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• Tacky Tabs
• Measuring Beakers
• Furniture Blocks
• Commercial Grade Upright Vacuum Cleaner
• Pump Up Sprayer 5L
• Pump Up Sprayer 1.5L
• Pile Brush
• Terry Towels
• Scraper/Spotting Spatula
• Spotting Brush
• Waterproof Sheet/Laminated Dust Sheet (for under machine, chemicals etc)
• Safety Sign (essential when working in commercial premises)
• Suitable PPE - Gloves, Goggles, Face Mask etc
• Spotting Kit
• Hair Dryer
• Iron
• Pipettes
• Syringes
• Coat Hanger (to keep floor length curtains off damp floor)
• Spare Parts (Quick Connects & Vacuum Motor)
• Simple Tool Kit (including correct size Spanners to work on machine and quick connects)

What is PPE and why is it important?

• Gloves to protect hands from cleaning chemicals, dirt and allergens.
• Face Masks/Respirators to prevent inhalation of dust and cleaning chemical fumes.
• Safety Footwear such as non-slip, protective footwear, to prevent accidents while walking on wet or slippery surfaces. These could be overshoes or a separate pair of shoes for indoor use only.
• Knee Pads are useful for comfort and safety when working on floors/stairs or indeed when kneeling to work on upholstery.

• Respirators to protect against inhaling smoke, mold spores and chemicals.
• Gloves and Protective Clothing to avoid exposure to hazardous materials, sharp objects and waterborne pathogens.
• Safety Boots such as water-resistant, puncture-proof footwear, to avoid injury from broken glass or nails.
• Eye Protection like safety goggles or face shields to protect from debris, smoke or chemicals.

• Full-body Coveralls (Hazmat Suits 4/56 Protection) to protect against bloodborne pathogens and other biohazards.
• Gloves: Medical-grade gloves to prevent direct contact with bodily fluids.
• Respirators or FFP3 Disposable Masks: To block harmful pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria.
• Overshoes and Eye Protection: To avoid exposure to hazardous materials or bodily fluids.

• Overshoes when inside a customer’s property.
• Gloves when handling chemicals.
• Coveralls when dealing with a fire or flood.
• A mask/respirator when dealing with trauma clean up.

• Increased risk of injury or illness: Exposure to harmful substances or hazardous environments can lead to long-term health problems or immediate injuries.
• Legal repercussions: Failure to comply with workplace safety regulations can lead to fines, lawsuits or loss of business.
• Damage to reputation: Clients expect professionals to prioritize safety. Failing to use proper PPE can result in lost trust and damaged business relationships.

Every Spring we post our advice about raised humidity and problems with carpets not drying and consequently starting to smell.  Well this problem can also manifest itself over the Winter months as well!

Yes, it's that time of year again folks.

After what seems like months of constant rain, it looks as though our summer is finally here. And with summer comes warmth and higher humidity! 

We are at that time of year when we start getting lots of phone calls from customers saying they’ve cleaned a carpet and their customer has contacted them a few days later saying the carpet is smelling. 

What causes this is the high humidity in the air, which prevents the carpet drying quickly, as humid air can’t absorb any more moisture. After a few hours, tiny Mould and Mildew Spores deep in the carpet pile start to germinate and grow. As they grow, they off-gas a musty smell. 

Some cleaners are still making the mistake of going back and re-cleaning the carpet. This is the worst thing you can possibly do as you are just adding more moisture and will make matters even worse. 

These Moulds and Mildews require moisture to thrive so will go on giving off an odour until the carpet is completely dry, which in the humid months, June – September, can take up to a week, sometimes even longer. 

Berbers and Saxony (long pile) type carpets are the most susceptible to these problems. 

How can you avoid it? 

You can use Dri Pods or Air Movers to dry the carpet at least some of the way before leaving the property or leave a Dri Pod in situ and pick it up later.

Sometimes rinsing with a suitable product with anti-fungal properties, such as

• Envirosafe (https://www.restormate.co.uk/envirosafe)
• or Craftex Micro Kill (https://www.restormate.co.uk/micro-kill) can help to mitigate this problem. 

ORDINARY DEODOURISERS/MASKING AGENTS AND ANTI BACTERIAL DEODOURISERS WILL NOT WORK. 

If you want to use deodourisers during the cleaning process then we would recommend using

• Alltec's Odour Clear range (such as Odour Clear Fresh Linen - https://www.restormate.co.uk/fresh-linen)
• or Restore Odour Neutraliser (https://www.restormate.co.uk/odour-neutraliser)
• or Restore Ocean Fresh Odour Eliminator (https://www.restormate.co.uk/ocean-fresh-odour-eliminator) which are also anti-fungal. 

To remedy an existing problem, install dryers and spray carpet with Envirosafe or Micro Kill and brush well in and simply leave.

Please note this is a different scenario to when the carpet has actually been over-wetted. In this situation the backing, underlay and sub floor can all become wet leading to serious issues. In these instances, all the various layers need to be treated and dried out and, in extreme cases, the underlay may need replacing.