I use the product Matrix Miracle combined with Biobreak. They are high pH. I pretreat with a 30-volume clear oxidizer for anything organic, such as pet issues or water damage. I let it dwell for 5-10 minutes before spraying with Matrix Miracle and Biobreak. I mechanically agitate with an Oreck Orbiter. This allows for a dwell time of 15-25 minutes before I steam clean the area. The rinse I use is either Fab Set or Flex Ice. The Fab Set is great because it also helps clean your solution lines out from any residue buildup.

These photos of a hallway are from a commercial job. I used a Cimex machine on the carpet with a great encapsulation product called Releaseit. I treated all of the oil, tar, or grease spots with a volatile dry solvent. Running over the carpet with the Cimex will eventually get them looking great, in most cases.

If you have a cleaning or restoration “hack”Âť or photo contest entry to share with Cleanfax, send it to Jeff Cross, media director, at jeffcross@issa.com.

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The global flooring and carpet sales are expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of over 5% through 2031, despite a period of muted growth in 2020, according to a latest study by ESOMAR-certified market research firm. This means an increase in carpet and floor cleaning projects is sure to follow.

Read More at Ěý

The post Treating Oil, Tar, and Grease Spots [Photo Contest] appeared first on Cleanfax.

My hack for carpet cleaning over the years is using a common wallpaper remover steamer to remove furniture imprints and restoring the carpet to its original appearance. This works on all types of carpet from Berber to nylon, as well as all synthetic carpet likewise.

I get great results every time using this carpet cleaning hack. In around 15 to 20 seconds, the heat from the wallpaper steamer pops the imprints right out. My customers and rental properties I serve have been using for this method specifically from me for over 20 years.

Depending on the size or job, I get anywhere from $25 to $50 more per room. Sometimes, I even use multiple steamers on larger rooms. This process is safer than using an iron with no chance of burning the carpet. With this hack, carpet looks a lot nicer rather than leaving the deep imprints for the next tenant to worry about. It also restores the carpet to its original state helping to increase the value of the property in new tenants’ eyes. This method looks more professional for property managers moving tenants into the space and gives off the illusion of new carpet without the cost of putting in new carpet after every move.

To begin using this strategy yourself, you will need to first find the steamer that works best for your needs. Varying sizes and styles are available. These steamers are commonly used to remove wallpaper and can be found on most online auctions for under $75. At that price, it’s a great add-on to make money for your business.

If you have a “cleaning hack”Âť to share with Cleanfax, send it to Jeff Cross, media director, at jeffcross@issa.com.

The post Wallpaper Steamer: Not Just for Walls [Cleaning Hacks] appeared first on Cleanfax.

The owner of a golf club was going to throw away hundreds of chairs because he thought they would be beyond cleaning. This one, covered with wax, was the worst one. We asked him to let us try to clean it and see what we could do. We ended up cleaning 200 chairs, and they all came out awesome. Hard work pays off!

For an opportunity to win a gift card worth $250, send your images and a brief 100-word description on how you obtained your results to Jeff Cross, media director, at jeffcross@issa.com, or submit via Facebook messenger at facebook.com/cleanfax. Contest rules available by request.

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Flame-retardant chemicals decompose over time, forming acids, potentially causing serious damage to certain textiles, especially with prolonged exposure. Be cautious when cleaning treated fabrics; even before damage shows, there will be identifiable pH changes.

Read more at www.cleanfax.com/flame-retardants.

The post Chair Cleaning: Saved From the Landfill [Photo Contest] appeared first on Cleanfax.

The customer had an oil furnace that created a puff back into their home, which filled with smoke and soot throughout.ĚýWe were called in to mitigate and found the duct work had taken a heavy hit, with the dust in the duct work collecting the soot and ash. By taking a portable duct cleaning system, creating negative air, and sealing all registers, we were able to run a flex bristle brush through, cleaning all sections of the HVAC unit.ĚýThis alone let the homeowner breathe better and allowed the cleaning process to run smoother.

For an opportunity to win a gift card worth $250, send your images and a brief 100-word description on how you obtained your results to Amanda Hosey, managing editor, at amandah@issa.com, or submit via Facebook Messenger at . Contest rules available by request.

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The “push/pull” or “negative air” duct cleaning method is important in settings like commercial locations with bigger ducts or areas with heavy debris. Meanwhile, using contact cleaning in which you disturb the debris and collect it at the same point can be effective in settings with light debris.

Read more at cleanfax.com/duct-cleaning-methods.

The post Negative Air Duct Cleaning to Breathe Better [Photo Contest] appeared first on Cleanfax.

The customer tried to clean the carpet herself and left behind a bad residue from the product. I have seen this before, though never quite as bad as this job. The product used leaves a sticky residue, and carpets will resoil faster and leave a dark outcome. I used high-quality prespray with a good dwell time before cleaning with higher heat. Made a new, happy customer and educated her on what happens if a product is left on the carpet.”

For an opportunity to win a gift card worth $250, send your images and a brief 100-word description on how you obtained your results to Amanda Hosey, managing editor, at amandah@issa.com, or submit via Facebook Messenger at . Contest rules available by request.

Ěý

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The main ingredient of most powdered carpet deodorizers is baking soda, which is abrasive and sticks to fibers, wearing them with each step.

Read more at www.cleanfax.com/carpet-deodorizers.

The post Product Residue Reversal [Photo Contest] appeared first on Cleanfax.

We were called by a previous client to screen and recoat the hardwood floors in a home they’d just bought. When we arrived, I realized we’d cleaned the carpet in the house before for the previous owners. We screened then cleaned the floors before tacking and rolling on the first coat. We left it to dry and then followed up with another coat. The floors turned out great, and we left another customer happy in one of my favorite neighborhoods to clean.

For an opportunity to win a gift card worth $250, send your images and a brief 100-word description on how you obtained your results to Amanda Hosey, managing editor, at amandah@issa.com, or submit via Facebook Messenger at . Contest rules available by request.

[infobox title=’DID YOU KNOW’][/infobox]

“Screening” in wood floorcare refers to heavy cleaning or abrasion of the surface with a screen mesh disk or maroon-covered pad as part of the refinishing process.

Refinishing is needed when surface or gloss wear makes reapplication of finish necessary to return the hardwood floor to its desired appearance.

Read more at www.cleanfax.com/better-wood-floorcare.

The post Hardwood Revival at Surprising Location [Photo Contest] appeared first on Cleanfax.

The customer told us the last cleaner had left after seeing the carpet and saying it could not be cleaned. After our screening process, we arrived and inspected the oil-based stains, tested, and found they were removable. Once we completed a thorough pre-vacuuming with a CRI Silver-certified vacuum, we applied a 12.5-ph cleaning solution followed by a 15-minute dwell with counter-rotating brush mechanical agitation. While watching the magic happen, the client’s mouth dropped. We extracted with a 5.5-ph rinse, speed dried, and satisfied the client with amazing results.

For an opportunity to win a gift card worth $250, send your images and a brief 100-word description on how you obtained your results to Amanda Hosey, managing editor, at amandah@issa.com, or submit via Facebook Messenger at . Contest rules available by request.

[infobox title=’DID YOU KNOW’][/infobox]

Counter-rotating brush (CRBs) machines are still fairly new in the long history of carpet cleaning. In our annual Carpet Cleaning Benchmarking Surveys as well as in interviews and discussions with carpet cleaners, they are consistently named a favorite modern industry innovation.

The post Hallway Carpet Rescue [Photo Contest] appeared first on Cleanfax.

We were called in to clean a local Mexican restaurant with carpet completely blackened by grease and traffic. We used a mixture of presprays to cut through the grease and then extracted with my HydraMaster Titan 575. The carpet came out so clean that the owner said customers thought he had put in new carpet.

For an opportunity to win a gift card worth $250, send your images and a brief 100-word description on how you obtained your results to Amanda Hosey, managing editor, at amandah@issa.com, or submit via Facebook Messenger at . Contest rules available by request.

[infobox title=’DID YOU KNOW’][/infobox]

Adequate dwell time is essential in breaking down grease when cleaning because it takes time for the necessary chemical reaction to occur.

Read more at cleanfax.com/science-concepts.

The post Traffic Lane Transformation [Photo Contest] appeared first on Cleanfax.

A construction company had done work in this rental apartment. Obviously, they should have put something on the floor but didn’t, and this is how they left things. We used Simple Green Floor Cleaner with a rotary machine and floor scrubber to get the floors looking like new. I think the results speak for themselves, and the customer was thrilled with the results!

For an opportunity to win a gift card worth $250, send your images and a brief 100-word description on how you obtained your results to Amanda Hosey, managing editor, at amandah@issa.com, or submit via Facebook Messenger at . Contest rules available by request.

[infobox title=’DID YOU KNOW’][/infobox]

Cupping in water-damaged wood floors can often be corrected with patience in the drying process by allowing the moisture content time to equalize. Demolition doesn’t always have to be the answer.

Read more at cleanfax.com/hardwood-patience.

The post Wood Floor Restoration [Photo Contest] appeared first on Cleanfax.

A client called us to an assisted living facility where a gentleman had attempted suicide in his bathroom. His roommate alerted the staff, and he was saved. We mopped our way into the full bath and proceeded to clean the walls with two applications of antimicrobial. The project took a foreman and two cleaning technicians in Tavel suits, rubber gloves, and pipe. The towels were put in triple black bags and put out with the facility’s waste management, and the water was put down the toilet. As you can see, all surfaces responded perfectly.

For an opportunity to win a gift card worth $250, send your images and a brief 100-word description on how you obtained your results to Amanda Hosey, managing editor, at amandah@issa.com, or submit via Facebook Messenger at . Contest rules available by request.

[infobox title=’DID YOU KNOW’][/infobox]

Though often used interchangeably, sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing are different types of antimicrobial applications. Sanitizers reduce bacteria; disinfectants kill bacteria; and sterilizers kill and reduce new creation of bacteria.

Read more at cleanfax.com/antimicrobial-difference.

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