[Mike Halliday]

I’m sure we all agree that continued education is vital to make us all better, more professional carpet cleaners.

But it not just about doing courses it about researching  our industry and the science/chemicals  involved.  Once we understand the chemistry of cleaning we can make better decision about what we use (and what we buy)

 one place to start  when learning about a chemical is the safety data sheet,  it tells us what is in a product and very importantly how much of it as a percentage.  If you want to see past all the marketing hype  Surrounding  a product look at the data sheet  it a legal requirement (it cannot lie) it will give you the active ingredients...... and how much of that 5lts you just bought is water😉

Trying searching your favourite product and check out its data sheet.

[john martin]

Heres a  watery one   ...     amtech microsplitter  ...   approx 90%  water and a scoop  of common phosphate

https://www.amtechuk.co.uk/safetydatasheets/amtechuk-2019/amtech-uk-premium-and-upholstery-cleaner-safety-data-sheet-2019.pdf

couldn't  they sell you a tiny box of phosphate to add to your water instead of a shipping out big 10kg water container to haul through couriers and around in your van etc

[Lewis Newby]

Maybe it's magic water John

[john martin]

   >95% water and a bit of water softener   ....       what concentrate about that   

https://www.worldofclean.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/HEAVY-DUTY-2020.pdf

[john martin]

Maybe it's magic water John

There is magic profit on them 

[Mike Halliday]

I thought you would have an opinion on this John

As a real example was a question I answered on Facebook,  were someone wanted to know if  Solu clear from WOC could be used in replacement of Chemspecs 429. By checking out the data sheets you can see they are using the same active ingredients so could be used in a similar role

[Mike Halliday]

To add to this topic,  you need to learn what each ingredient does which is just as important as how much concentrate is included.

Because something contains 10% of an ingredient might not make it better the a similar product that contains 5% if the 5% solution contain a additive  that boost the results.

( made up example)

Mexathilene  at 15% is useless for removing organic stains as it cannot penetrate the oily wax coating the covers old food stains, but when used at a 5% dilution with a 1% cryseptic acid (which breakdowns the oily coat)  allowing the Mexathilene to penetrate into the organic matter then it is incredibly effective. So 5% works better than 15%.

I’ve said in the past you can learn 90% of what you need to know to be a good carpet cleaner in 6months but it can take a lifetime to learn the last 10% which some carpet cleaners never do

[Robin Ray]

I’ve said in the past you can learn 90% of what you need to know to be a good carpet cleaner in 6months but it can take a lifetime to learn the last 10% which some carpet cleaners never do

Very true!

[Kev Martin]

The problem with chemicals is knowing the way they are added, exact quantities and when in the process.  I have spent a lot of money over the years developing chemicals and paying to have someone trying to reverse engineer some of them.  It is very difficult with most of them.  e.g. if you try making mayonnaise and you add all the correct ingredients, but don’t add them in the correct order and at the correct speed then it simply curdles.  This is what happens with chemicals only it is a lot more complicated than Mayonnaise.  I say leave well alone, leave chemicals to the experts,  pay the money if they work for you.