Ice melt problems

Cold weather means ice melt compounds will be used on streets, sidewalks and parking lots. Usually, these are simply salt (sodium chloride), but in below zero weather, calcium chloride is frequently used. Calcium chloride is exothermic (releases heat when it dissolves) and is effective even at 40 degrees F.

When tracked into a building, calcium chloride absorbs and holds moisture, keeping the carpet, walk off mats, and hard surface floors wet and slippery. When calcium chloride comes in contact with a normal detergent like that used in extraction cleaning or mopping, alkalinity in the detergent converts the calcium chloride into calcium hydroxide (better known as lime) which is almost completely insoluble in water. As a result, the carpet or hard surface floor has a white, dull appearance which is difficult to remove.

To remove calcium chloride from carpet or mats, add eight ounces of Brown Out® per gallon of clear water to the solution tank of your base unit or Mega-Port® and extract the carpet or mats. With non Bane-Clene equipment, which may be harmed by the acid in Brown Out, spray an eight ounce per gallon solution on the fibers and extract with clear water.

Fall 2008
Cleaning Digest™
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