Testing The Cleaning Industry Needs

The past year and a half has been filled with controversy and debate regarding the failings of the CRI Seal of Approval Program. While it was understood that the purpose of this program was to create a useful way to measure the performance of cleaning equipment, chemicals, and systems, the results of these tests have been questioned, if not completely rejected by, most independant industry observers.

Some findings of the study may yet have merit: As an example, it was found that the way airflow was either enhanced or restricted by extraction wand designs had more influence in the final test results than the water pressure, heat, and vacuum power that the extractor produced.

It has been proposed that wands themselves be tested, and as long as the test protocols are sensible, such tests would be welcomed.

Other needed tests include:

What products and processes work best on such oil loving fibers as polyester and olefin.

What differences in resoiling exist when extraction solutions contain alkaline detergents, acid rinses, or pure water alone.

How well fluorochemical treatments bond when applied after the use of either of the above extraction/rinsing methods.

I'm very interested in some "real world" tests that will be conducted later this month at an informal meeting of carpet cleaners, including recognized industry leaders, known by its participants as "Mikefest". While these tests are not being conducted in a test laboratory, the amount of care being shown in setting up the test variables and procedures is impressive.

I'll share the results of these tests here once they are made public.

Winterfest 2008 Pictures - Facility

These pictures were taken during Winterfest on January 26, 2008. These start during exhibit set-up from 7:00 in the morning at the Boston Spectrum facility. Watch as the seats fill by 8:30AM! In following posts, I will be releasing more photos from Winterfest 2008.

Winterfest 2008 Pictures - Food

More pictures taken at Winterfest on January 26, 2008. These food pictures show the breakfast & break area as well as the delicious catered lunch. In following posts, I will be releasing more photos from Winterfest.

Winterfest 2008 Wrap Up

We wrapped up Winterfest 2008 last Saturday, and nearly a week later we are still getting calls thanking us for our efforts, but more importantly, asking important questions about the material that was presented and the products that were exhibited and demonstrated.

If you didn’t have a chance to attend, you missed out on hearing presentations about today’s economic trends, “green cleaning” protocols, cleaning for allergy sufferers, new advances in antimicrobial and promicrobial treatments, and advanced techniques for monitoring restoration jobs.

In one room, there were vendors introducing truck mounts, drying equipment, and specialty cleaning and restoration products that have never been seen anywhere previously.

One attendee was so excited about what he was seeing that he text messaged a friendly competitor and insisted that he come over right away.

That late arrival, on the insistence of his competitor/friend, was a grand prize winner!!!!!!

If you missed out on Winterfest 2008, and would like to know more about the subjects covered, I am adding pictures and information daily as I can.

I plan to show you the exhibits & exhibitors, as well as the speakers & share some notes on their presentations. I also intend to show the winners of more than $12,000. worth of prizes!

Winterfest 2008 Pictures - Exhibits

Some interesting pictures that we snapped at Winterfest on January 26, 2008. These pictures are of the exhibits, exhibitors and our customers & guests. The exhibits were jammed all day. In upcoming posts, I will be putting more photos up from Winterfest 2008.

Winterfest 2008 Pictures - Speakers

These pictures were taken at Winterfest on January 26, 2008. These pictures are only of the speakers and in the following days, I will be releasing more photos from Winterfest. Today's photos are all the speakers from Winterfest.

Green or Clean?

How good do "green" products work? The sellers of "green" as well as "nearly green" products (my term for products that are more human safe than most cleaners, but may not be as environmentally safe as a "green product") assure us that their products are as good as the more conventional products we currently use.

In my experience, most green/nearly green products do work well on lightly or moderately soiled carpet. Our concerns begin when we are called upon to clean a heavily soiled carpet that is likely close to being permanently damaged and perhaps needs to be replaced instead of cleaned.

Will the green/nearly green products work? Perhaps not, but unless a side by side comparison is made, we can't be sure our "heavy duty/nuclear bomb" type products would restore the carpet either.

What choices do we have when faced with the dilemma?

1. Attempt to use our green/nearly green products. If we have hot cleaning solution and soft water, the carpet just might clean up surprisingly well!
2. Boost our green/nearly green products. Non chlorine bleaches, also known as oxidizing agents (Bridgepoint Boost All, Prochem Oxy Plus, Masterblend Accelerator), can greatly enhance cleaning by breaking down protein, tannin, and even oily soils. Such products are not always considered "green", but do boost cleaning without the need for solvents.
3. Resort to using "the good old stuff" that has worked for years, then advising our customer that if the carpet is maintained on a regular basis, we can keep it clean with products that are far more human and environmentally friendly.

You need to make your choices based on your own standard of cleaning and safety, your customers needs and expectations, and, of course, each individual situation.

Introduction

Having just completed another of our annual “Winterfest” gatherings with our clients and friends, I reflected on the questions and concerns that our guests shared with me, and decided that a Blog of my thoughts and experiences regarding industry issues would be a good way for me to stay in touch with all of you, and also to get feedback from you regarding burning questions of the day.

As 2008 begins, I’m hearing concerns from people just like you about the economy, the environment, the cleaning products and machines that we use, and the “politics” of our industry. I hope you’ll find what I have to share of value to you, and I’ll look forward to getting feedback from you with questions of your own.

My thought for today is this:

“Feeling safe with carpet is more important than feeling dry carpet”

I never thought I’d utter those words. For the last several years, my mantra was: “It’s the drying time stupid!” It seemed (and still seems) that the next question anyone gets about carpet cleaning, after “how much”, is “How long will it take to dry?”

That question helped to start a very successful cleaning franchise, and had much to do with the tendency of carpet cleaners to move from “mid range” truck mounts to “super truck mounts” (some of which cost 100K and more!).

What I think we over looked was why people wanted fast drying. Certainly they liked the convenience, but at a deeper level, they were worried that “wet carpet” had “bad chemicals” in it that would burn or sicken them, their children, or their pets. And, sadly, sometimes this was true.

What consumers are looking for today, in 2008, are carpets that dry quickly, dry soft to the touch, and that they feel assured are not contaminated with harmful chemicals.

In my next blog entry I’ll discuss what choices you have in products and procedures to help your customers feel more reassured about your cleaning process.