TRAINING

A service company kept receiving complaints that spots were coming back after they had cleaned carpeting for customers. The owner traced the complaints to one crew. The owner addressed the situation to the crew and received this answer. “No one showed us how to use the spotters”. At first, the owner was infuriated. Then, ultimately accepted fault. Training was entrusted to the company’s service manager. While this certainly seems like the normal way to operate, the owner also knows the buck stops with the owner. After talking to the service manager, the owner realized the service manager was overlooking some training aspects. The owner had been to the Bane-Clene Institute®, but that had been some time ago. Current conditions prevented the owner from returning to school or sending someone else. So the decision was made to set up a formal in-house training program. The owner would train employees through the Operator Certification Program offered by Bane-Clene®. Also, there would be scheduled “spotting” and training classes. Each month, one or more of the YouTube Videos available on the Bane-Clene® web site would be viewed and then the information would be reviewed through a question and answer period with all the employees. Certainly it is important to have Service Technicians well educated on spotting techniques. It is also beneficial to have phone Representatives well versed on techniques. This way, they can answer customer’s questions with confidence and authority. Related Articles and Information: Authorized Registered Technician (A.R.T.) Uniform Patch Bane-Clene Institute Training Programs for Carpet Cleaning Companies, Owners and Technicians Factory Trained Technician Arm Uniform Patch Operator Certification Program for Carpet Cleaning Technicians Phone Courtesy for Carpet Cleaning Companies Professional Spotting Guide Spot & Stain Removal DVDs Spots Coming Back after Cleaning Telephone Etiquette Video: Bane-Clene Management School Wicking of Soil and Dirt after Cleaning Carpet YouTube Videos by Bane-Clene 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

COVID-19: A new era in the cleaning industry!    Because of Covid-19, concerns by both consumers and companies about cleaning and sanitation are at an all-time high! This pandemic can be either a disaster for your business or a great opportunity. Have you ever heard of so many potential customers so extremely concerned about how clean and sanitary are their homes, workplaces and the stores they visit? Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, our cleaning industry will never be the same again. For example, a survey by Accenture in April 2020, 46% of people who never worked from home previously now plan to work from home more often in the future. That means that upholstery and the rugs, carpets and wood floors are receiving more traffic and getting dirtier faster than ever before plus they are concerned about what they may be bringing into their homes from other places. Many firms have cut down on pricey office rents and are considering shifting to employees to teleworking full-time or at least part-time. This may well be a permanent change in the workforce environment. The need for residential cleaning, as a result, is going to rapidly increase. Yet, commercial cleaning, especially of office areas, is going to increase too because of the increased need for assurance that office workers are safe. Are you prepared for the “new normal”? Have you changed your marketing to adjust for the new reality and opportunities? This coronavirus outbreak has brought more demand for not just cleaning services, but DEEP, THOROUGH cleaning and sanitation! Concerns over the coronavirus have put cleanliness and sanitation a major priority for everyone. It used to be that we cleaned because things were visibly dirty. Now, customers worry about what they can’t see. Remember the old adage that “if you can’t see it, it can’t hurt you”? What’s the best way to sanitize carpeting? First, obviously, the dirt has to be removed - cleaning is just removing dirt from a surface. Then, if needed, it needs to be treated with a disinfectant on the EPA list such as Mediclean Spray Disinfectant or Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution. Or, you can use MediClean QGC as a prespray to sanitize, then do your normal extraction cleaning. Of course, MediClean QGC and Sporicidin can be used as both cleaners and sanitizers on other surfaces. Customers aren’t concerned just about what’s hiding in their carpets. What about the fabrics covering their rugs and upholstery - and even their mattresses? They need to be cleaned and sanitized too. Does cleaning remove bacteria and viruses? Does extraction cleaning alone kill or deactivate coronavirus? Coronaviruses are surrounded by a protective layer of lipids, which can be easily destroyed by a good detergent. So, yes, deep cleaning with detergents removes the protective layer around SARS-CoV-2 and the virus is rendered unable to reproduce and infect and kept from spreading. The CDC in their article “Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility” (updated April 28, 2020): “For soft surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes- Clean the surface using soap and water or with cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces. Launder items (if possible) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely. OR Disinfect with an EPA-registered household disinfectant. These disinfectants meet EPA’s criteria for use against COVID-19. Vacuum as usual.” According to the CDC, “products with label claims against human coronaviruses should be used according to label instructions.” This would include Sporicidin and MediClean Germicidal Cleaner Concentrate. MediClean QGC, a quaternary ammonium disinfectant, can be used at 2-4 ounces per gallon as a prespray on carpet, allowed to remain on the carpet for 10 minutes followed by extraction. QGC can also be used to control COVID-19 on hard surfaces. Of course, using QGC will void nylon stain-resist warranty, but getting rid of the virus is more important! Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution, a phenolic disinfectant, can be applied to carpets undiluted using a pressure sprayer before extraction. Prespray the carpet with Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution undiluted and brush into the carpet. Allow the carpet to remain damp for 5 minutes to be effective against Human Coronavirus before extracting. Sporicidin is not cationic or a quat and will not void nylon carpet stain-resist warranties. Sporicidin can also be used to control COVID-19 on hard surfaces. MediClean Disinfectant Spray is a Disinfectant, Mildewcide, Bacteriostat, Fungistat, Deodorizer, Anti-Microbial, Deodorizer and Mold Control product. Mediclean Disinfectant Spray offers protection against mold, mildew, bacteria, fungi and viruses that cause illness and threaten our health and well-being as well as destroy materials and cause unpleasant odors. Our web page on MediClean Germicidal Cleaner Concentrate states “While this new strain of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has not been tested against any disinfectants as of the time of this statement, Mediclean Germicidal Cleaner Concentrate has been shown effective against similar classes of viruses - the Human Coronavirus, Adenovirus, and the SARS Associated Coronavirus. It is an EPA registered (no. 70385-6) hospital-grade, disinfectant cleaner concentrate for use on many different types of surfaces per its label.” MediClean Germicidal Cleaner Concentrate QGC and Sporicidin are listed on EPA’s “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2” list of EPA registered disinfectants that may be used against coronavirus. Additionally, Sporicidin® Disinfectant Solution is approved for decontaminating carpets. Related Products in the Bane-Clene Store: MediClean Disinfectant Spray Mediclean Germicidal Cleaner Concentrate QGC Lemon Sporicidin Brand Disinfectant Solution Related Information and Articles: Bactericides / Anti-Microbials Coronavirus - Are Sporicidin® Brand Disinfectant Solution and MediClean Germicidal Cleaner Concentrate Effective? Government Response to Coronavirus, COVID-19 Harvard Coronavirus Resource Center EPA List of Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 SBA: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources The Latest Coronavirus Information from CDC and FEMA The Latest Coronavirus Information from NIH (National Institutes of Health) World Health Organization (WHO) Q&A on Coronaviruses (COVID-19) 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

FRESH APPROACH

If you have been selling products or services for some time, it is only natural that your presentation may become stale or outdated or both. What you may need is a fresh approach. One way to achieve that is to meet with your associates and ask them for ideas and suggestions. Then, ask them what they would say, if they were making a similar presentation. When we own or manage a company, we may put on blinders and only see our ideas and fail to acknowledge the ideas of others. A meeting with others could open a plethora of ideas you may never have thought of. When arranging the meeting let everyone know of your reason so they may come prepared with suggestions and ideas. Hopefully, this meeting will be beneficial in many ways and lead to regular meetings and a fresh approach for everyone. Related Articles: How to Sell Carpet Protectors Sell The Sizzle Selling Maintenance Programs 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

Professional Carpet Cleaning Problems, Challenges and Solutions Every business, including carpet cleaning businesses, has its problems and challenges - inadequate capital, lack of cash flow, slow-paying customers, difficult customers, under-performing employees, unexpected expensive equipment repairs, loss of a major customer, a new well-financed competitor in town, downturn in the economy, taxes and the list goes on. And now, we have a pandemic affecting our business! Of course, as a chemist, I rarely get involved in the above business problems, but I often help customers with problems unique to the carpet cleaning business. Just a few are: BROWNING: Browning is a phenomenon in which, after the carpet or rug is cleaned and has dried, the fiber tips turn dark. Carpet dries from the tips. Therefore, as the cleaning solution evaporates from the tips, the water rises to the surface bringing with it everything dissolved in it, and then the water evaporates leaving everything else behind. This leaves on the tips of the carpet, rug or upholstery soil and high-alkalinity residue plus anything else left in the carpet such as high shampoo levels, cola, coffee, etc. This upward flow of moisture on fiber surfaces during drying is referred to as wicking. The factors contributing to browning are slow drying, over-wetting, high alkalinity, BHT and cellulosic material (jute backing). An application of a formulated organic acid agent such as Brown Out® will neutralize this residue not only preventing browning, but actually leaves the carpet cleaner and brighter. Additionally, the use of Brown Out on wet-cleaned upholstery and rugs will reduce the likelihood of dye bleeding by setting the dyes. It is easier to correct browning on carpet with pile yarns made of synthetic fibers than of natural fibers such as wool, hemp, silk or cotton. In cases where severe browning may occur, clean the carpet with Natural Fiber Cleaner. Click here for more details on browning on our web site. DELAMINATION: Carpet Delamination is the separation of the secondary backing from the primary backing of the carpet. The secondary backing is any material laminated with latex to the primary backing in a “marriage roller” for dimensional stability while locking individual tufts in place. One of the most common causes of delamination in carpet cleaning is the technician using excess dry solvent spotter. Solvent spotter such as Saf-T-Solv™ should always be applied to a spot by blotting, never pouring. A solvent could dissolve or weaken the adhesive in the backing. Click here for more details on delamination of carpet on our web site. FASTER RESOILING: Your customer may have heard that carpet cleaning results in faster re-soiling and wants to avoid cleaning their carpet as long as possible. The problem results from excess residues left in the carpet because of improper rinsing, using the wrong presprays or detergents, failing to rinse out traffic lane spotter, using a double-stroke cleaning method and using sticky spot and stain removers. This leftover residue in the carpet attracts dirt resulting in faster re-soiling. Many technicians heavily prespray ALL of the carpet hoping to speed up the job. Unfortunately, they forget that anything that goes into the carpet needs to come back out. Wherever prespray was applied, take extra cleaning strokes to ensure its removal! The single biggest cause of resoiling is the improper use of prespray when extraction cleaning carpet. Click here for more information on resoiling. FOAM: A common problem in truckmounted carpet cleaning is FOAM. Foam in the vacuum hose can increase drying time and greatly reduce cleaning effectiveness because it has, in effect, reduced the vacuum hose to 1/2 inch in diameter! Additionally, excessive foam can cause damage to the vacuum pump and other equipment. Foam is usually caused by residues from carpet shampoo, spotters and detergents in the carpet. These foamy residues result in the rapid filling of the recovery tank and air movement restriction as the vacuum hose fills up with foam, which results in poor cleaning, wicking problems, streaking, resoiling and poor drying time. Silicone antifoams such as Bane-Clene’s AFC™ Anti-Foam Concentrate prevent foam from forming and cause existing foam to rapidly collapse. The low surface tension and interfacial properties of the silicone molecules in AFC cause the foam wall to thin and collapse. Application of Crystal Defoamer to a foamy area will also help control foam. Click here for more information on foam. FURNITURE STAINS: A wood stain can be caused by placing wood furniture legs on wet carpet. All furniture should be tabbed or blocked after cleaning and furniture should only be moved with EZ Moves or Bane-Glides, but sometimes the carpet cleaner forgets - resulting in a furniture stain - a self-created problem! In case there is any oil-based material in the stain, blot with Saf-T-Solv™ or Pro-Solve Liquid Solvent Spotter. Extraction clean the area. Apply Stain Magic® to stained fibers. Lightly cover with clear plastic sheet and allow 12 hours dwell time. Severe stains may require more than one treatment. If stain is not completely removed, mix fresh solution of Stain Magic and repeat process. Click here for more information on causing and removing furniture stains. OVER-WETTING: The double stroke carpet cleaning technique causes blotching as a result of over wetting. Solution soaks deeper into the carpet at the end of the back stroke as the direction of the cleaning head is reversed. The excess moisture is not picked up immediately by the vacuum head and is allowed to settle to the base of the carpet fibers causing uneven wetting. When moisture wicks to the surface seeking air to dry, it evaporates and leaves a trace of any mineral or chemical content. The single stroke carpet cleaning technique taught at Bane-Clene Institute ensures that the carpet cleaning solution is applied only on the back stroke. It is essential to learn the cutoff point at the end of the solution application stroke and pass the vacuum head beyond that point. Even wetting and thorough extraction cleaning leaves a carpet looking like new. One purpose of a traffic lane spotter prespray is to prevent over wetting, which might occur if too many wet passes are done over a heavily soiled area in an effort to get it clean. Over-wetting will result also in spots and stains reappearing. Click here for more information on over-wetting. RECURRING SPOTS: The dreaded call from your customer - the spots came back! Spots that come back after cleaning will lead to unhappy customers and call-backs. The most common reasons for spots coming back are incomplete removal of the original spot, detergent residue, wicking and just plain carelessness from being in too big a hurry to finish the job, collect the money and speed on to the next job. Slow down your cleaning process, spend more time on the spots, take extra dry strokes especially when working with heavily soiled carpet or berber, blot with white absorbent towels. Remember that the visible small spot on the surface means there is probably much more in the carpet backing or cushion and the spot is much wider and deeper than it appears. Applying an absorbent compound such as Stain Blotter directly onto the cleaned spot prevents wicking of any material in the pad and backing. If there is a huge number of spots and stains, apply ARA anti-resoiling agent to the entire area after cleaning! For individual heavy spills of sticky materials, you can use the Water Claw® Sub-Surface Spot Lifter to flush out the contaminants On commercial loop pile carpet, this problem can be greatly reduced by following hot water extraction with dry bonnet cleaning, especially on commercial olefin loop carpet with a large number of spills. Click here for more information on reappearing spots and stains. RIPPLING, BUCKLING, BUBBLES: Have you ever had a customer call back that the carpet you cleaned yesterday has now wrinkled, buckled or rippled? Rippling or buckling of carpet is common after cleaning carpet, especially if the carpet was not properly power-stretched in. What can cause rippling? Failure to acclimate new carpet before installation. Failure to power stretch the carpet. Loose tackless strip on concrete sub-floors. Adhesive failure on direct glue installations. Over-wetting and slow dry time. Dragging heavy furniture across carpet. Heavy rolling traffic on direct glue-down carpet. Once the carpet dries completely, the wrinkles will often start to disappear with time. If it doesn’t, you may have to have the carpet power-stretched back. After all, you were the last person to touch your customer’s carpet, so it’s obviously your fault! Click here for more information on carpet rippling and buckling after cleaning. Wicking What is wicking? Wicking after cleaning carpet is the upward capillary motion of water and cleaning solution during drying from the base of a tuft to its tip. The problem is that this carries with it any remaining soil and detergent in the carpet backing, carpet padding and even the subflooring, all of which is then deposited on the tips of the tuft and dries. The biggest cause of soil wicking is over-wetting due to a poorly trained technician with a ‘who cares’ attitude in a big hurry to collect the money and move on to the next job. Other causes of wicking: Over-wetting, especially by using the ‘double stroke’ cleaning technique. Slow drying due to poor cleaning technique or poor extraction. Overuse of pre-spray and failure to extract out all of the traffic lane spotter solution Heavy accumulation of soil at the base of carpet tufts. Residue from soil and spills that wasn’t completely removed by the cleaner. High humidity in the cleaned room causing slow evaporation. An example would be an apartment or retail store where immediately after the carpet is cleaned, the air circulation and air conditioner is turned off. Heavy spills or pet urine in the carpet backing and pad. How to Prevent Soil Wicking on Cleaned Carpet? Since wicking can only occur while the carpet is still wet, anything you can do to leave the carpet as dry as possible and shorten the drying time will greatly reduce wicking and reapparing spots: Click here for more information on recurring spots and stains ZIPPERING: Zippering is one of the most common problems with loop-pile carpet. Zippering occurs in a loop pile carpet in which tufts are pulled from the backing resulting in long, lengthwise pulls out of the carpet. This happens when someone pulls a loose tuft or a vacuum cleaner grabs a loose tuft and pulls out the entire length of tufts. Click here for more information on zippering. Of course, there’s any number of other problems you might encounter when cleaning carpet! Should make for more articles. Related Articles and Information: BHT Yellowing Browning of Carpets, Rugs and Upholstery Carpet Matting and Crushing Versus Wear Carpet Roll Crush Delamination of Carpet Backing Dye Bleeding Foam Problems Furniture Stain Removal How to Remove Old, Stubborn, Deep-Down Spills from Carpet Mistakes Carpet Cleaners Make Reappearing Spots & Stains Rippling and Buckling of Carpet After Cleaning Shading, Watermarking, Pile Reversal, Pooling Carpet Defects and Problems Wicking Zippering of Loop Pile Carpet Related Videos: ARA and Stain Blotter Carpet Delamination Problem Carpet Problems and Defects Carpet Rippling Problem Carpet Yellowing from Asphalt Track-in and BHT Carpet Zippering YouTube Videos by Bane-Clene® Related Products: AFC™ Anti-Foam Concentrate ARA Anti-Resoiling Anti-Wicking Agent Bane-Glides Brown Out® Chemspec Crystal Defoamer EZ Moves Foam Blocks Furniture Protector Tabs Natural Fiber Cleaner Pro-Solve Liquid Solvent Spotter Saf-T-Solv™ Dry Solvent Spotter Stain Blotter absorbent powder Stain Magic® Water Claw® Sub-Surface Spot Lifter 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 Bane-Clene Home Page    Copyright: Bane-Clene® Corp. Author: Donald W. Terry, Sr., Bane-Clene’s Chemist Date Modified: July 22, 2020 Date Originally Published: July 22, 2020

PROBLEM SOLVER

Some of us may not have thought of it this way but we are Problem Solvers.

Problem Solvers have many characteristics. Among them are:

1. They are a good listener.
2. They think outside the box.
3. They confront problems rather than avoid them.

When someone calls us for an estimate for cleaning services they have a problem. It may be just dirty, it could be a stain or an odor or another cleaning related issue. Whatever it is, the customer wants us to solve their problem.

Also, there are times when the customer has one problem to solve and through listening to them and asking questions you may discover there are other problems you can solve. This process will make your Cleaning Company even more valuable to them.

Being a Problem Solver requires you to put yourself in your customers’ situation. The more you do this, the better chance you have of closing a sale. Therefore, your service in and of itself will have more value when you show them how it will solve their problems.

Problem Solvers always accept a challenge; it is what makes them who they are.

Related Articles:

• Building Your Own Carpet Cleaning Business
• Customer Service in Carpet Cleaning Businesses
• Tips for Increasing Your 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.

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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.

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“A to Z” Alphabetical Index to the Bane-Clene Web Site

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What is the difference between the Grandi Brush® grooming brush and the Grandi Groom® carpet grooming rake?

A carpet rake like the Grandi Groom carpet rake has fewer bristles but they are longer and firmer. The Grandi Brush has shorter, finer and more bristles than a Grandi Groom Rake. Use the Grandi Groom carpet rake on anything over a 1/2 inch pile and the Grandi Brush grooming brush for anything under 1/2 inch. The Grandi Groom is best suited for Saxony, shag and frieze style carpet, while the Grandi-Brush works well for plush carpet like velvet. The Grandi Brush is best for grooming where carpet rakes are too harsh. Grandi Groom® Carpet Rake The Grandi-Groom is the MOST Effective Carpet Pile Conditioner for the Professional Carpet Cleaner. This professional carpet groomer prepares rugs and carpets for cleaning. It raises deeply embedded dirt for vacuum pickup. The Grandi Groom works on most types of rugs and is good for finishing and restoring the carpet and rug pile and pattern after cleaning. A grooming rake helps to loosen stubborn soil and keeps the yarns lifted. The use of a grooming rake on cut pile carpet prior to vacuuming will greatly enhance its appearance. To handle crushed pile, vacuum regularly and use the Groomer to restore matted down pile. Carpet Grooming is important in diminishing warranty claims. All carpets, including berber, need to be groomed using a carpet groomer (rake/brush). It is essential not only for appearance sake but also for proper drying after carpet cleaning. The carpet rake will also untangle pile yarns; eliminate the appearance of matting and crushing. Your carpet rake is also essential for the distribution of after-cleaning treatments, such as carpet protectors. Grooming your carpet with the carpet rake will give maximum light reflection to make your carpet look brighter and more pleasing overall. Carpet grooming will extend the life of your carpet. It is a “must” tool for proper carpet maintenance. Grooming is the solution to the common problems of matting and crushing! Grooming is the process to opening and lifting crushed yarn and to simultaneously loosen and lift deeply embedded soil particles from carpets and rugs for efficient extraction and cleaning. Features and Benefits of the Grandi-Groom: Easy “push-pull” motion. Hi-impact polypropylene brush head is bolted to custom bracket to eliminate breakage. The custom non-strapping bracket is made of steel for lifetime use. 18 inch wide head contains flexible nylon bristles structured like a comb. The Grandi Groom's long nylon tines reach deep into the fibers of any type of artificial grass and pull the blades upright to provide a maximum bloom. Using short strokes over the area, the Grandi Groom quickly works any type of infill material in between the blades. Loosens and lifts surface embedded pet hair from carpets and rugs. Lifts crushed carpet pile from heavy traffic areas. Releases trapped, ground-in dirt between tufting and fibers. Separates flattened carpet pile after wet cleaning. Allows thorough vacuuming of carpets and rugs. Aerates wet carpet to allow quicker drying. Raises ground-in dirt to the surface for effective vacuuming. Restores carpet pile after cleaning. Finish grooming the cleaned carpeting to render the “like new” appearance. Restructures the original design of carpet. Permits better penetration of chemical solutions when extraction cleaning the carpet. Revives crushed matted pile in high traffic areas. Erase vacuum cleaner tracks. Quickly revitalize carpet without vacuuming. The Grandi Groom’s long nylon tines reach deep into the fibers of any type of artificial grass and pull the blades upright to provide a maximum bloom. Using short strokes over the area, the Grandi Groom quickly works any type of infill material in between the blades. Should be on every carpet cleaning truck! The Grandi Groom is a must for every professional carpet cleaner! Show your professional image. Leave your high-end customers’ carpets with a “like new” appearance by grooming the carpet. Most of your competitors won’t bother taking the extra time to do this step, showing that they take no pride in their work. Grandi Brush™ The Grandi Brush gives the carpet a finished grooming after cleaning to render a “like” new appearance. This hi-impact nylon brush is perfect for those occasions where brushing or light agitation is desired. Great for extremely soiled or matted high-traffic areas where raising the fibers will assist the cleaning process. Features and Benefits of the Grandi Brush: The Grandi Brush™ is a single row of fine nylon fibers specially designed to make it perfect for Oriental rugs, Persians and Velvets, as well as commercial grades such as Berbers and low level loop carpets. Works best on looped, multi level or low compact carpeting. Easy “push-pull” motion. A single row of fibers anchored in a channel of steel creates durability and deep penetration for maximum grooming effectiveness. Hi-impact polypropylene brush head is bolted to custom bracket to eliminate breakage. The custom non-strapping bracket is made of steel for lifetime use. How To Use the Grandi-Groom or the Grandi-Brush: Before Vacuuming Or Cleaning Carpet or Rugs: Using a “push-pull” motion will allow the specially designed nylon tines to reach the base of the carpet tufts, separating and freeing the individual fibers of dirt and pet hair that vacuuming cannot get. After Vacuuming Or Cleaning Carpet or Rugs: Using a “push-pull” motion will lift the carpet pile, restructuring the original design. This motion will also give the carpet a finished grooming to render a “like new” appearance. On dense and deep pile carpeting, it is best to finish by a “pulling” motion only. Most residential carpet should be finished (brushed, combed or groomed) at the completion of cleaning. This will help to: Eliminate tangling of pile yarns. Distribute post-treatment such as protector. Present the cleaned carpet’s best appearance for customer viewing. Related Information and Articles: Berber Carpet Carpet Protectors Carpet Styles and Textures Matting and Crushing Carpet Problems Professional Image Traffic Lane Spotters Related Products: Grandi Brush Grandi Groom Handi-Brush™ for pet hair and upholstery carding Handi Groom® hand-held grooming rake designed as a companion tool to the carpet groomers for carpeting on stairs, rugs and edges Perky® Carpet Groomer Pile Lifter 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

CUSTOMER RELATIONS

Customer Relations is sometimes what you do and sometimes it’s what you don’t do.

We recently booked a carpet cleaning job for a new customer. As a matter of office procedure we always ask a customer how they chose to Call Us On The Carpet^®.

She related the following story to our phone representative. Seems she was running some errands before she was due at an appointment for lunch. As she was driving to the luncheon appointment, she was stuck in a line of traffic waiting to enter the restaurant’s parking lot. Several vehicles inched forward and did not allow her to turn. There was a Carpet Cleaners Truck that stopped and let her turn into the parking lot. She went on to state that it was one of the Wm. F. Bane’s Co. service vans that allowed her to turn. What seemed like a simple and basically innocuous gesture had turned into a carpet cleaning job for us.

Obviously, the moral of this story is you and your employees are ambassadors for your Company. Certainly everyone is courteous when they are in the customer’s premises. But as highlighted with this story, being courteous everywhere will possibly lead to business. Conversely it will divert business if you or your employees are discourteous.

Customer Relationscan and will manifest itself in many different ways. In this case it was a courteous driver. Had our driver not let her turn in, we feel, she would not have called Bane On The Carpet^®.

Related Articles:

• Building Your Own Carpet Cleaning Business
• Customer Service in Carpet Cleaning Businesses
• Tips for Increasing Your 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.

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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.

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“A to Z” Alphabetical Index to the Bane-Clene Web Site

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Cleaning Braided Rugs From Kennays Carpet Care’s Facebook: Who’s afraid of cleaning braided rugs? Kennay isn’t because he cleans with PCA™ Formula 5 powdered extraction carpet cleaning agent with Booster™ using Bane-Clene truck-mounted equipment. Below are before and after photos of some of recent work by Kennays. ALL professional carpet cleaners should follow his example by taking before and after photos of work done!       Area Rugs - A Strong Profit Center for Changing and Challenging Times The demand for cleaning area rugs and oriental rugs, either on location or in-plant, continues to grow. Large expensive oriental rugs are often found on wall-to-wall carpet in homes and executive suites. Hard surfaced floors nearly always are covered with expensive area rugs. With the growth of wood floors, area rugs are increasingly popular. Area rug cleaning can be extremely profitable, especially if pick-up and delivery is included in the service. Customers gladly pay extra for the convenience of having their area rugs picked up and delivered. A box truck is best for pick-up and delivery of rugs and furniture, however, a rack on the top of a cleaning van or an inside arrangement along one wall will accommodate most rugs. In below image, a cleaned rug is being loaded into our delivery truck to be returned to the customer.   Area rugs can be cleaned on location or in the plant. Plant cleaning has some advantages, especially if a rug is problematic and may require additional treatment after drying. Other pieces can be cleaned and treated without a loss of time. Having area rugs to clean in-plant has an added advantage since they provide a ready source of work for crews returning early. Bane-Clene’s rug plant has ten steel reinforced poles, twenty feet in length. They are equipped with stainless steel pins to prevent slippage of heavy rugs. The entire operation, which includes an electric winch system, takes up only 600 sq. ft. of floor space including the storage racks for finished rugs. Some customers prefer bringing smaller rugs to the plant. An orderly check-in procedure will make a customer feel welcome and a discount for their trouble is always appreciated. Perforated call tags are necessary for an efficient system and a strict policy should be posted about unclaimed rugs. Braided rugs are constructed of wool fabric, heavy wool rug yarn, or other materials, including olefin. Individual lengths of braid or a continuous braid may be stitched or laced together into the desired shape. All braids have a core, which is an inner material that gives the braid shape and consistency. During cleaning, this core, if made of paper or dyed waste material, can easily bleed to the surface! Paper, foam, textile byproduct, or waste materials are often used for the core of low quality rugs. Cleaning area rugs in the customer’s house or in your plant is not much different from cleaning carpet, except that the flooring material under the area rug must be protected and pre-inspection and pretesting are critical. First, before starting to clean any rug, inspect the rug very carefully and note any damage anywhere on the rug and have the customer sign off on such damage. Be sure to inspect the back as well as the face - spots and stains often are more obvious on the back! Watch out for ink stenciling in hooked rugs - which can usually be observed on the back or by bending the rug to “grin” open the rows of loops so that you can see the foundation into which the loops are hooked. If you see ink on the white foundation, you have a strong potential for the ink to bleed. This is especially common with some motifs and medallions as well as along the border. Watch out for dye bleed from pet urine   Check for any dye stains on the rug before proceeding.   Check the fringe for damage. Also, check if the fringe is dyed - don’t use peroxide on dyed fringe!   Pre-vacuum all area rugs - both sides. After vacuuming, if cleaning over a carpet or wood, place a furniture blanket under each end of the rug being cleaned, including the fringe. Place brown paper under and along each long side of the area rug. Never clean a rug on top of other carpet - transfer of color to the carpet can occur. As with upholstery, ALWAYS pretest for dye stability. Apply the prespray and detergent to a white towel, rub a dark area that might bleed, wait at least 15 minutes and repeat. If the dye bleeds, try a lower pH detergent, such as LCA 256®. If cotton, test with Natural Fiber Cleaner. If it still bleeds, you may need to “shampoo” the rug with Chemspec Oriental Rug Shampoo. If it still bleeds, the rug can only be dry-cleaned. For mild bleeding, simply apply Brown Out to the rug prior to cleaning. If it is a cotton rug or a rug that readily browns, clean with Natural Fiber Cleaner at 1 ounce per gallon in a well-ventilated area. Natural Fiber Cleaner contains sodium bisulfite, a reducing bleach, and detergents. NOTE: If the rug is silk, don’t wet clean it! Silk should only be dry cleaned because of the risks of yellowing, dye loss, ringing, and physical damage (silk loses about 20% of its strength when wet). Some silk is “washable silk”, which has been modified to be washable. If the rug is rayon, wet clean VERY cautiously! Rayon loses 50-70% of its strength when wet and rayon rugs frequently bleed severely. Pre-test for dye stability. Because of its poor durability, high absorbency, poor dimensional stability, tendency to fade and its tendency to strongly shrink, rayon is a very poor choice for rug fiber. Rayon is easily damaged by spotters containing alcohol, such as APS™ All Purpose Spotter. Also, remember that “art silk” is actually rayon! Use caution when using proteolytic enzyme spotters or deodorizers on wool - they are designed to attack proteins and wool is a protein. Dry time is critical. Therefore, an absolute minimum of moisture should be used and a blower should be used after cleaning. It is very important that the rug be dried in 48 hours or less to prevent mold and mildew formation. Pre-dampen the fringes with your cleaning solution and then apply diluted Preface® (if the dye stability test was okay). Use a Handi Groom® to ensure thorough coverage of all fringe fibers, and also use the brush to comb the fringe neatly away from the rug face. Fringe is usually white cotton and grays severely. Pretreat or remove any existing spots on the rug that may pose a problem while cleaning. After cleaning the carpet fibers, clean the fringes - pulling the fringe away from the rug to clean it with the furniture pad underneath. There are two problems that may occur with the fringes: browning and dye bleeding onto the fringes. After the cleaning has been completed, remove the furniture pads and replace with waxed paper. This will aid in the drying of the fringe. Brush out the fringe edges. We recommend hanging the rugs on a rug rack for faster drying. Apply Brown Out at 8 ounces per gallon to the rug - very lightly just to the surface. If the fringes are still very gray, apply 40 volume clear hydrogen peroxide to the fringes only on fringes of oriental rugs or stubborn browning on undyed carpet. Comb the peroxide into the fringes with a Handi Groom and allow to dry. NOTE: On some tribal rugs, the dark appearance of the fringe is the natural color of the goat hair that is sometimes blended with the wool and is not discoloration or browning. In that case, do not use a bleaching agent. Also, silk rugs may have silk foundation yarns and silk fringes also should never be bleached. If you hang up the rugs to dry, you are more likely to have browned fringes because all the water and residue will migrate to the ends. Additionally, bleaching agents should never be used on tea washed rugs. Tea washed, herbal treated or antiqued rugs have been soaked in a tea solution to “age” them. Unfortunately, this treatment can sometimes come off with just water. Check dye stability with a white towel dampened with your cleaning solution. DO NOT treat the fringes of such rugs with a bleaching agent!   If the rug is wool and some moth damage has occurred, apply Steri-Fab®. Apply Sta-Clene® protector as the final step. Use a Grandi Groom® or Grandi-Brush® to set the rug nap. If working in the customer’s home, remove any traffic lane paper that is saturated from the cleaning head overspray. Wet paper left under the rug could cause damage to a wood floor. Allow to dry without moving the rug - preferably using air movers. Dry time is critical to avoid bleeding and browning. If, in spite of your best efforts, the rug severely browns, do a Brown Out flush on the rug and allow it to dry upside down. This moves the browning to the back of the rug. What can go wrong in cleaning rugs? Browning, shrinkage, edge puckering, and dye bleeding are the most common problems. Additionally, some hand-made rugs will simply fall apart when wet! Use EXTREME caution cleaning cloth backed rugs, as found on some Indian and Chinese tufted rugs - shrinkage and edge puckering are major problems! For stain removal on rugs, click Wool and silk rug stain removal procedures. Related Rug Articles and Information: Browning Dye Bleed on Rugs Moth Damage to Rugs How to Remove Severe Pet Urine Stains and Odors from Wool Rugs by Submersion Rayon (Faux Silk) Fiber in Rugs Photos of Cleaning Carpets and Rugs from Customers Using Bane-Clene Products Sisal Rugs Valuable Rug Rescued VIDEO: How to Clean Sisal and Jute Rugs VIDEO: How to Identify, Clean and Protect Area Rugs VIDEO: How to Remove Stains from Wool Rug with Red Relief for Wool Wool Fiber Characteristics Wool and Silk Rug Stains Related Rug Care Products (Links Open to the Bane-Clene Store in Separate Windows): Brown Out Carpet & Rug Fiber and Manufacture 2-hour Video on DVD by Bane-Clene Chemist Chemspec® Oriental Area Rug Shampoo LCA®-256 Low pH Liquid Cleaning Agent Natural Fiber Cleaner Pet Problems Brochure Red Relief® for Wool Stain Remover Rug Restorer Pet Urine Treatment Rugs Training DVD - How They are Made, Identified, Cleaned, Maintained, Protected Stain Magic® for Wool Sta-Clene 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