Previously I posted about a situation where a white residue appeared in a large municapal building after I cleaned using a Cimex and an IICRC endorsed chemical "ENCAPSOIL-GUARD" that I have used with great results in many other locations. The first thought was that this white substance was Calcium chloride as it appeared mostly near the main entrance of the building. The building "Maintenance Mechanic" does not believe it is Calcium chloride and went so far as to conduct a scientific test(he tasted it)and it did not taste salty. Being a maintence engineer and not a chemist he confused Calcium chloride for sodiun chloride. Most ice melt product are not salt aka sodium chloride but Calcium chloride which is more effective and enviromently friendly. The maintence guy believes the reidue is detergent from my cleaning solution and non - extracting machine.

I have since talked to the chief maintenance engineer for the 11 locations this agencie has (this is a 30k/year contract for me) and he was convinved I was using a bonnet type method. I explained what encapsulization was and how it works and his response was "there you go, the crystalized oils and dirt are the white residue". I also learned that the previouse six years the contract was held by ChemDry and these problems occured all the time with them as well.

I stand to lose this account and need any help or suggestions. From a legal perspective the contract states the following............

REQUIREMENTS-VENDOR

The vendor must provide all materials, equipment necassary to clean commercial grade carpet, using an approved dry cleaning or dry chemical cleaning process at the offices as listed. The use of "bonnet" type processes will not be accepted.

The contract goes on to give specifications for that must be met by all hot water extraction units but does not elaborate on the approved dry cleaning or chemical dry cleaning processes.

Thank you all in advance for any thoughts/suggestions

Hire a IICRC Certified Inspector out of your own pocket to help.I look at it as a little insurance.You mentioned that the residue caused Chem dry problems too...so you're not the cause of this.Either the building crew is(and they're not fessing up-no surprise there) or it is from Chem dry.
Patrick

Does this residue vacuum out easily?

I recall you live in NH
What part do you live in?

I have a a few clients who are in NH
My thought is to see if extracting the areas of concern
with a Demon and see what happens.
I'd be happy to head out and give it a whirl with you
to see if the problem can be fixed. I could be that
once the carpets are flushed out once the problem will not
repeat. Hate to see you loose an account over some dumb ass
who does not know what they are talking about

It does not vacuum out. I live in Atkinson, NH the job site is Manchester. I really appreciate and may take you up on your offer to go out there with a Steamon Demon wich happens to be the only portable unit that the list as acceptable. I would also like to see the unit in action as I may need to buy one. Please call me or e-mail me! 603.362.9555 rose3629555@aol.com

Thanks

Dave man this is what it's all about helping someone when the need it!! This board is the BEST at that. I've received onsite and over the phone help from Patrick Matt, Jeremy Sweetland, Rambo, Dave Gelinas. As an owner operator it makes life a lot better. I'm sure this will work out with the support you've got. On other boards I've been told watch who you bring into your acct they'll steal it. Maybe they should hang out here for a while. GOOD LUCK!!

p.s. and Rick G should be at the head of the above list lol!! Sorry Rick

I sent an email
FEEL FREE at call me
anytime you need to

My cell is best
413-530-7877

This chief maintenance engineer is a real idiot. Tasting White powder and you don't even know what it is. And of course he knows more about carpet cleaning than you do. Do you know how he became a chief maintenance engineer ?
Look at his nose, he tastes more things than white powder.

Whatever you do, do not get adversarial with them. Work with them as hard as you can. Ask their permission to flush the carpet with a Steamin Demon and follow up with LOMAC System from Whittaker (just a example)which is approved by quite a few Mills, if that is what it will take to correct it, or, I thought this may be a solution to the white powder residue, what do you think? They may not know as much as you do about the carpet, but make them a part of the whole process including the steps to correct them. I have been there, and I know you can win them over. You will only have to do this for a short while and when they feel comfortable with your decisions to correct exsisting problems, they will leave you on your own, providing there is no residue on the carpet.

Ol' Rambo hit it on the head. It needs a good flush and be sure to do a good test area to see if it helps. Find someone in your area that has a drag wand and dry it fast to boot.

Here is another thought, does the janitorial company use any of that crappy sprinkle stuff to help deoderize???

I had an acct that this happened and found out they where using a love my carpet something or other

Couple of questions. Have you tried to get the "powder" up yet? What have you tried?

You also mentioned "previouse six years the contract was held by ChemDry and these problems occured all the time with them as well". Do you mean this exact problem? If so do you have any Idea how they solved it?

Short term do whatever you have to do for the fix. Long term I would see if you could get a certified inspector in to see it.


"Commercial Only"

I live close by. I don't know if you have a truckmount, but I do and its very powerful. I'll send you an email


Ralph

Thanks to you all!! This board rocks! Great suggestions, I have been doing what Rambo talked about, not being adversarial. I really appreciate David and Ralph offering to help. I may take you guys up on your offers but for now I have left the ball in the customers court. I expect to here from them by early next week.

Rick, the powder may have been something Chem Dry left??

Do they use a powder or not, I don't know?

Encap chems just don't leave a visible residue on normal carpets.

I did have one carpet last year that left a residue, but it does that with anything but water. It's a special carpet with very dense fibers. Is the carpet normal?