Which carpet cleaning chemicals are the worse for you?

Discussion in 'Ask Our Chemist!' started by TMF, Jun 21, 2008.

  1. TMF New Member

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    Which presprays have the most butyls?

    Which POG is bad for our skin/health?

    I have heard rust remover is really bad if you touch it. How true is this?

    If you can think of any other chemicals please let us know, thanks.
  2. Bobby New Member

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    I don't know which one has the most butyl but CTI Fire Water will just about knock you out! I could not bring myself to use it anymore after the first gal. was gone.
    I don't think any of the solvent POGs are really friendly to us. Bio-Kleen has one that is all natural and safe I haven't tried it , so I can't coment on the effectivness, I have a couple of samples of pre-spray and extraction cleaner to try, when I do I'll post the results/opinion.

    Bobby Hales
  3. Duane Oxley MIA

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    I can tell you some pre-sprays that have zero butyl...

    CleanStreak

    SuperTLP
  4. Gary Heacock New Member

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    I will address 2 things in the list.

    1,1,1, trichlor is absorbed in the skin, and in the lungs if you breathe the fumes.

    It can build up in the liver and kidneys because the body does not have a way to eliminate it.

    If you MUST use it, apply a little to a folded towel, apply that to the spot. Do not work in with your fingers. Blot with a dry towel.

    Rust remover. The Erusticator brand, and several others that are hydrofluoric acid can give a nasty skin burn, and actually soak clear into the bone marrow. I say- do not use it at all. If you must use a hydrofluoric acid type, apply directly from the bottle to the spot. When the spot is gone, rinse with a lot of water, then apply a alkaline substance such as ammonia to neutralize the acid, and rinse that out with more water.

    A better idea for removing rust is realizing almost any acidic chemical can remove rust. Lemon juice, tannin stain remover, oxalic acid, etc. Yes, these may be a bit slower, but a lot safer to use.

    I can speak from experience about Erusticator, and after only one chemical burn, that was enough to find something else that worked, but no burn.

    RE: Bobby's post- Bi-O-Kleen products POG is soy oil based- safe for the user, safe for the customer. And remember- it is an oil, which needs a good rinse after use.

    Gary
  5. Scott W Preferred Vendor

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    There are several types of rust remover. Most are some type of acid. The products that work the fastest are also the most dangerous. A few contain hydrofluoric acid. HF is extremely dangerous and in fact has even been deadly to carpet cleaners a few times.

    Oxalic acid is safer but slower. There are other rust removers that are even slower but not dangerous.

    Bridgepoint's T Rust is ammonium Biflouride. Very safe. Works about equal speed to oxalic acid but safer.

    As Duane says, there are several presprays without the butyl variants.

    Gary is right about ventilation is using 1,1,1 trichlor, but that product was essentially regulated out of existant in our industry - unless you have kept a stash for 20 years.

    Scott Warrington
  6. ENV-Meg New Member

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    Chemicals

    I recently came across a few gallons of carpet cleaning chemicals and wondered if anyone knows anything about them ... they appear to be quite old.

    ProMaster Spot Lite PC3011 <---- most interested in this one

    and

    VDS Tri Chlor

    thanks!
  7. Scott W Preferred Vendor

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    I don't think the Promaster product has been made for several years. Some of the solvents in it would have evaporated over the years, so the current mixture could be different than the original formula. The only way to know what it will do now (spot removal, not meaning health wise) is to try and see.

    The VDS Tri Chlor is the 1,1,1 that Gary mentioned. More than a few old timers would love to have that stuff. Great spot remover for light oils and greases and left no residues. BAd for the environment.
  8. ENV-Meg New Member

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    I was very shocked to see TCE stocked too! I figured I was somehow misreading the label. The ProMaster is listed as a dry solvent (similar to the TCE labeling) but I haven't been able to track down a MSDS sheet or even a webpage regarding the brand name. I guess I'll just assume is chlorinated to be on the safe side. Thanks!
  9. seayya New Member

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    The ProMaster Spot Lite originally was 1,1,1-trichloroethane (aka VDS Tri Chlor), and then around 1996 it was switched over to Trichloroethylene (TCE). ProMaster went out of business in 2002 (I believe), so if you find the Spot Lite it will be fairly old.

    I MIGHT have a MSDS on the Spot Lite at my house, and I KNOW I have one on the VDS Tri Chlor (Trichloroethylene) since I do sale that formula.
  10. apex Banned

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  11. Rob Allen Administrator

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    Rust Remover is the worst. It goes into the skin and into your bones. :eek:
  12. Frank DiGi Administrator

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    I wonder about Red 1....
  13. spotman123 Active Member

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    I guess all spotting agents are bad for you. As far a my main TLC and rinsing agent I try to use something rated at 1 for health risk, don't like going higher. spotman
  14. Kenny Wright Active Member

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    T Rust works on rust every time and it's relatively safe. I would never use hydroflouric acid. It's too dangerous and unneccessary.
  15. Gnu New Member

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    Im with you Kenny on that. Some of those chems may not harm you today but I am sure they can mess you up in the long run in one way or another. I know working for a cc I noticed we used I think was triflouromethane or something simular to that. I messed you up for about three or four days afterwards. And some of the other stuff made my fingernails fall out from the quick. from hand scrubbing spots with a towel. also could explain the massive migrains I frequented. I do remember cs asking me if I was ok one time I stood up and was white and greyish. Freaked us both out. But it was something reacting with chems left in the carpets from other cleaning methods
  16. Rob Allen Administrator

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    Have any of you guys ever smelled a container of liquid coffee remover (Sodium Metabisulfite) left in a sprayer? :eek:
    You won't do it a second time. :bigsmiley:
  17. Kenny Wright Active Member

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    Yes and I agree that it will take your breath away. How bad/harmful is coffee stain remover? I've got a container left over from a few months ago.

  18. JStafford TMF Hard Surface Specialist

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    That is because when you mix sodium metabisulfite and water, it releases sulfur dioxide (SO2). SO2 can kill you.
  19. Jason Whaley Super Moderator & TMF Carpet Cleaning Specialist

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    My rust remover is very bad for you.... It has a skull and cross bones on all sides of the box. Its called Rust Go. I only have to use 1/10 of what I did using the Chemspec brand rust remover. The hole in the top is about the size of a needle. It works on contact. IMMEDIATELY!

    NEVER LEAVE IN A HOME UNATTENDED! USE WHEN NEEDED AND THEN PUT IT BACK ON YOUR TRUCK. THIS STUFF WILL KILL OR SERIOUSLY HURT YOU!

    Active ingredients are..

    HYDROFLUORIC ACID 16%
    AMMONIUM BIFLUORIDE 16%


    SECTION VI - HEALTH HAZARD DATA
    EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE
    EYES: May cause permanent damage
    SKIN: May cause sever burns which may not be immediately painful or visible, and may penetrate skin
    and damage underlying tissue.
    INGESTION: May cause throat burns and severe swelling restricting breathing.
    INHALATION: Concentration of "F" vapors of 2Mg/M or more may cause damage to lungs,
    respiratory system and pulmonary edema.

    MSDS
    http://alwilsononline.com/products/rustgo/RustGo MSDS.pdf
  20. Jason Whaley Super Moderator & TMF Carpet Cleaning Specialist

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    OUCHY! I do it all the time when I add it to my hand sprayer and go back to use it on another day... Probably burn a million brain cells each time!:eek:

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