Friday, May 27, 2016

CARPET PROTECTORS

The purpose of carpet protectors is just what the name implies. They are designed to protect the carpet against soil, stains, wicking and/or static electricity.

Sta-Clene® is excellent at protecting carpeting and upholstery from both soil and stains. It is non-dilutable, so therefore will not spoil.

Fluorinated protectors such as Teflon® Advanced and Bane-Guard® are dilutable. They change the surface energy of fibers and provide soil resistance as their primary function. Additionally, they help fibers resist both water-based and oil-based spots and stains.

Applying protectors allows your customer to enjoy a cleaner carpet for a longer period of time. This improves customer satisfaction and encourages customer loyalty.

From a technician's viewpoint, applying carpet protector makes it easier to clean the carpeting when they return and any spots and or stains are more easily removed.

Carpet protectors are a plus sale item and adds profits to your company.

See the latest issue of The Clene-Times.

Thank you for reading Bane's Blog®.

Friday, May 20, 2016

WASTE WATER DISPOSAL

The dirty recovery water from Hot Water Extraction (HWE) systems must be disposed of in a specific manner. The regulations vary across the country, but there are obvious common sense rules that should be followed:

  1. NEVER dump into the street, driveway or parking lot.
  2. Do NOT dump into a storm sewer, creek or other body of water.

All Bane-Clene® detergents, such as Preface®, TLS 2000 ®, PCA Formula 5®, LCA-256®, Super LCA ® and Booster™ are fully biodegradable. Our deodorizers and spotters, except Saf-T-Solv®, are also biodegradable. The pH of the waste water with Bane-Clene chemicals is normally 7.5 to 8.5, eliminating the requirements in most municipalities calling for neutralization. We do suggest contacting the local authorities to apprise yourself of any and all regulations.

The primary reason dumping onto streets, parking lots or driveways is illegal is because rain will eventually wash carpet fibers, bacteria, sand, dirt, detergent, etc. into bodies of water. This debris will prove harmful to aquatic and plant life.

Before dumping into yours or any other SANITARY sewer system, always filter out solid material so as not to clog drains, pumps, etc. Dumping into a septic system is risky; it requires plenty of excess capacity.

See the latest issue of The Clene-Times.

Thank you for reading Bane's Blog®.

Friday, May 13, 2016

INSECTICIDE RESIDUES

Frequently our callers, especially from Florida, complain about the extreme difficulty in removing insecticide residues from carpeting. The problem is especially difficult when insecticide has been applied to a carpet in a vacation home or trailer. If the place is closed up for the off-season, the owners find a bad odor and stains from the insecticide when they return.
Insecticides are applied to control insects such as roaches, fleas, bed bugs and spiders. Insecticides are usually organophosphates or carbamates; some are chlorinated. The solvents and emulsifiers used are very strong and do not evaporate under usual conditions.
The organophosphates turn some red dyes to blue, leaving a dark blue to green spot. Other red dyes fade, resulting in a light blue to green spot. Accumulation from repeated treatment eventually causes discoloration. Simple hot water extraction (HWE) won't remove all of the odor and residue because the insecticide has decomposed and reacted with the carpet fibers.
We suggest applying Preface® at the high end of its dilution ratio to the entire area. Allow the product to work on the residue for ten (10) minutes. Then the carpet should be thoroughly cleaned using the HWE method. Any remaining residue may be removed with Saf-T-Solv®. However, unfortunately, options are limited if color changes have occurred.
We always recommend testing a small inconspicuous area; this way, results are visible and if there has been a color change the customer can be apprised and given the opportunity to decide whether you should continue or not. At this time, a release is also a prudent idea. The last thing we want is to be blamed for causing and or making the problem worse.
See the latest issue of The Clene-Times.
Thank you for reading Bane's Blog®.

Friday, May 06, 2016

FLEAS/MITES/BED BUGS


Fleas, dust mites and bed bugs are a frequent problem. How can we remove them and can we apply insecticides to help?

In some states, unless you are a licensed applicator, you cannot legally apply insecticides. However, we do know that hot water extraction (HWE) cleaning will physically remove all loose objects from carpeting, which would include bugs and their offspring.

Prior to a thorough cleaning, any old animal bedding or contaminated articles of clothing, etc. should be removed and destroyed.

After cleaning, spray with Steri-Fab® all contaminated areas. Besides the carpeting, furniture, mattresses that have been cleaned. Also, spray sleeping quarters of animals, floor areas, around baseboards, windows, doors, etc. Be sure to spray all possible areas where fleas, mites and bed bugs may have thrived. Surfaces and objects should remain wet for ten (10) minutes after application.

See the latest issue of The Clene-Times.

Thank you for reading Bane's Blog®.