How to Add "Green" to the Bottom Line

This article was originally published in Rental.

For the past few years, the topic of sustainability and the green movement have taken a back seat to the economy. Even though customers understood the value of being an environmental steward and purchasing with a “green” intent, saving money trumped saving the environment. In other words, a sustainable green message temporarily was lost. The key word is temporary. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified homes, products with the Green Seal of Approval, hybrid and electric automobiles, alternative energy solutions, recycling initiatives, water conservation strategies, among other sustainable solutions, are again making their way back into the news.

Rental houses have an opportunity to take advantage of green in a couple of product areas, including renting floor equipment that is designed to have a minimal impact on the environment. “Green is not a fad,” says Paul Albrecht, national account manager for Clarke Equipment. “The rental market usually follows what has become popular in professional applications. Hospitals and school districts especially are continually buying more products that are green, which means rental houses will likely see an increased demand in the same way.”

To learn about Clarke's floor cleaning equipment solutions, read the full article here.

Green Cleaning in Schools

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) is pleased to announce the release of the updated fourth edition of the highly-regarded Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools and recognize the team whose support has made the impact of this guide and the related Green Clean Schools initiative so significant, according to a press release.

Since HSC launched the Green Clean Schools initiative in 2006, the movement for green cleaning in schools has grown significantly, with state-level legislation requiring green cleaning in schools, federal recognition of the importance of green cleaning, marketplace change and much more, the release stated.

According to the release, the fourth edition was developed with the support of 25 national education stakeholder organizations and 22 cleaning industry corporate leaders following the distribution of nearly 125,000 copies of the popular and highly-regarded previous editions.

Ten states now require green cleaning in schools and the federal government now recognizes green cleaning as a priority with programs such as Green Ribbon Schools and the recently-released U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) state school environmental health guidelines, the release noted.

Click here to read the full article.

Vote For the Focus® II MicroRider™ in ISSA's 2012 Innovation Award Program

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.

The low-profile SatetyGlide™ deck eliminates wasted time and money spent on side skirts, and irritating watermarks. Simply turn the steering wheel; as the machine turns, the deck automatically moves in line with the path of the rear squeegee, resulting in 100% water pick-up. With a spring-loaded safety design, you no longer have to worry about accuracy or accidental contact for edge cleaning. The deck ensures precise, straight edge cleaning without additional labor-intensive detail edge mopping.

Enhanced with BOOST® Technology, the Focus II MicroRider is available with a 28 inch BOOST deck, delivering high levels of cleaning with the ultimate in green benefits. Say goodbye to costly chemicals, slippery floors and undesirable odors. BOOST allows for easy floor finish removal without the use of chemicals. Plus, this efficient technology uses up to 70% less solution, extends equipment pad life by 40%, provides longer battery runtimes and cuts labor time in half.

The Focus II MicroRider is an equipment contestant in ISSA's 2012 Innovation Award Program. To vote, visit http://www.issa.com/vote. 

Orbital Floor Machine

The Clarke BOS-18 offers operators our powerful BOOST® technology in a floor machine. Available in a low-speed and a high-speed model, the BOS-18 is the ideal orbital floor machine for small areas and detail work that larger autoscrubbers cannot reach. BOOST technology is ideal for the chemical-free removal of floor finish in preparation for finish recoats.

The BOS-18 Low Speed cleans at 1,725 ¼ inch orbits per minute. With a totally enclosed motor, and lower speed, this model is ideal for cleaning noise sensitive areas. An optional solution tank will feed cleaning solution directly to the pad.

The BOS-18 High Speed will clean at 3,600 ¼ inch orbits per minute and is ideal for the toughest cleaning projects where noise is not an issue. The 4 gallon solution tank is included and feeds cleaning solution directly to the pad.

Squeaky Clean - Clarke

Top Ten Soils in Carpets Identified

This article was originally published in CleanLink News.

The key job of carpet cleaning is to remove soils from carpets. However, there are actually several different types of soils and contaminants found in carpets, and knowing what type of soil is in the carpet is frequently the first step in effectively removing it.

Because of this, this month's U.S. Products Carpet Cleaning Advisory focuses on the top ten soils that most often end up in carpets and how they got there in the first place.

1. Sand, clay, and other "gritty" materials
2. Natural fibers such as lint from clothing
3. Gum
4. Petroleum, oil, and grease
5. Human hair and skin
6. Dust mites, fleas, and other insects
7. Organic soils and materials (minerals and soils from landscaping areas, for example)
8. Airborne carbon and automotive exhaust
9. Spilled food or beverages
10. So-called "miscellaneous unknowns"

To tackle these soils, learn about various carpet cleaning solutions that are available to you.