Clarke Vantage 17 Autoscrubber® Delivers Maximum Cleaning Productivity for Small-Area Applications

The new Clarke  Vantage 17 compact autoscrubber® is ideal for small-area cleaning applications. With a highly maneuverable design and wide 17-inch scrub path, the Vantage 17 provides a reliable, cost-efficient cleaning alternative to labor-intensive mops and buckets and high-priced, large automatic scrubbers.

The Vantage 17 maximizes cleaning productivity with a unique center-pivot squeegee system. Employing a gas spring for optimal blade pressure, the squeegee system can effectively pick up solution in both forward and reverse in just one pass—leaving the floors clean, dry and ready for foot traffic faster than alternative solutions. Equipped with a large 8.2-gallon solution tank and 7.7-gallon recovery tank, the Vantage 17 can operate for up to two hours on a single tank.

To satisfy green cleaning initiatives, the Vantage 17 operates at a low sound level of only 67 dB A to meet LEED-EB and GS-42 noise standards. This also enables daytime cleaning or cleaning of noise-sensitive areas. For enhanced sustainability, the Vantage 17 is available with maintenance-free gel batteries and an onboard charger to eliminate spills and noxious gas emissions associated with wet-acid batteries.

The Vantage 17 is ideal for a wide range of applications, including but not limited to schools and universities, hospitals and healthcare facilities, grocery, retail outlets, convenience stores and restaurants.

Tips For Removing Gum and Adhesives from Carpets

This article was originally published in Clean Link.

Spring’s here, and that means many commercial facilities will be cleaning their carpeting. It also means that gum, adhesives, and similar soiling that found their way onto carpets now need to come out.

Removing this type of soiling can be a challenge. Even when it appears that gum or adhesives have been removed, they sometimes reappear a few days later. This is because some of the sticky residue remains in the carpet.

To remove gum and adhesive residue from carpets, read the following suggestions:

• Scrape: Scrape off as much of the gum/adhesive as possible. Freezing the gum and “chipping” it off is also an option.
• Heat: After scraping the matter from the carpet, a sticky residue usually remains. Often this can be removed with hot-water carpet extraction or steam vapor applied over an absorbent towel (the residue transfers to the towel).
• Chemicals: Either a non-volatile dry solvent, a volatile dry solvent, or a gel solvent can be used to remove any remaining residue. Allow for dwell time, and then agitate the area using a scraper. This works the solvent into the residue. Rinse with hot water and detergent.

Other options include placing a paper towel directly on the adhesive. Then place a clean cloth over the paper towel and iron over it until all the adhesive is lifted onto the paper towel. Sometimes applying a cloth soaked in water and vinegar and placing it on the problem area overnight may also remove the adhesive.

Clarke Focus® II MicroRider™

The Clarke Focus® II MicroRider™ is a small, easily maneuverable machine that is designed to clean the areas that are inaccessible with larger riders—including those with limited access or tight corners. Yet, with a 26 or 28 inch deck, the Focus II MicroRider offers a wide cleaning path for maximum productivity in your larger cleaning areas.

Green Flooring Initiatives On The Rise

This article was originally published in Plant Services.

A variety of health and safety standards, environmental regulations and federal programs are influencing development of new floor care products. Among the goals of the “green” flooring initiatives are minimizing toxic ingredients, chemical releases and frequency of stripping and recoating. Further benefits derive from conserving water and energy, preventing pollution and reducing waste.

Voluntary Guidelines
Green Seal is a non-profit organization that awards its seal of approval to manufacturers whose products meet specific rigorous standards, and encourages organizations to become environmentally sensitive purchasers. The Green Seal Environmental Standard for Floor Care Products addresses floor finish and stripper products. For example, Green Seal considers a floor finish stripper to be “green” only if the concentration of volatile organic compounds is 6% or less–significantly less than 15% to 30% found in traditional floor finish strippers.

Federal Initiatives
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with industry to improve human and environmental health through its Design for the Environment (DfE) program. Under the DfE Formulator Program, the EPA teaches formulators how their chemicals and byproducts affect the environment, and how to design safer, more environmentally friendly products that have comparable performance.

Products bearing the DfE logo contain only ingredients that pose the least concern among alternative chemicals in their class. For example, DfE-recognized products that contain a surfactant will readily biodegrade to non-polluting byproducts. DfE partnerships are formalized in a voluntary memorandum of understanding.

Seven Tips To Cleaning Ceramic Flooring

This article was originally published in CleanLink.

Floor-covering trends come and go, but according to ISSA's Value of Cleaning white paper, ceramic flooring is becoming more and more popular in the United States. There are several good reasons behind this trend. Ceramic tile is:

• Relatively inexpensive
• Highly durable
• Made from clay and sand, which are very sustainable materials
• Available in a variety of glazes, colors, and designs
• Relatively easy to clean and maintain

It is recommended that cleaning professionals follow the following tips when caring for ceramic floors:

• Clean daily. It is often best to vacuum ceramic tiling using a backpack vacuum cleaner instead of sweeping; this is more effective and helps protect indoor air quality
• When mopping, use a clean mop and bucket and a mild, all-purpose cleaner
• When heavily soiled, these floors may need to be machine scrubbed
• Use a wet/dry vacuum to extract solution and soils from flooring after scrubbing; this helps to prevent them from resettling on the floor

CAV-12 Dust Control System

The CAV-12 Vacuum is designed with the sanding contractor in mind with it's high suction, high filtration and low noise level at 57 dBA.

Key features include:

• Powerful 120V motor provides 127 CFM and 92" of water lift
• 3-stage filtration keeps the vacuum motor clean and ensures long life
• Ultra-low 57 dBA for enhanced operator comfort
• 25' of 1.5" crush resistant hose for long life and durability
• Standard vacuum tool kit comes complete with 13' of 1.5" crush resistant hose, 1.5" hose fittings, two-piece curve wand, felt tool, brush tool, round dusting tool, 11" plastic crevice tool and accessory bag
• Deluxe vacuum tool kit comes complete with 25' of 1.5" crush resistant hose, 1.5" hose fittings, one-piece curve wand, metal felt tool, metal brush tool, round dusting tool, 11" plastic crevice tool and accessory bag

When Making Green Marketing Claims, Tread Carefully

This article was originally published in Hardwood Floors. 

The popularity of eco-friendly products touches nearly every part of the U.S. economy, and the hardwood flooring industry is certainly no exception. Consider Americans’ keen interest in alternative flooring products such as those made of cork or bamboo, or the rising demand for traditional flooring products certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). Likewise, consumers these days are far more receptive to the environmental drawbacks of carpet: A generation ago, few people other than scientists knew about VOCs (volatile organic compounds), but today some Americans are concerned about the possibility that their living room rugs are harboring allergens and releasing dangerous compounds.

Thanks to the green movement, the hardwood flooring industry is constantly playing both defense and offense on the environment. Companies are under the gun to highlight whatever eco-friendly qualities their products might possess, and they feel the need to compare their own products against various alternatives available in the marketplace. As the hardwood flooring industry engages in these green marketing efforts, though, it must carefully consider the risks associated with doing so. In today’s regulatory environment, even seemingly modest claims can carry legal risks. Indeed, in recent years the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been more closely scrutinizing marketers’ green claims under the FTC Act, which gives regulators the mandate to ferret out unfair, deceptive or unsubstantiated environmental claims.

Read the full article here to learn more about green guides, certifications and seals in the hardwood flooring industry.