Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I clean any hard surface?
We recommend you only clean and seal man-made surfaces such as ceramic tiles and porcelain. These surfaces are generally non-porous, scratch and acid resistant and are the easiest, most plentiful and most profitable floors to clean. They also carry the least risk for complications. We do not recommend cleaning natural stones such as Marble, granite or limestone without additional training.
2. What is Porcelain?
Porcelain is a man-made surface that is very hard and very resistant to chemicals, scratches, and the absorption of water. Porcelain can be polished which has a mirror-like shine which is subject to marking. It can also be honed which is a matt finish. It will benefit from being sealed with a solvent based sealer. The body of the tile is the same colour all the way through and responds very well to cleaning with the Turbo Hybrid.
3. Will Hard Surface Cleaning be a successful add on to my business?
Diversifying into hard surface cleaning requires efficient tools and training. There is little available to the consumer to give the kind of results they are looking for. Many consumers have accepted a lower standard of “clean” when it comes to their tiled floors because up until now, there has not been a suitable method to clean it completely. Tiled surfaces are more textured than ever before which makes the traditional mop less useful. Grout also traps residue and easily absorbs moisture, oils and sugars. These residues in turn attract dirt and other solids that degrade the overall appearance of the grout, often resulting in darker and bacteria laden grout.
Demonstration is the most effective way to show your customer what results will be achieved. Because tiled floors are uniformally dirty from years of mopping, your customer does not realise just how dirty their tile and grout is until you clean a small area.
4. How do I promote Hard Surface Cleaning to my customers?
You will receive the biggest success by demonstrating the process to your customer. When you have finished your customers job, ask them if you can demonstrate the process to them by cleaning a small area in their kitchen. They will be amazed with the results and more often than not, they will ask to have it done immediately or book in for a later date.
5. Can I start without training?
We recommend that you do a Tile and Grout cleaning course before you start. Prochem offers courses on a regular basis. They are cost effective and will ensure you have the knowledge and know-how to required to achieve the best results. Our staff will be very happy to assist you with on-the-job advice and support whilst using the Prochem System.
6. What is Saltillo?
Saltillo is also known as Terracotta. Its soft, porous nature makes it easy to scratch and damage. It is also prone to efflorescence. Get additional training before attempting this type of floor.
7. What is Efflorescence?
Efflorescence occurs when there is a leaching of salts from within the tile to the surface forming a white deposit. This deposit is not visually present until the moisture dries leaving a visible white powder. >
8. Should I take on every job I see?
It is important to know when to walk away from a job. Avoid jobs that have sufficient problems to render them unprofitable. Don’t attempt jobs that you don’t have the expertise to handle and stay away from surfaces that are high risk such as marble and Teracotta.
The good news is that there are millions of square metres of the easy stuff in your market. It is profitable, easy and low risk. Don’t get upset about not being able to clean every floor.
9. What is the difference between a penetrating sealer and a topical coating?
| Topical coatings are sealers that place a coating on the surface of the stone. This is a film that lays on top of the stone, tile or grout acting as a barrier to prevent water and soil from entering the pores of the floor if there are any. They usually change the appearance of the tile (matt to sheen). Penetrating sealers are designed to penetrate below the surface of the stone or grout and deposit solid particles in the pores of the stone. Water, oil, and soil are restricted from entering the stone. They can be solvent or water based. |
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10. What is Travertine?
| Travertine is limestone based and has numerous holes of varying sizes. A polished travertine will have its holes filled with color-matched cement filler. These fillers do not take a high polish and therefore, the overall polish is blotchy. See the photo below. |  |
11.What is Terrazzo?
| Terrazzo has a more uniform appearance than most natural stones. Terrazzo is a mixture of cement and marble chips. It can be ground, honed and polished just like marble and can be easily mistaken for granite. |  |
12. What is a ceramic tile?
Looking at a tile from the side, you can see the difference between the colour of the clay body and the colour of the glazed surface. This provides an ideal scenario for cleaning with the Turbo Hybrid.
13. What tests can I perform to identify man-made vs natural stones?
Because many of the new ceramic tiles in today’s market are manufactured to look like real stone, they may fool even the most experienced Technician. Therefore it is important to perform other tests to ensure you know what you are cleaning.
| Test 1: Acid Reaction Test Place a drop Prochem Grout Restore on the floor in an inconspicuous area and observe whether it bubbles or not. If it turns white it is because the acid is reacting with the calcium of the tile floor. At this point, you know you are dealing with an acid sensitive material. Treat is as a natural stone. |
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| Test 2: Scratch Test If the floor is hard and difficult to scratch, it is probably man-made. If it is soft and scratches easily it may be a natural floor. The exception is granite, which is a natural stone, but scratches like a man-made floor. |
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14. Can I clean Vinyl with this system?
Vinyl floors require the stripping of sealers that give the durability and shiny appearance to them. This system will not strip the sealers from the floor. It will only remove any surface dirt that may be on the floor. DO NOT use this system to extract sealers that have had strippers applied to them. It will clog and damage your equipment.
15. Are there any marketing materials available? There are many items available that will assist you. We have a disc with sample flyers, photos and general information to assist you when you purchase the system. You do not need to spend countless hours re-creating the wheel.
For further information, please contact us at your convenience.
