ICS Cleaning Specialist articles from November 2004

ICS Cleaning Specialist archives from November 2004

No such thing as negative publicity?(Editorial Comment)(cases of carpet cleaning services)(Editorial)
November 1, 2004... Paris Hilton and friends not withstanding, negative publicity has a tendency to bring a person crashing down to earth instead of skyrocketing them to fame. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I read a news item not too long ago about a...

Up-selling on the home front--Part 2.(To Your Success)
November 1, 2004... "A garment well displayed is a sale half made." Bernie Spitz, CEO of a clothing hanger company. Your business is like an airplane. Airlines have learned that it costs basically the same to fly a given route whether they have 20...

Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you: one of the most common questions that appear on the industry Bulletin Boards seems to be "which brand of machine is best?" The next most common is, "which is better, a portable or a truckmount?".(Carpet Cleaning Basics)
November 1, 2004... The reality is, they are just tools, and any determination of which is the "best" often comes down to the knowledge and ambition of the operator. Due to their relative simplicity portables require less maintenance than truckmounts, but none of...

Color repair Part III.(carpets)
November 1, 2004... Last month we discussed the principles of color interaction and how that knowledge is used by the color repair technician. Once you understand how color works, the next step is to understand how to identify and then prepare an area for color...

Maintaining a strong supplier relationship: developing and maintaining a strong and healthy relationship with your primary supply company or product distributor is one of the key components in building a successful business.(Building a Profitable Business; cleaning industry)
November 1, 2004... It almost goes without saying that without a reliable source for supplies, it is not easy to provide high-quality service for your customers. In other words, your ability to generate income is tied to your relationship with your supplier. ...

Moisture and refrigerant dehumidifiers.(IEQ Q & A)
November 1, 2004... Q: I notice that when I first turn on my refrigerant dehumidifiers, they emit an unpleasant odor. Can bacteria be growing in the dehumidifier? Can this cause any other problems? How do I prevent this from happening? A: Most people believe...

2004 ISSA/Interclean USA Navigator Show Guide.
November 1, 2004... Welcome to the ISSA/Interclean-USA Navigator Show Guide, the listing program developed by ICS magazine to help ISSA/Interclean attendees plans their show experience and reach their maximum potential. ISSA/Interclean-USA, held this year in...

Butler offers stainless steel stair tool.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... The Butler Corp. introduces the Butler Stair Tool. The 5-inch wide, 17-inch long tool comes with a "T" handle and a padded tube cuff for a secure grip. The trigger is stainless steel, constructed with a black nylon coating. The valve assembly...

Stain remover works "Just Like Magic".(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Harvard Chemical Research introduces Just Like Magic, an oxygen-powered stain remover designed to quickly remove most organic stains. The two-part product comes with flip-up spouts and requires a quick squirt of each component on the stain, the...

U.S. Products introduces dual-surface cleaner.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... U.S. Products introduces the King Cobra 1200, a dual-surface cleaner for hard-surface floors that can be used to clean carpets by changing wands. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The King Cobra 1200 power-washes hard-surface floors with up to...

New spotter is extremely clean.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Extremely Clean Spotter from Cleaner Marketing is non-toxic, residue-free and available in both 16- and 32-ounce bottles. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Extremely Clean Spotter features a fully customizable private label section, which can...

Dri-Eaz air scrubber delivers true HEPA filtration.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... The DefendAir HEPA 500 air scrubber from Dri-Eaz delivers true HEPA filtration of 99.97 percent at 500 cfm, the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The HEPA 500 combines true, tested particulate removal with innovative features--such...

HydraMaster secures equipment.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... HydraMaster offers a line of custom mounting brackets for keeping the company's RX-20 High Efficiency model and Rotary DriMaster power tool secured in the van. Cleaners simply set the wheels of the extractor in the bracket and the machine will...

Conventions & trade shows.(Calendar of Industry Events)(Calendar)
November 1, 2004... NOV. 4-6: CONNECTIONS CONVENTION AND TRADE SHOW. Las Vegas. Call (888) 881-1001. NOV. 16-19: ISSA/INTERCLEAN 2004. New Orleans. Call (800) 225-4772. JAN. 26-28, 2005: SURFACES 2005. Las Vegas. Call (972) 536-6343. Now...

"Simplified" book series provides useful, fun information.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Author John Walker, president of ManageMen, Inc, has introduced a new series of books for the cleaning industry titled "Simplified." One of the goals of the series, according to Walker, is to provide cleaning organizations with material that is...

Tennant unveils new commercial carpet-care technology.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Tennant Co. introduces ReadySpace, a new commercial carpet-care technology the company says, "creates clean carpet spaces that are dry and ready for foot traffic in about 30 minutes or less." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ReadySpace features...

Esteam goes for performance.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Esteam Cleaning Systems' Performance CBS is a residue-free powdered emulsifier designed to leave carpets, "cleaner, brighter, softer," the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Performance CBS incorporates a blend of high-tech solvents,...

Butler introduces a permanent cleaning system.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... The Butler Co.'s Butler Stationary Electric System was developed to be a permanently installed central cleaning and extraction system for use in new or existing buildings. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The System cleans heavily soiled carpet,...

Powerplus looks to increase suction power.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... The solenoid operated valve control, or SOVC, developed by Powerplus is designed to double the suction power of any truckmount, the company said, helping to cut dry times and increase the distance that operators can work from their truckmount....

Hydro-Force is sensitive to allergies.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Hydro-Force offers a full line of anti-allergen chemicals named, appropriately, the Anti-Allergen line. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The line allows cleaning technicians to offer those clients who are sensitive to chemicals and allergens an...

HydraMaster makes upholstery cleaning easier.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... HydraMaster's DriMaster Upholstery Tool is designed to make upholstery cleaning easier. Using new jetless cleaning technology, the DriMaster Upholstery Tool has no trigger valve, no spray jet, and never needs a second drying-pass, the company...

CV 30 vacuum lowers the volume.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... The CV 30 vacuum cleaner from Tornado Industries is so quiet, "it has its own icon," the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Operating at sound levels of less than 66 decibels--not much louder than a sewing machine or normal...

Kaivac introduces alternative to autoscrubbers.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Kaivac's new KaiAuto is a wide-area squeegee that enables any of Kaivac's NoTouch Cleaning Systems to clean hard-surface floors, "as effectively and quickly as an autoscrubber," the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The KaiAuto...

Franklin adds certified cleaner to system.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Franklin Cleaning Technology's Lightening Blend System has added a new product to its lineup. Lightning Blend #7 Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner/Degreaser is formulated with natural citrus oils and hydrogen peroxide, the company said. The citrus...

Air-Care PRO provides price-quoting assistance and more.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Air-Care PRO software is a professional-quality, user-friendly management system developed, "in response to hundreds of calls to Air-Care for price-quoting assistance," the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Windows-based program...

Clarke gives cleaning an Encore.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Clarke introduces the Encore 30, a midsize walk-behind scrubber that offers, "performance uncommon to walk-behind cleaning," the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Encore 30 features dual 15-inch rotary brushes that clean deep...

Teflon now available in accent rug line.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Teflon rug protector is being incorporated in a line of accent rugs from INVISTA. The rugs are available in a variety of brands and sizes at select major home furnishing retailers. "Without sacrificing style, consumers can now enjoy accent...

Cleaning Technologies Group adds to TRUMIX line.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Cleaning Technologies Group introduces its first Green Seal-certified product for commercial cleaning. TRUMIX #4-Hydrogen Peroxide Multi Purpose Cleaner is formulated with natural citrus oils and hydrogen peroxide. The oils penetrate deep into...

ProTeam adds Domel motors, 3-year warranty.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... ProTeam's Super CoachVac backpack vacuums and ProForce 1500 Series upright vacuums now come equipped with motors built by Domel, Inc. and are covered by a new standard 3-year warranty. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Our engineers have worked...

Powerplus offers the Auto Pump-Out.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... The Auto Pump-Out from Powerplus connects inline with your vacuum hose. The 1,500-gallon-per-hour pump pulls wastewater through the stainless steel filter and pushes it out the filtered-water output valve. The Auto-Pump disposes of almost all...

Floor finish dries at MachSpeed.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Betco's MachSpeed floor finish utilizes highly durable, internally cross-linked polymers specially blended to minimize drying and cure times, the company said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Formulated with Max-Cure Technology, each coat of...

Vortex packages the ad agency.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Vortex Cleaning Systems introduces the Vortex Ad Agency In a Box, a comprehensive marketing program for the floor care services industry. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The fact is, you can be the best cleaner on earth, but if your marketing...

Kaivac looks for the sounds of silence.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Kaivac Inc.'s KaiZen QT will be introduced at the ISSA/Interclean 2004 New Orleans Trade Show, Nov. 16-19, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The KaiZen QT is designed specifically for use in hospitals,...

Clarke's CombiVacs improves on filtration.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Clarke's 12- and 14-inch CombiVac upright vacuums utilize a unique four-step, dual-motor filtration system to ensure improved environment protection. The CombiVac systems carry soiled air through a paper filter, a vacuum motor filter, and an...

Clean Force gets things moving.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... The Clean Force air mover from Dry Air Technology features a full wash-down design that allows it to be used in a contaminated area, then be completely decontaminated without the fear of damaging the equipment or voiding the warranty, the...

Tool attachment eases back strain.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Stout's BackSaver Grip is an attachment that makes it easier to work with shovels, rakes and other long-handled tools. The patented, ergonomic grip allows the user to grip a tool higher on the shaft, helping to avoid awkward bending that can...

Spartan looks to make cleaning easier.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... Spartan Chemical Co. introduces Clean by Peroxy All Purpose Cleaner. Clean by Peroxy "possesses a unique effervescent bubbling, cleaning action that quickly tackles nasty odor-prone areas and makes maintenance chores a breeze," the company...

FLIR wants you to take your B1.(Products, Tools & Equipment)
November 1, 2004... The B1 infrared camera from FLIR Systems offer a noninvasive means of monitoring and diagnosing the condition of buildings. The dust- and splash-proof B1 weighs 1.5 pounds and features a built-in Laser LocatIR to help the user associate the hot...

Blue-collar bias.(prices and rates)
November 1, 2004... People let out a whistle when they hear about triple-digit hourly fees charged by lawyers, business consultants and sundry white-collar specialists. But observe them closely when the subject comes up: they don't accuse the practitioners of...

Hose gadgets galore: some 25 years ago, (I hate to show my age this way) I was contracted to clean the large office space in a furniture company's warehouse.(The Gadget Man)
November 1, 2004... It was a time for celebration because I had just purchased a new truckmount capable of producing high solution temperatures. This resulted in better and faster cleaning than our previous system. Anything that saves labor and sweat is always...

If success was easy ... three management pitfalls to avoid.(cleaning services industry)
November 1, 2004... As a business consultant in the cleaning industry for 14 years, I have seen just about every talent, mistake, success and failure known to small business. It is my job to identify a person's motivators; why they do what they do, and don't do....

The ICS Product & Literature Guide.(Product & Literature Guide)
November 1, 2004... 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...

Maintenance: the oft-ignored part of doing business; I'd like to talk about maintenance for a moment. No, not a maintenance schedule for your client's carpets, but one for your equipment and, just as important, for you.(Notes from the Trenches)
November 1, 2004... Many in this business consider their day "over and out" the moment they pull into their driveway. Not here. After losing the waste tank contents in a designated area on my property, the tanks are completely flushed, then sprayed with a...

Don't let worn floors and spotty carpets ruin the holiday season.(Commercial Floor Care)
November 1, 2004... November means an abundance of turkey and the onset of travel, shopping and the holiday season; it also means increased foot traffic and a variety of challenges to the carpeting and flooring you are charged with keeping clean. ...

Cleaning high-traffic carpet areas: as society evolves, so do priorities and technology.(Commercial Floor Care)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2004... The same challenge confronts every carpet-care professional: How to extend the life of carpets in high-traffic areas. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The tasks associated with maintaining carpeted floors have been well documented, primarily...

Vacuum cleaners--understanding the choices.(Commercial Floor Care)
November 1, 2004... On an episode of "I Love Lucy," Lucy Ricardo worked as a door-to-door saleswoman plying vacuum cleaners. She soon found out they were a much harder sell than she had originally thought. There was a lot to know about the product, and her...

Resilient floor maintenance: maintaining linoleum floor coverings.(Commercial Floor Care)
November 1, 2004... They're back, bigger than ever, and they still have the same old cleaning issues. If you haven't noticed, linoleum floor coverings are having a revival. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To this day, many people refer to all rolled or sheet...

Summerfest holds annual gathering.(Industry News & Information)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The 6th Annual Summerfest, an event for carpet cleaners from the ICS Cleaning Specialist and other industry Bulletin Boards to gather in an informal environment to socialize and share business-building ideas and experiences, as well as demo...

NADCA releases revised HVAC standard.(Industry News & Information)
November 1, 2004... The National Air Duct Cleaners Association has revised and updated the standard "Assessment, Cleaning & Restoration of HVAC Systems (ACR)," releasing the 2005 version in September. The new standard's language has been updated to coincide...

Butler offering exclusive lease options.(Industry News & Information)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The Butler Corp. is offering exclusive leasing offers on new Butler Systems and GMC Savana vans. A wide range of lease programs have been developed to accommodate most business requirements, according to Butler. Programs are available with no...

ISSA develops new relationship with IFMA.(Industry News & Information)(International Sanitary Supply Association; International Facility Management Association)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The International Sanitary Supply Association, Inc. reports that it has developed a new relationship with the International Facility Management Association as part of its ongoing effort to expand the sharing of information among cleaning and...

Vortex Drying opens second flood house.(Industry News & Information)(Vortex Drying Systems)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Vortex Drying Systems has opened a new flood house in Morristown, Tenn., to be used specifically for their new Advanced Structural Drying School. The class will be taught by company founder Chuck Dewald. The more-than-6,000-square-foot...

Interlink Supply creates Interlink Financial Services.(Industry News & Information)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Interlink Supply has announced the creation of Interlink Financial Services. IFS will be available exclusively through Interlink Supply affiliates. IFS offers various financial programs tailored specifically for the carpet cleaning industry,...

Syngenta applies for registration of new carpet treatment.(Industry News & Information)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Syngenta recently applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for registration of Prelevel Carpet Treatment, a new product currently in development. "Prelevel Carpet Treatment represents a new direction for Syngenta," said Jeff...

Kline appointed senior vice president of Prochem.(Industry News & Information)
November 1, 2004... Robert Kline has been promoted to senior vice president-Prochem, one of four brands in the Castle Rock Ind. family, according to CRI CEO Dennis Meagher. "Prochem is the industry leader in professional carpet care," Meagher said. "The...

ASCR discusses profit and overhead issues at annual meeting.(Industry News & Information)
November 1, 2004... The Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration held its annual convention in Philadelphia, Sept. 8-11. Topics ranged from strategic business advice to the use of microscopic dampness detectors to find potential spots for mold growth...