Vol. 6 No. 2 - 08/05

Dear Customers! Finally, the time is near once again - the CMS is close at hand. From September 20. to 23. everything that has name and fame in the cleaning industry will be present at the show in Berlin. You too should not miss this biennial event! We are looking forward to the exhibition just like you and, of course, will be presenting a number of novelties. Only this much now: they covers several fields of application and they are not only products but assistance as well. The CMS will take place after an eventful summer - even though German parliament has been dissolved, something in that direction will surely have changed by the 18 September. What will also change, and this affects all companies in Germany, is the due date for social insurance contributions. Instead of them being due by the middle of the following month, they will be due at the end of the actual month. For sectors where wages are earned by the hour (like the cleaning sector) this is attached to an enormous additional bureaucratic effort - on the one hand an estimate has to be made and extrapolated to the end of the month so as not to pay too little. On the other hand this estimate has to be compared and balanced with the actual due amount. An additional burden for companies that is much more grave: at the beginning of 2006 these social insurance contributions will be due twice, namely in the middle of January for December 2005 and at the end of January for that same month! For many companies this implies a financial strain that may go above the available liquid assets. The possible consequences, should this be the case, do not need to be discussed here, as they are all too clear. In addition, another, possibly unpleasant development is in the making, but has not, as of now, been made official: in case of bankruptcy the inland revenue service and social insurances want to be ranked in first place concerning the satisfaction of debts, thereby securing their dues as completely as possible. All other creditors are placed in the second row - the equal treatment of creditors is factually abolished. Bankrupt companies will no longer be able to count on possible assistance from creditors - this will impede salvation of companies and jobs even more. In spite of these developments we are looking toward the future with optimism - especially regarding the CMS and would be happy to greet you there: Hall 2.2, Stand 238! Until then all the best and good business, Your CEBE® Team

Website now with search engine

As promised in the previous edition of CEBE® News, our website has now been equipped with an integrated search engine. Simply type in the word(s)/ name(s) you are looking for, click on "search" and in an instant the pages with matching results will be listed. Relevant information is now easier and quicker to access. Enjoy!

The Effect of Carpet on Indoor Air Quality

A certain degree of misinformation but especially a high level of confusion has been dominating the discussion of the topic carpet and indoor air quality (IAQ). In many areas, private as well as public, carpeting has been replaced by hard flooring due to the dramatic increase of people affected and suffering from allergies and asthma. General belief is that the carpet acts as a storage device for soil and dirt - particles and allergens are literally trapped, thereby enabling contact with the inhabitants. In addition many consumers have been sensitized regarding the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, in particular resulting from the installation of new carpeting. Actual fact is that there is no concrete proof that carpeting has a negative influence on IAQ. Quite the contrary, much evidence points in the opposite direction, namely that carpeting may improve IAQ. Carpeting traps soil and dirt, including allergens like dust mites and their feces, animal hairs, and animal dandruff. It should be noted that this is done more effectively by carpeting made of or containing synthetic fibres, as these have a different electrical charge than wool, for example. Contrary to public opinion a properly maintained carpet is a clear advantage for good IAQ: the fibres act like filters by catching particles from the air and trapping them for later removal. The emphasis lies on proper maintenance of the carpet - if powerful and efficient vacuums using microfilter bags are used, carpeting will not contribute to IAQ in a negative manner. The microfilter bags catch fine particles like dust mites and their feces, so that they are not ejected back into the air. In summary: if carpeting is vacuumed correctly and corresponding to the use it sees in regular intervals, it actually contributes to better IAQ: it traps particles until they are removed, preventing their being stirred up into the air. A concrete example which contradicts public opinion comes from a study in Sweden. Here carpeting was banned from schools across the country in the late 1980s. However, contrary to expectations, the number of people affected by asthma actually increased dramatically after all carpeting had been removed. Not only that a hard floor cannot trap particles - in addition they are continuously stired up, be it from people walking, simple air movement or a draft, for example. In addition, there are a number of other factors that affect IAQ: - People (Respiration, perspiration, sickness) - Work and habits (eg. the application of insecticide, smoking, perfumes) - Surface coatings (paint, lacquer, wall paper) - Technology (Photocopiers, laser printers) - Construction materials (adhesives, fillers) - Insufficient cleaning - Not suitable or poorly maintained ventilation/ air conditioning systems - Outside Air Quality This misinterpretation of facts by the consumer regarding carpeting and IAQ may find its source in the fact that the individual has difficulties cleaning a carpet compared to cleaning a hard floor such as PVC or laminate. This is incorrect, if one considers how little time the consumer actually spends cleaning his/her carpet (similarly, the cleaning intervals in office buildings etc. are increased to save costs). Carpeting forgives negligence - maintenance cleaning is performed at enormous speeds or not at all and cleaning by a professional is postponed or does not occur at all. When the consumer is finally in the situation that the carpet has reached an appearance that warrants cleaning, the milk has already soured. The professional cleaner who has been asked to perform the job is confronted with an almost unsolvable situation and the consumer automatically seeks the blame with the product. If carpeting is not cleaned regularly and according to use, it may only trap particles to a certain point - until the well is full. After this point the advantages of carpeting regarding IAQ are moot. However, if the carpet is cleaned/maintained regularly, according to its use, with a high performance vacuum in conjunction with microfilter bags, and a professional is called in to perform cleaning using the extraction method, for example, the carpet becomes a flooring which is hygienic, healthy and maintainable.

Pollutants in the air

An additional topic that has occasionally been the focus of attention of the public and consequently the media has been the odour problem associated with newly installed carpet. It is true that a new carpet and also the applied adhesive may off-gas a small amount of chemicals. These small amounts, however, are diluted even further by the air. In comparison paints, when newly applied, floor waxes, and even PVC flooring emit higher levels, even though these too are very small. In addition the applied cleaning and maintenance method plays an important role - this most often results in more VOCs being emitted when hard floors are maintained as when carpeting is cleaned using the extraction method. Finally, one must not forget that new furniture, wall coverings, etc. also emit VOCs - for a longer period of time than carpeting. However, as carpet is usually the largest and most visible piece of furniture, the blame is sought here first. In consideration of this topic and the associated implications we developed our Quality Seal, ProIAQ, which is awarded to our products that have no impact on IAQ. This seal was first introduced at the ISSA/Interclean in Amsterdam 2000. These products are distinguished using this seal in our general catalogue.

Quality Seal ProIAQ

These products are: BioMatrix® Enzyme Shampoo powder and liquid Grandioos Carpet Stain Protector FAX for the cleaning of carpet and upholstery, as well as Linoclean and Double Power as corrective cleaners for hard floors.

Bleach stains of the type OXY

More and more products containing the syllable OXY are being advertised on TV and in the print media. These products have resulted in a growing number of complaints regarding colour loss, mysterious stains and damages on carpets, rugs, and upholstery. The reason: they are praised as miracle stain removers. There are a number of possible causes for the irreversible damage of fibres or loss of colour. On the one hand it may be the result of improper handling or application: these products have to be tested in an inconspicuous spot before use, as clearly stated in their instructions for use. The user usually skips this very critical step for reasons of convenience. A further cause of hidden bleach stains may be wrong dilution of the product. The recommended dilution is very low: usually 2 teaspoons for 500ml of water. The guiding principle Òmore is betterÓ is never true, especially when concerning the use of bleaches! Excessive amounts may lead to permanent colour loss. The third possible cause may come to pass when these products are applied on textiles such as uphostery, bed linens or other clothing. The danger is even greater here, since the required rinsing mentioned in the instructions is usually only done half-heartedly, if at all. In addition these products are usually specified as not being suitable for use on wool, wool blends, silk, or leather. The professional cleaner is often confronted with this type of problem, as the end user usually makes an attempt at stain removal prior to consulting a professional. Blame is placed on the professional, since often these types of stains appear only after a thorough cleaning of the carpet: colour changes are often hidden by soil or dirt and appear only after cleaning.

The CEBE® Destainer with Stain Navigator

Placed into this situation the professional cleaner can only try to apply patience in attempting an enlightenment of the end-user, by making him/her aware of the actual cause of this type of stain. In order to avoid this type of problem one should use products that have been developed especially for stain removal instead of grabbing a bleach as an all-purpose stain remover. All products in our SpottingLine were developed for the removal of stains on carpets, rugs and upholstery. In addition extensive instructions for use are available.

New Bonnet Drying Pad

The Bonnet Drying Pad that is described in our current general catalogue is no longer available in this form. We have been looking for an alternative in the past six months and are happy to say we can now introduce our new Bonnet Drying Pad:

The new Bonnet Drying Pad

The new Bonnet Drying Pad - microfibre loop

This product is made up of loop-shaped microfibres with a very absorbant core. This ensures a very large contact area with the surface to be cleaned, absorbing a maximum of residual stains, dirt, and moisture.

Our Exhibition Offer for YOU!

Buy one box of one of our products that have been labelled with our Quality Seal ProIAQ, and you receive a second box for free.* *This offer is not valid with other discounts or special prices. Shipping/freight is not included. Maximum amount per product including the rebate: 10 boxes.   This offer is valid only during the CMS, from 20 to 23 September 2005

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