The Dirt on Hardwood Floors

February 14th, 2012 by Frank Pedeflous

- guest post from Service Master Solutions, Portland, OR.

water on hardwood flooring

Your biggest enemy when it comes to hardwood floors is water.

Hardwood Floors are both appealing and durable. They add that nice rustic and earthy touch to our homes. Although they can withstand a lot of wear and tear in their lifetime, hardwood floors often need care and upkeep to last. With the right products and regular upkeep, keeping your hardwood floors in pristine condition is no big deal.

Your biggest enemy when it comes to hardwood floors is water. Those wooden panels nailed to floor – believe it or not – are chunks of trees, cut to size and dried. When water begins to make it’s way into your hardwood floors, those wooden fibers begin to expand, eventually warping your wooden floor. Once this happens there’s really no going back, and you’re looking at an expensive and time-consuming floor replacement.

Wooden floors are sensitive, so it’s important to be cautious of any kind of moisture – from simple spills, abundant humidity, and water seepage from under the floor. In it’s most rudimentary form, water damage is simply the appearance of stains. There are a couple of home remedies to remove these stains. Using toothpaste or a combination of oil and cigarette ash will buff these white stains away. For a more severe stain, you may have to remove the finish on your floor.

In order to prevent small amounts of damage, be sure to coat your floors in a water-resistant finish before installing them. This will help prevent water from soaking in to the grains. You can also wax with a waterproof seal to shore up your defenses. In order to keep your floors in good shape, its ideal to re-apply water-resistant stain every 12-18 months.

If your wooden floors are suffering from major water damage, many professional cleaning services such as Service Master Solutions offer special drying services that can greatly reduce water damage to floors.

 

Ultrasonic Dieting

November 15th, 2011 by Frank Pedeflous

Like most people, you have probably tried to lose weight before. The goal for a successful diet shouldn’t be measured by weight loss alone. Being healthy has a ton of different components to it such as muscle mass, BMI, etc. The same elements also go into evaluating the efficiency of an ultrasonic cleaning machine… more than just one variable needs be accounted for. ultrasonic diet

Some companies may advertise that their “magic” weight loss pill can instantly take off 10 lbs in one week. In our industry, other ultrasonic cleaning companies may advertise their ultrasonic machine is the most “powerful” cleaner on the market. However, when looking to purchase ultrasonic equipment, there are several “factors” that should be considered:

• Tank size

• Generator efficiency

• Power

• Cost

• Cleaning solution

• Cleaning time

Have you ever wondered how some “miracle” weight loss pills claim they are able to shed fat off almost instantly? What it takes to do one task is not necessarily healthy to the body as a whole. Similarly, being the “fastest” ultrasonic machine may sound great… but are other components comprised to build this kind of speed. Ultrasonic technology is already 5 times faster than that of traditional hand and chemical cleaning, but just because some companies promote faster cleaning, doesn’t make it the most efficient.

At Omegasonics, we don’t use the word “fast”, we’d rather refer to cleaning “efficiency”. Every one of our machines uses a generator specifically designed for our machines, which then maximizes cleaning time and efficiency. This not only benefits users in the long run but it dramatically increases ROI while decreasing labor, electric, and soap costs.

The most important part when trying to lose weight is your diet. We feel the same way about feeding our machines! That’s why Omegasonics offers over 50 specially-crafted, non-toxic, water-based ultrasonic soaps for any type of application cleaning. Most importantly they are safe for the human skin.

To see our list of ultrasonic cleaners or ultrasonic soaps, please visit our website now. If you have question about which ultrasonic cleaner or ultrasonic soap is right for your project or task, feel free to contact one of our ultrasonic cleaning experts toll free at (800) 669-8227. They’ll help get you on the path to ultrasonic health and wellness.

 

The Grass IS Greener on the Other Side

October 18th, 2011 by Frank Pedeflous

“The grass isn’t always greener on the other side!”

We’ve all heard this age-old phrase before, but what if the grass was actually greener on the other side?

Ultrasonic cleaning - green industrial parts cleaing

Here’s a simple test to find out what side of the fence you and your business are on!

Well, my question is “what exactly is on the other side… and what makes it so green?”

First of all, everybody using ultrasonic cleaning technology is already on the other side. The other side is “green”, SO green that you’ll be saving money every time you use ultrasonics. Our water-based soaps and enzyme solution will save you 70% or more with industrial parts cleaning costs, putting more “green” into your pocket?

Do you know what side you’re on? Here’s a simple test to ask yourself:

1)    Do you have more than 3 employees devoting labor time to industrial cleaning?

2)    Do your cleaning methods include toxic chemicals and/or expensive specialized items such as picks and brushes?

3)    Are some items not 100% cleaned every single time?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, I have some bad news… you’re on the wrong side. But don’t worry, click here to begin your journey into the green.

Here on the Green side (as opposed to the “Dark Side”?), you’ll be using non-toxic biodegradable water-based solutions, all of which meet federal EPA guidelines. It’s safer for the environment and your employees, not to mention it also reduces the need for expensive and inconvenient disposal services!

Even some Hollywood celebrities have gone green, check out Jay Leno’s journey to the “other” side: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p36RPkxa_I4.

If you have further questions, feel free to contact one of our ultrasonic cleaning and restoration experts toll free at (800) 669-8227.

Have an ultrasonic day!

Profitable Ultrasonic Cleaning shouldn’t be a Fantasy

October 13th, 2011 by Frank Pedeflous
Fantasy Football is much like Ultrasonic Cleaning

Choosing a good ultrasonic cleaner is much like drafting a good fantasy football team.

After a long summer of lockout negotiations, it’s great that NFL football is back! Of course, that also means a return of fantasy football!  Fans across the country spent hours studying up on their favorite players to draft the ultimate fantasy team. If you didn’t pick up Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, or Donovan McNabb, then you may not have any Vikings on your team this year. However, here’s one Viking that should help your team: an ultrasonic Viking Multi-Stage unit.

As you know, if you play fantasy football, the key to a good team is the ability to be diverse. You want a team that is not one-dimensional. You need two strong running backs, a QB who can throw for a lot of yards and TDs, and at least two consistently targeted receivers and/or tight ends. Likewise, a good ultrasonic unit should be efficient, effective, and able to handle audibles such as specialized and hard to clean parts!

We, at Omegasonics, suggest that you analyze the “opponent” before you make your first round ultrasonic pick. Ask the questions, “What kind of items will I be cleaning?” and “How do I want to dry those items?”

How to Make your First Round Ultrasonic Pick (System):

Viking X2: (choose 2): ultrasonic wash, heated rinse, and ultrasonic rinse

Viking X3: (choose 3): ultrasonic wash, heated rinse, ultrasonic rinse, and hot air dryer

Viking X4: ultrasonic wash, heated rinse, ultrasonic rinse, cascade rinse and hot air dryer

Howe to Make your Second Round Ultrasonic Pick (Tank Size):

Pro: 18″ length x 18″ width x 14″ depth

Pro Plus: 18″ length x 24″ width x 14″ depth

Super Pro: 18″ length x 34″ width x 14″ depth

Power Pro 6000: 24″ length x 36″ width x 20″ depth

No matter which ultrasonic machine you end up selecting, your unit comes with all of the parts necessary to take your team to the championship.

EACH SYSTEM INCLUDES:

• Stainless steel tanks – all fully insulated

• Exterior Hammerton powder coat finish

• Digital temperature controls – each tank

• Digital timer controlled ultrasound-wash

• Dual stage filtration-wash stage

• Single stage filtration-rinse stage

• Low-level float sensors – each stage

Omegasonics hopes your team has much success against the competition this season, both in your fantasy league and with your business. If you’re a GM that needs some advice, we invite you to watch this short video clip:

http://blog.Omegasonics.com/archives/5-tips-to-buying-an-ultrasonic-cleaner.

If you have further questions, feel free to contact one of our ultrasonic cleaning and restoration experts toll free at (800) 669-8227…. before you incur a play clock violation.

Have an ultrasonic day!

How to Choose the Right Contents Restoration Equipment

September 16th, 2011 by Frank Pedeflous

Are you looking to start or enhance a contents restoration division, but not quite sure where to begin? Frank Pedeflous, president of Omegasonics, the West Coast’s leading manufacturer of ultrasonic cleaning systems, gives recommendations about what equipment should be purchased to give your company a competitive advantage in the marketplace, what kind of recovery rate could be expected for various items of content, and which pieces of equipment should be purchased first in order to provide the fastest return on investment.

More information can be found at www.Omegasonics.com or by calling us Toll Free at 1-800-669-8227.

 

Ultrasonic Tabletops – Powerful, Convenient Parts Cleaning

March 28th, 2011 by Frank Pedeflous

Ultrasonic Tabletops

Before ultrasound was used to effectively clean larger-sized industrial parts, it was used initially in the medical industry. But the most commonly recognized application for ultrasonic cleaning known to the general public is jewelry. Everyone has been to a jeweler in the mall and heard those little tiny tanks buzzing away to the delight of many female customers who see their diamond rings and bracelets sparkle like new again. It’s fun to even watch business executives with Rolex watches awe in amazement. Ultrasound became a highly popular method for cleaning sensitive minerals, diamonds and other types of jewelry.

ultrasonic tabletop cleaners from Omegasonics

A tabletop ultrasonic washer may be a great fit for you and your company.

These small ultrasonic jewelry machines would eventually evolve into larger sizes with most manufacturers carrying a line of six to eight models. Tabletops are generally “commercial duty” – meaning that they are designed to operate two to three hours per day as opposed to true “industrial grade” units that can run a full ten-hour production shift. In industrial settings, tabletops are primarily used for smaller-sized parts and low volume work. Typical tabletop units range from one-half to eight-gallon tanks, but they can still provide the same benefits as larger systems at a much-reduced price, as long as the ultrasonic power requirements are low and the usage time is low.

Motorcycle, ATV and Jet Ski carburetors are commonly cleaned using ultrasonic tabletop machines. Previous methods used toxic chemicals such as carburetor spray and brushes, not to mention a lot of time and labor! However, even with all of that labor, the cleaning process is not fully effective. With ultrasound, cleaning success is highly probable each time without the use of toxic solvents.

One of the most unique factors about having a tabletop machine in your facility is the convenience of the size. Tabletops are no bigger than a microwave oven and can be placed on any workstation. This allows an employee to save time by working at their location as opposed to making many unnecessary steps going back and forth to a central cleaning station somewhere else inside the plant. This saves considerable effort and enhances employee productivity.

A tabletop ultrasonic washer may be a great fit for you and your company.

To see typical tabletop sizes and specifications go to www.Omegasonics.com/industrial/table_top.shtml

5 Tips to Buying an Ultrasonic Cleaner

February 9th, 2011 by Frank Pedeflous

Purchasing industrial ultrasonic equipment is a big decision, especially if you need to clean a lot of small parts on a frequent basis. Make sure the ultrasonic system chosen is the best fit for your particular cleaning need. Factors that should go into the purchase decision of an ultrasonic machine include: type of material, type of contaminate, amount of power needed, frequency, and type of process required. Bottom line – don’t be afraid to get application support from your ultrasonic equipment supplier.

Omegasonics: The Smarter Choice

January 28th, 2011 by Frank Pedeflous

Did you know that every month there are over 1 million searches for “contents cleaning” by adjusters, insurance agents, property managers, etc?

In the world of restoration cleaning, there is one class of ultrasonic units that experienced adjusters want to work with: an Omegasonics system.

Using a regular ultrasonic machine will simply not cut it in this industry anymore. To stand out from your competitors and “wow” the insurance companies, you need nothing less, than an Omegasonics Restoration Pro® System.

Companies using our ultrasonic machines are more frequently called on for jobs by adjusters, agents and insurance companies. These superior machines are specifically designed to improve effectiveness and cut down labor costs; saving both you and your client a whole lot of time, money and hassle.

For example, Omegasonics uses guillotine doors on our drying units. We found in our field tests that guillotine doors hold heat in better and dry faster than alternative methods. This is one reason why an Omegasonics system is more eco-friendly and much less expensive to operate. We’ve invested the time, research, and development so our customers can spend less time on cleaning and more time on other tasks!  The hard work we put into our machines will help you maximize your investment.

To see other examples and a long list of satisfied customers, visit this link: http://www.OmegasonicsListofCustomers.com.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Ultrasonic Soap

January 14th, 2011 by Frank Pedeflous

Process Cleaning (www.processcleaning.com), an online magazine dedicated to exploring new and efficient cleaning solutions for manufacturing professionals, is featuring Omegasonics in its January issue. The article, entitled, “Maximizing the Ultrasonic Process”, evaluates the use of certain chemical applications when using an ultrasonic cleaning machine.

Ultrasonic Cleaning SoapsFor example, did you know that picking the wrong soap can cause your machine to suffer from a poor cleaning performance? It can damage the item and disrupt the cavitation process, as well. Using the wrong soap can also decrease efficiency in ultrasonic cleaning, resulting in un-maximized gains.

Omegasonics is one of the few companies that offers 40 pre-designed and formulated detergents that work in any industrial ultrasonic cleaning application.

Many companies may offer soaps; Omegasonics also offers “detergents”. Detergents are developed specifically for industrial use. These detergents range from:

  • Abrasive to rub or scour away accumulated dirt
  • Acids for removing mineral deposits and rust
  • pH modifiers to regulate various chemical activities
  • Oxidizers to bleach and disinfect
  • Enzymes to break down oils
  • And much more…

For a complete list of all the soaps we offer. Click here: http://www.omegasonics.com/industrial/chemistry.shtml

Top 5 Things to Consider When Buying an Ultrasonic Washer

July 6th, 2010 by Frank Pedeflous
Ultrasonic Cleaner

Size is one of the things to consider when choosing an ultrasonic cleaner.

There are a few things to consider when buying an ultrasonic washer and none of it requires a degree in electronics engineering.

1.   SIZE MATTERS!  Pick the right tank size. Don’t buy a unit that is too small for you largest critical parts, or a unit that can’t handle the amount of parts (per load) you are putting into the unit. If you think the unit you are buying is too small before you buy it, then it will definitely be too small once you start using it. As a result, you won’t be able to see the great benefits of ultrasonic cleaning because you will put even more parts through then you ever imagined.

2.   FREQUENCY. Make sure you have the best frequency for your application. For most applications, and by most I mean 95%+ in the world, 40 kHz is the frequency for you. Unless you have a rare specification calling out 25 kHz or are doing sub-micron cleaning of sensitive electronics requiring 68 kHz and above, then look no further than 40.

3.   POWER. You need the right cleaning power for your application. Here is where it is best to discuss your application with a qualified ultrasonics company so you know what is required. Most equipment is outfitted with the correct ultrasonic power for the bulk of applications.

4.   CHEMISTRY. Though most ultrasonic applications are cleaned in a water based solution, those solutions generally require some type of soap additive. Here again it is recommended to contact a qualified ultrasonics manufacturer to discuss your specific application and get the right chemistry. There are soaps designed to remove oils and then separate out in the bath. Some applications do better with a surfactant, but chemistry is a blog post of its own.

5.   PROCESS. The process involves the dwell time of the ultrasonics, the bath temperature, the chemistry concentration. Best to get a “How to Do Process Sheet” from your favorite ultrasonic systems manufacturer.

Hopefully these tips have helped you, and as always if you’re in need of professional consultation, you can always contact us.