|
Providing Quality
Sanitation and Cleaning Solutions™
FAQ's
DISINFECTANTS AND SANITIZERS:
What is a pesticide?--A pesticide is a product intended to kill a living
organism. In the United States, these products must be registered with the Environmental
Protection Agency. QVS manufactures two types of pesticides: Disinfectants and Sanitizers.
What are the active ingredients used in disinfectants and sanitizers?--Common ingredients are chlorine (Q-25) and quat (DS-10).
These ingredients are readily available, easily manufactured, and user friendly to the end user. Other ingredients include iodine, phenolics and a variety of
less common ingredients. These ingredients often have undesirable aspects: iodine may cause staining
if used improperly; phenolics have a characteristic and often unpleasant odor.
What is the difference in a disinfectant and sanitizer?--A disinfectant kills all of the tested microorganisms on a
surface. A sanitizer kills 99.999% of the tested organisms on a surface.
Why not just use a disinfectant for everything?--Sanitizers are a special class of antimicrobial that can be
used on food contact surfaces such as dishes, glasses, utensils, pots and pans, countertops and other food preparation areas.
When used as directed, they do not require rinsing. They are also odorless, and generally colorless so that they do
not leave a residue that will affect the color or smell of food. On the other hand, disinfectants are used at stronger dilutions
and often contain fragrances and dyes which may affect the color, odor or flavor of food. These characteristics allow disinfectants to thoroughly kill a greater
number of microbes and also allows deodorization of the treated area. Some of our disinfectants include Pine 4C, Mint Disinfectant,
and Bathroom Disinfectant. Always follow label direction thoroughly when using a disinfectant or
sanitizer.
QUARRY TILE FLOORS:
What are the common types of detergents used for cleaning quarry tile
floors?--For restaurant kitchens and other heavily soiled or greasy areas, an alkaline
degreaser such as Super-4 is the preferred product. A degreaser will lift and suspend greasy soils and allow them
to be picked up with a mop. For
restaurant lobbies and other lightly soiled areas, a milder all
purpose neutral detergent such as Multi-Purpose Cleaner is usually
adequate, although many customers prefer to use just one heavy duty
product throughout a restaurant. Always rinse the floor with clean water after mopping and
squeegee any excess water to the nearest floor drain.
What about acid floor etching compounds?--Certain mild acids can actually improve the slip resistance of
quarry tile floor by restoring the microscopic peaks and valleys of the tile surface.Products such as Scuff Coat are typically used as a shock
treatment on a monthly or quarterly basis.
COMPOSITION TILE FLOORS:
How do I maintain a composition tile floor?--The best way to maintain any floor is by keeping it clean. Dirt and other abrasive particles dull and wear down the finish
requiring the floor to be stripped and recoated sooner. We recommend mopping regularly with Mega Mop, a mild neutral
maintainer for finished floors.
What if I have to strip and recoat a floor?--Properly stripping a floor is a major task.The finish must be loosened with a product like our Rinse
Free Stripper. The loosened finish must be thoroughly removed and the floor thoroughly
rinsed. Finally several coats of a finish like New Image 1800 or New
Image 2500 must be applied. Optionally,the floor can then be buffed to bring out a brilliant shine. It is an all day (or more often all night) job to strip and
recoat a floor.
Should I use a sealer or other undercoater?--A sealer can be applied to the stripped floor to help fill and
level the surface prior to applying topcoats. Many professionals prefer to skip the sealer and just apply an
extra coat of finish. For those who prefer to use a sealer, we offer New Image Sealer.
What is the difference in a high solids and low solids finish?--Typically, four to five coats of an 18% floor finish such as
New Image 1800 will be adequate for finishing a properly stripped floor. By using a higher 25% solids finish such New Image 2500, the
number of coats required can be reduced to three or four. The advantage of a higher solids finish is that the same end
result can be obtained with fewer coats, thus reducing labor. The downside is that higher solids finishes may require longer
drying times between coats and can be less forgiving if overapplied.
GENERAL QUESTIONS:
Can I mix products to make them stronger?--Each of our products is a balanced formulation and is intended
to be used by itself. When mixed, some products may counteract each other, resulting in a mixture that is less
effective than either product alone. In some cases, mixing may result in the release of irritating
or dangerous gases.
WATER HARDNESS
How does water hardness affect cleaning?--Water hardness reduces cleaning effectiveness by chemically
binding with some of the detergents in a cleaning product. In most cases, our products are formulated with adequate water
conditioning ingredients to overcome the hardness of water throughout
the United States. Ia few cases, the water is so hard that it is impossible to chemically
overcome the hardness and a water softener must be installed. If you live or work in one of these areas, you probably already
have a water softener installed!
What about the scale buildup up in machine dishwashers?--One of the primary chemicals causing water hardness is calcium.
In a high temperature environment such as a dishwasher, high
temperature soak tank, hot water storage tank or other high
temperature environment, calcium compounds will tend to collect on the
surface of the equipment. This is partly because calcium compounds, unlike most other chemical
compounds, become less soluble at elevated temperatures and return to
a solid particle. Over time, these particles collect on the surface to become a visible
white, yellow, tan, or brownish film.
How can I remove hard water scale?--These scale buildups can be removed by treating them with an
acid detergent such as Delimer. The acid dissolves the film and allows it to be washed off the surface. For best results, equipment should be descaled on a regular
basis to prevent heavy buildups from occurring.
©2004 QVS, Inc.
|