You may find this story amusing. It happened in my cleaning business about 12 years ago. It's one of those stories that's funny AFTER the fact...

http://www.cmmonline.com/article.asp?indexid=6634198




Rick Gelinas

So the moral of the story is: If it's not labeled DON'T USE IT. This could possibly lead to big fines by OSHA if they catch you. You need labels and MSDS sheets.

You're right Charles. I'm happy to say, we've improved our "systems" through the years since then (about 12 years ago).




Rick Gelinas

Things can happen- even when following directions.

Several years back, an employee thought he was following directions to the letter, but that's not the way it went.

Truck mount cleaning. The directions on the box of powder, and my verbal instructions- put 1 cup of the powder into the 5 gallon chemical feed jug, add water to fill it, meter it at 4 on the flow meter.

I got a call from a customer- the carpet had browned out. I went to see. Sure enough, alkaline browning. Cannot happen with the neutral pH product I am using. I went over the entire $500 job with acid neutralizer, the carpet turned back from brown to light blue.

Checking with my employee, I asked- one cup to 5 gallons- right? He said, Yes, one full cup. However, the chemical feed tank was only 1/3 gone, and I put in a cup. This had been going on for several days, whether the 5 gal tank was 1/4 full, 1/2 full, 3/4 full, he would still put in a cup, then add water.

NO, No, NO, if the tank is 1/3 gone, only add 1/3 of a cup. If the tank is 1/2 gone, only add 1/2 cup, if the tank is 3/4 gone, add 3/4 cup.

So, no way to tell HOW strong it was at the minute, I dumped it and started over.

Gary

If this is the dumbest thing you guys have ever done, I am not even worthy to post on this board with you.

Not that I have done, but I did have a lady a few months ago call me to see if I was real. I had put business cards in all the doors on this street and booked a job next to her. She was scared cause she seen a card in her door and wanted to find out if I was real. Didn't want her rugs cleaned. If you thought that I might kill or rape you why would someone try to contact you? If I would have been a criminal I know for sure that you are home and I'll be right over.

Yes lady, there is a Santa Claus and I am a VERY REAL CARPET CLEANER.