Ice melt, even our best and safest brand, is not without its drawbacks.  The ice melt compounds contain various minerals and chemicals ranging from NaCL (rock salt) to CaCL (Calcium Chloride).  These chemicals when put on top of ice (or when it is pre-spread to prevent ice from forming) will dissolve slowly.  Pure water has a much lower freezing point than salt water, the ice melt works by mixing the pure ice with salt like compounds.  This is a great solution for managing ice accumulation, but all that diluted ice melt is now on the bottom of everyone’s shoes.  The reality is, there will be ice melt drying on your floor, and what we want outside melting the ice, we do not want inside caking our floors.

We understand that floor maintenance is a priority to people in the industry and after 50 years in the janitorial/sanitation field, we have found that the best way to address this problem is by using a special Ice Melt Remover, which should be diluted 3 to 8 oz. per gallon depending on the level of build up.  Alternatively you can dilute 1 to 1 with water and spray, let stand for 3 minutes, and wipe.  Use a clean mop to rinse the surface after you are finished cleaning.

Alternatively you can use a neutral cleaner and a microfiber mop.  The neutral cleaner (diluted 4-7 oz. per gal.) acts to dissolve the compounds while the super absorbent microfiber mop gently, but efficiently, scrubs them off the floor.  Since you’re using a neutral cleaner, there is no need to rinse any corrosive compound off your floor when you’re finished.  Just apply, mop, and let it dry for the easiest, most efficient snow melt cleaning.  As is the case with so many things, the quicker you get to the cleaning, the easier it will be.

Let us know what you think about our technique and whether you have found any other ways to get great results.

This experience is minor in the bigger scheme of things, yet makes me realize how disheartening some people can be.

PS.. I do recycle my brown bags. It makes a nice little temporary play house for my kitty until he tears it to shreds and I give him another one to play with. The shreds of brown bag go into my cardboard/paper recycling bin for weekly pickup. So here’s to you gas guzzling hypocrite lady!

Later that night, when I was back at my hotel, I was thinking of my experience with this elderly gentleman and wondered was this JanSan Progress or JanSanasia?

Once again real life cuts into another of my favorite shows.  This time I’m sure Jack didn’t notice or care.  But I did, so whose is more observant.  Did you see it at all?

So, you should always put your best foot (or mop?) forward because you never know who is in the “circle” of your everyday life!.

Waterless urinals abound.  But they all stink!  Any suggestions?

Best hand dryer is the Dyson I saw at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney.  Check out those airblades.

Hand sanitizing not as prevalent as in the states.

Overall, very clean facilities.

As I’m trying to follow the plot and all the medical clues, I’m thinking “I wonder if the dispenser is empty”, because I know not too many weeks ago, any one of my customer would have killed for just one case of Purell.  That’s how much in demand it was.

It’s crazy how our industry dissects all walks of life, even my favorite T.V. drama and my problems transcend into a T.V. show!  I wonder what “H” would say?   “I guess they’ve been caught empty handed!”  (cue removal of sunglasses)

I recently visited two school districts of mine and was reminded of how important it is to use our chemical properly.  At the first school, I was going over product usage and performance with the head custodian.  He proceeded to tell me the following.  He said, “The enzyme product we are using to eliminate four odor and deodorizer our bathrooms is incredible effective but it doesn’t appear to be a very good polish for metal fixtures.”  I think you can image the look I had on my face.

The second school I visited, I actually had a brief meeting with the principal.  They were having an issue with odors coming out of the bathroom and it was filling the hallway.  I recommended that they start using one of our enzyme based products to eliminate the odors.  About a week later I received a thank you e-mail from the principal.  He wrote that in the past while giving school tours they always detour the hallway with the smelly bathroom.  Now, it’s the 1st hallway they visit.

Enzyme products can be a powerful tool against odors and bio-based buildup but in order to get the best performance make sure you use them properly.