The wearing away or cleaning of a surface by friction, such as by using scoruing creams or pads. Abrasion can also refer to the wearing away of a floor finish by the use of a rotary floor polisher.
A product that works by abrasion. Carborundum, silica and glass powder are all well known abrasives. Products such as cream cleaners, polishes and scouring pads may contain an abrasive.
These discs are circular and are supplied in a wide range of diameters to fit most makes of floor maintenance machine. They consist of nylon fabric mesh coated with resin-bonded silicon carbide.
A substance which increases the speed of a chemical reaction. By common use, the name has become associated with two-pot surface coating materials. The accelerator usually occupies the smaller container and must be added to the larger container (the base) before use.
A compound that ionizes in water to produce hydrogen ions. It readily donates protons to other substances and, when dissolved in water, creates solutions that conduct electricity (as in car batteries), taste sour (lemon juice!) and turns litmus paper red. Inorganic acids (sometimes called mineral acids) include sulphuric, nitric, hydrochloric and phosphoric and these are commonly used in toilet cleaners and descalers. Organic acids include acetic (found in vinegar), oxalic, and citric. Rust removers also contain various proportions of the above acids.
Manufactured from acrylic acid. They are transparent, water-white and thermoplastic. An acrylic resin conveys the characteristics of toughness, lightness of colour and excellent water resistance.
Manufactured from glycerol. They are normally pale in colour and and dry rapidly to a glossy, durable film with excellent adhesion. They are used in many interior, exterior and stoving paints and to a lesser extent in floor seals.
An emulsion wax manufactured entirely from resin constituents. The term applies particularily to those waxes which consist of a synthetic wax, which could be called a resin, an alkali-soluble resin and a polymer, which is also a resin. The term 'all-resin' is intended to distinguish this type of material from an emulsion floor wax containing a natural wax, an alkali-soluble resin and a polymer.
An ingredient used in detergents to help prevent soil from re-depositing on surfaces or fabrics. Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is the most widely used.
One component of a two-pot surface coating material. It ususally occupies the larger container of the two pots. It will not, by itself, form a film and requires the addition of an accelerator before use.
The activity of comparing a particular process or result in one organisation with the equivalent in others. The monitoring of activities and information to identify best practice.
The concept introduced by the Government to replace competitive cumpulsory tendering (CCT). It challenges public sector organisations to demonstrate they are providing, or procuring, a value for money service rather than that of least cost. Best value applies the following four criteria to the review process: challenge, compare, compete and consult.
The ability of a substance to be broken down into simpler, smaller parts by a biological process. Many plastics are not readily biodegradeable. It is a property of a 'highly-biodegadeable' substance that they take greater quantities of oxygen to enable them to break down.
The temperature at which a liquid chages to a gaseous state at a given pressure. Liquids under pressure have higher boiling points than similar liquids boiled openly. Have temperature steam cleaners have pressurised boilers in order that the water contained in them boils at a much higher temperature, typically 140 - 160 degrees C - much as in a car radiator.
A bucket on a belt is used to carry applicators and squeegees in a holster on a belt thus providing a hands - free facility to work easier and quicker esspecially working from a ladder.
A heavy deposit of floor polish, wax, dirt and grime. It is caused by adding layer after layer of floor polish over dirt without removing the old layers first. It can also be caused simply by using far to much polish or dressing. These build-ups are commonly found along skirting boards and in room corners.
A material that upgrades or protects the cleaning efficiency of a surfactant. Commonly found in laundry powders, builders inactivate water hardness, supply alkalinity to assist cleaning, provide buffering to maintain alkalinity, prevents re-deposition of soil and emulsification of oily and greasy soils.
A solution of button lac in an alcohol solvent, usually of the methylated spirit type. Button lac is produced from shellac, the excretion of an insect and is so called because, when the raw shellac is refined, the end product has the appearance of buttons.
An inorganic compound that occurs naturally as chalk and limestone. Its very slight solubility in water is a chief cause of "hardness" in water and can in extreme cases make water milky and give it an unpleasantly astringent taste.
A surfactant with a positively charged ionic group. The most common cationic surfactants are known as quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC's) such as alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and are widely used as disinfectants.
A synonym for Centigrade. OC is the freezing and 100C is the boiling temperature of water. The scale between is divided into 100 equal parts, each called a degree.
Any change which alters the chemical properties of a substance or which forms a new substance. During a chemical reaction, products are formed from reactants.
The study of substances, what they are made of and how they work chemically. It is divided into three main branches - physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry.
A group of strong oxidizing agents commonly sold in an approximately 5% solution of sodium hypochlorite, although strong thickened bleaches can go as high as 11% solution. Should only be used with COLD water - hot water simply evaporates the active ingredient! Care should be taken to never mix bleach with any acid product or indeed any other chemical as this can liberate toxic chlorine gas.
An irreversible process in which a number of emulsion droplets coalesce, leading to complete separation of the emulsion. Often caused by excessive cooling or storage in cold places.
A combination of two or more elements, having different physical and chemical properties from the elements it is made of. Compounds are often difficult to split into their elements and can only be separated by chemical reactions.
A mixture of sand, gravel, Portland cement and water that forms a very hard surface when dry. It is one of the most common floor types found in buildings. It has been in use for at least two thousand years!
A very large complex molecule formed by the reaction together of a great number of the small molecules of different types. An example is vinyl acetate-acrylate copolymer, a material used in adhesives.
Stands for the Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health the legislation that covers the safe use of potentially hazardous substances such as cleaning chemicals.
Frequently used in the same sense as the word 'harden'. The word is usually used in connection with materials hardened by artificial means, such as a chemical reaction or stoving at high temperature. It is not used in connection with air-drying materials.
Any compound which will destroy micro-organisms although carbolic acid (phenol) is one of the best known. Developments in this field have produced a large number of more effective and safer to handle alternatives.
The process of hardening. Two stages are normally apparent in the drying process: Touch dry - the stage at which the film will not mark when pressed lightly with a finger. It has hardened sufficently, that it will not retain dust or dirt. Hard dry - the stage at which the seal or polish is sufficently hard to withstand traffic.
Describes a crystal which loses part of its water of crystallization to the air. A powdery coating is left on its surface. The forming of a white powdery substance on the surface of concrete or brick is an example.
Substances capable of conducting an electric current, either in their pure liquid state or when in solution. Acids, bases and salts are all electrolytes.
A pure substance that cannot be broken down into smaller substances. Elements are considered the building blocks of all matter. There are just over 100 known elements classified in the periodic table, with several of the more exotic elements being only created for milliseconds in laboratories.
(a) Two component systems. A blend of water/wax emulsion and an alkali-soluable resin or shellac. they may or may not dry with a glossy appearance. An increased gloss can be obtained by buffing. (b) Three component systems. A blend of a water/wax emulsion and an alkali-soluable resin or shellac and a synthetic polymer resin emulsion. Examples of polymer resins commonly used in the polish industry are polystyrene and acrylates. The water/wax emulsion, alkali- soluable resin and synthetic polymer resin emulsion can be blended in almost any proportions to give emulsion waxes with a variety of properties
Protein molecules produced within an organism that are used as catalysts for biochemical reactions. Often present in laundry powders and increasingly so in specialised cleaning compounds.
A synthetic resin made essentially from petrolium derivatives. It is usually supplied in a two pot form when used in a floor seal. The base componenent consists of the epoxy resin while the accelerator may be one of a variety of chemicals. In a solvent-free form it is used for floor laying purposes.
A chemically caused change on the outside of a smooth floor surface which causes the floor to be pitted or rough. Etching is often used to pre-treat floors prior to sealing and polishing.
An overgrowth of aquatic plants caused by an excess of nitrates, nitrites and phosphates. It results in a shortage of oxygen in the water, causing the death of aquatic life.
A change of state from liquid to gaseous (vapor), due to the escape of molecules from the surface. A liquid which evaporates readily is described as volatile.
A reaction in which heat is given off to the surroundings as the products of the reaction are formed. The addition of high concentrations of sodium hydroxide to water produces an exothermic reaction.
This term is normally applied to a surface coating material used as the top coat of a painting or sealing system ususally over a priming coat or undercoat.
A phenomenon associated with matt paints and seals. It describes the alternate matt and gloss striation effects sometimes left by brushmarks, instead of the uniform matt finish which should be obtained.
A reversible process in which a number of emulsion droplets stick together to form a cluster which can be broken up by mechanical action restoring the emulsion to its original form.
This property is normally associated with water emulsion floor waxes and water paints and is the resistance of the material to repeated freezing and thawing.
A gas has no shape, diffuses readily, and assumes the full-volume shape of any closed container. Gas molecules are widely distributed and can move in any direction. Gas is the third state of matter, the other two being solid and liquid.
Gross Internal Area. The total internal area of a room, department or building measured to the internal face of the perimeter walls. Often used as a basis for cost per square metre analysis.
Water which contains calcium and magnesium salts that have dissolved from the rocks over which the water has flowed. Water that does not contain these salts is called soft water. There are two types of hardness -temporary hardness, which can be removed relatively easy and permanent hardness, which is more difficult to remove.
A measure of moisture in the atmosphere. It depends on the temperature and is higher in warm air than cold air. Can affect the drying of paints and cause 'bloom' on paint surfaces..
Describes a substance which can absorb up to 70% of its own mass of water vapour. Such a substance becomes damp, but does not dissolve. Alcohol is one such substance.
An electrically charged particle, formed when an atom loses or gains one or more electrons to form a stable outer shell. All ions are either cations or anions.
The International Sanitary Supply Association. An organisation based in the US which has published, amongst other things, typical productivity rates for 447 individual cleaning tasks.
A term often used interchangeably with solubility. It is the ability of a liquid or gas to dissolve uniformly in another liquid or gas. For example ink is highly miscible in water.
A blend of two or more elements and/or compounds which are not chemically combine. A mixture can usually be separated into its elements or compounds fairly easily by physical means.
The smallest particle of an element or compound that normally exists on its own and still retains its properties. Molecules normally consist of two or more atoms bonded together. Some molecules have thousands of atoms. Ionic compounds consist of ions and do not have molecules.
Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus is found on many individuals skin and usually causes no major problems. However if it gets inside the body, for instance under the skin or into the lungs, it can cause important infections such as boils or pneumonia. Individuals who carry this organism are usually totally healthy, have no problems whatever and are considered simply to be carriers of the organism. The term MRSA is used to describe those examples of this organism that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Methicillin was an antibiotic used many years ago to treat patients with Staphylococcus aureus infections. It is now no longer used except as a means of identifying this particular type of antibiotic resistance.
A floor cleaner that has a pH that is compatible with the finish to be cleaned. Generally this means a pH of between 7-9. Higher pH floor cleaners can attack the floor finish and dull it, which is why cleaning chemicals used for floor cleaning should be diluted correctly!
A surface active agent that contains neither positively or negatively charged functional groups. These surfactants have been found to be especially effective in removing oily soil.
Nonyl phenyl ethoxylates are surfactants that become more toxic as they biodegrade and have a severe effect on the environment, even in small quantities. Nonyl phenol is listed on the EU website as being one of the 32 most dangerous marine pollutants but they are still in use by some chemical manufacturers.
Nonyl phenyl ethoxylates are surfactants that become more toxic as they biodegrade and have a severe effect on the environment, even in small quantities. Nonyl phenol is listed on the EU website as being one of the 32 most dangerous marine pollutants but they are still in use by some chemical manufacturers.
A measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. It is expressed in a number from 0-14. Zero being a powerful acid and 14 being a powerful alkali. Distilled water is a 7.
The process that can cause dark marks or patches on carpets due to the twisted pile reflecting light in a different direction to other areas of the carpet. Can usually be corrected by an adequately trained carpet cleaning technician.
A surface that was many tiny openings. A porous surface will require more finish or sealer to fill and smooth out these openings. Concrete is an example of a porous surface, as is terrazzo.
This is usually used by Window Cleaner's to carry wet/dry scrims/cloths. It saves carrying them in your hand thus providing a hands free method whilst working and especially climbing ladders.
A process used for stain removal generally from stone floors particularly granite and marble. From a chemical standpoint, a porous stone becomes stained when a solution containing a solute penetrates its surface and then evaporates leaving the solid solute behind within the stone. Alternatively, grease may penetrate the porous surface and remain within the stone without evaporating. In either case, the stone will become visibly 'stained.' A poultice is a malleable mass of a porous material (paper, whiting, diatomaceous earth) filled with a solvent which can be applied to the surface of the stone. The choice of solvent (ammonia, acetone, alcohol, etc.) should be something likely to dissolve the solute or grease causing the stain. As the solvent penetrates the surface of the porous stone containing the stain, it forms a single continuous solution between the stone and the poultice on the surface. The poultice needs to be kept moist and is usually covered to allow time for the solvent to sufficiently penetrate the stone and dissolve the staining material, be it grease or solute. The solute will then equilibrate by passive diffusion between the stone and the poultice. After an adequate time for this process to occur, the poultice is removed and with it the solution containing a portion of the dissolved solute or 'stain' Multiple repetitions of the process will eventually decrease the concentration of the solute or 'stain' within the stone until it is invisible or minimally visible. Reproduced from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poultice
Service Level Agreements. Are compiled after agreement has been reached following consultation between service provider and client. They set out the agreed level of service the customer can expect within the limits of the resources.
Service Level Statements. Statements of intent, normally complied by the service provider to inform the client of the level of service they can expect.
A tool used for cleaning windows and floors. A squeegee consists of a frame with a rubber insert that is used to literally scrape water and / or detergent from a surface. Floor squeegess are usually sold in two sections and comprise of a frame with built in rubber(typically 18, 22 or 30 inches wide) and a universal handle. Window cleaning squeegees are sold as handles, squeegee blades (most commonly in 12, 14, 18 and 22 inch wide) and replacement rubbers which are sold in 36 inch lengths and are then cut to size.
A substance can be solid, liquid or gaseous. Substances can change between states, normally when heated or cooled to increase or decrease the energy of the particles.
Substances which lower the surface tension of water. These surface-active agents modify the emulsifying, foaming, dispersing, spreading and wetting properties of a product.
The process of a cleaning agent holding insoluble dirt particles in the cleaning solution and keeping them from redepositing. Used extensively in laundry powders.
TDS meters measure the purity, or total dissolved solids, of water. TDS is measured in parts per million with 0 TDS being used for window cleaning. Most TDS meters give three digit measurements from 000 to 999 TDS. However, some TDS meters only give two digit readings meaning that a reading of 01 actually represents a reading of 010, or 10 parts per million.
Traffic film remover. Used in the car trade it also can be used as a general purpose cleaner for paintwork, conservatory roofs etc. Usually sprayed, read H&S guidelines before use.
The thickness of a liquid which determines pourability. Water has a viscosity of 1 centipoise. The resistance to flow is measured in relationship to water in centipoise. Vehicle finishes are often mixed to a specific viscosity to ensure even coating.
A measure of the amount of metallic salts found in water. Hard water can inhibit the action of some surfactants and reduce the effectiveness of the cleaning process.
Waterfed pole window cleaning is the term used for cleaning windows and facias using pure water which is pumped up a lighweight pole, brushed onto the suface and allowed to dry naturally. Because pure water contains no contaminants it dries spotless. Windows can be cleaned faster, better and safer than using the traditional method of squeegees and ladders.
Involves establishing the resources required by defining the staff, equipment and materials needed to achieve the outcomes agreed / imposed by the client and / or the customer. Alternatively, it refers to the building up of cost data on providing a service or undertaking a task which is not based on historical information but on needs.
