Bleaches and Carpets

BLEACHES and CARPET What is bleach and how is it used? Most people, when they hear the word “bleach” automatically visualize a gallon jug of Clorox® chlorine bleach. My dictionary says that bleach is anything that removes color. There are actually two primary ways of removing color - oxidizing and reducing. OXIDIZING BLEACHES: An oxidizing bleach is a chemical that gains electrons and causes the oxidation of another substance. That is, an oxidizing bleach removes color by adding oxygen (or chlorine) to a dye structure, or even destroys the dye molecule by splitting it apart. The ultimate form of oxidation is burning - where the substance is totally destroyed by high temperatures and oxygen! Examples of oxidizing bleaches are hydrogen peroxide, chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite), sodium perborate, sodium persulfate and sodium percarbonate. Even ozone and medications such as some acne medicines containing benzoyl peroxide are oxidizing bleaches. Pro's Choice Stain 1 Stain Remover and the two-part Pro's Choice Stain Magic® also contain hydrogen peroxide oxidizing bleach as one of their components. STAIN REMOVERS CONTAINING OXIDIZING BLEACH: Pro's Choice Stain Magic is a powerful two-part spot and stain remover system formulated especially for removing organic and natural stains such as tea, herbal tea, coffee, mustard, wine, vomit, wood furniture stains, urine, juices such as grape juice and other hard-to-remove “impossible” spots and stains from carpet, no matter how old! Pro's Choice Stain 1 one-part carpet stain remover removes organic and natural stains from carpets and rugs. Stain 1 combines the stain removal attributes of Pro’s Choice Stain Magic® with the anti-soiling properties of ARA, butyl cellosolve and detergency to give you an incredibly versatile and effective universal stain and spot remover. Pro's Choice Stain Magic for Wool, a 3-part system, is formulated specifically to remove organic stains use on natural fibers (wool, silk, cotton) which are are easily damaged by stronger spotters and stain removers. HYDROGEN PEROXIDE is a clear, self-neutralizing, unstable oxidizing bleach that should be stored in a dark, cool place, in a dark colored bottle and kept no more than 6 months. When using hydrogen peroxide, such as whitening grayed rug fringes, start with the 3% strength found in most drug stores. Do not leave on stain more than 30 minutes and follow with wet extraction to ensure complete removal to prevent residual bleaching. In some cases, 3% hydrogen peroxide can be left on the stain on nylon carpet overnight without rinsing, but some risk is involved. Hydrogen peroxide oxidation can be accelerated by an alkali (pH over 7), by heat (very risky) or simply by sunlight. Hydrogen peroxide simply breaks down to water and oxygen as it dries, leaving no residue. Pretest in an inconspicuous area for bleaching or discoloration of the carpet or rug dyes. Get a signed release because the carpet dyes may be irreversibly bleached out or changed. Attempt only on light colors. Use on wool VERY carefully. 3% hydrogen peroxide is excellent for whitening cotton fringes on oriental design rugs. The 40-volume CLEAR hydrogen peroxide from the beauty supply house (usually labeled “40 Volume Clear Developer”) is 12% strength. The 30% hydrogen peroxide from chemical suppliers is 100 volume. “Volume” is not the same as “per-cent”! Oxidizing bleaches are excellent against stains from mildew, furniture, ink, coffee, cellulosic browning, urine and feces. CHLORINE BLEACH should only be used on solution dyed fibers. On 100% olefin carpet, it may be used undiluted, but should be rinsed out after use. On solution dyed nylon, it should be diluted to at least 1 part bleach to 4 parts water before use. Chlorine bleach will damage even solution-dyed nylon fibers and should only be used when nothing else works! ALWAYS extract out chlorine bleach after use. Be sure there is no bleach on your shoes, hoses, etc. where it might get on other carpet or furniture. NEVER mix chlorine bleach with any other chemicals. Household chlorine bleach is about 5.25% sodium hypochlorite with a pH of about 12! Chlorine bleach, even dry, can still be reactivated with water and its residue is caustic soda. Chlorine bleach dissolves wool and severely weakens cotton. NEVER bring a bottle of chlorine bleach into a house! Don’t ever use chlorine bleach to remove a stain on anything but olefin or solution-dyed nylon! I read frequently on the web about using bleach to lighten or clean carpet or to remove urine stains - horrible advise! REDUCING BLEACHES (ANTI-CHLORS): A reducing bleach is a chemical that loses electrons and removes oxygen from a compound. Reducing bleaches are sometimes called strippers or stripping agents. Examples of reducing bleaches are sodium thiosulfate (photographer’s hypo), titanium stripper, sodium bisulfite and sodium hydrosulfite. Rit® Color Remover, Streepene®, CloroX Bleach Neutralizer, Red 1® Stain Remover and the two-part product Red Relief® contain reducing bleaches. Sodium bisulfite is a weak reducing bleach; sodium hydrosulfite is a very strong reducing bleach. Sodium bisulfite is a common ingredient in Haitian cotton shampoos. Reducing bleaches are accelerated by heat and by acid. Reducing bleaches are especially effective against grape juice, Kool-Aid®, wine, iodine and Betadine®. Reducing bleaches also act as “anti-chlors” - neutralizing oxidizing bleaches such as chlorine bleach. CloroX Bleach Neutralize by Pro's Choice is an anti-chlor formulated to neutralize chlorine bleach on carpet. STAIN REMOVERS CONTAINING REDUCING BLEACH: Pro's Choice Red 1 combines two powerful stain-removing solutions that attack food dyes and other stains, breaking them down for easy removal during extraction. Pro’s Choice Red Relief 2-part stain removal system combines two powerful stain-removing solutions that attack food dyes, Kool-Aid and other stains on carpet, breaking them down for easy removal during extraction cleaning. Pro’s Choice Red Relief for Wool is a three-part system that removes food and drink stains and many more from wool carpets and rugs. The biggest drawback to reducing bleaches is that the oxygen in air alone may re-oxidize the stain and it will reappear - after all, the stain was simply made colorless, not actually removed or destroyed! BLEACH NEUTRALIZERS: Bleach neutralizers such as Pro's Choice CloroX Bleach Neutralizer, which contains thiosulfate, are chemical opposites of oxidizing bleaches and neutralize oxidizing bleaches such as chlorine bleach. Bleach neutralizers are often called “anti-chlors.” HOW TO REMOVE (NEUTRALIZE) BLEACH SPOTS ON CARPET with CHLORX: WARNING: Chlorine bleach dissolves wool and damages cotton. Absorb and flush the area affected by bleach with water. Repeat this process at least 3 times to remove as much contamination as possible. If the spill was extremely heavy, use the Water Claw® Sub-Surface Spot Lifter to more thoroughly flush out the bleach spill. Even then, it may be necessary to remove the contaminated padding to avoid chlorine bleaching fumes and liquid from wicking to the surface and ruining your repair. As with all cleaning chemicals pre-test your procedure in an inconspicuous area prior to using. Dissolve 3 ounces of Pro's Choice ChlorX Bleach Neutralizer per gallon of water. Thoroughly soak the bleached area with ChlorX Bleach Neutralizer to neutralize the bleach. Allow 3 minutes dwell time prior to your color restoration. Rinse out the anti-chlor. Very important: Remove as much moisture as possible before you begin your color restoration. Apply Pro’s Choice Pro-Solve NE (CMC Application Fluid) to contamination to wet carpet fibers in preparation to accept Color Modifying Cosmetics colors. Agitate gently to dissolve contamination and blot up contamination with a dry, absorbent cloth. You are now ready to restore the color to the bleached out area with the Pro’s Choice CMC Combo Kit. HOW THE CONSUMER CAN USE RIT DYE COLOR REMOVE TO NEUTRALIZE BLEACH: To use Rit Color Remover, dissolve 2 ounces of the reducing bleach in VERY hot water. Cover the stain with a white turkish towel. Pour the solution on the towel. Remove the towel after about 10 minutes. Thoroughly blot with dry towels and dry. Repeat if needed. Rit Color Remover is commonly sold in discount stores in the laundry area. Its primary active ingredient is sodium hydrosulfite. NOTE: Because this is a powder, protect it from moisture and spills. Related Spotting Information and Articles: Carpet Spot & Stain Removers How Carpet is Dyed by the Mill or Fiber Producer Spot and Stain Removal General Tips Spotting Guides for Carpets and Rugs Related Spot and Stain Removal Videos: Carpet Spot & Stain Removal Guidelines Categories of Stain and Spot Removal from Carpet How to Remove Blood, Vomit and Feces from Carpet How to Remove Coffee Stains from Carpet How to Remove Food Dye Stains from Carpet with Red Relief. How to Remove Organic Carpet Stains on Carpet With Stain Magic How to Remove Stains from Wool Rug with Red Relief for Wool YouTube Videos by Bane-Clene® Related Spot and Stain Removal Products (Links Open to the Bane-Clene Store in Separate Windows): CloroX Bleach Neutralizer for Carpet Repair CMC Color Modifying Cosmetics Color Repair Kit for Bleach Stains Energizer Light for Stain Magic Printed Stain Removal Guide by Pro's Choice Professional Spotting Kit by Pro's Choice Red 1® Stain Remover Red Relief® Red Relief for Wool Spot & Stain Removal DVD Set Stain 1 Stain Remover Stain Magic® Stain Magic for Wool NOTE: This article is a revised version of an article that originally appeared in the May/June 2000 Bane-Clene Cleaning Digest®. Free Bane-Clene Information Package Free packet of information about Bane-Clene can be obtained by calling toll-free 1-800-428-9512 (U.S. ONLY!). Your information packet will include a full color catalog and price addendum. Packets will arrive in approximately 2 weeks through standard United States Mail. You can also order the packet at the Catalog Request Form. “A to Z” Alphabetical Index to the Bane-Clene Web Site Bane-Clene Home Page Copyright: Bane-Clene® Corp. Author: Donald W. Terry, Sr., Bane-Clene’s Chemist Date Published: May 1, 2000 Date Modified: July 31, 2019

BUSINESS SLOW?

Are you not as busy as you would like to be? Is business slow? All businesses go through periodic slow downs. It may be the weather, the time of year or other factors. The question is what to do about it? Actually, a slow down is a perfect time to build up your sales potential. There are several things you can do. Start with your regular customers. Reach out to them and make sure they do not have any pressing needs that you might help them with. Don’t neglect to do this just because you don’t think there will be an order. Slow times are also perfect for contacting prospects you gave a proposal to before and they did not use your service. Find out why they did not. Maybe your price was more and the company that cleaned for them did a poor job. Many times, someone is reluctant to contact you if they chose price and now are embarrassed. Let them know you that next time they need cleaning you are more than happy to be of service. Use slow times to work on your sales presentation and selling technique. At The Bane-Clene® Institute we have information and classes directly related to selling. Along with information and promotional material available to assist you. The better you prepare yourself now, the easier it will be to sell in the future. Related Information and Articles: ABCs of Advertising Add-On Carpet Cleaning ‘Plus Sales’ Advertising - the Essential Element Advertising the Bane-Clene Way Building Your Own Carpet Cleaning Business Customer Service in the Carpet Cleaning Industry Cut Your Prices for Cleaning Carpets and Other Services? Eleven Commandments of Good Business Four Characteristics of a Successful Person Mistakes Carpet Cleaners Make Pricing for a Profitable Carpet Cleaning Business Pricing Your Carpet Cleaning Service Sell Maintenance Programs Sell The Sizzle The 15 Factors of Success in Carpet Cleaning Business Tips for Increasing Your Carpet Cleaning Business Training for Professional Carpet Cleaning Companies Twenty Steps to Success VIDEO: Bane-Clene® Business Management School Twenty Steps to Success VIDEO: Bane-Clene® Business Management School What Makes a Company Successful in the Carpet Cleaning Business? Thank you for reading Bane’s Blog® Please read the latest issue of the Clene-Times® at www.baneclene.com/publications/. Please visit our web site at www.baneclene.com. The Bane-Clene® Team. Free Bane-Clene Information Package Free packet of information about Bane-Clene can be obtained by calling toll-free 1-800-428-9512 (U.S. ONLY!). Your information packet will include a full color catalog and price addendum. Packets will arrive in approximately 2 weeks through standard United States Mail. You can also order the packet at the Catalog Request Form. “A to Z” Alphabetical Index to the Bane-Clene Web Site Bane-Clene Home Page

What Do the Terms “Alkali,” “Alkaline,” “Acid,” “Acidity,” “Saponification,” “pH” Mean?

The Terms “Alkali,” “Alkaline,” “Acid,” “Acidity,” “Saponification,” “pH” as Related to Carpet Cleaning You may have run into words like "acidic," "alkaline" and "pH” in your carpet cleaning business, but what do they really mean. What does the the term “alkali” have to do with carpet cleaning? An alkaline substance has a pH above 7.0 in water. Alkalinity is neutralized by acids. Neutralization is the reaction between an acid and a base, producing a salt and neutralized base; for example, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide form sodium chloride and water. Alkaline liquids turn red litmus paper blue. Most water-based cleaning solutions are alkaline because (1) most soils are acids and (2) because greasy soils such as fats, oils and proteins which are saponified by alkali for easier removal by cleaning. High-alkaline cleaners also help destroy microorganisms. The more alkaline the detergent (higher the pH), the more corrosive the cleaner and the more damage it will do to pH sensitive fibers and dyes. ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL, the more alkaline or the higher the pH, the better the cleaning. Alkaline liquids have a bitter taste. They have soapy or slippery feel because they react with the fatty esters on your skin and turn them into soap by saponification! Some common alkali are: Sodium hydroxide – often called “caustic soda.” Potassium hydroxide – commonly called “caustic potash.” Lye – generic term for sodium or potassium hydroxide Some alkali commonly used in carpet cleaning detergents: Potassium hydroxide is sometimes used in heavy-duty liquid detergents, but is usually too corrosive and dangerous to use. Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate): Most powdered cleaning agents contain high levels of soda ash because it’s cheaper than most water-soluble alkaline builder. But, Soda ash reacts with calcium water hardness to form Calcium Carbonate scale. This scale can clog nozzles, scale up the stator (resulting in failure) and leave the carpet fibers dull from a hazy film. Soda ash is primarily used to cut costs and absorb liquid ingredients such as surfactants. There is no soda ash added to PCA Formula 5 or Formula 4. Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda): Sodium bicarbonate is sometimes used in milder, near neutral powdered detergents is needed. This is seldom used in carpet cleaning detergents. Borax: While borax may be found in some laundry detergents, I’ve never seen it used in carpet detergents because it’s not very soluble in water. Sodium Metasilicate: Sodium Metasilicate has a very high pH (over 12) and imparts corrosion inhibition to aluminum. It is commonly used to make the detergent effective against cooking grease by saponifying the grease (turning it into soap). There is no silicate added to PCA Formula 5, PCA Formula 4, Preface® traffic lane spotter or Olefin Preconditioner. But it is a very important ingredient in Super LCA™ and TLS® 2000 for greater effectiveness against heavily soiled carpet and greasy restaurant carpets. TLS 2000, a liquid high-pH pre-spray, contains sodium metasilicate and a solvent to help cut through cooking grease in restaurants. The pH of TLS 2000 at its recommended concentration is about 13, so it is definitely not intended for use on stain-resist residential nylon or on upholstery. However, it is extremely effective in cutting through the stubborn oils so often attached to olefin (polypropylene) fibers. We specifically designed TLS 2000 to restaurant carpets with heavy grease and other problem commercial carpets. But, Sodium Metasilicate has some drawbacks. It reacts with water hardness to form a scale similar to that from soda ash, but it is much finer and not easily removable with acid. Affected parts and nozzles frequently must be replaced rather than simply cleaned. It dissolves very slowly which can lead to clogging of the unit. Potassium Silicates may be found in some liquid detergents because it is much more soluble in water. Phosphates: Trisodium and disodium phosphate are very soluble high pH builders and grease cutters that also increase cleaning power to powdered carpet cleaning detergents. Polyphosphates such as sodium tripolyphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate are frequently used as alkaline builders and water softeners (sequestering agents / chelating agents) in detergents. What is meant by the term saponification as related to carpet cleaning? Saponification, in carpet cleaning, is a chemical reaction between the detergent and certain fatty, oily soils such as cooking grease in the carpet. These oils are vegetable/animal fat and oil from cooking, body oils, etc. Oils like these will react with alkali to form soap. An example of saponification is how soap was made in the frontier days. The mother would heat up a kettle of bear grease in a big kettle with water. The grease would just melt and float on the water because it hates water. She then added lye or wood ash (alkali), and the fat was turned into soap, which not only dissolves in water but also is a detergent! Saponification is another reason that higher pH usually results in better cleaning. The alkaline grease saponifiers in highly alkaline TLS® 2000 are highly alkaline materials that chemically react with cooking grease to actually convert the insoluble grease and fats to soluble soaps. Emulsification is the process of removing those oils that do not saponify; i.e., they don’t react with alkali and turn into soap. These are motor oils, exhaust fumes, common pollution oils, lubricants, silicones, furniture polish, sun tan lotion, tobacco smoke residue, lubricating grease, oils from skin and pet hair, etc. What are acids and what do they have to do with carpet cleaning? Definition of acid from my old freshman chemistry class textbook: An acid is a chemical species that donates protons or hydrogen ions and/or accepts electrons. ... The higher the concentration of hydrogen ions produced by an acid, the higher its acidity and the lower the pH of the solution. An acid is a chemical substance that neutralizes alkalis, dissolves some metals and turns litmus red. Acids taste sour, conduct electricity when dissolved in water, and react with metals to produce hydrogen gas. Certain indicator compounds, such as litmus, can be used to detect acids. Strong acids are corrosive to most metals. Examples of strong mineral acids include sulfuric (used in car batteries), nitric, hydrochloric (often called muriatic acid) and phosphoric acids. Examples of weak acids include acetic acid, boric acid, citric acid and carbonic acid. Boric acid is commonly used in eye wash products. Oxalic acid and hydrofluoric acid (both very hazardous and poisonous) are used in some rust removers. Vinegar is diluted acetic acid, which is what gives salad dressings and pickled vegetables their tart taste. Oranges, lemons and limes contain citric acid, which gives them their sour taste. Carbonated water (carbonic acid) is one of the most common acid additives that is widely added in soft drinks. What does the term “acid rinse” of carpet after cleaning mean? We often read the term “acid rinse” in various carpet cleaning publications, but what does it actually mean and how is it done and why? And, should we use the term “acid rinse”? Strictly speaking, "acid rinse" simply means that, after extraction cleaning the carpet, an acid-based product is run through the machine to rinse out detergent residue in the carpet, rug or upholstery and to decrease the pH by neutralizing the alkaline components of the cleaning compound used. Historically, when carpets were constructed with jute backing, the jute would often bleed out brown lignin resulting with a “browning” residue on the tips of the carpet fibers. Additionally, in the “old days,” high-pH detergents were often used to clean carpet, leaving a high pH residue on the surface. An acid product or browning agent had to be applied to prevent browning and chemical yellowing and also to stabilize the carpet or rug dyes. We recommend the use of what some call an acid rinse but what we call a Brown Out rinse or Brown Out flush, which is used by adding 2 or more ounces of Brown Out® per gallon of water (no detergent) through the base unit only when we need to get the pH down, have detergent residue of ice melt track-in or a lot of detergent residue from previous cleanings. In this procedure, extraction clean with the Brown Out solution using plenty of vacuum-only strokes to leave carpet as dry as possible. We never use the word “acid rinse”in front of a customer! The term “acid”, in the minds of the customer, signals “danger - poison”! Instead, we call it a Brown Out rinse or Brown Out flush. Some preach prespraying and then using an “acid rinse” to neutralize the detergent and leave no residue. I continue to be amazed that anyone actually believes that an acid leaves no residue or that an acid will somehow magically “zap” the prespray and make it disappear into thin air! Acetic acid (vinegar) will evaporate, but the salt formed when it neutralizes alkali does not evaporate. Some use hydroxyacetic acid, but its evaporation rate is slow and its salts also don’t evaporate. Additionally, acetic acid and hydroxyacetic acid, have an odor that is objectionable to most customers. What is pH, how is it related to alkalinity and acidity and how is it related to carpet cleaning? There is nothing magical about the term “pH”. It is the chemist’s shorthand for “Potential of Hydrogen”. It is the measurement used to determine the relative alkalinity, acidity or neutrality of a solution. Please note the upper pH limit of 10 for stain-resist nylon carpet. Yet, all other things being equal, the higher the pH, the better the cleaning. Also, note that there is a 10-fold increase in alkalinity or acidity for each pH unit change. In other words, a solution at a pH of 14 is 10,000,000 times as alkaline as one at a pH of 7. Substances with a pH of lower than 7 register as acidic. Each sequential decreasing number is 10 times more acidic than the number before it. So a substance with a pH of 5 is 10 times more acidic than a substance with a pH of 6. Note the very low pH of vomit. Because of its low pH, any staining agent in vomit will be MUCH more difficult to remove, because the lower the pH, the more set a dye will be. Just a pleasant thought before dinner! Detergents with a pH of 7 or nearing 7, register as neutral. These substances do not fall under either acidic or alkaline. Detergents with a pH of higher than 7 register as alkaline. Each sequential increasing number is 10 times more alkaline than the preceding number. So a pH level of 11 represents 10 times the alkalinity of a level of 10. When cleaning or treating stains on carpets made from natural fibers, carpet cleaners usually choose neutral or slightly alkaline products.   Related Carpet and Rug Cleaning Information: Alkalinity in Carpet Cleaning Detergents Chemistry of Detergents and Carpet Cleaning Chemicals Emulon® Emulsifier Ingredient in Bane-Clene Carpet Cleaning Detergents Emulsifiers and Detergents pH Saponification What are the Chemicals in Carpet Cleaning Detergents? Videos on Cleaning Carpet: Bane-Clene Carpet Cleaning Detergents Cleaning Carpet in a Building Supply Company Cleaning Carpet in a Speedway 500 Suite with Bane-Clene Truck-Mount Cleaning Carpet in the UK the Bane-Clene Way Cleaning Motor Home Carpet and Upholstery with Bane-Clene Equipment & Chemicals Cleaning NCAA Headquarters’ Carpets and Upholstery by Bane-Clene Cleaning Restaurant Carpet by Kennay’s Carpet Care Cleaning School Carpet with Bane-Clene Equipment and Chemicals How to Clean a Greasy Steakhouse Restaurant Carpet How to Remove Oily Soils from Carpet pH - the Measurement of Alkalinity and Acidity in Cleaning Solutions Related Carpet and Rug Cleaning Products: LCA®-256 low pH liquid carpet cleaning detergent Natural Fiber Cleaner PCA Formula 4 high-pH powdered carpet cleaning extraction detergent for commercial carpet PCA Formula 5 Preface® Carpet Cleaning Prespray Super LCA™ The Chemistry of Cleaning - Set of 3 DVD’s by Bane-Clene’s Chemist The Chemistry of Making & Maintaining Rugs and Carpet - DVD TLS® 2000 Heavy-Duty Carpet Cleaning Prespray / Traffic Lane Spotter. Free Bane-Clene Information Package Free packet of information about Bane-Clene can be obtained by calling toll-free 1-800-428-9512 (U.S. ONLY!). Your information packet will include a full color catalog and price addendum. Packets will arrive in approximately 2 weeks through standard United States Mail. You can also order the packet at the Catalog Request Form. “A to Z” Alphabetical Index to the Bane-Clene Web Site Bane-Clene Home Page Copyright: Bane-Clene® Corp. Author: Donald W. Terry, Sr., Bane-Clene’s Chemist Date Published: July 24, 2019 Date Modified: July 24, 2019 VIDEO: pH - the Measurement of Alkalinity and Acidity in Cleaning Solutions pH is the measurement used to determine the relative alkalinity, acidity or neutrality of a solution.

BE OBSERVANT

When you call on customers or prospects, be observant. You may find clues to their personalities that may help you make the sale. Is their desk piled high with work? Don’t stay more than a few minutes if they saw you without an appointment. If you had an appointment, be sure to stay to the allotted time that was discussed. This is very important as we all have had someone say they only want 15 minutes of our time and an hour later they are still there. Observe without staring how their office is decorated. Is it old fashioned, then they may be interested in hearing more about the history of your company. Is their office modern or simplistic, then you should quickly and efficiently get to the highlights of your presentation. These decorations may let you know something of their interests; is it sports, music, cars or something else. Whatever it may be, use your observations as a way to show interest in them and to maintain an engaging atmosphere. If the person you are meeting with starts with small talk or general conversation, then by all means follow their lead. However, if they immediately ask pointed questions about you and your company, then be ready to move right into your presentation. This is a person that likes to get right down to business. They appreciate brevity but they want full details. Once again be observant. These observations may very well lead to more sales. Related Information and Articles: Building Your Own Carpet Cleaning Business Eleven Commandments of Good Business Toward a Customer Four Characteristics of a Successful Person Sell The Sizzle The 15 Factors of Success in Carpet Cleaning Business There is No Substitute for Service Tips for Increasing Your Carpet Cleaning Business Twenty Steps to Success in the Carpet Cleaning Business What Makes a Company Successful in the Carpet Cleaning Business? Thank you for reading Bane’s Blog® Please read the latest issue of the Clene-Times® at www.baneclene.com/publications/. Please visit our web site at www.baneclene.com. The Bane-Clene® Team. Free Bane-Clene Information Package Free packet of information about Bane-Clene can be obtained by calling toll-free 1-800-428-9512 (U.S. ONLY!). Your information packet will include a full color catalog and price addendum. Packets will arrive in approximately 2 weeks through standard United States Mail. You can also order the packet at the Catalog Request Form. “A to Z” Alphabetical Index to the Bane-Clene Web Site Bane-Clene Home Page

Cleaning School Carpets in the Summer

The Season of School Carpet Cleaning from Kennays Carpet Care Kennays Carpet Care recently posted an article on their Facebook page titled “Busy getting the carpet clean for the schools.” Summer is indeed the time when schools are used less and the carpets are cleaned and treated with protector. School carpet cleaning should always be a part of your commercial carpet cleaning business, but it can be very competitive. Schools will often call upon cleaning companies to help at this time of year because their cleaning staff have made a mess of the carpets doing interim cleaning and spotting. Many schools simply haven’t the proper equipment to do the best job. Above is a picture of a school carpet BEFORE Kennays cleaned it. Above is a picture the school carpet AFTER Kennays cleaned it. About Kennays Carpet Care - from Kennays’ Facebook Page: “Kennays have been in the carpet cleaning business for over 30 years. We started using The Bane-Clene® System in 1985. It is a Truck Mounted System and Bane-Clene® is based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. They provide us with our equipment, detergents and the knowledge needed for the highest quality carpet and furniture cleaning.” “We don’t use the customer’s water. We don’t dump a pile of lint in your driveways. We don’t pour dirty water onto your lawn. No noises, no fumes. We can even pull into your attached garage, close the door and operate safely in bad weather. Foul, muggy odors are exhausted outside into the holding tank and taken away. Carpets and Furnishings are left clean, deodorized, nice-smelling and nearly dry. PROFESSIONAL!” Related Commercial Carpet Cleaning Articles and Videos: Carpet in Schools - A staff report Selling Commercial Carpet Cleaning VIDEO: Cleaning Carpet in a Building Supply Company VIDEO: Cleaning Carpet in a Speedway 500 Suite with Bane-Clene Truck-Mount VIDEO: Cleaning Motor Home Carpet and Upholstery with Bane-Clene Equipment & Chemicals VIDEO: Cleaning NCAA Headquarters’ Carpets and Upholstery by Bane-Clene VIDEO: Cleaning Restaurant Carpet by Kennay’s Carpet Care VIDEO: Cleaning School Carpet with Bane-Clene Equipment and Chemicals VIDEO: How to Clean a Greasy Steakhouse Restaurant Carpet Free Bane-Clene Information Package Free packet of information about Bane-Clene can be obtained by calling toll-free 1-800-428-9512 (U.S. ONLY!). Your information packet will include a full color catalog and price addendum. Packets will arrive in approximately 2 weeks through standard United States Mail. You can also order the packet at the Catalog Request Form. “A to Z” Alphabetical Index to the Bane-Clene Web Site Bane-Clene Home Page Copyright: Bane-Clene® Corp. Author: Donald W. Terry, Sr., Bane-Clene’s Chemist Date Published: July 17, 2019 Date Modified: July 17, 2019 VIDEO: Bane-Clene® Cleaning School Carpet Cleaning School Carpet with Bane-Clene Equipment - Going Portable with Base Unit.

TRUSTWORTHINESSS

People like to do business with a company that they can trust. The quality of that trustworthiness is the key to building customer confidence. The owner or manager of a high quality Carpet Cleaning Company should do everything they can to convince their customers of their integrity. They do not make exaggerated claims or statements. They rely on the truth and base their sales presentations on facts. They realize they have to back up their promises with proof and results. They are careful about making commitments for delivery and or service that they can’t keep. They always make promises based upon assurances and follow up to make sure all is done as promised. If unforeseen circumstances cause a promise to be broken, they call and apologize to their customers immediately. They then get to work on the problem right away, doing everything they can to fix the situation. Building trustworthiness means representing your customers’ best interests. Trust isn’t built in a day. It may take weeks or months to build a firm base of confidence with each customer. They must be sure they don’t do anything to shake that customer’s trust. Related Information and Articles: About Us Customer Service in the Carpet Cleaning Industry Eleven Commandments of Good Business Toward a Customer Four Characteristics of a Successful Person The Customer Is (Still) Always Right - Bane-Clene The 15 Factors of Success in Carpet Cleaning Business There is No Substitute for Service Twenty Steps to Success in the Carpet Cleaning Business What Makes a Company Successful in the Carpet Cleaning Business? Thank you for reading Bane’s Blog® Please read the latest issue of the Clene-Times® at www.baneclene.com/publications/. Please visit our web site at www.baneclene.com. The Bane-Clene® Team. Free Bane-Clene Information Package Free packet of information about Bane-Clene can be obtained by calling toll-free 1-800-428-9512 (U.S. ONLY!). Your information packet will include a full color catalog and price addendum. Packets will arrive in approximately 2 weeks through standard United States Mail. You can also order the packet at the Catalog Request Form. “A to Z” Alphabetical Index to the Bane-Clene Web Site Bane-Clene Home Page