Simple Email Question

Its interesting how a simple question is fraught with so many complexities:

1. Let's start with the first part of your question: "Can you add a deodorizer to your prespray or rinse water...."

The answer is a qualified "Yes".
Many deodorizing products work well as additives, and are compatible with presprays, cleaning detergents, and acidic rinse agents. Some products are not compatible as additives, though, so you should consult label directions of any product that you'd like to use in this fashion.

If I'm going to add a deodorizer to a cleaning product, I prefer to add it to prespray. This will help deodorize not just the carpet, but the prespray which may have an offensive odor. It also prevents the possibility of leaving behind a soil attracting residue or lingering fragrance that may not remain pleasant days after the cleaning job.

2. The second part of your question was: ".........and then say you deodorized the carpet?"
You can say you applied or added a deodorizer, but whether or not you actually deodorized the carpet is a matter of inspection after the job. If the source of the odor was confined to the face yarns of the carpet, the act of applying a deodorizer with your prespray, then rinsing away soil as well as the residue that caused the offensive odor might effectively deodorize the carpet.

If, however, the odor has penetrated through the carpet and perhaps the cushion, then odor causing residues (such as urine or vomit) would remain after cleaning, and odor would still exist. In such a case you could not fairly say that you "deodorized the carpet".

Subsurface treatments, either through injection or the use of the Spot Lifter Water Claw (tm) would be required to deodorize the carpet. In cases of severe contamination you might not be able to deodorize the carpet at all, and replacement of the carpet and cushion, as well as sealing of the floor and baseboard, would be necessary.

FAQs - Tile & Grout Questions

Q – Listen Jim, is the SX-12 a good machine?
A - Yes, the SX-12 HARD SURFACE TOOL can be an excellent accessory to a heavy duty, high pressure portable or a truckmounted system. In fact it is the latest technology for cleaning tile and grout!
It works with an easy front-to-back and side-to-side motion, it even works on uneven stone, tile surfaces & smooth concrete. It is light-weight and I find it non-fatiguing: as it glides so easily over the floor.

Q – Jim, what kind of pressure do you need to operate it?
A - 800 psi. The SX-12 blasts soil and dirt from tile, grout, and smooth or rough hard surfaces. The rotary arm spins to create amazing soil blasting power working from 700 to 2,000 psi while the vacuum ports pick up all the waste. The SX-12 is ready to work with truckmount or heavy duty, high pressure portable carpet machines, pressure washers and vac systems.

Q - I am just wondering because I am starting to do work for a local company who installs tile and I might want that in the near future.
A - Tile and grout cleaning is very profitable. You'd be better to use a truck mounted unit, or a portable designed for the purpose. The portable units are very heavy, though.

Doing More with Less

In today's times, finding products that serve multiple purposes not only can save a cleaning and restoration company money, but it also reduces stress by bringing more simplicity into the workplace and minimizing complexity.

Over the past decades, product manufacturers often put multiple labels on the same or similar products to make training easier and to minimize label copy and sales support time. With a little time and attention, you can reverse that trend and begin to learn how to get more out of less.

One such example came to me just yesterday. A fire restoration contractor was asked to clean a home after a protein fire. He wanted a deodorizer to add to his cleaning solution that would counteract the odor, but had none in stock and had to begin the job that day. I discovered that he had Citrus Solv, which is used primarily to boost the effectiveness of carpet and fabric presprays. In this case, I suggested that he use it to boost the detergents he was using for both the hard surfaces as well as the textiles.

The solvent in Citrus Solv is also used in most protein odor counteractants, and with this knowledge the restorer was able to use a product that he had on hand, and that cost 50% less than would the specialty protein odor counteractant.

Ask you suppliers which of the products that you use have such multiple purposes, and begin to simply your work and save money at the same time.

Slate floors

Within the past few months, I've fielded over a dozen calls or emails about how to clean or (more accurately) restore slate floors. I hadn't had this many request for slate floor restoration in the past several years, so I wondered why I'm having so many now.

I think I know.

Here in the Pittsburgh area, many homes were built with slate foyers in the 60's and early 70's. People cleaned them the best they could, and often put floor finish on them to give the stone some shine. Years of VCT floor finish application (not a recommended practice) eventually leave these floors even more dull, and sometimes yellowed.

The reason people seem to be wanting to have these floors cleaned is likely because they either have decided to stay in their home longer than they expected, or because of falling home values they are trying to "spruce up the house" and know that a dull, discolored entry area creates a negative first impression.

I think this is a good sign for our industry. First, its a service that you should be providing (I'll give you some tips in my next blog entry), and second, even if you don't choose to restore slate, it proves that people are finally moving into the "clean rather than replace" psychology that usually goes with an economy in recession.

What services do you offer that can help to make your customer's home more pleasant in which to live, or will make the home have the most possible value when its up for sale or rent?

Some Spotting FAQ's

Q – Jim, what about T-Rust rust remover? Does it work? Is it worth the money? Is anything better or as good but cheaper.

A - T Rust would be my personal choice. There are cheap mineral acids that might work, but you take risks of pulling dye from nylon and wool with such products.

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Q – Jim, is that spotting kit(CS03A) really worth the money?

A - I like this spotting kit a great deal, but you could probably do better by making your own, less complicated one, based on today's stain removal standards.

Here is what I would have in my kit:
* Stain Zone
* Red One
* All Solv
* PIG
* Gel Break
* T Rust
* Avenge
* Filter Out

All are products I would have in a kit. I would also have a spotting spatula, tamping brush, a steamer or iron to activate the Red One and also a Spot Lifter Water Claw.

More FAQ's

Q – Jim, Can I switch out Power Point liquid concentrate for Point Blue powder concentrate?

A - Yes. Power Point is a great easy to dilute, liquid cleaner. Point Blue, being a powder, is a bit more work to dissolve, but powders are always more aggressive cleaners, work better if the water is hard (such as well water), and can have better degreasing qualities where high amounts of petroleum or fat are present.

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Q – Hey Jim, Could I substitute Power Break pre-spray for Traffic Slam pre-spray? -- or is it too strong for lighter commercial traffic?

A - Power Break is a very aggressive product that is used mostly on restaurant and apartment carpets. Traffic Slam is designed for the fine, oily particulate soils that make commercial carpet so difficult to clean. You can use these products interchangeably, but you'll find with Traffic Slam you'll have less chance of wicking on your commercial glue down carpet. Most of your decision should work around the type of work you do more often: Greasy food service and rental property or commercial carpet subject to normal traffic and spills.

Q – Hey Jim, You recommended the spotter, Stain Zone. What about Avenge?

Stain Zone is a new advanced technology oxidizing (bleaching) stain remover that is safe for all synthetic carpet fibers. You just spray it on a stain that doesn't come out in normal cleaning (especially coffee or urine and other unknown yellow or brown stains) and over minutes or sometimes hours the stain simply fades away. You don't need to rinse afterward.

A - Avenge is an excellent "general purpose spotter", designed to remove spots when a full cleaning is not planned or needed. You'll remove most spots in cleaning because of the efficiency of our superior traffic lane pre-sprays, but if you need to spot without cleaning, or if you have a stubborn spot that contains a lot of sticky sugar, fine particulates (like copier toner), or similar spots, Avenge is definitely a good choice.

Upholstery Tools and Equipment

Here is a question I recently received:

I am getting back into business, but I want to focus on upholstery cleaning. I no longer have a truckmount, so I will be using my portable(a Kleenrite 214).

The Kleenrite tool is comfortable, but very wet. My question is: will the new hydrokinetic tool be effective with a portable, or is its design primarily for truckmounts?

Also, how long is the hose on the Hydrokinetic tool?

If it is not appropriate for use with a portable, do you have a suggestion?

Thank you for your help!


Hello Phillip

Welcome back to the cleaning industry. There are so few Fine Fabricare Specialists available in most market areas that we are actually training furniture retailer employees in the spotting and cleaning of fabrics. I see that market as a very good one for you to explore as an independent specialist.

Unfortunately, none of the dry tools perform well with low pressure/low vacuum units such as the Kleenrite 204. If you need a dryer tool, you might consider a different tool that shears into the fabric at an angle, and is further from the fabric than the jet on the Kleenrite tool is.

The one I would recommend would be the "Easy Reach Tool"
http://pembertonstore.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=9aw45

Ultimately, today's fabric specialist are purchasing small portables with higher pressure and vacuum that better accomodate the Hydrokinetic tool. Kleenrite makes a great machine that suits this purpose called the Sphere:
http://pembertonstore.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=sphere

Please feel free to contact me back at this email address if I can help
you in any further way.

Are There Green Products that Work?

I receive some of the best questions about our industry in email fashion. Starting with this question, I will be posting a series of questions and answers that cleaners and restorers pose to Lee or myself.

What is the best "Green" truck mount detergent you have found. Would like to find a product that cleans as well as Dry Slurry, but is "eco-friendly".

Thanks,
Alex-


Hi Alex

Finding a "green" cleaning product that will perform like your "old reliable carpet cleaning detergent" (Dry Slurry) will be a challenge. The things that cut grease (solvents) and soften water (phosphates) are will not be found in a "green product".

That said, the manufacturers of green cleaning products have done a very good job of getting "nearly as good as" with alternate formulations, and we're getting great feedback on both the Prochem Axiom products and the Bridgepoint Green Balance products.

Of the two, only one makes a powdered emulsifier. The Axiom Clean Powdered Emulsifier is a good cleaner, but will cost about 15% more than Dry Slurry. Other than this product, the liquid presprays and detergents from both Prochem and Bridgepoint actually cost less than the "non green" products that they replace.

Ultimately, in deciding to use products that do not soften water as well, and do not contain grease cutting solvents, you should look to using soft water in your cleaning equipment, and to use equipment that generates as much heat as possible, as heat helps to cut grease with less need for aggressive solvent additives in the formulation.

Jim

Winterfest 2009 News

PEMBERTONS ANNUAL WINTERFEST AGAIN PACKS SPECTRUM CENTER


Now in its eleventh year, Pembertons' annual Winterfest trade show once again posted impressive attendance numbers and earned high marks from guests among the companies who packed the Spectrum Banquet Center for this end-of-January cleaning and restoration industry tradition.

According to Winterfest veterans, this Pembertons' exclusive event continually sets high expectations.

Mark Cermak, a Winterfest regular, agreed that it is a must-see event. "Once again... an absolutely fantastic Winterfest. Enjoyed once again the pleasure of seeing so many friends and making many more. It's already on our calendar for January 2010!"

Attendees began arriving at 7:30 a.m. to enjoy continental breakfast, get early looks at the new exhibits, and find friends to sit with during the presentations and catered lunch. These early birds helped consume dozens of doughnuts & Danish, gallons and gallons of coffee, as well as fresh orange and apple juices.

Lee Pemberton, as has been the tradition, kicked off Winterfest's program with a startling view of today's consumer and how the current "econoclast" coupled with the destruction of trust has shaped current and future consumer attitudes, reshaping the world for cleaners and restorers.

Lee spoked strongly about the need to focus on "Educational Marketing" to rebuild consumer trust in each individual market area. One guest summarized Lee's comments this way. "It never ceases to amaze me how progressive Lee is. Lee firmly stated "Turn off your television sets! Pay attention to the things you can control or change and don't be paralyzed by the media"!

The Winterfest programs always break at noon for a sumptuous catered lunch. This year it featured endless fried chicken, meatball entrees, vegetables, potatoes, salads, and beverages. A perennial favorite, the wine and cheese bar, opened at 2:00 and served wine, beer, cheese and hors d'oeuvres until 4:00.

By 3:30 p.m. the room was packed with cleaners and restorer's anxiously waiting to see if they would be the winner of one of the 3 Grand Prizes. All told, $11,000. worth of prizes were awarded at Winterfest 2009!

You will find Winterfest pictures located here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/cleanlee0522/Winterfest2009PrizeWinners#slideshow