IICRC and NFSI Partner to Prevent Slips and Falls

This article was originally published in Clean Link.

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), an international nonprofit organization for the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI). As part of the recently approved MoU, the partnership will allow both organizations to collaborate and raise awareness about the connection between floor care, cleanliness and safety.

“We found that the high caliber of education and standard development the NFSI promotes aligns well with the mission of the IICRC,” says Darrell Paulson, IICRC chairman. “Through the common goal of improving floor safety, the new MoU will benefit our certified firms, registrants, instructors and the floor care industry as a whole.”

Through the memorandum, the IICRC and the NFSI will maintain a working relationship which will involve the constant exchange of industry knowledge between organization executives. As part of the agreement, both organizations will also work to promote each other’s awareness and education initiatives. Each year, the NFSI and IICRC will meet to discuss the progress of the MoU to ensure it is meeting both parties’ objectives and goals.

“We are excited to work with a globally-recognized standard-setting and certification organization like the IICRC,” says Russell Kendzior, president of the NFSI. “The partnership will help both organizations further their reach into the floor care industries and continue to improve floor safety awareness and education.”

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.