August 25, 2011 on 8:00 am

HOSTGreenLogoWithTag_RGB

Hey, Don’t Blame the Carpet,  an article in Hotel Industry Magazine’s online publication, features Host Dry Carpet Cleaning System.  The article highlights the benefits of using a dry carpet cleaner such as Host Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning.

host 12lb box

Host is effective for cleaning a small area or an entire room with a dry extraction powder that dries quickly, eliminates mold & mildew issues and reduces allergans.  Applications include hospitality, healthcare, commercial & residential.

Host is Green Seal Certified, recognized by US EPA Design for the Environment (DfE), earns LEED credits and is approved by the Florida School Plant Managers Association (FSPMA) for carpet cleaning products based on performance, safety and environmental criteria.

February 1, 2011 on 2:46 pm

ice melt w ice_snowCOMPRWinter snow and ice bring unique challenges to home & business owners.  Among those challenges is maintaining safe, clean floors.

The first line of attack in keeping snow, ice & ice melt products off of a floor is to have clean walk-off mats at each entry door.  If possible, keep a mat in the garage, warehouse or covered porch to catch water and debris from shoes before they enter the living or working space.  Have another mat inside the entry door where shoes & boots can be removed when they are wet.  Even if shoes don’t seem wet it is best to remove them this time of year because ice melt products such as rock salt, ice melt pellets and sand become stuck in the treads of shoes and track throughout your home or business.

Keep a dry rag or paper towels near the entry to conveniently wipe up puddles right away.  Prevent small particles of dirt & debris from scratching hard surface floors by sweeping or vacuuming frequentlyCarpets can be especially challenging because particles of debris fall into the carpet fibers and are not always visible.  Vacuuming carpet routinely is especially important this time of year because the ice melt particles could damage the carpet fibers.

Have an appropriate cleaning product on hand to spot clean residue left behind from melted rock salt or ice melt pellets before they have a chance to damage the floor.  Different types & brands of floors require different cleaning products so choose the cleaning materials that are right for your floor.  Here are some of the best sellers in our store that might fit this need: 

Mannington Ultra Clean, Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner, Congoleum Bright ‘N Easy No-Rinse Cleaner (pre-mix in a spray bottle), Wilsonart Laminate Floor Cleaner (only avail as concentrate, mix in a spray bottle), DuPont™ StoneTech® Revitalizer® Cleaner and Protector, Host Carpet Dry Cleaner.

mannington ultra clean  bona hardwood spray  congoleum bright n easy  wilsonart laminate cleaner  revitalizer spray  host kit 

If you don’t find the right product for your floor, browse our website by floor type or brand or call us for assistance at 1-877-FLOORGUY (1-877-356-6748).

To sum up winter floor care, do the following on a daily basis:

  • Shake-out floor mats (outside or into a utility sink)
  • Sweep or vacuum
  • Spot clean (with Cleaner) as needed
  • Clean entire floor daily if residue or shoe tracks are visible

Follow these tips to keep your floors looking good all winter long!

December 17, 2010 on 6:12 pm

We frequently get emails from customers with common and unique floorcare questions. We answer these questions directly to the customer who asks and we post many of them on Facebook and (more briefly) on Twitter.  If you find the following carpet care tips helpful, “Like Us” on Facebook or “Follow Us” on Twitter for answers to all types of flooring questions.  We post Q & A’s a few times each week.

Remember to “Like Us” on Facebook or “Follow Us” on Twitter for answers to all types of flooring questions.  We post Q & A’s a few times each week.

This post includes info for Mohawk FloorCare Essentials, Host, Nylac & furniture glides for use on carpet.

Q:  How do I clean grease and tracked-in dirt from the “green” carpet Mohawk makes out of recycled pop bottles?

A:  Mohawk recommends the Mohawk FloorCare Essentials Carpet Stain Remover, 32oz Spray or Carpet Cleaning Kit, to treat stains on their EverStrand™ & SmartStrand® Carpets and they emphasize routine vacuuming & cleaning for ongoing care and upkeep.

 

Q:  My carpet gets “dented” where the coffee table sits in my family room.  The table moves when my kids rest their feet on it and they never seem to notice so now I’ve got carpet dents in more than one spot and the table is getting wobbly from being moved.  I’m looking for a way to fix this problem since telling my kids to take their feet down doesn’t seem to be working well enough.

A:  Equinox makes carpet glides for furniture that disperses the weight of the table leg onto a disk that is padded on one side and hard plastic on the other reducing the “dent” effect on the carpet.  The table will move more freely on these discs alleviating the stress on the table legs. So now when your kids put their feet up, the table will still move but  you won’t have the problem with carpet “dents” and the table legs will not be stressed.  Glides come in two sizes, 2-3/4” or 5” round.

 

Q:  I cleaned a coffee stain from my beige carpet with a cleaner I bought at the grocery store.  The stains seemed to be gone at first but now the area keeps getting dirty so I think it’s not totally gone.  How do I get rid of this?  Is there a carpet cleaner that will take up the whole stain?

A:  Host Carpet Cleaner will take up most stains without leaving a residue.  Host is a dry extraction system that absorbs soils as it dissolves them. The dissolved spot does not have the opportunity to run to the base of the carpet so there isn’t anything there to wick back to the surface.  For small areas, the carpet cleaning kit or 2.5lb shaker pack should do the job.

 

Q: Someone told me that Nylac Carpet Cleaner is good for cleaning my carpet because I’ve got allergies and it’s got no odor and is safe.  Do you have an MSDS sheet for this product so I can check for myself?

A: Yes, we have just updated the Nylac product information to include the MSDS sheet.  You can go directly to the Nylac MSDS sheet or to the Nylac Product page.

September 7, 2010 on 3:53 pm

Autumn the perfect time to get back to floorcare routines that keep your floors looking GREAT.  It may even be time for your floor to get an extra bit of TLC to really shine before the winter holidays set in.

There are many types of floors that require different routines however they all have one thing in common- 

  • All floors need to be cleaned and maintained on a routine basis in order to keep looking good. 
  • There is no such thing as a “maintenance-free” floor. 

Many flooring manufacturers maintain care instructions on their websites for easy reference. Some recommend specific floor care products for cleaning and maintenance.  The floor’s warranty will tell you if using a specific product is required in order to uphold the manufacturer’s warranty.  Look up instructions for your floor if you know who made it. 

Hardsurface floors: 

Sweep or vacuum!  I can’t emphasize enough that routine sweeping or vacuuming  is a must (vacuum should be in good condition and on the correct setting for hardsurface floors) for all hard surface flooring- including hardwood, laminate, vinyl, linoleum, stone and tile.  This keeps small particles of dirt and debris, which can cause microscopic scratches and dulling of your floor’s finish, off the floor.  The higher the gloss level of your floor’s finish, the more evident the scratches will be.  Stone and tile are the most resistant to scratches however the grout lines will collect dirt if left unswept.  I’m often asked how often a person should sweep their floor.  I typically reply that it depends on how much use and traffic the floor gets.  A floor that is lived-on daily by a family of four (or more) is likely going require sweeping daily.  For a person who lives alone the same floor may only need to be swept once each week.

Basic routine maintenance also involves cleaning.  Like sweeping, the frequency with which your floor should be cleaned varies between households.  Use your good judgment based on the amount of traffic on your floor.  Many hardsurface floors can be easily cleaned with a no-rinse spray cleaner and a microfiber mop.  This includes urethane-finished hardwood, laminate, stone & tile.  Each type of floor requires a different cleaning product (so always read labels) however the idea is the same across the board.  Clean the floor in small sections to avoid the sprayed cleaner from drying before you get a chance to wipe it.  Bona & Basic  both have popular spray cleaners for use on urethane wood floors (and more).  These are reputable floor care products that are not directly linked to a specific flooring manufacturer.  If you know the brand of your wood floor, check to see what the flooring manufacturer recommends before purchasing cleaner & care products.  Several flooring manufacturers have their own brand of cleaner that is specifically formulated for use on their floor.  Websites, such as www.1877floorguy.com carry most manufacturer specific floor care products such as Mannington Ultra Clean and Bruce Dura Luster which are formulated for cleaning wood and laminate floors made by these companies.  Several spray cleaners, like the Ultra Clean and DuraLuster, are intended for use on multiple types of flooring surfaces.  Wilsonart Ready Mix Spray is a laminate and linoleum floor cleaner.  Bona makes a stone, tile & laminate cleaner.  These can be economical cleaning products if you’ve got more than one type of flooring materials in your home so do some research before you buy.  For cleaning stone & tile well-known products are made by AquaMix and DuPont StoneTech .  Among the available products are easy to use spray & wipe cleaners.  These quality routine cleaners, AquaMix’s AquaShield and DuPont StoneTech Revitalizer, both contain cleaning agent and sealer to protect the stone surface as it cleans (sealing is very important for natural stone).  AquaMix and StoneTech also offer products for deeper cleaning (occasional use) such as Grout Deep Clean to remove stubborn grout stains or KlenzAll for cleaning soap scum and mildew from natural stone.

Tips to keep in mind when using spray & wipe cleaners:

  • Always use a clean microfiber pad.  Bona’s microfiber cleaning pads are machine washable and you can purchase replacement pads so you’ve always got a clean one ready to go.
  • If the floor feels sticky after cleaning, according to product directions, you’ve used too much cleaner or sprayed to large an area and did not wipe sufficiently with the microfiber mop.  Repeat cleaning procedure in sticky areas to resolve this problem.
  • For visibly dirty spots that don’t come clean on the first pass, put a little elbow grease into your wiping with the microfiber mop or use a separate cloth to get really tough spots. I haven’t had a spot on my wood floors yet that wouldn’t come clean.  When cleaning stone & tile it is ok to introduce water along with cleaning agents to work out a tough stain.  For wood and laminate floors water is a no-no.
  • Keep a spray bottle of cleaner under your kitchen or bathroom sink for spot cleaning.  The cleaning products will tell you to use a microfiber cloth however I’ve found paper towels to work well for cleaning small messes, like spilled juice, on my wood floor.
  • Only use cleaner recommended for use on your type of floor (urethane wood, laminate, natural stone, etc).  Each type of cleaner is formulated for use on specific type(s) of floor(s).  Using the wrong type of cleaner can have dreadful results.

Waxed wood floors require a completely different cleaning regiment.  Routinely, a waxed wood floor should only be swept and spot cleaned.  If spot cleaning is needed, use a cleaner formulated for use on a waxed hardwood floor such as Bruce Lite-n-Natural or Bruce Dark-n-Rich Liquid Paste Wax with Cleaner.  You’ll use the same cleaner when your floor needs to be completely cleaned and waxed which should be done every 6 months to a year.  The Bruce Liquid Paste Wax with Cleaner is an all-in-one product that takes care of cleaning and waxing thereby reducing the number of steps in the process.  Waxed wood floors require a buffer machine which you can typically rent from a local hardware store.  More information on cleaning waxed wood floors can be found in the blog post, Surprise! Wood Floors Under the Carpet! Wax or Urethane Finish?

Carpet:

Like hardsurface floors, carpet also requires routine maintenance to keep dirt and debris from becoming ingrained into the floor and dulling it’s appearance. The #1 rule is vacuum! Vacuuming will pick up loose dirt and debris left behind from foot traffic, food crumbs, etc. and it will lift the carpet pile which becomes especially matted down in high traffic areas. You can’t really overdo vacuuming so however often you can, do it. Your vacuum needs to be in good working condition in order to pick-up dirt. If you notice it’s not picking up visible dirt, take it to a service center for repair or get a new vacuum if the one you’re using is very old. The lint bag should be changed with some frequency since a full bag will generate dust into the air landing on the carpet. Vacuuming around the edges of the room where carpet meets wall is often missed because the vacuum itself can only get so close to the wall. Dirt build-up in these areas will eventually look like a dark rim around the edges of the room. Using the vacuum’s crevice tool around all edges of the room every few months will eliminate this problem.

When we talk about cleaning carpets we need to include periodic maintenance and spot cleaning.  Periodic maintenance involves wet or dry cleaning your carpet.  I am a firm believer in dry cleaning carpets.  Wet or steam cleaning introduces water to your carpet which can damage carpet fibers, cause buildup of mold & mildew and require more than a day to dry leaving the room unusable for the duration.  Dry cleaning is much less invasive, removes dust and mold spores from the carpet, can be walked on immediately after cleaning and is safe to use on all types of carpet from synthetics to wool.  Host is my dry carpet cleaning system of choice because of the approval level of their products, proven effectiveness and ease of use.  The Host website has great information to help you determine if it is the right system for your carpet, where to rent a machine (not much bigger than an upright vacuum), and how much cleaner to buy.  Often you can purchase the cleaner where you rent the machine or check online retailers also where more sizes and products may be offered (machines can only be rented local to you).  Host has small shaker packs of cleaner that can be used for spot or small area cleaning and don’t require use of the machine.  These packs are great to keep on hand for spot cleaning.

Protect your work!

furniture glide under coffee table leg

furniture glide under coffee table leg

Protect your floor and your efforts to clean your floor by putting protectors on the feet or base of furniture.  Felt protectors on the bottom of chairs and table legs keeps hardsurface floors from getting scratched when the furniture is moved.  Think about how many times a chair is pushed in and out from a table and the damage that does to a floor.  Round felt protectors cost between 16- 30 cents each and come in different sizes and quantities. Is there value in these felt protectors? Absolutely!  For carpeted areas, furniture glides can be used permanently under pieces that are moved frequently.  For instance, I have the 2-3/4” glides under my family room coffee table that is often moved to allow space for playing Wii.  The light grey blends into my beige carpet so they’re barely noticeable.  I think the legs would have snapped off or the berber carpet would have come unraveled if it weren’t for the glides. 

 www.1877floorguy.com is dedicated to helping customers properly clean and care for floors by providing popular and hard to find quality floor care products.  Try one of these quality products to routinely clean your floor and we’ll extend a 10% discount when you enter coupon code FGBLOG at checkout.

June 3, 2010 on 8:44 pm

Whether you’re headed to your vacation home at the beach, lakeside or in the mountains, your first trip is likely to have your car loaded up with some or all of the following… kids, pets, boogie boards, beach chairs, fishing poles, tackle box, coolers, bed sheets, towels, toilet paper and the list goes on and on.  While you’re trying to fit all of this into your vehicle and realizing what a tight squeeze it is, remember… cleaning supplies to get rid of the must and dust that has settled into your vacation home during the winter months!

Have no fear… (1877)Floorguy is Here!  Before you leave for your lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer, take a few minutes to log on to www.1877floorguy.com, place your order for cleaning supplies and have it ship to your summer address.  This way, you won’t have to fit it into your car which leaves more space for lounge chairs, inner tubes, beach umbrellas, etc.  Don’t wait until you get there to buy it at the local grocer who will have a small selection at summer prices.  Shop smart at www.1877floorguy.com

Check out our Top Picks for Summer 2010.  We’ve included products that take care of mold, odors and stains and convenient, easy to use items that will make cleaning your home away from home a breeze.  Then use our Shipping Calculator to estimate how far in advance you should place your order so it’s there when you arrive.  This feature is further explained in How Can I Reduce My Floorguy Shipping Costs Without Sacrificing Service blog.     

 Top Picks for Summer 2010:

bonaspraymop

Bona Spray Floor Mop with Refillable Hardwood Cleaner Cartridge will make cleaning hardwood floors easy with its all-in-one design, just pull the spray handle and mop. It’s that easy!  Comes with a Refillable Cartridge (we sell economical gallon size for refilling the cartridge) however, if you’re feeling kicked back and relaxed, you can order additional Hardwood Cleaner Cartridges for your mop.  Just replace it and you’re ready to go.  All we ask is that you, please, recycle the empty cartridges.  

 

bonastlcartridgeThe same Bona Spray Floor Mop can also be used with the Refillable Stone, Tile & Laminate Cleaner Cartridge to easily clean hard surface floors in your vacation home such as stone, tile and laminate.

  

  

dstrevitalizer

DuPont StoneTech Revitalizer Cleaner & Protector is a popular choice for cleaning and maintaining natural stone & ceramic tile surfaces often found in foyers, kitchens and bathrooms.  Available in spray or disposable wipes the Revitalizer Cleaner & Protector comes in two great scents,  Cucumber and Citrus, and the built-in sealer protects the surface of the stone while it cleans for a worry-free surface.  No need to rinse.  Just clean and go.  This allows more time for you to enjoy fun in the sun!

 

 

 

aquakleen

Great for routine bathroom & kitchen cleaning, AquaKleen is a multi-purpose basin, tub and tile cleaner that effectively cleans even soiled grout joints.  The No VOC, water-safe formula is approved for use on ceramic surfaces, natural stone, tile, porcelain, grout, plastic, glass, fiberglass, cultured marble, metal surfaces laminate, and fixtures which will give you peace of mind that a guest staying at your house, while you’re not there, won’t use the “wrong” cleaner because it’s hard to go wrong with AquaKleen.

 

  

groutaideGrout-Aide is a great quick fix for grouted tile floors that have stains on the grout that just wouldn’t come clean at the end of last season. Or maybe the grout just looks dingy.  With very little effort Grout-Aide covers the stains and dries quickly.  Grout-Aide comes in 5 different colors.  More information on this product can be found in our Quick-Fix for Dirty Grout blog.

 

vitaloxide

  

Vital-Oxide is a must-have if mold or mildew has taken root or if you’re concerned about bacteria anywhere in your home. Eliminates 99.9% of bacteria on a wide range of surfaces in your home including counters, floors, mattresses, upholstery and in the laundry.  Vital Oxide is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial disinfectant, safe for use around children and pets. Ready-to-use formula available in 32oz Spray or Gallon Size.

  

odorcideOdorcide 210 is used alone, or with Vital-Oxide when a disinfectant is required, to neutralize and eliminate strong, adverse odors in the home.  Extremely effective and safe on a wide range of surfaces including wood, carpet, upholstery, laminate, tile.  No residue, non-irritant, safe for use around people and pets.  Available ready-to-use or concentrate.

 

Three can’t-go-wrong spot cleaners for carpet.  All proven effective and easy to use to quickly remove stains from carpet.  Don’t worry if your son spills his chocolate milk, the dog has a little “accident” or your husband tracks grease in from the bbq.  Here are three convenient carpet spot cleaners to have on hand that can clean-up the mess:

spotshotSpot Shot removes both oil-based and water-based stains without leaving any residue or ring behind.

 

 

captureCapture Carpet Spot Eliminator works great on grease and oil based stains.

 

 

hostHost Dry Carpet Cleaner Shaker Pack is a dry carpet cleaner that absorbs stains, reduces allergens such as dust mites, mold and pet dander, has no drying time.

 

 We’ve got many more fabulous floor cleaning & maintenance items at 1877Floorguy.com, hundreds of products to keep your floors looking their best including equipment and tools, such as Bona Kemi Mops & Microfiber Covers and Manufacturer Supplied Care Kits such as Bruce Wood Flooring Maintenance Kit and Quick Step Laminate Cleaning Kit.  We carry many hard to find floor care items so, if you don’t find what you need on our website, call us at 1-877-Floorguy (1-877-356-6748). 

Thanks for taking the time to see our Top Picks for Summer Cleaning.  Place your order today and take a 10% discount off your order by using coupon code “FGBLOG”.  We appreciate your business and wish you a Wonderful Summer!

December 15, 2009 on 3:31 pm

Residential Flooring Manufacturers devote many dollars to developing floor care and maintenance products specific to the floor(s) they produce. These products are carefully formulated, for each type of flooring the manufacturer produces to leave the floor residue-free, maintain the integrity of the floor’s surface finish without compromising slip resistance or shine and it needs to be the safest possible for people, pets and the environment. Important? You bet!

Using the Manufacturer Recommended floor care & maintenance products on your new floor, in accordance with Manufacturer guidelines, will keep the floor you purchased looking great and it will uphold the Warranty on your floor if you should have a claim. The big question has long been, “Where can I buy the product recommended by the Manufacturer?”

The flooring industry has a missing link when it comes to selling floor care & maintenance products. The flooring industry’s distribution chain, that has been in place for as long as I can remember, is from Manufacturer to Distributor to Retailer. This works like a well-oiled machine for flooring materials. Distributors buy in bulk from Manufacturers and the Retailers order from their Distributor to manage the amount of material they need to inventory. Since this works for flooring materials, it should also work for floor care & maintenance products, right? Wrong.

More often than not, Retailers don’t carry the care & maintenance products that Manufacturers require to uphold their flooring Warranties. The truth is that they likely did when they first brought on the line of flooring because the Manufacturer probably had a spiffy display that was offered for the Care & Maintenance Products as part of their kick-off package however, when that initial supply was depleted, they never replenished the stock. This happens for several reasons.

Flooring Retailers & Distributors have their focus on flooring materials, not care & maintenance products, because flooring material is their primary business and where most of their profits are generated. When they do try to track down the care & maintenance products they find that the Manufacturer is also more focused on the flooring products and they are not always able to obtain the care & maintenance products because their Distributor has trouble procuring them from the Manufacturer. You can see this doesn’t go very far in getting the products to the End Users.

You won’t find the Manufacturer Recommended Floor Care Products in Big box stores either because there is not enough in volume sales for them. Each flooring product in the marketplace has approximately 3 floor care product sku’s (each item has a unique sku) associated with it. Multiply this by the hundreds of flooring products out there and the total equals too many different products for a big box store that focuses on high volume and low cost.

The result- Customers, who buy new floors, become frustrated and may turn to easily available generic floor care products to maintain their new floor. This often backfires because the generic product may leave a cloudy film, etch the finish, create too much moisture, stain or dull the original shine. Depending on the product- cleaner, polish, stain remover, refresher, etc- the result of the generic product may or may not be reversible. Situations like this often wind up as Claims filed with the Manufacturer because the Customer believes the floor to be defective. They rarely see a Claim settle in their favor if they haven’t followed the Manufacturer’s care & maintenance guidelines. If only they could find the floor care products recommended by the Manufacturer to uphold their warranty…

This is where the specialty e-store fills the missing link. 1877Floorguy.com carries over 1000 sku’s, specializing in Manufacturer recommended Floor Care & Maintenance Products. This website has such a large selection of Manufacturers and Products, organized by type of floor and by Manufacturer, that you will likely find the exact item you are looking for along with helpful tips or advise on how to use it. If you don’t find the answer on the website, call 1-877-Floorguy and one of the staff members, each has been doing this for 8+ years, will answer your questions and guide you with expertise. If you don’t see the product you’re looking for, ask! because 1877Floorguy.com is adding new products all the time. Best of all, most products are in stock and ready to ship next business day. To help you get started with the right maintenance products for your floor, use coupon code ”FGBLOG” for a 10% discount.

Hopefully more Retailers will recognize that they can guide their Customers to 1877Floorguy.com to buy maintenance & care products for their new floor. This will make their Customers happy and they’ll go back to that Retailer again for new floors. We’ll never compete for the flooring materials business because our specialty is the products to keep floors clean and maintained.

It has taken some convincing, within the industry, but Manufacturers are beginning to see the importance of breaking the supply chain mold to better serve the end users.

November 5, 2009 on 3:52 pm

The trend is obvious when you view the manufacturer links in Part I to this blog. Manufacturers are “greening” their manufacturing processes and their business cultures. Each touts the strides they have made towards environmental stewardship using words like “reducing VOCs, sustainable resources, recycling, improving indoor air quality.” These are all great steps towards a better environment that are measured by organizations that award approvals and certifications as a way for consumers to interpret the progress.

Let’s continue our look at greener cleaners for different types of floor coverings with hardwood & laminate cleaners as our next stop …

As part of the “all natural” Mohawk Floorcare Essentials line, approved by DfE, Mohawk has included a non-toxic Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner made from natural, renewable ingredients. When a product, like this one, is given the DfE Approved label, it indicates that the product, not only, contributes to a lesser impact on both human and environmental health, it also works as well or better than other cleaners in its class.

Bona, a company focused on wood floor care, continually strives to launch effective products with lesser impact on the environment. They do this by using recyclable materials in production and by developing non-toxic formulas, minimizing the harmful effects on people and downstream water pollution. Bona, a leader in the industry, offers a waterborne hardwood floor cleaner that is non-toxic, GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified, GREENGUARD Certified for Children & Schools, fulfills LEED points and meets CHPS and CA 01350 criteria for indoor air quality. The Bona cleaner is safe for the floor, family and environment and is effective in keeping your wood floor clean. In my home I use the Bona Spray Mop and Cleaner Refill Cartridges and my experience with this product has been great.

Moving on to Tile & Grout Cleaners…

Mohawk Floorcare Essentials has a Tile & Grout Cleaner. This, like the rest of the product line, is DfE Approved, made with natural ingredients and non-toxic.

Host Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning System, which we took a look at in Part I for carpet cleaning, has also been used successfully to deep clean grouted tile floors. The Host website has a good illustration of this. A test area is recommended before full use. Typical use is commercial or institutional. Host products are Green Seal Certified, EPP Approved and LEED Qualified.

Several new acronyms and organizations have been introduced in the sections above. Here is what they mean to you…

GREENGUARD Environmental Institute focuses on indoor air quality. GREENGUARD is an industry-independent, non-profit organization that establishes standards and testing for indoor products. Their goal is to improve public health by helping manufacturers build safer products that will not pollute the air with harmful levels of dangerous chemicals or particulates. GREENGUARD awards several types of certification. GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified indicates that a product performs well in testing for low chemical emissions. GREENGUARD Certified for Children & Schools maintains an even higher standard for low-emitting interior use products and materials adhering to the performance guidelines in California Code Section 01350 (CA 01350) pertaining to indoor air quality. A product that meets CA 01350 is also LEED qualified and CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools) approved.

CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools) helps to facilitate high performance learning environments that are not only energy and resource efficient, but also healthy, comfortable, well lit, and containing the amenities for a quality education. CHPS and CA 01350 are considered to be leaders in improving indoor air quality standards.

I hope this blog leaves you more informed than you were before and gives you resources to use in determining what products are safest or most environmentally friendly. There is not one clear-cut answer because there are many approvals and certifications by various organizations and government agencies. Consumers need to use their best judgment in deterring which manufacturers or products are really doing something responsible for our environment and which are just blowing a lot of hot air (pardon the non-ecological idiom). There are many good products out there, several are mentioned in this blog and in Part I to this blog. My advice is to read labels, check websites and ask questions to draw conclusions about what is most effective in helping you to meet your “Green” goals.

November 4, 2009 on 4:08 pm

What is a green floor cleaning product? Is it about a manufacturer’s efforts to conserve natural resources and recycle? Does it mean that the floor cleaner will help you to conserve water or energy? What will be its effect on indoor air quality? Is it safe when it comes in contact with your skin?

The more I’ve researched the vast topic of “green”, the more certifications and approvals I find. This “bit of information” I planned to share in my blog just kept getting bigger and bigger so I’ve decided to break it down into smaller bites for you. This is Part I. Look for Part II coming soon!

Manufacturers of floor cleaning products are changing what they make and how they make it. As products change to meet consumer demand for “green”, industry and government have introduced a range of certifications, approvals and standards. It can be difficult to navigate through the acronyms and organizations that certify and approve products so here is a guide on a few that I’ve come across. I am not endorsing any one certification, merely summarizing the information so you can draw your own conclusions and better understand what each means.

Green Seal Certified, EPP Approved, LEED qualified, and DfE Approved are “green” approvals I came across while looking into environmentally friendly carpet cleaning products. The organizations behind these approvals and certifications also evaluate other types of products as you’ll see in my next blog. “Green” takes on different meanings, depending on the type of approval or certification and the goal of the certifying organization.

Host Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning System is a full line of carpet cleaning products from spot cleaners to 6lb or 12lb boxes of cleaner used in the Host Dry-Clean Machine. These Host products are Green Seal Certified, EPP Approved and can contribute points for LEED qualification. The inherent nature of this dry carpet cleaning system conserves water because none is needed, conserves energy because water doesn’t need to be heated and fans don’t need to be run for drying the carpet because the carpet never gets wet. Host Dry Carpet Cleaning System reduces the risk of mold and allergans, often associated with wet-carpet cleaning, thereby producing better indoor air quality.

Shaw R2x Green Stain & Soil Remover is a carpet spot cleaner that is DfE Approved by the EPA (different approval than Host) and intended for use on stain resistant and wool carpets and water safe fabrics. Shaw, as a manufacturer, has made great strides towards environmental stewardship in their manufacturing process and improving indoor air quality by reducing chemical emissions in the products they make. You can read more about the Shaw Green Edge on their website.

Mohawk Floorcare Essentials is a line of “all natural”, non-toxic products including Carpet Stain Remover, Carpet Care Kit and Odor Eliminator. These carpet cleaners, like Shaw R2x, are DfE Approved. Mohawk has a corporate environmental policy that emphasizes reducing, reusing and recycling materials in every aspect of their business. Mohawk continues to look for new ways to responsibly use raw materials and natural resources to reduce the impact on the environment.

What does all of this mean to you?
Green Seal Certified and EPP Approved (Environmentally Preferable Purchasing) both focus on the impact that manufacturing and materials used have on the environment.

Green Seal Certified means that evaluation has been conducted by the non-profit organization, Green Seal, and that the product reduces impact on the environment and on human health based on its use of raw materials, manufacturing process and recycling or disposal methods for the product. Green Seal Certified also indicates that the product works as well as or better than others in its class.

EPP Approved (Environmentally Preferable Purchasing) tells you the product has a reduced impact on human health and the environment when compared to other products that serve the same purpose. This comparison applies to raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, use, reuse, operation, maintenance, and disposal. The primary purpose of EPP Approval, given by the Federal EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), is to help agencies across the federal government comply with green purchasing requirements. The EPA website publishes a list of approved products. My experience has been that the list can be difficult to navigate so you may want to check the manufacturer’s website first if you’re looking for a specific product.

LEED qualification is geared primarily towards commercial buildings. LEED, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is an internationally recognized green building certification system aimed at improving building performance as it pertains to energy savings, water efficiency, reduction of CO2 emissions, improved indoor environmental quality, and responsible use of resources and sensitivity to their impacts on the environment. LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. Floor cleaning products that are EPP approved also meet LEED requirements.

DfE, Design for the Environment, focuses on a product’s direct effect on people and on the use of sustainable ingredients. DfE is another EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) program that works with environmental organizations and industry. DfE’s, “Safer Product Labeling Program” promotes protecting families and the environment. Individual products are evaluated for their impact on both human and environmental health and for their ability to perform as well or better than other products in their class.

That’s all for this blog. Stay tuned for Part II –Hardwood & Laminate Cleaners, Tile & Grout Cleaners, GREENGUARD, CHPS, CA01350

September 29, 2009 on 5:47 pm

Whether your carpets need spot cleaning for a stain or a full cleaning throughout the house, you are likely interested in using a product that is safe for kids or pets and is environmentally friendly.
HOST® is the leading dry extraction carpet cleaning method that will meet all of these requirements! HOST is Green Seal Certified, non-toxic and reduces allergans, such as dust mites, mold and pet dander, by up to 85%. HOST is recommended by carpet manufacturers, produces better results than wet cleaning systems, lifts and refreshes matted carpet pile, leaves carpets smelling fresh and ready to use right after cleaning. I’ve been using this system as long as I’ve been in the flooring business and this is the carpet cleaning system I use in my home.
The system works by brushing the HOST Sponges Cleaner (which comes in a shaker pack for spot cleaning or larger pack for overall cleaning) into the carpet with the hand-held brush for small areas or the brushing machine for large areas. The cleaner dissolves, absorbs and traps soil, spots and odors as it cleans then you vacuum. This low-moisture process is proven to reduce Dust mites by 78%, Dust Mite Allergen by 75%, Cat Allergen by 85%, Mold Spores by 85% (EPA Establishment No. 074202-WI-001).
The HOST Dry Carpet & Rug Cleaning Kit will get you started with everything you’ll need for spot cleaning small spills and stains from your carpet. When you use the consumables in the kit, it’s easy to order individual replacements. Shaker packs come in two sizes- 2.5 lb. Dry Carpet Cleaner Shaker Pack or 1.1 lb. Emergency Dry Carpet Cleaner Pack. Pre-Cleaner Spray is available in a 7.5oz Pre-Cleaner
Spray Bottle.
It’s a good idea to keep these products on hand for unexpected spills and stains.
Using HOST for an entire room or house of carpet will require a larger package of HOST Dry Carpet Cleaner, 6 lb Box (for approx 500sf) or 12 lb Box (for approx 1,000sf). To determine your square footage (sf) simply measure the width and length of each room that needs carpet cleaning and multiply width x length = square feet for each room. To use this product, you’ll need to rent a HOST brushing machine from a local HOST retailer. You’ll use this machine to brush the cleaner into the carpet before vacuuming. In Delaware, call 1-877-floorguy for rental. Outside Delaware, use this link, http://hostcarpetcleaning.com/diyRetail.htm to locate a HOST retailer near you.

You may wonder how HOST compares to steam carpet cleaning methods. HOST is found to be easier to use, requires no mixing or use of water, leaves carpets dry reducing mold and mold spores, no drying time required before walking on rugs, safe for use on all types of carpet (including wool), carpets stay cleaner longer and look better because the carpet pile doesn’t get matted down. Using HOST in commercial buildings contributes to points earned for maintaining building LEED certification because of it’s environmentally responsible process.

February 12, 2008 on 3:29 pm

Your Carpet – Before You Replace, Try Cleaning
Did you realize that instead of simply replacing your old carpet, that you could actually go through and give it a deep clean? Many homeowners and landlords alike could save a large amount of money simply by getting their hands on a great carpet cleaning system. With a little bit of effort and an end goal of a fresh, clean carpet, you would end up saving a whole lot of time and hassle.
Whenever you have a carpet that seems to be quite dirty on the surface, it is also equally important that you take care of any potential dirt and micro-organisms that may be lurking beneath. In order to get rid of fungus, deep down dirt and other nuisance bits that hang onto your carpet fibers, you need something that is tough and can handle even the roughest dirt and stains.
If you do not have the money to have a professional come into your home or apartment and you do not want to bother with renting a steam cleaner, then you could get the same great results and deep down clean from the Mannington Carpet Rescue Kit, Mohawk Carpet Cleaner, and Shaw Carpet Cleaner. Inside the Mannington Carpet Rescue kit, you will have everything that you need including their Quick-Spot and Spray Head, the Ultimate and Spray Head, a great carpet brush and blotting rag along with easy to follow instructions and tips.
Before you know it, you will be looking for any kind of a stain that can challenge your cleaning skills with the muscle that you have from such an easy to use carpet cleaning product. You are sure to be thrilled that you took the time to clean the carpet yourself instead of spending hundreds more on a cleaning company or a steam cleaner.

Call the Floor Guy at 1-877-FloorGuy.com (1-877-356-6748) or visit us at www.1877floorguy.com for all your Carpet Cleaning Products

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