Ask Cleanfax!

March 22, 2011

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Ask Cleanfax!

March 22, 2011

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Q: I have some problems with my customers using OxiClean. Almost every day my technicians find stains with that "circle" around them because of dye migration caused by OxiClean. We have stayed away from oxygen cleaners for that reason. I regularly tell people not to use it unless they have either very light carpet or olefin. We may be ignoring an important cleaning tool. Are there oxygen cleaners on the market that are safe to use and, if so, how should we use them?

— Michael, Anchorage, AK

A: The problem — most likely — is that your customers are misusing the product. They probably don''t read the directions and just dump a bunch of powder in some water and pack it onto the spot they are trying to remove.

Just like how they consider everything under the kitchen sink to be their personal spotting kit, they consider these consumer "miracle cleaners" to do everything they need. They watch the infomercials and are convinced. And they feel that if a little does some good, a lot does even better… and they are wrong.

Add to this the fact that when they apply the product, they don''t have the ability to remove it from the carpet, so it continues to be active for a longer period of time than if you were to use it.

The powdered oxidizers you find with your professional local supplier are formulated for people like you — cleaning professionals. There are specific directions on how to use the product and, if used properly, you should not see any problems during cleaning.

Powdered oxygen cleaners are comprised of sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate, soda ash, surfactants and perhaps other chemicals (depending on the specific manufacturer) to make the product work better. They can be used as a booster for your prespray and also — especially with restorative cleaning efforts — as a booster for your rinse agent.

They boost your cleaning ability due to the oxygen action and the higher pH. They whiten, brighten and make many spots and stains "disappear" due to the bleaching action.

Of course, you should be aware of a few details when using powdered oxygen cleaners. Unlike its liquid cousin, hydrogen peroxide, the pH is typically fairly high, above 10, and it should be used carefully on natural fibers and even on stain resistant nylon.

There are some dyes, although this should be rare, that might be affected by that high of a pH. Most of the time, these types of dyes will be on higher-end area rugs with natural fibers.

Oxygen cleaners can be used on a variety of other surfaces, such as tile and grout. It''s a tool that can be used for many services you offer.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q: I''ve noticed a lot more polyester carpet on the market recently, and I''m having trouble cleaning up the traffic lanes, especially in areas near doorways. No matter how many times I clean, there is a brown-type staining left behind. Why is there so much polyester now, and what can I do?

— Gary, Sand Springs, OK

A: At a carpet inspector symposium earlier this year in Las Vegas, a carpet manufacturing expert brought out some interesting statistics.

One was that polyester has surpassed olefin as the second most popular fiber on the market. That''s probably why you are seeing more of it now.

Both polyester and olefin are attracted to oily soils. You are having a challenge with the carpet near doorways because oily soils are being deposited there from many sources, including asphalt. In time, the oils bond with the fibers, creating a type of staining very difficult to remove.

There are formulated preconditioning agents with high pH and solvency that should be used. Some cleaning technicians find that using encapsulation preconditioners and rinse agents also help.

In addition, this question can be tied in with the previous question… the use of powdered oxygen cleaners does help with polyester (and olefin) oily soil challenges because of the bleaching action the chemistry provides.

The use of better chemistry — along with proper agitation and rinsing — should give you better results.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have a question for us? Ask at Cleanfax.com/experts or jcross@ntpmedia.com.

Q: I have some problems with my customers using OxiClean. Almost every day my technicians find stains with that "circle" around them because of dye migration caused by OxiClean. We have stayed away from oxygen cleaners for that reason. I regularly tell people not to use it unless they have either very light carpet or olefin. We may be ignoring an important cleaning tool. Are there oxygen cleaners on the market that are safe to use and, if so, how should we use them?

— Michael, Anchorage, AK

A: The problem — most likely — is that your customers are misusing the product. They probably don''t read the directions and just dump a bunch of powder in some water and pack it onto the spot they are trying to remove.

Just like how they consider everything under the kitchen sink to be their personal spotting kit, they consider these consumer "miracle cleaners" to do everything they need. They watch the infomercials and are convinced. And they feel that if a little does some good, a lot does even better… and they are wrong.

Add to this the fact that when they apply the product, they don''t have the ability to remove it from the carpet, so it continues to be active for a longer period of time than if you were to use it.

The powdered oxidizers you find with your professional local supplier are formulated for people like you — cleaning professionals. There are specific directions on how to use the product and, if used properly, you should not see any problems during cleaning.

Powdered oxygen cleaners are comprised of sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate, soda ash, surfactants and perhaps other chemicals (depending on the specific manufacturer) to make the product work better. They can be used as a booster for your prespray and also — especially with restorative cleaning efforts — as a booster for your rinse agent.

They boost your cleaning ability due to the oxygen action and the higher pH. They whiten, brighten and make many spots and stains "disappear" due to the bleaching action.

Of course, you should be aware of a few details when using powdered oxygen cleaners. Unlike its liquid cousin, hydrogen peroxide, the pH is typically fairly high, above 10, and it should be used carefully on natural fibers and even on stain resistant nylon.

There are some dyes, although this should be rare, that might be affected by that high of a pH. Most of the time, these types of dyes will be on higher-end area rugs with natural fibers.

Oxygen cleaners can be used on a variety of other surfaces, such as tile and grout. It''s a tool that can be used for many services you offer.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q: I''ve noticed a lot more polyester carpet on the market recently, and I''m having trouble cleaning up the traffic lanes, especially in areas near doorways. No matter how many times I clean, there is a brown-type staining left behind. Why is there so much polyester now, and what can I do?

— Gary, Sand Springs, OK

A: At a carpet inspector symposium earlier this year in Las Vegas, a carpet manufacturing expert brought out some interesting statistics.

One was that polyester has surpassed olefin as the second most popular fiber on the market. That''s probably why you are seeing more of it now.

Both polyester and olefin are attracted to oily soils. You are having a challenge with the carpet near doorways because oily soils are being deposited there from many sources, including asphalt. In time, the oils bond with the fibers, creating a type of staining very difficult to remove.

There are formulated preconditioning agents with high pH and solvency that should be used. Some cleaning technicians find that using encapsulation preconditioners and rinse agents also help.

In addition, this question can be tied in with the previous question… the use of powdered oxygen cleaners does help with polyester (and olefin) oily soil challenges because of the bleaching action the chemistry provides.

The use of better chemistry — along with proper agitation and rinsing — should give you better results.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have a question for us? Ask at Cleanfax.com/experts or jcross@ntpmedia.com.