is the dumbest marketing mistake a carpet cleaner can make.(Marketing Strategies That Work)
May 1, 2007... Did you know that it has been proven to cost 500 percent more to gain a new client than to keep an existing one? Did you also know that without consistent marketing, many of your clients will forget to call you and eventually end up using...

Mind reading and carpet protectors: one of the most important concepts to understand is how you can easily apply protector on 80 percent of your jobs without trickery, arm-twisting or pushy selling.(Putting The Pieces Together)
May 1, 2007... It isn't important just because you can make a lot of money applying protector--even though you can. It's important because applying protector is part of our responsibility to our customers as service professionals trusted to care for one of...

Proper inspection of HVAC systems.
May 1, 2007... There are many reasons why HVAC ducts should be inspected as part of the building maintenance procedure, and proper inspection tools and techniques are required for professional companies to maintain a competitive edge and avoid unnecessary...

Dri-Eaz introduces new ozone generator.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ActivO ozone generator from Dri-Eaz is "a powerful deodorizing system with a double-stage operating cycle that creates ozone and removes it, rapidly minimizing the time involved until it's safe for customers to...

New pre-spray from Hydro-Force debuts.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... Hydro-Force Mfg. introduces its latest encapsulation pre-spray, Brush N Vac. Designed for use with a bonnet or brush machine, Brush N Vac's encapsulating technology "absorbs and cleans the worst soil," the company said. [ILLUSTRATION...

DuPont introduces pre-spray and spotter.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Zonyl 8929B Carpet Pre-Spray and Spotter from DuPont has been granted the CRI Seal of Approval for use as a pre-spray, and it can also be used as a spotter and hot-water-extraction cleaner. The company says that, for...

Bi-O-Kleen takes aim at spots.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... Bi-O-Kleen Industries' Carpet Spotter "is a spray cleaner that can really do it all," the company said. The spotter meets Unified Green Cleaning Alliance standards. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Carpet Spotter is safe on all washable fibers,...

Butler cleaner takes on all comers.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Butler's Maximum Multi-Surface Cleaner is "a concentrated formula that will dissolve most hard-to-remove soils, dirt, grime, oil, soot and grease on contact. Recommended for use on wall, appliances, countertops,...

Prochem offers customized spotter program.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Prochem's Premium Care Carpet Spotter can be customized by carpet-cleaning professionals to feature their company's name and phone number "to increase repeat business or... to drive additional products," the company...

Conventions & trade shows.(Calendar of Industry Events)(Calendar)
May 1, 2007... MAY 2-5: Connections Conference and Exhibition Clearwater, Fla. Call (888) 881-1001 MAY 18-19: NIR 18th Annual Executive Leadership Conference San Antonio. Call (434) 973-4200 JUNE 19-21: DRC Conference and Trade Show ...

CleanLiving goes beyond green.(Products: Tools & Equipments)
May 1, 2007... CleanLiving products "go far beyond being environmentally friendly; they are safe and beneficial for humans, pets, animals, plant and the environment," the company said. Developed to naturally clean, deodorize and remediate contaminated...

HydraMaster releases new Boxxer 421.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HydraMaster Corp. has "improved and refined for 2007" the Boxxer 421 truckmount. The heat performance of the 421 "exceeds all machines in its class" with a solid-state ATC heat management system that allows the...

Butler introduces All Carpet Protector.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... Butler's Maximum All Carper Protector with DuPont Zonyl is "an exclusive concentrated water-based carpet protector that creates an invisible barrier against water- and oil-based soils and spills. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "It's...

Esteam designs new bonnet cleaner.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Esteam has designed a new encapsulating bonnet cleaner to add to its line of carpet cleaning solutions. Encap EBC "breaks down grease and releases dirt from carpet fibers easily to be absorbed onto a bonnet pad,"...

Rotobrush launches video inspection system.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... Rotobrush International has launched the i2CAM marketing video inspection system. The 1-inch digital, lighted, color camera with 7-inch LCD monitor "goes anywhere and makes giving free video air duct inspections a snap," the company said. ...

FLIR unveils new model of BCAM IR camera.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... FLIR Systems introduces the BCAM SD, "a new and enhanced model of its popular BCAM infrared camera used worldwide... to monitor and diagnose the conditions of buildings." The BCAM SD stores up to 1,000 jpeg images with its removable SD/...

Sun-Belt USA publishes 2007 buyers guide.(Products: Tools & Equipment)(Buyers guide)
May 1, 2007... Sun-Belt USA's 2007 Direct Buyers Guide is a 152-page collection of products, tool, chemicals and accessories for professionals in carpet and upholstery cleaning; carpet dyeing and repairing; tile and wood floor renewal; restorative drying;...

Fundraising concepts from Spotting Solutions.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... Spotting Solutions has developed a new way for organizations to raise money using stain removers, with a customizable program for any situation. Carpet cleaners "make a nice profit on the stain removers; attract new customers by donating a...

KaiAuto takes dust out of the equation.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... The KaiAuto from Kaivac, part of the company's lineup of No-Touch Cleaning systems, offers professionals "a healthy and effective alternative to polishing and scrubbing floors with conventional floor care equipment that generates dust that can...

Bridgepoint takes aim at odor.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... Hydrocide and Bio-Modifier from Bridgepoint Systems are odor-controlling chemicals that work in very different ways. Hydrocide "works immediately to neutralize odor on contact, no matter what the source," while Bio-Modifier uses "the highest...

Namco carpet blower rugged, built to last.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Namco's 3/4-HP, 3,500 cfm Carpet Blower, when set on low speed, "is about the same as our old 1/4-HP unit at 3 amps, with virtually no repairs; out of 5,000 units sold we have had about six repairs, only on...

Fosshield combats microbe growth.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fosshield antimicrobial technology from Foss Manufacturing Co. is "a fiber technology that safely and effectively inhibits the growth of destructive and odor-causing bacteria, mold, mildew and fungus," the company...

U.S. Products ushers in the next Evolution.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] U.S. Products ushers in the next Evolution The Evolution from U.S. Products is a rotationally molded carpet wand the company says is "light, durable and more efficient than any other wand on the market today." ...

ProTeam give filters a new look.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... ProTeam's redesigned look of the company's Intercept Micro Filter "helps users better identify ProTeam quality," the company said. The first component in ProTeam's Four Level Filtration, the new filter is now easy to identify with a green...

Interlink Supply introduces VersaPro.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Interlink Supply is "very excited" about the introduction of the VersaPro Rotary Floor Machine. The VersaPro's available accessories make it useable for all types of floor maintenance, including stone-floor washing....

Lease One offers advice, options in leasing solutions.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lease One is a national company dedicated to the lease financing business, providing 100 percent financing, terms to suit individual client needs, and flexible payment options. Lease One has "the most competitive...

ES 83 takes the haze away.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ES 83 from Enviro-Solutions removes the haze that comes from ice-melt products, improving the appearance of floors and carpets, and reducing the possibility of slip-and-fall accidents. ES 83 is pH neutral, will...

Does SOA mean SOL for professional carpet cleaners?(CFI Report)
May 1, 2007... The CFI Symposium & Showcase held in Torrance, Calif. last year was such an overwhelming success that it's returning this year, "New and Improved." Shining a spotlight on burning issues the industry is faced with today, CFI will, through pro...

Sporicidin goes after the mold.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sporicidin International has introduced Sporicidin Enzyme Mold Cleaner, "a highly effective combination of three enzymes which accelerates the removal of protein, Amylase and fat from contaminated surfaces," the...

John's Custom Machine looks for Simplicity.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... Simplicity 27 from John's Custom Machine is designed with a "super quiet" Stoddard insulated silencer. Machine-mounted to a 100-gallon stainless waste tank, Simplicity 27 does not require blower slide adjustments, therefore no belt...

Study finds TANCS winning the mold fight.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A study sponsored by the CRI evaluating three carpet cleaning methods' ability to clean moldy carpet found that Thermo Accelerated Nano Crystal Sanitation technology from Advanced Vapor Technologies performed better...

New retail display from Spotting Solutions.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Spotting Solutions introduces a four-color counter display allowing professional carpet cleaners to sell stain removers to carpet and flooring retailers, vacuum shops and other retailers, while giving them the...

Is marketing effective? ShowMe.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... ShowMe Marketing Solutions introduces two new products under its "ShowMe an Edge: A Mastery Program" offerings, one for building a cleaning and restoration business and one for marketing the same. The products are designed "to give the...

Arid-Dry puts new dehu on the market.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Arid-Dry Advanced Reactive Drying introduces the MS 300 portable desiccant dehumidifier, designed for the water damage and restoration professional "who requires the power of desiccant drying and the ease of a...

The D-Ring makes the connection.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... The D-Ring from Viking Equipment is used on layflat ducting normally used in conjunction with dehumidifiers while pumping air into a building. In the past, when a branch of ducting or connection was to be made, it required the use of...

Namco cracks the whip on The Husky.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... Namco has introduced "The Husky" an aluminum upright carpet cleaner that comes with two powerful 3 stage Vacs at 400-PSI solution pump. The unit comes with a 2-jet stainless steel wand, balloon tires for easy moving around, 100 feet of vacuum...

Injectidry puts variety into Vac-It offering.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Injectidry now offers an assortment of its Vac-It Panels in a Variety Pak. This includes Pak panels, which are shaped to accommodate toilets and smaller, irregularly shaped areas, the company said. Injectidry has...

Century 400 offering free marketing program.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Century 400 is giving away a free marketing program--a $250 value--with the purchase of any Ninja portable extractor. Steve Marsh developed the program. The six CD audio seminar "will help you design a business...

Book promises 127 ways to make a fortune.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... Insider Secrets for a Successful Restoration Business, a new e-book aimed at restoration and remediation professionals, features more than 30 of the most recognizable names from the restoration industry. The e-book is a compilation of...

Continental takes a ride on the Twister.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 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...

Nilodor adds to Structured by Nature line.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nilodor's Structured by Nature Bacteria Enzyme Urine Digester contains "all-natural multi-strain bacteria and enzymes to break down and digest tough urine problems and stains," while SBN Odor Neutralizer is "an...

Kaivac aims for clean surfaces, clean air.(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... The Kaivac 2150, a full-size No-Touch Cleaning system with a 21-gallon freshwater/ 19-gallon recovery tank and boasting 500 psi, now includes a HEPA-filtered exhaust-and-blow system. This means that "virtually all airborne impurities--99.97...

CleanCraft goes to "Code: Green".(Products: Tools & Equipment)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CleanCraft Products has released "Code: Green" All-in-One Carpet Cleaning Agent, one product for extraction, pre-spray, traffic lanes and spotting. "Code: Green" has received Green Seal Certification, the...

Maintaining granite flooring: natural stone flooring has been around for millennia and is not likely to disappear as a flooring material for millennia more. Stone is formed by natural geological processes, and there are literally thousands of different types available.(Hard Floor Maintenance Opportunities)
May 1, 2007... The most common classifications within the natural stone category used for flooring are granite; serpentine; quartzite; slate; limestone; marble; travertine and sandstone. The hardness and durability of granite contributes to its resistance to...

Air filtration: now more than ever.
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The goal of every restoration job is to safely and efficiently return the indoor environment to pre-loss condition for the customer. Part of this responsibility is to address the quality of the air inside the...

Safety Compliance for fire, water and other restoration situations: due to the nature of this industry, safety hazards abound on the typical disaster job site; however, they need not be a problem if anticipated by conscientious disaster technicians.(Rx for Restoration)
May 1, 2007... It is the responsibility of all professional restoration technicians to promote safety on the job site: for themselves, and for all co workers, subcontractors, insureds, and insurance company representatives. Although compliance with OSHA, EPA...

The Butler Corporation offers cube vans and trucks! Butler.(Product & Literature Guide)
May 1, 2007... Cube vans and trucks are the preferred choice of many commercial carpet cleaning and disaster restoration professionals who require a spacious cargo area to conveniently organize and transport additional hoses, dehumidifiers, air movers and...

Vortex Cleaning Systems.(Product & Literature Guide)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Vortex, a BLUEline Equipment Co., is the world's most powerful cleaning machine. Its patented design was invented to address the real world needs of carpet and hard surface cleaners. Vortex offers a 100% lifetime...

Studebaker AirPath: Dri Eaz.(Product & Literature Guide)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Achieve record breaking drying times with the AirPath's aggressive airflow and patented 360[degrees] air stream. It draws warmer, drier air from above and blows it down and across the entire surface of carpet for...

Multi-surface machine: Rotovac.(Product & Literature Guide)
May 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...

Water damage course takes to the high seas.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The Advanced Water Damage Strategies Course took place at sea Feb. 24 --March 4 aboard the S.S. Triumph traversing the Caribbean. The journey was both fun and educational. More that 100 restoration professionals, made up of owners,...

NADCA gathering hailed as success.(Industry News & Information)(North American Die Casting Association)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The theme for the 18th NADCA Annual Meeting & Exposition was "Profiting From Teamwork." Featuring nearly 650 attendees in an all-in-one-room format and new networking events, this year's meeting went a long way in building a stronger...

Green Link 2007 attracts a variety of attendees.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Atlanta-based SouthEast LINK, Inc. hosted Green Link 2007 in Atlanta in March. The show provided a venue at which industry experts shared best practices for green cleaning and participants exchanged ideas related to creating healthier indoor...

Paul Davis Restoration serves as GC for It Takes a Thief.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling of Monmouth and Ocean Counties owners Dave McFadden and Brian Mullin served as general contractors for It Takes a Thief, a television series by Lion Television for the Discovery Channel. Paul Davis...

Brady Industries sponsoring CIRI symposium.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Brady Industries has added its name to the list of sponsors of the Cleaning Industry Research Institute 2007 Symposium in Las Vegas, April 30-May 2. "We're pleased to be involved with this first-of-its-kind symposium for the cleaning...

Von Schrader hosts associates convention.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Von Schrader Co. held its 7th National Associates Convention at the Coronado Springs in Orlando, Fla., in February. Associates representing seven states - and the Cayman Islands - attended the program. Highlights...

Castle Rock announces name change.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Following the acquisition of Castle Rock Industries in Englewood, Colo., its integration into the Karcher Group of Companies has been successfully completed, the company said. In order to demonstrate the membership of Castle Rock in the...

RIA retains Consigli as special adviser.(Industry News & Information)
May 1, 2007... The Restoration Industry Association has appointed G. Pete Consigli as development adviser and facilitator. In his new role, Consigli will serve as development adviser for the RIA's Industry Defense Fund; as special adviser on industry affairs;...

DKI adds Ken Larsen to the team.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... DKI Services Corporation announced that it has strengthened its corporate team with the appointment of Ken Larsen as a business development director. Larsen will be responsible for working across the DKI organization to develop new programs...

Sponsor of Florida bill supports accredited certifications.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The American Indoor Air Quality Council applauded the news that the news of a sponsor of a Florida bill regulating the mold inspection industry supports the use of accredited certifications as prerequisites for state licensing. Florida...

Carl J. Betz, Betco founder, dies.(Industry News & Information)
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Carl J. Betz passed away Feb. 24 at the age of 83 in the Isles of Capri, Fla. Betz and his wife, Ann, co-founded the Betco Corp. in 1950. Betz retired as CEO of the company in 1990. Today, Betco is a leader in...

Insurance adjusters attending Dri-Eaz ASD classes.(Industry News & Information)
May 1, 2007... More than 10 percent of Dri-Eaz Education's Applied Structural Drying attendees in the last two years have been insurance adjusters. Their participation enhances their understanding of the overall drying process, equipment use and proper...

InstructionLink/JanTrain, Inc. offers science-based marketing.(Industry News & Information)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... InstructionLink/JanTrain, Inc. has shifted its focus to specialize in developing medical and scientific advisory boards, scientific communications and related marketing to validate, and help refine, products and processes that produce healthier...

The future of IICRC: what does the future hold? That's a question every company or organization should be asking (and answering) for itself, and the IICRC is no different.(IICRC President's Corner)
May 1, 2007... I've just returned from an IICRC Long Range Plan meeting, chaired by Past President Lee Zimmerman, where a group of IICRC volunteers and consultants gathered to revise the written guidelines regarding the future of IICRC. The LRP has been a...

Vehicle of the month.
May 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Name: Tony Legenstein Company Name: Certified Carpet, Inc. Address: 1855-65 Columbia Ave, P.O. Box 1746 City: Lancaster State: PA ZIP: 17608-1746 Phone: (717) 394-3731 E-Mail:...