Tip of the Day!

Tip of the Day!
Good morning from all of us at The Grime Stoppers INC in Edwardsville Il, Glen Carbon, IL and St Louis, MO
Cleaning, Carpet cleaning, Tile Cleaning
618 223 8445

Some of our amazing results on Video!

AMAZING Results! The Grime Stoppers INC in Edwardsville Il, Glen Carbon, IL and St Louis, MO
618 223 8445
Carpet Cleaning

#CarpetCleaning #TileandGroutCleaning #CarpetCleaners #GrimeStoppersINC #PressureWashing #GlenCarbon #IL #SaintLouis #TileCleaning #Intinsiti #SealingFloors #CoatingFloors

Microfiber in Great!

Good morning from us at The Grime Stoppers, INC near St Louis, MO
Having a hard time dusting and keeping it that way?
Microfiber towels to the Rescue!

They pick up the dust, not push it around. But for those hard to reach places use small swiffers with no febreze or added substances-it leaves behind a film on everything and actually collects dirt and debris (they are awful for floor cleaning-use microfiber instead-have seen them ruin linoleum/vinyl)

Caring for microfiber is pretty easy if you know the rules. Towels, dusters and mops made of microfiber can last hundreds of washings if you stay away from the 2 big no-nos for microfiber:

No Heat!
No Fabric Softeners!

Instructions for Washing at Home:

Wash in warm or hot water with mild detergent
No fabric softeners – they clog the open spaces in the microfiber, making the fabric useless
Be careful what you wash with your microfiber. Avoid anything made with cotton because the microfiber will grab on to the lint
Ideally wash microfiber with only microfiber but if you must mix loads, wash with other non-linting synthetics
If you hand wash, wash in hot water with mild detergent and use a soft bristled brush if necessary – rinse thoroughly

Drying Microfiber

To ensure the longest lasting microfiber, air dry is best
Microfiber dries relatively quickly
If you use a dryer, set it on low heat or no heat
Dry with other microfiber products only so that it doesn’t pick up extra lint

For maximum performance and longevity, follow these guidelines for commercial laundering:

Washing

Detergent
High solvent for heavy soil
No Alkaline
Dose determined by product specification for poundage
No Bleach
No Fabric Softener

OPERATION TIME WATER TEMP WATER LEVEL
Flush 2 Min 120º F High
Flush 2 Min 140º F High
Suds 25 Min 160º F Low
Rinse/Extract 3 Min 140º F High
Rinse/Extract 2 Min 80º F High
Rinse 2 Min 80º F High
Extract 6 Min

Drying

Option 1: Air dry (PREFERRED METHOD)

Option 2: Tumble Dry (Max Temp 140F)

Option 3: Inject disinfectant during final rinse and do not dry. Bag mops with a twist tie for transport. Disinfectant residual will reduce mildew growth prior to use. (Mops only)

Option 4: Do not dry mops. Place damp mops in a bucket and dose with chemical product. Within ½ hour they will be saturated and ready for use. (Mops only)

Need help cleaning..618 223 8445

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The Truth About Mold and How It Spreads

Aspergillus flavus pictWhen it comes to allergens, very few can compete with mold. This mighty microscopic organism is a type of fungus that has survived every environmental condition since the dawn of time. While mold thrives in damp, warm and/or dark places, when an organism is this tough, it’s no surprise that it can be found virtually anywhere, any time of year.

Like all living things, mold requires food, water, oxygen and an adequate temperature to grow. Yeast is a type of mold that makes bread rise when it reacts with sugar, warm liquid and air. More resilient molds are just as happy with colder and hotter temperatures and food sources including wallpaper, fabrics, wood, dust and decomposing leaves.

Outdoors, an invisible, airborne mold spore can float through on summer breeze and settle in cut grass under a shade tree. Decaying leaves and autumn rains will help it grow and while the mold stays dormant during the winter, even the harshest weather conditions won’t kill it. As temperatures rise and snow melts, mold grows and waits for the next windy day to start the cycle all over again.

Mold Growth Indoors

A similar mold life cycle occurs indoors. The obvious and frequent indoor places to harbor mold include basements, bathrooms and kitchens. But mold can also find a home where flooding or leakage has occurred in roofs, pipes or walls. Even areas around indoor plants can be hospitable for mold.  And if mold makes a home in heating and air conditioning ducts, the spores can be spread throughout an entire building very quickly.

Mold problems can develop almost overnight. In an optimum environment, mold growth can occur in just 48 hours. While mold spores are invisible, mold growth can be seen. White, green, blue or even black spots on walls or ceilings may indicate a mold problem.

Health Dangers of Mold

For people who are sensitive to allergens, the invisible, airborne mold spores that are easily inhaled can cause a wide variety of symptoms from nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation to more severe symptoms like fever and shortness of breath. For some people, mold can make existing health conditions worse and mold can even be toxic.

While the allergic reactions to mold can be dangerous, eliminating mold can present its own health-related challenges. The harsh chemicals often used to eliminate mold also can also cause allergic reactions or trigger asthma attacks. Most products used to treat mold carry safety cautions and suggest that the user wear goggles and a respirator.

A Safe and Healthy Solution for Mold Control

The Grime Stoppers has a safe and effective solution for mold removal, odor control, green cleaning, and broad-spectrum disinfection. It’s called Vital Oxide and it destroys mold on contact and prevents mold spore germination for up to seven months.

Vital Oxide is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved sanitizer that is an environmentally friendly alternative to harsh chlorine (bleach) or ammonia cleaners. This odorless product is ideal for hospitals or other health clinics where caution is essential for people who suffer from allergies or asthma. It’s so safe that you can wash your hands with it and it can treat all types of surfaces, including fabric, wood, concrete, and bathroom or ceiling tiles. Vital Oxide penetrates hard and porous surfaces alike, killing mold and airborne pathogens.

Contact The Grime Stoppers to learn more about Vital Oxide and how it can safely and effectively eliminate your mold problem.

How Does PURETi Deliver Environmentally Beneficial Air Cleansing?

6.27fe0201pollutionreversal04With modern developments in nanotechnology that are just this side of magical, multiple surfaces are being treated with a spray-on coating called PURETi. Once applied, the treated surfaces themselves are actually becoming cleaning machines.

Billboards, windows, vehicles and buildings coated with PURETi are pulling pollutants like smog and other vehicle emissions out of the air. The coating also uses light to interact with dust, grime and even mold to keep surfaces cleaner.

PURETi Put to the Test

As reported in Newsweek*, PURETi’s developers tested their product in a section of one of the stickiest, grimiest spots in the country: a football stadium. The company that previously had to power wash Sun Life Stadium—home to the Miami Dolphins—knew within weeks that a sunny day was all that was necessary to achieve the same results as power washing. For the stadium, this meant a savings of up to $90,000 after every game!

The Science of Nanotechnology

Nanoparticles of titanium dioxide are the superstars of PURETi’s innovative formula. Titanium dioxide is the most common paint pigment in the world and is also found in sunblock, toothpaste and cosmetic products. In a process called photocatalysis, ultraviolet light energizes titanium dioxide molecules. The energized molecules interact with water molecules in the air, creating free radicals that eliminate vehicle emissions and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Air Cleansing Benefits of PURETi

While PURETi’s cleaning power makes the world a brighter place, it’s the unseen benefits that deliver the most value. The smog and VOCs that everyone is breathing take a toll on our health, especially children and the elderly. Even a seasoned marathon runner’s breathing is negatively affected after running near busy traffic. Inside, you can count on a coating of PURETi to reduce VOCs emitted by carpets, upholstery and paints. When PURETi pulls pollutants out of the air, everyone literally breathes easier.

Multi-tasking PURETi also prevents the build-up of dirt, grime and dust.  An ultra-thin coating of PURETi is not detectable to an object as big as, say, a human, but at the microscopic level it’s very slick. Tiny airborne particles that would otherwise equal a layer of gunk interact with the surface and convert to end products that slide off.

Amazingly Long-Lasting Effects

One professional application of PURETi lasts for up to three years inside and up to five years outside, providing full benefits the entire time. The cost of application is extremely affordable relative to the significant savings on supply and maintenance costs. Even if you aren’t power washing a football stadium, you’re likely to reduce required water, energy and chemicals to clean by half. When cleaning is easier, it’s also quicker, so labor costs are reduced, too.

The Grime Stoppers’ trained and certified PURETi application technicians use specialized spray equipment to deposit an ultra-thin film (25,000 times thinner than a business card) that dries in seconds and cures in hours to form an invisible polymer-like ceramic film that is durably bonded to the treated surface.

An added plus for new construction is that PURETi holds an SCS Global Services certification which makes it an Environmentally Preferable Product and point worthy in the LEED program of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Green nanotechnology that has a positive impact on your bottom line – now that’s what we call “beneficial!”

For more information about professional PURETi applications or to try the DIY version of PURETi, contact the Grime Stoppers today.

 

*The Newsweek article referenced can be found by clicking here.

Top 7 Harmful Side Effects from Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

toxic-cleaning-productsMost cleaning products use harsh chemicals to remove stains and clean up messes, but consumers need be aware that these cleaning products could actually be doing more harm than good. Chemical exposure happens when someone comes in contact with a chemical or a surface that has been contaminated by a chemical. Exposure can happen by inhaling, ingesting, or touching a chemical or area that has been in contact with the chemical. It is important to choose your cleaning products carefully because exposing yourself or your family to toxic chemicals can result in some very serious side effects.

Toxic Chemical Exposure Side Effects

  1. Skin Irritation, Rash, or Redness

Toxic chemicals that come in contact with skin can cause irritation, rash, redness, discoloration, burns, dermatitis, or other problems once the chemical is absorbed. Sodium Hydroxide, for example, is a corrosive chemical found in many home cleaning products that can irritate the skin.

  1. Asthma, Cough, or Inflammation (Sore Throat)

Toxic chemical exposure can also cause a variety of harmful side effects that affect your respiratory system. These side effects can include asthma, cough, inflammation, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or even lung cancer. Ammonia (found in glass cleaners) and chlorine (found in bathroom cleaners and mildew removers) are common cleaning chemicals that can negatively impact your respiratory system.

  1. Headache and Blurred Vision

Exposure to toxic chemicals that affect your nervous system can cause headaches, blurred vision, confusion, and dizziness. Pthalates are a class of several different chemicals that are often used to add fragrance to household products and they have the potential to cause severe migraines or asthma.

  1. Allergies and Autoimmunity

Your immune system can also be harmed by exposure to toxic chemicals that cause allergies or autoimmunity. Cleaning products that contain added fragrances and/or formaldehyde have the potential to damage the immune system, which increases risks for allergies or infections.

  1. Liver Damage and Tumors

If your hepatic system is exposed to toxic chemicals, you could experience liver damage, tumors, or liver cell damage. Your hepatic system processes food and attempts to remove chemicals from the body. One example of a toxic chemical that affects the hepatic system is 2-Butoxyethanol, a multi-purpose cleaner that can damage your liver and kidneys when inhaled.

  1. Kidney Damage and Cancer

The renal system moves waste out of your body and regulates body fluids. If you come in contact with toxic chemicals, you could suffer renal system damages including kidney damage or kidney cancer. 2-Butoxyethanol can cause these side effects and should be avoided.

  1. Birth Defects or Infertility

In extreme cases, toxic chemical exposure can cause birth defects or infertility. When the reproductive system is exposed to toxic chemicals, natural functions like egg or sperm cell production can be negatively affected.

How to Avoid Toxic Chemical Exposure

To make sure you are using safe cleaning products, check the labels. Safe products that are free of toxic chemicals will often be labeled “environmentally friendly,” “eco-friendly,” “non-toxic,” or “natural.” At The Grime Stoppers, we use and sell environmentally friendly products like Vital Oxide and PURETi that are safe for you and your family, and even safe for babies. Other precautions you can take to avoid toxic chemical exposure include washing your hands, making sure your home is well ventilated, and being aware of the chemicals in your household products.

If it’s time to clean your home but you want to make sure you are not using any toxic chemicals, contact The Grime Stoppers today about our safe and eco-friendly product recommendations.

 

With PURETi, Cleaning Surfaces and Purifying the Air Has Never Been Easier!

pureti-logolargePURETi is a sustainable, self-cleaning, odor-eliminating, air-purifying product that is activated by sunlight and very EASY TO USE. It is safe, environmentally friendly, and makes cleaning twice as easy once applied. While all of the benefits provided by PURETi seem too good to be true, the ease of application is really the unbelievable part. Whether you decide to treat your home or car individually or need a professional application by the Grime Stoppers to treat larger surfaces, PURETi is easy to apply and also makes cleaning easier in the future.

Easy DIY Application With PURETi Clean and Fresh

Using PURETi for personal use in your home or car is simple. PURETi Clean and Fresh is a window cleaner and odor eliminator that improves indoor air quality. It can be applied simply by spraying the interior surface of your windows and then wiping it clean with a microfiber towel. PURETi Clean and Fresh is environmentally friendly and eliminates odors, self-cleans with the power of light, and keeps windows cleaner by minimizing grime. Using PURETi Clean and Fresh in your home or car will keep your windows clean, provide neutral air, and destroy odor molecules.

PURETi Clean and Fresh isn’t just easy to apply; it also makes cleaning easier in the future. PURETi stops windows from becoming foggy or developing a film of dirt and grime over time. The titanium dioxide in PURETi is photocatalytic (meaning it is energized by the sun) to actually oxidize particulate matter that can build up between washes. PURETi Clean and Fresh is available for personal use in a 16oz spray bottle and in a smaller, convenient 3oz pump spray bottle. PURETi allows you to clean half as often and makes cleaning twice as easy.PURETi Fresh 3oz

If you decide to personally apply PURETi Clean and Fresh to your home or car, you should use it every three to six months for the best results. If you decide to have your home or vehicle professionally treated by The Grime Stoppers, application is still quick and easy and the treated surfaces are guaranteed for a minimum of three years.

Professional PURETi Application Technicians Make It Even Easier

Treating large surfaces like LED screens, roads, university posters, and roofs should be left to the professionals. The Grime Stoppers has certified PURETi application technicians that use special equipment to spray your surface with a thin layer of PURETi. The application takes minutes, the PURETi mist dries in seconds, and it only takes a few hours for the invisible polymeric film to cure and bond to the surface. Professional application is very quick and hassle-free, and the results last much longer.

Having your home, business, or property treated with PURETi saves you money and time. It saves you money by reducing energy, water, chemicals, and labor and saves you time by keeping surfaces twice as clean for twice as long and making cleaning twice as easy.

Where Can I Get PURETi?

The Grime Stoppers is the ONLY local business that offers PURETi products and professional application. If you are interested in individually treating your home or car, check out our DIY PURETi products, or contact us today to have a certified application technician professionally treat your home, business, or property.

Is Your Ceramic Tile a Safety Hazard?

caution lobby mop bucket and signMany people have ceramic tile floors in their home or business. They might look great, but when the floor gets wet from a substance, they can become slippery and dangerous to walk on. People can slip and fall, causing injuries—a liability no business or homeowner wants to face.

Use “Caution” Signs to Prevent Injuries

Some spills and wet flooring cannot be predicted, but there are ways of warning people passing by of the potential danger. If the floor has just been mopped, a spill just cleaned up, or a leak being taken care of, having a “Caution: Wet Floor” sign in certain places can help avoid accidents.

Common Areas for Slippery Floors

There are several areas in many facilities that are susceptible to wet or slick floors on a daily basis. These include:

  • Restrooms and shower areas
  • Food preparations areas
  • Entryways and exits
  • Medical areas
  • Janitors’ closets
  • Gyms and Locker Rooms

These floors must be checked frequently. Any spills should be taken care of immediately to avoid any unnecessary accidents.

What Makes the Floor Slick?

Many things can cause a slippery floor. Some of these are:

  • Furniture polish or glass cleaner overspray
  • Ice melting compounds in entryways and exits
  • Powder residue
  • Dirt and grit
  • Grease spills in the kitchen
  • Improper use of cleaning solutions

Protecting Against Slippery Floors

Some solutions to the above slippery floor causes include:

  • Avoiding overspray by spraying furniture polishes and glass cleaners directly onto the cleaning rag instead of the surface to be cleaned
  • Cleaning ice melting products as soon as possible and laying down a non-slip mat
  • Dust-mopping the floor after using powder products and to remove dirt and grit
  • Cleaning grease spills with a degreasing cleaner
  • Measuring detergent and cleaners properly

Specific Flooring Types

There are specific flooring types that will be more slippery than others. These include marble, tile, and terrazzo. Marble and tile flooring are very common in kitchen and bathroom areas due to them being easy to clean, but they can present a hazard when they get wet or if a slippery substance is spilled.

Slick Floor Solutions

In addition to our daily floor cleaning products, The Grime Stoppers also offers options for floor sealers and anti-skid products that can be applied to maintain your floors and provide protection to the floor and the people who walk on them. Some of the benefits of these solutions include:

  • Improved traction on floor surfaces
  • Surfaces are easier to clean
  • Provides excellent stain resistance
  • Reduces slip and fall risks
  • Improved finish maintenance
  • Impervious to standing water

There are many challenges to maintaining a floor. It is an ongoing job to determine the cause and then find a solution. If you have questions or concerns and need to talk to an expert, contact The Grime Stoppers today for a free consultation.

Bright Lights, Big City—PURETi for LED Screens

halftimemessagesSeeing happy couples on a Jumbtron’s kiss cam is one of the fun diversions fans have come to expect at sporting events. Tourist visits to Times Square in New York City almost always include taking photos with Sony’s Jumbotron in the background. Even the outdoor LED screen in your hometown that provides time and temperature information is an important part of your everyday life.

The uses of LED screens are numerous, but they are often a major initial investment, not to mention ongoing maintenance costs including cleaning. Dirt, grime and dust all build up on LED screens, negatively affecting picture quality. When a business puts a message in lights, those lights need to shine brightly.

Reduce Maintenance Costs

The Grime Stoppers can help reduce maintenance costs of LED screens with our new product, PURETi—a safe, sustainable, light-activated product that not only reduces maintenance costs, but also transforms the LED screens of the world into self-cleaning, air purifying marvels. PURETi helps ensure that the intended big and bright impact of an outdoor LED screen is realized.

PURETi-treated surfaces need to be cleaned half as often and cleaning is twice as easy as untreated surfaces.  The environmental impact is substantial, reducing the required water, energy and chemicals used to clean by half.  When cleaning is easier, it’s also quicker, so labor costs are reduced as well.

Improve the View

PURETi also helps maintain high-end picture quality by actually preventing the build-up of dirt, grime and dust.  The coating interacts with the microscopic airborne particles would otherwise equal an image-blocking layer of gunk.  PURETi actually oxidizes particulate matter, so LED signs keep shining brightly. An additional benefit is that PURETi also eliminates VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and harmful greenhouse gases.  A PURETi-coated outdoor LED screen works for you and works for the environment.

Long-Lasting Benefits

One application of PURETi lasts for up to three years, providing full benefits the entire time. The cost of application is extremely affordable and is easily offset by the significant savings on maintenance costs. Side-by-side images of PURETi- treated and untreated surfaces after three years show that an untreated surface is like looking through a very thick, gray fog. It’s definitely not the way you intend your promotional message to be seen.

Fast Professional Application

The trained and certified application technicians with The Grime Stoppers use specialized spray equipment to deposit a very thin film that dries in seconds and cures in hours to form an invisible polymeric film that is durably bonded to the treated surface.

Environmentally Preferred

PURETi holds an SCS Global Services certification, which makes it an Environmentally Preferable Product and point worthy in the LEED program of the U.S. Green Building Council.  That certification is more than just a pat on the back. It’s an important detail for new construction when seeking tax credits.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of PURETi for your LED screen, contact The Grime Stoppers today. 

PURETi In Action: University Poster Eliminates Traffic Pollution

_74870907_74870906Eco-friendly.  Photocatalytic.  Air purifying.  Nanotechnology.

Talk about multi-tasking! PURETi is taking clean to a whole new level with industry-changing innovation.  The active nanotechnology in PURETi makes it possible for just about any item to do double duty.  A treated surface can be self-cleaning while also purifying the air around it.

A Sign of the Times – PURETi In, Pollution Out

What if objects around you could actually take poisonous compounds – that, up to now, you’ve been breathing – out of the air? That’s what’s happening right now on busy streets near the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.

Large signs on University buildings are coated with PURETi, a revolutionary cleaning product that contains nanoparticles of titanium dioxide. The particles get excited when light hits them, which causes a reaction with oxygen. This reactivity creates an impressive cleaning effect like no other compound can.

Studies of the PURETi-treated University poster have revealed that the excited nanoparticles actually eliminate car, truck and bus emissions of nitrogen oxides.  Nitrogen oxides are invisible particles that have been linked to breathing problems, which particularly affect children, the elderly, and people with asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.  But nitrogen oxides also affect even the healthiest person. Take a walk or jog near a busy street on a hot, sunny day and you can’t help but notice increased breathing difficulties.

The  PURETi-coated sign at the University of Sheffield is roughly the size of a highway billboard and has been found to eliminate the pollution of 20 vehicles per day. Imagine if every sign, banner, light post, and bench in your community was coated with pollution fighters.  Even windows can be coated and used to purify the air. This product may literally make it possible for everyone to breathe easier.

The Power of PURETi is Scientific, Not Science Fiction

The nanotechnology used to create the PURETi coating for signs is advanced science. More and more everyday products are being combined with the tiniest parts of helpful molecules to create amazing results. Tony Ryan, the University of Sheffield professor who convinced his employer to install titanium dioxide signs on their buildings, is hoping to develop a laundry detergent with the same nanoparticles. He believes that clothes washed in this detergent would soak up pollutants.

Are people ready to wear a chemical reaction? A lot of investors think so and are connecting to products like Ryan’s laundry detergent and air purifying product coatings. The technology part of nanotechnology is so fine-tuned and precise (remember, it’s all happening at the sub-molecular level) that the nanoparticles do their job without negative side effects.  Even though the particles are excited and working hard, no activity can be seen or felt.

The nanotechnology itself is amazing… so a high product cost could be expected. But the price is very affordable relative to the results.  The PURETi coating for signs is long lasting and, as long as there is light, constant.  No special equipment or protective clothing is needed to install coated signs. A PURETi-treated billboard-sized sign can cost only about $200 more than an uncoated sign.

With sustainability and corporate responsibility becoming more important to consumers, investing in nanotechnology to fight air pollution is a very affordable way for businesses to support their home communities.

PURETi Science and Responsible Commerce: A Winning Combination

Excited inventors working with excited particles to clean the air, and excited companies using the technology as a way to be stronger community partners—PURETi is proof that science and commerce can work together to achieve amazing results that benefit everyone.

The Grime Stoppers is the ONLY local provider of advanced PURETi products.  If you would like to learn more about how PURETi can help your business or institution rise above the rest, contact us today or call (618) 223-8445.