Are There Green Products that Work?

I receive some of the best questions about our industry in email fashion. Starting with this question, I will be posting a series of questions and answers that cleaners and restorers pose to Lee or myself.

What is the best “Green” truck mount detergent you have found. Would like to find a product that cleans as well as Dry Slurry, but is “eco-friendly”.

Thanks,
Alex-

Hi Alex

Finding a “green” cleaning product that will perform like your “old reliable carpet cleaning detergent” (Dry Slurry) will be a challenge. The things that cut grease (solvents) and soften water (phosphates) are will not be found in a “green product”.

That said, the manufacturers of green cleaning products have done a very good job of getting “nearly as good as” with alternate formulations, and we’re getting great feedback on both the Prochem Axiom products and the Bridgepoint Green Balance products.

Of the two, only one makes a powdered emulsifier. The Axiom Clean Powdered Emulsifier is a good cleaner, but will cost about 15% more than Dry Slurry. Other than this product, the liquid presprays and detergents from both Prochem and Bridgepoint actually cost less than the “non green” products that they replace.

Ultimately, in deciding to use products that do not soften water as well, and do not contain grease cutting solvents, you should look to using soft water in your cleaning equipment, and to use equipment that generates as much heat as possible, as heat helps to cut grease with less need for aggressive solvent additives in the formulation.

Jim

Success with Green/Natural Cleaning Positioning

In the past few weeks I’ve spoken to several hundred cleaners on two separate occasions regarding my feelings about positioning your company as one who offers the use of “Green” or “Natural” cleaning products when performing your cleaning services.

I’ve been surprised and pleased at how many companies have taken hold of this concept. Those individuals who have called me have told me that current customers and new prospects are appreciative of the care they are showing for both the environment and (more importantly) their family members and pets by promising to use such products in their home.

There is likely no better time of year than now to try new approaches and to reposition yourself in your marketplace. There are so many high quality products that are “environmentally and human friendly” that it will not be difficult for you to offer such services, and many such products truly do clean effectively if used properly.

Note: Do not use fear tactics, with warnings that create anxiety and confusion. Leave that type of “marketing” to your more callous and less imaginative competitors. Today’s consumer is suspicious and resentful of such tactics.

Instead, simply assure your customers that you are a good citizen of the world and the community, and that everything you use in their home is safe for them, their family, their pets, and the environment in which they live.

Green or Clean?

How good do “green” products work? The sellers of “green” as well as “nearly green” products (my term for products that are more human safe than most cleaners, but may not be as environmentally safe as a “green product”) assure us that their products are as good as the more conventional products we currently use.

In my experience, most green/nearly green products do work well on lightly or moderately soiled carpet. Our concerns begin when we are called upon to clean a heavily soiled carpet that is likely close to being permanently damaged and perhaps needs to be replaced instead of cleaned.

Will the green/nearly green products work? Perhaps not, but unless a side by side comparison is made, we can’t be sure our “heavy duty/nuclear bomb” type products would restore the carpet either.

What choices do we have when faced with the dilemma?

1. Attempt to use our green/nearly green products. If we have hot cleaning solution and soft water, the carpet just might clean up surprisingly well!
2. Boost our green/nearly green products. Non chlorine bleaches, also known as oxidizing agents (Bridgepoint Boost All, Prochem Oxy Plus, Masterblend Accelerator), can greatly enhance cleaning by breaking down protein, tannin, and even oily soils. Such products are not always considered “green”, but do boost cleaning without the need for solvents.
3. Resort to using “the good old stuff” that has worked for years, then advising our customer that if the carpet is maintained on a regular basis, we can keep it clean with products that are far more human and environmentally friendly.

You need to make your choices based on your own standard of cleaning and safety, your customers needs and expectations, and, of course, each individual situation.