How to Select a Backpack Vacuum Cleaner

This article was originally published in ISSA.

If you’re considering a backpack machine, the following guidelines about what to look for might come in handy:

• Cost. Backpack vacuums will range in price from under US$300 to as much as $1,000. Just as when purchasing other equipment, buyers should not base their decision solely on price or think that a less expensive machine cannot perform as sufficiently as a more expensive machine. Instead, closely examine each machine’s features and benefits in various cost categories. Make note of some of the key features you are most interested in, such as comfort, effectiveness, and air filtration characteristics—all of which we will discuss next—and then see which machine meets your requirements and is most cost effective.
• Comfort. Wear the machine and even use it at a job location if that is possible. A more comfortable backpack is typically one that is relatively light, weighing about 10 pounds. It should also feature a padded harness, contoured shoulder straps and waist belts to better distribute the machine’s weight and make it more comfortable to wear, and noise suppression for quiet operation.
• Air filtration. Backpack vacuum cleaners have led the way when it comes to improved air filtration systems. Many had HEPA filtration systems as standard equipment long before many uprights. With multiple air filtration systems, along with HEPA filters over the exhaust, a backpack should be able to capture and hold up to 99.97 percent of allergens and impurities, preventing them from becoming airborne.
• Ease of use. Comfort and ease of use go hand-in-hand. If a machine is bulky, too large, or poorly designed, it can be uncomfortable to use, especially for a user of small stature and regardless of the ergonomic or comfort features incorporated in the backpack. Two options are to continue looking for the right machine or consider selecting a smaller backpack, such as a six-quart machine.

Cleaning professionals have many options when it comes to selecting a vacuum cleaning system. And many backpack manufacturers also offer other types of vacuum cleaners, including canisters and uprights. However, those in the market for a new machine owe it to themselves to take a fresh look at modern backpack systems. Very likely, they will be in for a surprise.

Are Backpack Vacuums More Thorough?

This article was originally published in ISSA.

While few people question that backpacks can speed up vacuuming, many cleaning contractors wonder if this advancement comes at the expense of effectiveness. This issue was evaluated several years ago in an older study that is still considered credible and of value today. In fact, because so many backpack systems have been improved since the study was conducted in 1997, it is possible the results today might even be better.*

The researchers at QUEST (Quality Environmental Services & Technologies) sprinkled 100 grams of soil onto a 36-square-foot commercial-grade carpet. The soil was worked into the carpet using a carpet rake. The areas were then vacuumed using a two-motor upright and a backpack. After vacuuming, QUEST researchers calculated the percentage of soil removed from the carpets by weighing the filter bags. The results were:

• The upright removed between 87.9 and 94.9 percent
• The backpack removed between 91.3 and 96.1 percent.

While not a dramatic difference, the test proved that contrary to prevailing opinion at the time—and possibly still today for some people—the backpack provided more thorough cleaning. A more effective vacuum cleaner not only helps protect the health of a facility, but it can also help improve worker productivity. This level of thoroughness means cleaning professionals do not have to re-vacuum areas in order to get them thoroughly clean.

Check back next week to learn how to select the ideal backpack vacuum for your application.

Are Backpack Vacuums Back in the Limelight?

This article was originally published in ISSA.

Commercial backpack vacuum cleaners were first made available in 1987. Since then, they have certainly had their supporters and enthusiasts. However, backpack vacuums still have a much smaller market share of the overall professional vacuum cleaner market than upright models. This is most true in the United States, where uprights are by far the most frequently selected vacuuming system in residential and commercial settings.

However, there are some indicators that interest in backpacks is increasing, such as:

• The technology has been refined and significantly improved over the years
• Today’s systems are much more ergonomic and comfortable to wear and use compared to earlier models
• The enhanced worker productivity that results from using a backpack is now undisputed.

Regarding the first two points, cleaning professionals in the market for a new vacuum are first encouraged to test drive a backpack. Invariably, buyers―especially new customers or ones who have not shopped for a new machine recently―will be surprised at many of the new and sometimes standard features available on some backpack models. Most manufacturers are now offering third- or fourth-generation backpacks, building on the proven advancements made over the decades.

As to the last point, ISSA published the first worker productivity studies in 1999 (now known as the 540 Cleaning Times) comparing a backpack vacuum cleaner to an upright machine. Those studies compared a 14-inch, two-motor upright vacuum cleaner with a 14-inch (floor tool) backpack vacuum. These were the results:

• The upright machine was able to clean 3,240 square feet per hour
• The backpack was able to clean 7,407 square feet per hour.

Other studies have been conducted since these initial reports and while the actual square footage may vary, in all studies, the backpack machine comes out ahead. This is important to know for cleaning contractors and other cleaning professionals. Many contractors are charging about the same per square foot as they were a decade ago and yet, virtually all of their costs have increased. The only way they can compete—or survive—is to find new ways to speed up worker productivity.

Check back next week to learn whether or not backpack vacuums are more thorough than alternative cleaning methods. 

Clarke Vantage 14 Scrubber [Video]

Combining innovation, reliability and performance, the Clarke Vantage 14 marks a breakthrough in daily scrubbing for small area cleaning. Never skip those hard-to-reach areas again. The Vantage 14's integrated rotating deck enables complete scrubbing in both forward and backward directions, allowing operators to easily clean under and around obstacles. Simply push the machine forward; then when needed, easily flip the machine up to allow the deck to quickly rotate for reverse scrubbing operation.

The DOI (Distinctness of Image) Difference for Floors

This article was originally published in Facilities Management Magazine.

We've heard it many times: One of the first things people notice upon entering a facility is the floor, and if those floors aren't shiny and clean, it reflects poorly on the facility. In addition to potential health risks, dirty floors can give visitors a negative image of a business or facility's overall operations while clean, well maintained floors create a positive first impression. One way building owners and operators can improve customer perception of their facilities is to ensure their floors have a high distinctness of image (DOI).

What is DOI?

DOI is best defined as the measure of how crisply and sharply an image is reflected from a surface, indicating the clarity of a reflection seen in the floor. DOI is gaining popularity and quickly becoming the new measure of floor restoration, protection, and maintenance quality. It should not be confused with other measures like gloss, haze, and RSpec measurement.

Gloss. The most popular term used to describe the appearance of a floor's surface is gloss. Gloss refers to shine or light reflection and causes surfaces to have a polished or lustrous, metallic appearance. Many factors can affect gloss, including the maintenance materials used, condition of the flooring, and frequency of polishing. For customers, gloss has been one of the most important aspects of visual perception.

To measure a floor's gloss, a meter projects a beam of light onto the floor and measures the amount of light reflected back in a narrow angle range centered at an equal but opposite angle. The amount of light measured in this angle range is used to calculate gloss. However, the clarity of a reflected image is dependent on the spread of light within the measured angle range. If light is predominantly at the center of the range, the image will be crisp and clear. Light spread more evenly across the entire angle range will result in a blurry image. Thus, the amount of reflected light measured on two different floors might be the same but have a much different distribution across the measurement. So two floors with an equal gloss could have very different appearances.

This is why traditional gloss measurements alone don't always equate to a favorable customer perception.

Haze. This is the milky halo or "bloom" on a floor adjacent to the reflected image. If you place a high light source on a surface and the reflection image blooms and creates a blurry halo, the surface is considered high haze. Haze is an important measure for highly polished surfaces. Higher haze values indicate lower quality and can be caused by dirt or oil contamination creating a rough surface. If the surface or coating is not completely smooth, the reflection of light or image is scattered, broadening the specular gloss.

Floor maintenance professionals strive for a low haze value, which is seen to have a deep reflection and high-reflected contrast. Hence, haze is a common measurement of maintenance quality. Yet while haze affects the clarity and reflection of surfaces, it is only one aspect of surface quality and doesn't measure the overall floor's appearance.

RSpec. Peak specular reflectance (RSpec) is the peak gloss value of a surface. It is the gloss measured only at the specular angle and is the peak gloss reading. Specular gloss is the reflection of an object on a perfectly smooth surface, such as a mirror, in which the reflection is sharp and clear. Of course, if a surface is not perfectly smooth, it scatters the reflection of the light beam and broadens specular gloss.

RSpec is limited in measuring the true appearance of a surface because it only represents the peak gloss value. It does not take into account the distribution of light around the specular angle.

DOI takes this distribution into account, and therefore is an accurate measure of the clarity of the reflected image.

Read the full article here to learn how to measure DOI and how to achieve high DOI.

Clarke Focus® II MicroRider™ Scrubber

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.

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.

Clarke MicroRider Scrubber ISSA 2012

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.

A Look Back at ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America 2012

We had a blast at ISSA/INTERCLEAN in Chicago! Check out this photo of our trolley that was posted on CleanLink.

Visit CleanLink to relive your memories or see what you missed during the ISSA/INTERCLEAN 2012 trade show.

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. 

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.

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.

Clarke Enters Focus® II MicroRider™ into ISSA Innovation Award Program

Clarke has entered the Focus® II MicroRider™ into ISSA’s 2012 Innovation Award Program. The annual competition allows distributors and cleaning industry professionals to vote to determine the industry’s most innovative products and services in five unique categories, including: Cleaning Agents; Disposables; Equipment; Services & Technology; and Supplies. The Focus II MicroRider is entered into the “equipment” category. Voting opened on July 16, 2012.

The Focus II MicroRider with BOOST® is everything you need in a compact rider. The unique SafetyGlide™ scrub deck automatically moves in line with the path of the rear squeegee when the steering wheel turns, resulting in 100 percent water pick-up and eliminating the need for side skirts. With BOOST technology, you can now effectively remove floor finish chemically-free in a compact rider scrubber.

To vote for the Focus II MicroRider, visit http://www.issa.com/vote.