Current Issue of Cleaning Business Magazine Online

The Way I See it

It’s been a busy month conducting floor care seminars as well as attending meetings and speaking at the various industry trade shows. Here’s a recap. If you have specific questions or want more information, give me a call or drop a note. Billg

ISSA/INTERCLEAN Show in Las Vegas is a Winner
Hundreds of booths, thousand of attendees, more cleaning equipment, chemicals and products than you can imagine in your wildest dreams. Rumor has it that 4000 end users (those who supervise and clean buildings) and roughly 17,000 manufacturers, distributors and supplies attended the International Sanitary Supply Associations annual event this year.
This show is literally the world’s largest janitor closet with the doors wide open for three full days. This is where connections are made and business gets done. Billed as one of the largest cleaning shows in the world, the ISSA/INTERCLEAN Show is a sight to see. It’s the one event each year that you shouldn’t miss if you take your job and future seriously.

This year’s event was better than ever with a number of groups offering a full spectrum of educational seminars sponsored by the ISSA, Cleaning Management Institute and others. With a little imagination you can see the potential the ISSA/INTERCLEAN Show has to become a leading force in bringing change and recognition to cleaning professionals everywhere. Our only challenge is to figure out how to attract 50,000 people to the show each year.
If you missed this year’s show, mark your calendar now to attend next years show and educational conference, October 14 to 17, 2003 in Chicago, IL and in New Orleans, LA on November 16 to 19, 2004. For more info visit: www.issa.com

What’s New, Industry Trends
One of the benefits of attending the annual ISSA/INTERCLEAN Show is that you get to see what’s new when it comes to chemicals, products and equipment.

This is not only interesting, but it also helps you identify industry trends, needs and problems which can give you a competitive advantage when marketing your services to potential customers. After walking the show for three days, here’s what I noticed.
- There is a growing emphasis on the need to educate those who do the work. Basically every large equipment and chemical manufacturer offers and has available training materials on how to do the work and use their products.
- Computer technology continues to make inroads and is becoming the management method of choice when it comes to inventory control, bidding and estimating, quality control and time keeping. Software for on site recording such as with Palm type units is gaining popularity over desk top and notebooks computers.
- The line blurs between institutional JanSan Distributors and Specialty Suppliers. In the past Specialty Suppliers sold primarily carpet, upholstery, water, fire and odor damage supplies and equipment to self-employed cleaners. Now some are going after the in house JanSan market with specialty wood, resilient, stone care products as well as their branded lines of carpet cleaning chemicals and equipment.
- Micro-fibers are slowly working their way into the cleaning process. They are now being use for cleaning cloths, wet and dry mops, dusters, floor and carpet cleaning pads and finish applicators.
- New methods of applying floor finish are showing up. Flat mops, t-bars, and back mounted dispensers used in conjunction with gravity feed microfiber flat mops were available from several manufacturers.
- Bucketless and wringer free mopping tools are replacing the conventional mop and bucket set up.
- Enhancements in finish and chemical formulations continue. High solid content finishes and large particle polymer formulations are now available. One company introduced a visual indicator line of floor care products that changes color when additional coats of finish are needed and when stripping is complete.
- Green or environmentally preferred chemicals are becoming more common and of interest to attendees and customers. Soy, corn, citrus and kelp-based products are showing up on the market in response to government and customer demand.
- International cleaning related trade shows are growing in number. Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Poland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Italy are just some of the planned locations.
- Stone and marble care and restoration products and equipment are growing in number each year. This is a direct reflection of the growing popularity in the use of these materials in both commercial and residential properties.
- Restroom cleaning is getting more attention in facilities as companies produce and promote new products and systems for cleaning these sensitive and troublesome areas.
- More vapor cleaning machines are showing up on the market and they are larger and more powerful and thus better suited for commercial use.
- Autoscrubbers are available in a variety of sizes and profiles from 14’’ to as much as six feet in width. The latest models incorporate small radius turning, low moisture or foam application, as well as sweeping and water recycling.
- Water use and its disposal is becoming an issue. Expect to see more low and no water / chemical cleaning systems in the future. The use of recycling as well as water softening and purification systems is on the increase.
- Backpack vacuum use continues to grow, with one innovative company now offering a battery powered vacuum cart.

Kenway and Pat Mead Retire after a Lifetime of Service
Every so often, you meet someone and you think; now that guy is a true professional. I sure wish I had some of his skills. Kenway Mead is one of those guys. I first met Kenway some 25 years ago when we were both members of the Carpet Cleaning Institute of the Northwest (CCINW).

At that time Kenway was just another carpet cleaner struggling to survive, much like the trade association to which we both belonged. I watched over the next ten years or so as the CCINW fortunes went up and mostly down as the association changed management teams with each new president. Then something happened. Kenway Mead and his wife Pat took over the management of the CCINW and it was like the sun had come out from behind a cloud. Membership in the association grew, chapter meetings, events and the annual convention were all well attended and the CCINW even made money.
Kenway and Pat eventually moved on to manage the IICUC, and later the IICRC and again, something happened. The IICRC grew, prospered and made money under the Mead’s management. Last week at the IICRC Board Meeting in Portland OR, the Mead’s retired. They will be missed and the cleaning industry owes them a hearty thank you for all they have given to the industry. It’s seldom we come to find a couple that will dedicate their lives to an industry and a cause and stick with it through thick and thin. Kenway Mead and his wife Pat have done just that and every single one of us is better off today because of their, dedication, professionalism and management style. Thanks for showing us how it should be done Kenway. Happy Trails. Have car will travel.

Carpet vs Tile Debate Continues
This is a debate that never seems to end. Each side conducts their own biased studies and proclaims themselves the winner. In reality, all you need to do is ask the guy or gal who cleans the floor and you’ll get an earful about which surface is preferred and easier to maintain.

But it’s not all that easy. Each surface has benefits and believe it or not, each surface has problems and disadvantages. And there in lies the problem, each side acts and promotes their product as if it was the ideal surface for every location. In reality, when carpet is properly installed, in the right location and then properly maintained, it is a great floor covering. The same can be said for VCT, sheet vinyl, ceramic tile and wood.

On the other hand, put carpet or any floor covering in the wrong location, buy the cheap stuff, don’t install it right, and then fail to maintain it properly and you might as well be pouring money down a rat hole. It’s not going to last, it’s not going to be cleanable and sooner or later, it will be torn out and replaced with a different floor covering material. When are we going to learn, there is no silver bullet.

Insurance Costs are Going Up
If you haven’t heard. You will. Your insurance rates could go up by as much as 100% or more. It doesn’t make any difference that you have never had a claim. The insurance industry after 911 and as a result of all the mold and slip and fall cases is in a tailspin and we are caught up in it. And it’s not just the cleaning industry, it’s across the boards, vehicles, fire, liability, business, property, you name it. If insurance is involved, it’s going to cost you more money in the future. If you have a long-term policy, don’t be surprised if you get a cancellation notice and an offer of less coverage at a higher rate.

NICFI Convention
The National Independent Certified Floor Covering Inspectors Associations (NICFI) held it’s 3rd Annual Convention in Dalton, GA, October 9 to 12, 2002. Roughly 90 inspectors attended from around the U.S.A. attended the 3-day educational event. Speakers gave technical presentations on manufacture, inspection and installation of wood, cork, laminate, vinyl and ceramic tile floor coverings.

Fifteen students attended an IICRC Floor Care Technician Certification course held immediately prior to the convention. For more info visit: www.nicfi.org or call Linda Lockwood at: 609-660-1717.

Floor Care Technician Certification Program
One hundred sixty students have successfully completed the Floor Care Technician (FCT) Certification course since it was approved by the IICRC two years ago. Two students have failed the exam. Six instructors and four schools are approved to offer and teach the course.

Considering there are roughly three million people doing cleaning work in the U.S.A one would think that there would be more interest in the new certification category. At this point I don’t know if it’s just an issue of getting the word out to the right people or if no one actually cares about receiving the training and becoming certified. I’m hopeful it’s a matter of exposure not complacency.

My goal over the next couple of years is to convince several major equipment and chemical manufacturers, trade associations and industry publishers to step up to the plate and take an active role in promoting the FCT course. Time will tell. If you have any questions contact the IICRC at: www.iicrc.org or call 206-693-5675.

Custodial Advisor’s Network (CAN)
A group of approximately 20 industry consultants met for dinner in Las Vegas to discuss how they might work more closely to help solve some of the industry most troubling problems. The issues discussed included:
- Low wage rates for cleaners
- Little respect and recognition for cleaning workers
- The need for a nationally recognized training program for cleaners
- A lack of industry standards regarding best practices and quality
- The importance of developing an upward mobility ladder for workers seeking advancement
- The need to develop advanced education degrees for cleaning professionals
- How to gain exposure for consultants who specialize in cleaning

The group agreed to the following:
1. Form several exploratory committees to pursue future meeting locations, agendas and support.
2. Seek advertising support from industry magazines
3. Assess interested parties a fee to carry on the groups work
4. Set up a website and forum for exposure and communications
5. To meet again next year at the ISSA convention in Chicago.
For information on the group, contact Allen Rathey at: arathey@cableone.net or call 1-800-841-8606.

That’s it for this month. If you have any questions or I can be help in any way, give me a call at 206-682-9748 or contact me via email at: wgriffin@cleaningconsultants.com We’ll talk again next month. Till then, good luck and Keep it Clean
Bill Griffin






			Cleaning in the U.S.A			October 2002

			The Way I See it It’s been a busy month conducting floor care seminars as well as attending meetings and speaking at the various industry trade shows. Here’s a recap. If you have specific questions or want more information, give me a call or drop a note. Billg ISSA/INTERCLEAN Show in Las Vegas is a Winner Hundreds of booths, thousand of attendees, more cleaning equipment, chemicals and products than you can imagine in your wildest dreams. Rumor has it that 4000 end users (those who supervise and clean buildings) and roughly 17,000 manufacturers, distributors and supplies attended the International Sanitary Supply Associations annual event this year. This show is literally the world’s largest janitor closet with the doors wide open for three full days. This is where connections are made and business gets done. Billed as one of the largest cleaning shows in the world, the ISSA/INTERCLEAN Show is a sight to see. It’s the one event each year that you shouldn’t miss if you take your job and future seriously. This year’s event was better than ever with a number of groups offering a full spectrum of educational seminars sponsored by the ISSA, Cleaning Management Institute and others. With a little imagination you can see the potential the ISSA/INTERCLEAN Show has to become a leading force in bringing change and recognition to cleaning professionals everywhere. Our only challenge is to figure out how to attract 50,000 people to the show each year. If you missed this year’s show, mark your calendar now to attend next years show and educational conference, October 14 to 17, 2003 in Chicago, IL and in New Orleans, LA on November 16 to 19, 2004. For more info visit: www.issa.com What’s New, Industry Trends One of the benefits of attending the annual ISSA/INTERCLEAN Show is that you get to see what’s new when it comes to chemicals, products and equipment. This is not only interesting, but it also helps you identify industry trends, needs and problems which can give you a competitive advantage when marketing your services to potential customers. After walking the show for three days, here’s what I noticed. - There is a growing emphasis on the need to educate those who do the work. Basically every large equipment and chemical manufacturer offers and has available training materials on how to do the work and use their products. - Computer technology continues to make inroads and is becoming the management method of choice when it comes to inventory control, bidding and estimating, quality control and time keeping. Software for on site recording such as with Palm type units is gaining popularity over desk top and notebooks computers. - The line blurs between institutional JanSan Distributors and Specialty Suppliers. In the past Specialty Suppliers sold primarily carpet, upholstery, water, fire and odor damage supplies and equipment to self-employed cleaners. Now some are going after the in house JanSan market with specialty wood, resilient, stone care products as well as their branded lines of carpet cleaning chemicals and equipment. - Micro-fibers are slowly working their way into the cleaning process. They are now being use for cleaning cloths, wet and dry mops, dusters, floor and carpet cleaning pads and finish applicators. - New methods of applying floor finish are showing up. Flat mops, t-bars, and back mounted dispensers used in conjunction with gravity feed microfiber flat mops were available from several manufacturers. - Bucketless and wringer free mopping tools are replacing the conventional mop and bucket set up. - Enhancements in finish and chemical formulations continue. High solid content finishes and large particle polymer formulations are now available. One company introduced a visual indicator line of floor care products that changes color when additional coats of finish are needed and when stripping is complete. - Green or environmentally preferred chemicals are becoming more common and of interest to attendees and customers. Soy, corn, citrus and kelp-based products are showing up on the market in response to government and customer demand. - International cleaning related trade shows are growing in number. Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Poland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Italy are just some of the planned locations. - Stone and marble care and restoration products and equipment are growing in number each year. This is a direct reflection of the growing popularity in the use of these materials in both commercial and residential properties. - Restroom cleaning is getting more attention in facilities as companies produce and promote new products and systems for cleaning these sensitive and troublesome areas. - More vapor cleaning machines are showing up on the market and they are larger and more powerful and thus better suited for commercial use. - Autoscrubbers are available in a variety of sizes and profiles from 14’’ to as much as six feet in width. The latest models incorporate small radius turning, low moisture or foam application, as well as sweeping and water recycling. - Water use and its disposal is becoming an issue. Expect to see more low and no water / chemical cleaning systems in the future. The use of recycling as well as water softening and purification systems is on the increase. - Backpack vacuum use continues to grow, with one innovative company now offering a battery powered vacuum cart. Kenway and Pat Mead Retire after a Lifetime of Service Every so often, you meet someone and you think; now that guy is a true professional. I sure wish I had some of his skills. Kenway Mead is one of those guys. I first met Kenway some 25 years ago when we were both members of the Carpet Cleaning Institute of the Northwest (CCINW). At that time Kenway was just another carpet cleaner struggling to survive, much like the trade association to which we both belonged. I watched over the next ten years or so as the CCINW fortunes went up and mostly down as the association changed management teams with each new president. Then something happened. Kenway Mead and his wife Pat took over the management of the CCINW and it was like the sun had come out from behind a cloud. Membership in the association grew, chapter meetings, events and the annual convention were all well attended and the CCINW even made money. Kenway and Pat eventually moved on to manage the IICUC, and later the IICRC and again, something happened. The IICRC grew, prospered and made money under the Mead’s management. Last week at the IICRC Board Meeting in Portland OR, the Mead’s retired. They will be missed and the cleaning industry owes them a hearty thank you for all they have given to the industry. It’s seldom we come to find a couple that will dedicate their lives to an industry and a cause and stick with it through thick and thin. Kenway Mead and his wife Pat have done just that and every single one of us is better off today because of their, dedication, professionalism and management style. Thanks for showing us how it should be done Kenway. Happy Trails. Have car will travel. Carpet vs Tile Debate Continues This is a debate that never seems to end. Each side conducts their own biased studies and proclaims themselves the winner. In reality, all you need to do is ask the guy or gal who cleans the floor and you’ll get an earful about which surface is preferred and easier to maintain. But it’s not all that easy. Each surface has benefits and believe it or not, each surface has problems and disadvantages. And there in lies the problem, each side acts and promotes their product as if it was the ideal surface for every location. In reality, when carpet is properly installed, in the right location and then properly maintained, it is a great floor covering. The same can be said for VCT, sheet vinyl, ceramic tile and wood. On the other hand, put carpet or any floor covering in the wrong location, buy the cheap stuff, don’t install it right, and then fail to maintain it properly and you might as well be pouring money down a rat hole. It’s not going to last, it’s not going to be cleanable and sooner or later, it will be torn out and replaced with a different floor covering material. When are we going to learn, there is no silver bullet. Insurance Costs are Going Up If you haven’t heard. You will. Your insurance rates could go up by as much as 100% or more. It doesn’t make any difference that you have never had a claim. The insurance industry after 911 and as a result of all the mold and slip and fall cases is in a tailspin and we are caught up in it. And it’s not just the cleaning industry, it’s across the boards, vehicles, fire, liability, business, property, you name it. If insurance is involved, it’s going to cost you more money in the future. If you have a long-term policy, don’t be surprised if you get a cancellation notice and an offer of less coverage at a higher rate. NICFI Convention The National Independent Certified Floor Covering Inspectors Associations (NICFI) held it’s 3rd Annual Convention in Dalton, GA, October 9 to 12, 2002. Roughly 90 inspectors attended from around the U.S.A. attended the 3-day educational event. Speakers gave technical presentations on manufacture, inspection and installation of wood, cork, laminate, vinyl and ceramic tile floor coverings. Fifteen students attended an IICRC Floor Care Technician Certification course held immediately prior to the convention. For more info visit: www.nicfi.org or call Linda Lockwood at: 609-660-1717. Floor Care Technician Certification Program One hundred sixty students have successfully completed the Floor Care Technician (FCT) Certification course since it was approved by the IICRC two years ago. Two students have failed the exam. Six instructors and four schools are approved to offer and teach the course. Considering there are roughly three million people doing cleaning work in the U.S.A one would think that there would be more interest in the new certification category. At this point I don’t know if it’s just an issue of getting the word out to the right people or if no one actually cares about receiving the training and becoming certified. I’m hopeful it’s a matter of exposure not complacency. My goal over the next couple of years is to convince several major equipment and chemical manufacturers, trade associations and industry publishers to step up to the plate and take an active role in promoting the FCT course. Time will tell. If you have any questions contact the IICRC at: www.iicrc.org or call 206-693-5675. Custodial Advisor’s Network (CAN) A group of approximately 20 industry consultants met for dinner in Las Vegas to discuss how they might work more closely to help solve some of the industry most troubling problems. The issues discussed included: - Low wage rates for cleaners - Little respect and recognition for cleaning workers - The need for a nationally recognized training program for cleaners - A lack of industry standards regarding best practices and quality - The importance of developing an upward mobility ladder for workers seeking advancement - The need to develop advanced education degrees for cleaning professionals - How to gain exposure for consultants who specialize in cleaning The group agreed to the following: 1. Form several exploratory committees to pursue future meeting locations, agendas and support. 2. Seek advertising support from industry magazines 3. Assess interested parties a fee to carry on the groups work 4. Set up a website and forum for exposure and communications 5. To meet again next year at the ISSA convention in Chicago. For information on the group, contact Allen Rathey at: arathey@cableone.net or call 1-800-841-8606. That’s it for this month. If you have any questions or I can be help in any way, give me a call at 206-682-9748 or contact me via email at: wgriffin@cleaningconsultants.com We’ll talk again next month. Till then, good luck and Keep it Clean Bill Griffin By Wm R. Griffin, President Cleaning Consultant Services, Inc. Copyright (c) 2002